This story began as a piece about Venus’ descent below the rim of the horizon a couple weeks ago, her passage into the so-called underworld, out of sight.
I haven't listened yet, because I love it when you tell your stories aloud so much that I am saving it for a quiet time. But that play button has set me thinking of your quest for the incantatory novel and a host of questions about storyforms. Is the effect of stories on humans different when we listen compared to when we read? I found one tiny study that suggests the brain behaves similarly in both cases, but I experience them differently. When I read, I feel like I enter another imaginal world through a small door in my mind. But when I listen, I feel like that other world wraps itself around my body like a blanket. Maybe it's the vibration and energy of the human voice, which humanizes the experience and makes it feel more relational? More like an encounter with than an encounter of? In my writing circle, one of the women shared that her writing/sensemaking has been looking like weaving textiles in this season. She was wearing her story around her neck and it was mesmerizing. Because it was handmade? Maybe (for me) story forms that involve more of our bodies carry more energy? But why does typing with my hands feel more like reading (something that happens in my mind), compared to writing longhand, which feels more like listening (where my whole body gets involved)?
What beautiful thoughts, Deb. I love this sense of the oral telling enfolding you, and the woman wearing her story as a weaving, and how it is the voice itself carries story right into our bodies? It felt important to me that this was read, without text to refer to as you go, so that you can't see before or behind you in the story, only what is here, so that it extends in all directions like a weaving as you listen. I do hope you enjoy it when you listen! sending love to you and your writing pen! xox
I waited to listen to your story until I had undisturbed time and while I strung gathered Hawthorn berries. It felt important that I do this red-threaded work while listening. Your voice invokes a whole other world of story-weaving, and I was completely present on the threshold of this telling, not looking behind/ rereading your words, nor skipping ahead in anticipation. Just completely held in this beautiful story-river, a healing prayer for the earth’s heart, all our hearts. (Also the timing of listening to this before Nao’s dance class tonight, came into such special alignment for me, and also something much wider than me). Thank you xo
oh Sophia what a beautiful image, the stringing of the hawthorn on the red thread while listening. I'm so moved. And yes, the timing with Nao's class was also for me quite potent. It's so wonderful you are sharing that space too. xx
There is such beauty and skill in the way that you weave words. The images that you create, the old ways that you draw from, there’s something primal and wild, and so totally alive and everything you write. I can’t quite put my thumb on in his story breaks me open so completely, but I am quite broken open with tears running down my face at my kitchen table. Blessings rest on your heart, and your eyes, and of course your pen.
Oh gosh bless you Marianna, these words mean so much! It’s funny because i was thinking intensely of this very story and it’s telling the day you wrote this message, and I hadn’t thought of it in a long time. I wondered about revisiting it and telling it one day in person. Your words came as a wild synchronicity- perhaps I should! x
I listened with tears, snuggling my warm kitty, listening and loving this telling together. What a gift to hear this story from your voice and your weave. Thank you thank you thank you. I will be listening again and again 🙏🏽🕊🕊
I haven't listened yet, because I love it when you tell your stories aloud so much that I am saving it for a quiet time. But that play button has set me thinking of your quest for the incantatory novel and a host of questions about storyforms. Is the effect of stories on humans different when we listen compared to when we read? I found one tiny study that suggests the brain behaves similarly in both cases, but I experience them differently. When I read, I feel like I enter another imaginal world through a small door in my mind. But when I listen, I feel like that other world wraps itself around my body like a blanket. Maybe it's the vibration and energy of the human voice, which humanizes the experience and makes it feel more relational? More like an encounter with than an encounter of? In my writing circle, one of the women shared that her writing/sensemaking has been looking like weaving textiles in this season. She was wearing her story around her neck and it was mesmerizing. Because it was handmade? Maybe (for me) story forms that involve more of our bodies carry more energy? But why does typing with my hands feel more like reading (something that happens in my mind), compared to writing longhand, which feels more like listening (where my whole body gets involved)?
What beautiful thoughts, Deb. I love this sense of the oral telling enfolding you, and the woman wearing her story as a weaving, and how it is the voice itself carries story right into our bodies? It felt important to me that this was read, without text to refer to as you go, so that you can't see before or behind you in the story, only what is here, so that it extends in all directions like a weaving as you listen. I do hope you enjoy it when you listen! sending love to you and your writing pen! xox
The most beautiful love story ever told ❤️
oh my heart. thank you so :) xo
My gosh what a gift you are, that was a wonderful emotional story and the passion from which you live, speak, write really came through.
Bless you for such lovely words Mirabella, and for listening x
I waited to listen to your story until I had undisturbed time and while I strung gathered Hawthorn berries. It felt important that I do this red-threaded work while listening. Your voice invokes a whole other world of story-weaving, and I was completely present on the threshold of this telling, not looking behind/ rereading your words, nor skipping ahead in anticipation. Just completely held in this beautiful story-river, a healing prayer for the earth’s heart, all our hearts. (Also the timing of listening to this before Nao’s dance class tonight, came into such special alignment for me, and also something much wider than me). Thank you xo
oh Sophia what a beautiful image, the stringing of the hawthorn on the red thread while listening. I'm so moved. And yes, the timing with Nao's class was also for me quite potent. It's so wonderful you are sharing that space too. xx
Sylvia, thank you. It felt like destiny listening to you read this. X
Wow, thank you Jessica. It felt a bit like destiny while creating & speaking it, something beyond me, not for me at all, but all of us. x
Dear Sylvia, my heart lifts when I listen to you. Thank you for this story and your voice. x
I'm so glad your heart was lifted, Arwen, that was my hope. x
The most beautiful story I have ever heard. Thank you x
oh, bless you Vanessa. bless you for listening for saying something so kind xx
Tears listening on this foggy morning. Thank you for the story.
Thank you for listening Trilby, and for those tears. Nectar for the earth, they are. I think so anyway :)
There is such beauty and skill in the way that you weave words. The images that you create, the old ways that you draw from, there’s something primal and wild, and so totally alive and everything you write. I can’t quite put my thumb on in his story breaks me open so completely, but I am quite broken open with tears running down my face at my kitchen table. Blessings rest on your heart, and your eyes, and of course your pen.
Oh gosh bless you Marianna, these words mean so much! It’s funny because i was thinking intensely of this very story and it’s telling the day you wrote this message, and I hadn’t thought of it in a long time. I wondered about revisiting it and telling it one day in person. Your words came as a wild synchronicity- perhaps I should! x
Phew
I listened with tears, snuggling my warm kitty, listening and loving this telling together. What a gift to hear this story from your voice and your weave. Thank you thank you thank you. I will be listening again and again 🙏🏽🕊🕊