I am looking forward to this. It will be my first intensive here. In the meantime is there a particular exercise or practice you suggest to prime the pump, Jeannine?
I will re-read slowly and deeply, imbibing this until it becomes second nature. But oh Jeannine, yes, this!
"But even our hardest stories benefit, and become more evocative and beautiful, when we learn to infuse them with light."
Nature is my solace and my refuge. It is my healer. Living alongside nature even in my darkest moments has enabled me to feel the freedom of rising above the darkness.
In the worst of my terrible moments - a tragic moment from which I thought I could never recover - I looked up into the stars of the sky and saw a field of bluebells. I was transfixed. I was transformed.
Even as I was submerged in grief and guilt - when there seemed no way out of the abuse I experienced and in turn, inflicted - there it was, beauty disregarding misery.
I stared at one of those bluebell stars and felt the beauty of life flood into every core of my being.
I became the star, I was lifted from the minutiae of my own tragedy - and it was very dark - into the grand opera conducted by stars sending me light.
So excited about this. I wholeheartedly agree with this: “But even our hardest stories benefit, and become more evocative and beautiful, when we learn to infuse them with light. Even our hardest stories improve and become more true when we write our way into the pleasure portal. After all, there is no dark without light, no warm without cold, no soft without hard, no buoyant without leaden.” Yes, yes, yes! I am currently revising a book with domestic violence at its centre, so there is the obvious darkness. But here is the surprise: I am actually enjoying the writing process precisely because of those pockets of light, hope, and humour! Much like life, nothing is pure darkness or pure lightness. Everything is complex. Often, painfully beautiful!
"Writing our hardest stories saves lives. Full stop." The truth in these words cuts deep. But it's the challenge of finding something pleasurable, something joyful in the hard stories that makes it so tempting to do. Thanks for this opportunity, Jeannine.
I want to jump for joy. I recently wrote about Adrienne Maree Brown’s Pleasure Activism, and I just reserved a copy at the library, so this is perfect. Can’t wait!
This is going to be so good. For me, for anyone who has had or still has trouble being in their bodies and feeling pleasure without guilt. And because it’s you,Jeannine, and because of all the people here, it will be a wonderfully safe place to swim in this awareness, this exploring.
Coming off the heels of the last intensive, I'm excited to keep going in this direction! Especially because the state of things outside my control easily dislodge sensory pleasure in my body. Thank you for helping us expand!
I am delighting in the fact that we will focus on the topic of pleasure next! I need this, Jeannine. I am prone to melancholy and it is good for me to pay more attention to the sensory experiences surrounding me. Good in more ways than simply improving my writing--good, because it also seems to change my neural wiring so that I am more apt to find the small ways that beauty exists in the world. Thank you!
As a post-menopausal woman I feel disconnected from the idea of sensory pleasure, though I'm happy to say I felt the sensual pleasure of my moving body while dancing yesterday, such good medicine.
I think this intensive is meant for exactly this--to reconnect to the idea of the vast range of sensory pleasure, and this is coming from one post-menopausal woman to another!
I am here for it.
I'm super excited to have found WITD in time to join in this intensive. A big thank you to my friend Susan Conrad for steering me here!
I am looking forward to this. It will be my first intensive here. In the meantime is there a particular exercise or practice you suggest to prime the pump, Jeannine?
Cant seem to find a start date. ?
April 16, officiallly, with posts for 6 Wednesdays — but the on ramp is already starting, of course!
I will re-read slowly and deeply, imbibing this until it becomes second nature. But oh Jeannine, yes, this!
"But even our hardest stories benefit, and become more evocative and beautiful, when we learn to infuse them with light."
Nature is my solace and my refuge. It is my healer. Living alongside nature even in my darkest moments has enabled me to feel the freedom of rising above the darkness.
In the worst of my terrible moments - a tragic moment from which I thought I could never recover - I looked up into the stars of the sky and saw a field of bluebells. I was transfixed. I was transformed.
Even as I was submerged in grief and guilt - when there seemed no way out of the abuse I experienced and in turn, inflicted - there it was, beauty disregarding misery.
I stared at one of those bluebell stars and felt the beauty of life flood into every core of my being.
I became the star, I was lifted from the minutiae of my own tragedy - and it was very dark - into the grand opera conducted by stars sending me light.
Saige, this comment is poetry xo
Thank you Jeannine xo
So excited about this. I wholeheartedly agree with this: “But even our hardest stories benefit, and become more evocative and beautiful, when we learn to infuse them with light. Even our hardest stories improve and become more true when we write our way into the pleasure portal. After all, there is no dark without light, no warm without cold, no soft without hard, no buoyant without leaden.” Yes, yes, yes! I am currently revising a book with domestic violence at its centre, so there is the obvious darkness. But here is the surprise: I am actually enjoying the writing process precisely because of those pockets of light, hope, and humour! Much like life, nothing is pure darkness or pure lightness. Everything is complex. Often, painfully beautiful!
"Writing our hardest stories saves lives. Full stop." The truth in these words cuts deep. But it's the challenge of finding something pleasurable, something joyful in the hard stories that makes it so tempting to do. Thanks for this opportunity, Jeannine.
So very much looking forward to writing with you, Steve.
Wow! On the heels of the current intensive, I'm so looking forward to furthering my awareness. 💖
Me, too. I think it might be a kind of deepening.
I want to jump for joy. I recently wrote about Adrienne Maree Brown’s Pleasure Activism, and I just reserved a copy at the library, so this is perfect. Can’t wait!
Yesss!!! I love Adrienne Marie Brown!
This is going to be so good. For me, for anyone who has had or still has trouble being in their bodies and feeling pleasure without guilt. And because it’s you,Jeannine, and because of all the people here, it will be a wonderfully safe place to swim in this awareness, this exploring.
Yes! I find that I like to teach things I want to learn, or learn better.
Coming off the heels of the last intensive, I'm excited to keep going in this direction! Especially because the state of things outside my control easily dislodge sensory pleasure in my body. Thank you for helping us expand!
I'm excited too. I am seeking antidotes.
This next intensive sounds like a response to a longing I didn't know I had. Can. Not. Wait!
Excellent, so so happy to hear this! xo
Oh holy yes! I'm so here for that!
Yay! Me, too.
I am delighting in the fact that we will focus on the topic of pleasure next! I need this, Jeannine. I am prone to melancholy and it is good for me to pay more attention to the sensory experiences surrounding me. Good in more ways than simply improving my writing--good, because it also seems to change my neural wiring so that I am more apt to find the small ways that beauty exists in the world. Thank you!
I am so glad this is resonating. I really look forward to it! I am prone to melancholy too ...
Sounds wonderful. I look forward to re-membering myself back into the weave of this community.
I always look forward to your words, Susan. xo
As a post-menopausal woman I feel disconnected from the idea of sensory pleasure, though I'm happy to say I felt the sensual pleasure of my moving body while dancing yesterday, such good medicine.
Me too, Sheila! I went to an outdoor venue yesterday and danced like no one was watching. Pure pleasure...the BEST medicine.
I think this intensive is meant for exactly this--to reconnect to the idea of the vast range of sensory pleasure, and this is coming from one post-menopausal woman to another!