Welcome dear ones

I’m happy you’re here!

Because, I believe we need to give more time to the nourishment of creativity AND exploring the other than human world as an intelligent force. The practices that connect us to something bigger, elements of life that require us to seek different parts of our body and understanding - the imagination. Allowing the mystery of not knowing what the ‘other’ is - nor the outcome of that exploration.

What if stones sang? What if bird was bearing witness to us, not only the other way around? What is their take on it all?

Maybe these five days are the seed for something more to come, maybe you just had time each day to be with yourself, nature and your imagination. I think all three are highly important.

This is all about nourishing your creative bones, through the senses, relationship with the natural world, your body and finally through your words.

And I also know how these things can go - maybe you just get to one prompt, one day, or you skip around. It’s all good, there are no rules. You can respond to the prompts in Haiku or long essay.

The practices

Each day has a short warm up prompt and a longer practice. It could be your 5 minute morning ritual and an afternoon break. You can offer them as much time as you like, but if you are one for structure I’d recommend you set aside 20-30 minutes per day.

If you want to share your writing on SoMe, I’d love to read, comment and share. Use the #gatheringsingingstones and/or tag me and I’ll keep my eye out.

Make a brew, light a candle, get a journal and your favorite pen. Most of all I hope you enjoy yourself.

x

Carina

Practice one: Warm up

Close your eyes and imagine that you are walking outside and suddenly your body begins to change. You’re becoming part animal. Sit with this for at least 5 minutes.

Which animal? Which part of your body?

What changes about your experience as you walk? What do you notice, sense, begin to understand about the landscape or setting you are in?

Where or what does it lead you toward?

Spend some time with the images forming, gathering as much detail as you can, before you write.

Practice two: Expanding

We’ve come far in regards to the other than human world being inanimate. We’re discovering other truths about the hierarchy and intelligence that coexists here with us. And that is a really really good thing!

Watch the film above.

Next, write about a time where you had a meeting with an other than human being that gave you insight into another world and understanding.

Describe the meeting. Where, how and what shifted in you because of that?