Volume VIII, Issue 51
December 24, 2019
Dear ,
Merry Christmas! I'm sending this week's zine a day early, because . . . well, you know! There is merriment to be had.
We've started ours already, with a beautiful, joy-filled early Epiphany celebration with dear friends with whom we've celebrated Epiphany since our daughter Amanda was the same age as her daughter, Ellie, is now, one-and-a-half.
Now that our kids have grown, we have to work around multiple schedules and travel plans, but our tradition continues. We gather to celebrate, to share laughter and
stories, both old and new.
But, in addition to the merriment, there is stillness to be had as well, a stillness that is also a part of the gift of this holy time of year, whatever faith tradition you celebrate.
I'm pretty sure that this is one of the reasons that the hymn "Silent Night," composed in the small town of Oberndorf bei Salzburg,
Austria, by Franz Xaver Gruber in 1818 to the lyrics "Stille Nacht, Heilige Nacht" by Joseph Mohr, is so beloved, even after two full centuries.
One of our family traditions is to light a candle and have one of our children put Baby Jesus in the manger. This is Amanda, back in 1989.
This week, in honor of the importance of taking time for stillness in our lives, I'm sharing a very special reflection called "Stillpoint" written by my friend Kathy for Our Blue Boat, a blog on reconnecting to our earthly home whose name was inspired by the lovely lyrics of singer/songwriter Peter Mayer, who calls the earth “our beautiful blue boat home.”
May both merriment and stillness shine bright in your heart through this season, throughout the year to come.
Love and light,
Maureen
Featured Writing
Stillpoint
by
Kathy
“Still point…a place of absolute calm
where thoughts are stifled
and the mind is truly quiet.”
~ Robert Harris
December rides in on two white horses.
The first is feisty, with muscles straining against the bridle and reins. High stepping and prancing, she throws her head back, snorting steamy billows of breath into the cold breeze. Silky coat ripples with tension and excitement. Front hooves stomp the ground. Go, go, go! explodes from her body.
In contrast, the second stands quietly in the field. She watches, softly inhaling the crystallized air stirring around her. Beautifully bare trees circle the land. A winter chill envelopes her, asking for a slow heartbeat to keep her warm. She is present and aware each moment.
The two horses symbolize the parallel stories we experience this time of year. One is hectic, busy with to-do lists, shopping, celebrating and preparing. The other seeks to find hope, compassion, grace and gratitude among the chaos.
Balancing these opposite pulls can be challenging.
I’ve begun a simple, daily practice in which I find a picture, an object or a view outside for a focal point. Mine is the featured image for this post. I see the fence as my day-to-day reality, providing grounding and a reminder to set boundaries. I feel the open space beyond, holding pure possibility, lightness and
hope.
I take a few minutes to sit quietly. I breathe and wait until my mind settles…finding the stillpoint.
Mother Earth, I believe, feels the same way. She rotates around the sun all year, orchestrating the four seasons, equinoxes and solstices. Twice a year, the Sun seems to stand still on its journey along the horizon. These are the solstice times or “sun stopped” times…the magic moments. The time before the great wheels of the year slowly begin to turn back toward the light once
again.
The stillpoint.
WordPlay Now! Writing Prompt
This is WordPlay—so why not revel in the power and potential of one good word after another? This week, it's "still."
PROMPT: Take at least one "stillness" break each day this week, even if it's only for five minutes. Allow yourself to, as Kathy does, "find a picture, an object or a view outside for a focal point, then see and feel what this picture, object, or view has to offer
you. "Breathe and wait until [your] mind settles…finding the stillpoint." You can follow this with writing, or simply let this stillpoint nurture you and your
creativity.
It's fun to play with prompts in community with fellow writers, and to be able to share the results when you're done. You can find out about WordPlay classes, workshops, and retreats here.
WordPlay Offerings
UNDER CONSTRUCTION: YOUR WRITING
(Fulfilling Writing Dreams & Goals; Creating New Writing; Revising & Polishing Your Writing)
This class is designed to fulfill your writing dreams and projects. You’ll set goals and support structures and watch your writing flow! You’ll also get feedback on your work (any genre) and learn revision tools and methods. Each week, writing prompts will
generate material for new writing or further a piece in process, whatever your preferred genre. Through examples of accomplished writers, you’ll learn techniques to aid you right where you are in the process.
WHERE: Covenant Presbyterian Recreation Center, 1000 East Morehead Street, Charlotte, 28204. Click here for map.
WHEN: W12 Wednesday mornings from 10:00 a.m. – noon, starting in September, 2019.
COST: $435
TO REGISTER: Please email me at info@wordplaynow.com to start the registration process by filling out a short “Clarity Tool” to share your writing dreams and goals and where you are in the process. (Anywhere you are is a perfect place to begin.) Then we'll have a conversation to answer any questions and to ensure that this class is a great fit for you.
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How Do I Say Goodbye?
and
These two books are for anyone who is grieving the loss of a loved one—whether the loss is impending, recent, or in
the past. (The holiday season, for all its overt merriment, is often a time we struggle the most with grief.)
The contemplative exercises within are a guide through the “many waters” of grief (from Madeleine L'Engle's A Two-Part Invention), including "treasuring" and "keeping" as well as regret and sadness.
What is grief, after all, but a sign of the depth of our love? On the far shore is always gratefulness, for, as the French proverb says, “Gratitude is the heart’s memory.” Those who enjoy writing will likely also find poems, essays, and/or stories emerging as they make their way through these pages.
I created the process shared in these two books in June of 2002, shortly after my mother died, as a way to mindfully mourn this loss—and celebrate her life. I shared it with a beloved friend, the Reverend Rebecca Taylor, when she lost her father, and she encouraged me to make it available to others. Here it is, in two versions, both of which offer quotes, reflections, prompts, and space to write about your loved one, as well as beautiful photographs by Wendy H. Gill that enhance each part of the process. Either version makes
a thoughtful condolence gift for a friend or family member.
How Do I Say Goodbye? contains quotes from a wide variety of sources to accompany the process. It can be purchased on Amazon here.
Praying You Goodbye is specifically for Christians, with accompanying quotes from Scripture chosen by Reverend Rebecca Taylor. It can be purchased on Amazon here.
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TAG, I'M IT!
Both the year-long TAG, I'M IT! AND three-month TAG, I'M IT! journals offer—in no more than five to fifteen minutes—a simple way to recap and celebrate the very best of each day of your life. The practice of writing out your “T’s” (things you’re thankful for), “A’s” (actions you can acknowledge yourself for), and “G’s” (gifts you’re grateful for) is a transformative one, especially combined with the final step, I’M IT!, in which you
intentionally choose three do-able, most-important-to-you actions you’ll take the next day.
The TAG, I'M IT! journal grounds you in two important habits: keeping your focus on appreciating and celebrating the good in your life and intentionally accomplishing what matters most to you. You’ll also create a record of your most meaningful, happiest events and experiences.
Start your journal—or restart, if needed—whenever you like. (Though a new year is a perfect time!)
An introduction with tips and ideas will help you make this practice your own. Soon, you’ll notice that you’re living your days with more joy, presence, purpose, and intention.
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POETRY ROCKS!
Would you like your writing — prose and/or poetry — to be more graceful, powerful, beautiful? Do you sometimes find poetry confusing or intimidating and wish you could “crack the code”? Or do you enjoy writing and reading poems, but want a more thorough understanding of what makes a poem good? Then this poetry extravaganza is for you.
Expect a good time exploring what makes a poem a poem, gaining the knowledge you need to confidently create and revise poetry, and strengthening your writing skills in all genres.
It would be a joy and an honor to share what rocks about poetry with you!
HERE’S WHAT YOU GET:
- 23 poetry creation tools, delivered one per day (Monday through Friday) to your inbox — in honor of National Poetry month. Use them as you get them, use them when you can, use them over and over to create poems. Each tool zeroes in on one aspect of poetry and provides an innovative method to approach writing a poem. Many of them are great for creating prose,
too. The tools include:
* a purpose, so you’re clear what you will learn
* background information when helpful
* “how-to” directions to create a poem
* an example that illustrates the poetry tool in action
* a short reflection to solidify the concepts covered
* “Hone Your Craft” suggestions for further exploration
* a short reflection to solidify the concepts covered
- A PDF document of each tool that you can print or save on your computer
- An audio recording of each tool, so you can learn by listening and/or reading
- Instruction on the role of audience, reading like a writer, and the process of revision, including a handy Revision Checkpoint Chart — this information can be applied to strengthen your prose as well as poetry
- Additional poetry resources
- An e-book that contains the information and resources covered, as well as your 23 poetry creation tools for ongoing use
WHERE: From the comfort of your own home, via the web.
WHEN: Any time you want! And once you receive all 23 tools, they’re yours to keep, which means that you can keep using them for years to come.
COST: $45
TO REGISTER: To pay with a check via mail, email info@wordplaynow.com for instructions. To register for Poetry Rocks online, click here.
More WordPlay opportunities coming soon. Stay posted!
MAUREEN RYAN GRIFFIN, an award-winning poetry and nonfiction writer, is the author of Spinning Words into Gold, a Hands-On Guide to the Craft of
Writing, a grief workbook entitled I Will Never Forget You, and three collections of poetry, Ten Thousand Cicadas Can't Be Wrong, This Scatter of Blossoms and When the Leaves Are in the Water.
She believes, as author Julia Cameron says, "We are meant to midwife dreams for one another." Maureen also believes that serious "word work" requires serious WordPlay, as play is how we humans best
learn—and perform. What she loves best is witnessing all the other dreams that come true for her clients along the way. Language, when used with intentionality and focus, is, after all, serious fuel for joy. Here's to yours!
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