Tribes

I have long been interested in my sense of belonging and the confusion it has brought me, both within my original family and within the hundreds of groups I have met, worked with, lived with and associated with. Coming in and out of a sense of belonging in each one, each one creating a thread of connection, yet, never seeming to bring them all together to feel I have found my place. Like this photograph, the houses in a circle, connected yet separate, similar, yet completely diffferent, part of a whole in some way. Would the question be, how does my own sense of "wholeness" come to being? Is that when I feel I belong? Probably, I can do this quite easily with thought, feeling, a oneness type vibe......yet I have had a dry spell of seeing that reflected in my every day life, the connections between people and activities I do are more disparate than ever. There isn't a strong thread to it all, perhaps a "new flavour" of what I seek to join in the outside world has taken some time to emerge. I have been separated from my family for some time, lost both my parents and perhaps the time has been about relinquishing that thread in real time and laying it to rest as part of the tapestry of threads I have already woven ( I realise I am speaking somewhat in riddle and metaphor, but its easier somehow!) So the new thread - the new connections - the new tribe - the new belonging???? I feel that as my 40's approach this will be the time in life that new connections and beginnings will have a flavour of perhaps previous ones, that I will be doing a bit of alchemy and mixing them up together and creating new and more vital connections to the things that bring me alive and give me a sense of place in the world. Beyond my original family, where there is an unconditional bond, beyond the values and norms of my immediate community, something more refined and specific to me. That would be great! Creative and energetic people, groups of like minded individuals and perhaps more of a sense of gathering things to me and less of my seeking it out. Natural attraction and creation - I am hoping that life will flow and with it, the sense of tribe and connections around me will grow.

Learning

I have recently realised that my work and interest in life is with learning and transition; ultimately with change. Change is inevitable, perhaps it can be seen as the flow of life, the movement and it can be a noun or a verb and I work with people who are interested in the action word, not to sit and wait for change to happen to them. Focussing on the desire to be aware of the need for change, embrace un-expected change and plan for change. Living in the moment with the ability to accept, adapt and remain integral and true to a chosen path in business, creative pursuit, education, relationships or life; is a skill and discipline I feel is well worth learning.

The factors and circumstances that operate around us and within us are not always under our control but our response, thoughts and feelings and how we relate to these can to some extent be pivotal as to how at ease we feel in the world.

Social entrepreuners, creatives and others that have core values at the heart of their lives and work; to me, offer the basic foundation for working in this way. Using reflective enquiry and a creative thought process to move through change, be active, alive and ultimately make a difference with the things that we choose to do. So as someone once said, I forget who, the only real control we have in life is the choices we make and being courageous, true and daring with these from a place of true integrity will surely make a difference to the quality of our living?

Porcelain has a memory.....

Porcelain has a memory and cannot be reshaped ... you shape it and then you change it. After firing it returns to how it was initially. So you have just one chance to make it......I think this is amazing and adds interest to me to a material that has such delicate and ethereal qualities but which is strong and durable and obviously quiet clever, it likes to keep it's strength and not be weakened by being messed about, once it's mind is made up, it's thrown, it holds tight...incredible...

These wall lights are by Victoria Hutchinson, see more of
her work at: http://www.victoriahutchinsonceramics.com

Writing as a voice?

I had a lengthy chat with the facilitator of a creative writing group last night, we met accidentally over a plate of pineapple and cheese at a party (yes, the retro theme was in full flow, there were also a hundred types of quiche, but the odd olive and pine nut salad made an appearance to bring us up to date)

Anyway, after the chat I realised she had somehow managed to get me to reveal most of my writing habits, get me to reflect on the notion that I have always in fact written and that it has always been my way of voiceing my thoughts and observations and not declare them to anyone. She spoke of the personality of a writer being the observer and somewhat detached from things, this was a rather uncomfortable notion but one that i identified with all the same.

Recently this "private" voice has been getting quite bored with itself and not having an outlet for the "observational" quality of my existence has been frustrating. Does this mean I am a frustrated writer? That perhaps this is the turning point to wanting to find new ways of expressing my view of life and what goes on in it? I expect so, I suspected so and this conversation has almost brought the reality and urgency to come out of my detachment just a bit more and make some connections, afterall she seemed to enjoy my observations on life and we connected.

Later I will write more about creativity and how i think, in general, aritsts, creatives and writers perhaps all have a way of seeing that looks between the cracks, underneath, sideways and from above at the things in life other folk dont feel pressed to express but will recognise as soon as someone reveals it to them in a form that is "acceptable"! Why else would people roar with laughter at "the office" sketch but never really enjoy the real life moments that they encounter every day - have we somehow dulled our senses!