Woolgathering II

A few more posts have been appended from various years, with a common theme: the real or imagined relationship we share with other species. I may add a few more in the next few days, so watch this space. K & I were crossing this meadow on Christmas day, it being a mild winter and…

Woolgathering I

While these writings are being reorganized, a process that may never end, I thought it might be amusing to feature some older posts, freshly edited; juxtaposing them with more recent ones on similar themes. You'll see a couple below, from 2006 and 2007.

Parting thought: Life’s Purpose

I came to know about Byron Katie through her husband Stephen Mitchell whom I encountered through his translations of Gilgamesh and the Tao Te Ching. Her work, as expressed in books, videos, website and notably workshops staged in many countries, fits easily into the “self-help” genre, especially that aspect which focuses on human relationships and…

A moment

After the early morning rain, I found this snail a-wayfaring on our garden wall. One thing that language can do, and I think it only possible in written language, is to unwrap the content of a moment of consciousness, to examine and share it. Not every moment, of course. Rare moments. Such a one occurred…

The slug, my ancestor

Andrew Marr’s Start the Week programme on BBC radio had four scientists as guests, including Richard Dawkins, that missionary for his indivisible cause, “evolution and atheism”. Perhaps he is the progenitor of that hybrid, for I don’t recall Darwin himself being an atheist. I understand Dawkins’ line of reasoning well enough. But where we differ…

The present

There’s a heavy frost this morning, with little diamonds catching the sun. I took pity on the black cat that makes eyes at me every day as it sits on the fence and looks in. It is very grateful, wandering everywhere exploring, delighted to be in the warm. Someone feeds it but it doesn't seem…

Root and Flower

I am drawn to the root of my existence, but it's hidden. If I dig it up to try and take a look, the plant will be disturbed. But then there is the possibility of writing—this thing I'm doing now. This is  the plant's flower, this is how it expresses itself. It looks flamboyant to…

Seagulls

I went out at 7 this overcast morning to buy fresh lemons for pancakes, passing the Bethany Gospel Hall on the way back. There’s usually a lone seagull perching on the roof, over the main door, like the guardian angel of this chapel. Why here? Does it defend the perch from rival birds? What makes…

Depth

Violets April 30th Just as a tree knows how to grow, I know in my deep self (which I refuse to call spirit or God) how to be me. Kathy was puzzled at my proposal that some things, lumped together under the word “spirituality”, are too precious to be spoken about. I’m grateful to you…