Great post, Grant. Trauma is a part of the beautiful, horrible life and daily rituals DO help us cultivate life sustaining, life affirming creativity in little as well as big ways.
Thanks for this--I really like the image of the butterfly as the symbol for transcendence. My brother lost his teenage daughter a couple years ago and it's a wrenching pain hard to explain to someone who hasn't lived through it. However, I still think of Rumi and of how he created such beautiful poetry out of hardships and heartbreaks. Nowadays, I find myself writing poetry of strife, here and there--it bleeds into the page with indignation sometimes or rage. I'm also reading the Human Condition right now, and it's helping me understand (or at least settle my mind) with all this nonsense. Hannah herself, used to keep a pocket notebook for poetry--and apparently, she pulled it out to jot one or two sentences when she came things hard to understand or explain in linear form.
Thanks for sharing this Ariees, and I'm glad Isa's butterfly resonated with you. I think we're all charged with making poetry our of hardships and heartbreaks, like Rumi. No matter if that poetry contains rage from time to time.
“Isa’s ritual made me think about how when challenged creatively, instead of stepping away, it’s often better to focus on one small act of creativity, even if it’s writing just a single sentence.”
Thank you Grant, this little paragraph resonates with me. When I can’t write, I pick up my sketch pad and draw something. I tell myself to spend 30 minutes but usually end up drawing for an hour or more and feel more relaxed after. 😊
I love picking up your sketchpad when you can't write. Do a whole different artistic activity. I always say that one sentence leads to another, and you've shown how one line leads to another ...
Your writing here has always resonated with me. This past week is beyond my imagination. Hannah Arendt's words, "...because one deed, and sometimes one word, suffices to change every constellation,” I hope she's right. I think about what I, what most people can do to that will make noise, meaningful noise, have some impact.
"Meaningful noise" is a good thing to aspire to. If more and more of us make meaningful noise ... I've got a hunch the world will turn in a different direction.
Creating for me is the way. My formula is Dream, Write, Draw. … I established Creating Circle (https://beardogdreaming.com/workshops) as a way for people to once a week gather for an hour to create. I lead a shamanic drumming/meditation and then the circle turns to their form of creating. This helps participants to set aside worries of daily life and the chaos of the world and return to themselves. A kind of “replenishing the fountain”. …Those interested are welcome to join for a month or more. Creating Circle, for myself, is an act of dissent towards an administration bent on dismantling and negating a diverse America. It also is a continuation, an affirmation and commitment, to the work of my life’s purpose.
Grant, this essay is so moving. I'll check out the links. Thank you for continuing to share your thoughts each week on Substack. Your writing in this space is important, both as a ritual, and as an offering of inspiration and hope.
As usual, you capture the heart of the moment. Is the softness of your thoughts as they appear in words? It is a great vehicle by which your soul is revealed. And, well shared. My butterflies are poems, which lately have taken on a more political manifesto tone. They are like lyrical essays, written to evoke awareness to a state of mind toward a state of life personal and political. I share these short eruptions of thought via YouTube in song, delivered to me by my servants, suno dot ai, and VEED.io. Beware the harsh difficulty of understanding my words, if you listen @CleCurboSongs on YouTube. So unlike the soft baring of your soul.
Thanks so much for your kind words—and it's wonderful that you have your own "butterfly ritual." We all need one. I like your phrase "eruptions of thought." Thanks so much for sharing. I'll check them out.
Ritual is so critical to maintain sanity. Thank you for sharing.
Great post, Grant. Trauma is a part of the beautiful, horrible life and daily rituals DO help us cultivate life sustaining, life affirming creativity in little as well as big ways.
Thanks for this--I really like the image of the butterfly as the symbol for transcendence. My brother lost his teenage daughter a couple years ago and it's a wrenching pain hard to explain to someone who hasn't lived through it. However, I still think of Rumi and of how he created such beautiful poetry out of hardships and heartbreaks. Nowadays, I find myself writing poetry of strife, here and there--it bleeds into the page with indignation sometimes or rage. I'm also reading the Human Condition right now, and it's helping me understand (or at least settle my mind) with all this nonsense. Hannah herself, used to keep a pocket notebook for poetry--and apparently, she pulled it out to jot one or two sentences when she came things hard to understand or explain in linear form.
Thanks for sharing this Ariees, and I'm glad Isa's butterfly resonated with you. I think we're all charged with making poetry our of hardships and heartbreaks, like Rumi. No matter if that poetry contains rage from time to time.
“Isa’s ritual made me think about how when challenged creatively, instead of stepping away, it’s often better to focus on one small act of creativity, even if it’s writing just a single sentence.”
Thank you Grant, this little paragraph resonates with me. When I can’t write, I pick up my sketch pad and draw something. I tell myself to spend 30 minutes but usually end up drawing for an hour or more and feel more relaxed after. 😊
I love picking up your sketchpad when you can't write. Do a whole different artistic activity. I always say that one sentence leads to another, and you've shown how one line leads to another ...
Your writing here has always resonated with me. This past week is beyond my imagination. Hannah Arendt's words, "...because one deed, and sometimes one word, suffices to change every constellation,” I hope she's right. I think about what I, what most people can do to that will make noise, meaningful noise, have some impact.
"Meaningful noise" is a good thing to aspire to. If more and more of us make meaningful noise ... I've got a hunch the world will turn in a different direction.
I love that interwove Isa's art and ritual in this week! Blessings....
Oof all of this. Thank you for this Grant.
Creating for me is the way. My formula is Dream, Write, Draw. … I established Creating Circle (https://beardogdreaming.com/workshops) as a way for people to once a week gather for an hour to create. I lead a shamanic drumming/meditation and then the circle turns to their form of creating. This helps participants to set aside worries of daily life and the chaos of the world and return to themselves. A kind of “replenishing the fountain”. …Those interested are welcome to join for a month or more. Creating Circle, for myself, is an act of dissent towards an administration bent on dismantling and negating a diverse America. It also is a continuation, an affirmation and commitment, to the work of my life’s purpose.
Sounds like a wonderful program, Cassandra! Keep creating ... and dissenting!
Thanks for the wonderful words!
Thanks so much, Daphne! I hope your writing is going well, despite this past week.
Grant, this essay is so moving. I'll check out the links. Thank you for continuing to share your thoughts each week on Substack. Your writing in this space is important, both as a ritual, and as an offering of inspiration and hope.
Thanks so much for your kind words, Robin! I'm glad my thoughts resonate. I love writing these pieces.
heartbreaking and beautiful. Thank you 🩵🙏 🦋
I think we are all in need of ritual right now, thank you for this.
As usual, you capture the heart of the moment. Is the softness of your thoughts as they appear in words? It is a great vehicle by which your soul is revealed. And, well shared. My butterflies are poems, which lately have taken on a more political manifesto tone. They are like lyrical essays, written to evoke awareness to a state of mind toward a state of life personal and political. I share these short eruptions of thought via YouTube in song, delivered to me by my servants, suno dot ai, and VEED.io. Beware the harsh difficulty of understanding my words, if you listen @CleCurboSongs on YouTube. So unlike the soft baring of your soul.
Thanks so much for your kind words—and it's wonderful that you have your own "butterfly ritual." We all need one. I like your phrase "eruptions of thought." Thanks so much for sharing. I'll check them out.
Thanks for this piece, Grant. It touches and illuminate so many parts of life.