Selling the skill of empathy and attunement in this cruel world!!
Some examples of prompts I've had so far - a funny wedding speech poem from the best man to his friend, poems about sonder, schadenfreude, being a parentified child, the apocalypse and transforming the definition of what it means to be a strong man. It's been sweet and connecting doing these, and interesting to see what comes out when I engage with topics I wouldn't always naturally.
Funny/absurd/silly prompts are always welcome too, lawdy knows I need more motivation to lean into play ๐
Ps. I absolutely never have to share the poem online once it's written- if that's preferred just say.
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It's taken a while to move through the fear of vulnerability of posting this but here we are ๐๐ฝ
Melissa really helped me feel seen and held during my trip to the beautiful @landofenchantment.spain in Spain. It came at a brutal time, with a friend's passing just before. There was and is so much to grieve right now.
Melissa proposed making a poetry video, partly to help me to see myself from the outside, past the shame. So we made this on the last day, where she captured me in my favourite spots doing what I'd been doing during the week (besides the teary panic attacks!). Life felt too pointless to write about the pain at first, so doing this motivated me to write something finally, to take it out of the dark and it actually ended up being a really lovely, life giving and connected day.
Silver linings, always.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to you both - incredible, powerful, revolutionary witches, standing at the thresholds. @miloumignon@melissalyonwest
So much respect and appreciation for yous and all you are doing in the world and through your beingsโฅ๏ธ
Full video on YouTube-link in bio or story.
And you can read the written version on my Substack. X
Share if you feel it x
Happy Mother's day.
I wish I could have known mine, and it kills me that after finally reuniting, I still probably can't have a relationship with her now. I keep trying and it keeps leading to too much pain.
At least I get to feel love for her now, and I'm less afraid of being made from her.
Feeling a shit tonna anger and grief for her and all those mothers ruthlessly fucked over by oppressive systems.
You deserve so much more.
Bring on the matrianarchy bitchez.
We made โฌ333.60 for @womenforafghanwomen
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Happy International women's day for yesterday.
This event was a gorgeous end to a very shite mental health week. Feeling so grateful for the connected community at yama, for all the delicious music, poetry and cuddles.
First vid is a cover of one of my favourite songs "there she is again" by @leahlivefree
Couldn't fit the musicians in this vid unfortunately but the music is played by the incredible @mudra_chicoine
and @l0tusbleu
2nd video is a small bit of my poem "You Cannot Kill Kali"- listen to the full thing on Soundcloud which is linked on biyo.
Improvised Butoh dancer @paul.michael.henry came on last minute without knowing even what the poem was about and opened up to it. Fuck yeah.
Words-
In deep grieving for lost sovereignty
I cry and growl in your mouth
"Yes" you yell
"Louder" you shout
"Show me what it made you feel
Show yourself you can get angry"
I pin you down, I roar and scream
All those feelings, smothered til I'm nothing,
They're coming out now finally TRUSTING!!
"Rougher, louder" you shout
"You no longer need
To keep that pain down!"
I claw, bite and howl
Eyes wide in shock and pride,
You smile and say-
You can be in your power...
Love can meet you in your power...
๐๐จ ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐ซ๐ซ๐๐ง๐๐๐ซ ๐๐จ๐๐ฌ ๐ง๐จ๐ญ ๐ฆ๐๐๐ง ๐ญ๐จ ๐ ๐ข๐ฏ๐ ๐ฎ๐ฉ. What if changing your perspective around the concept of surrendering allowed you to see it as a moment to plunge into freedom?
What if the pain youโre feeling is asking you to finally accept and free yourself of that which you havenโt been willing to? What would full acceptance feel like?
Sometimes it requires letting go (of an idea, an identity, a habit, a person). Everything that brought you here will not take you to the next phase of your life - things have got to give. Transformation requires change.
And where does that pain exist within?
It needs full embodied commitment, and our bodies may not be used to surrendering... so our nervous system flares up and everything tenses. Diving into our fears without knowing the outcome can be scary, hard work.
And what if this moment is exactly where you are supposed to be to learn a profound insight about yourself, leaving you more empowered than the previous version of yourself youโve clearly already outgrown?
And what if you could, within a single moment, have a cup of tea with your pain before releasing it?
Would you wait until tomorrow?
Surrendering to me means moving forward with courageous acceptance & compassionate accountability. And accountability heals. Being responsible for myself, for my heart. Being responsible for my own actions, to the things that I create out of love.
Thereโs healing in that.
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Thank you to the beautiful @riabronte_ โค๏ธโ๐ฅ
Sporting @corbridge_yoga_studio merch
#tmj #massage #bodywork #massagetherapist #myofascialrelease
2 weeks tomorrow!
A cry and a celebration of unity, tenderness, freedom and heart centered power.
Excited to share some songs alongside poetry for the first time too :)
Acts will be announced soon โฅ๏ธ
Link is in bio to nab your ticket.
Very grateful to the man who told me some of his story and commissioned this poem into existing.
Good timing too as I'm also (always) trying to break free from the shadow of "tough love" and am currently challenging my own stories of what a man "should be"- which involves noticing how I unconsciously enable and reward a lack of vulnerability in partners. Choppy waters, so thank fuck for these wee poetic life rafts in amidst.
I'm here if you want to give me a theme, word, story or experience to write from. On a donation basis currently :)
(Songs to accompany the poem are carefully picked and shared at the end.)
