This essay brought up a lot of feelings for me that I want to take time to sit with and process, but I just wanted to say thank you. The words you write come from a place that is not easy to access... and the fact that you do is courageous and deeply appreciated.
Thank you Rachel. I so appreciate your kind words 🙏 I'm exhausted today - there's been too much 'output' in my life, and not enough 'input' but I'm so grateful that my work resonates with you. That makes the tiredness feel worthwhile. Thank you again 🙏
i loved this. You are SUCH a beautiful and brilliantly clear writer.
I've just this week re-started doing Morning Pages for the first time in years, and had forgotten just HOW much they help me figure things out.
Re getting in your own way: on my desk is a post-it that says "Those thoughts are a HABIT". It's referring to the thoughts where I shit on myself and tell myself what a loser and a failure I am. A habit that I can choose to turn away from, once I notice it's happening.
Thank you Em. You kind words are precious fuel for me when those voices raise their ugly heads. 🙏 Godspeed with the Morning Pages - I wrote tons this morning and felt so much lighter afterwards.
I so enjoyed working my way through the Artists Way which I did a long time ago now - but still remember words or phrases or exercises from every now and again. It is definitely a book which stays with you.
I most relate to the parts of this piece about trauma. Oh do I know that freeze response so well and judging it and working out how to unfreeze slowly. Or living in a state of disassociation for a very long time.
I also know those 'less bad' aggressions can have such deep and confusing trauma impacts as what is considered by the legal system as a more serious crime. I am glad that the legal definitions of rape have broadened over the last 20 years. but I don't think public image, the culture of victim blame or the social understanding of how these crimes operate have shifted enough. And these types of aggressions often end up being very hard to explain, have support with or prosecute.
This is a very big topic - which I could keep writing about - but I will leave it there for now. In short - I relate and appreciate you writing about these issues.
Thank you Catriona. I agree with you re: the need for a broader societal shift. It gives me hope to know that there are people who are at least open to reading and learning about this topic. I apprecaite you being here 🙏
This is an amazing essay! I love how you write!💖 And I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. You write about your inner world in such a profound way💜 Trauma blocked my view on the world, too, and I have to thank the Artist’s Way to open up my eyes properly. Thanks for the forest bathing tip too, I’ll visit Ireland in July, maybe they’ll have an event then 😊
This is beautiful, Clare. It's been years since I read The Artist's Way, and I'm inspired to return to it - and to get nature stoned!
Do you know of Jeannine Ouellette here on Substack? She writes about attention quite a bit and its role in writing and creating. You might enjoy her work: https://writinginthedark.substack.com/
Thank your for being another person I want to join the journey of life with! Openness, honesty, truth, experience, pain…all put out there for others to not feel alone and know the journey we are on is together, not separate.
‘As with many hard things in life, the ‘cure’ was only slightly less devastating than the illness.’ This resonates so much with my experience. I honestly don’t know if I’m ‘cured’ or ‘healing’ so much as becoming closer to the person I might have been without my many traumatic experiences. In plural because apart from the initial harm I suffered I have also experienced the ‘normal’ life of being catcalled, and followed and workplace harassment. Just writing this out I experience an urge to say mild harassment because that’s how deep my conditioning goes. Thank you for putting into words the feelings trapped inside me.
I too have found a lot of comfort in going to the forest. It took me a while to find the courage to go alone, but every time I complete a solo walk, I feel a little bit more free.
Thank you Dee. I'm hoping to make it to the forest this weekend for exactly that reason.
I'm sorry for the trauma you experienced. I also have to fight the urge to qualify some of my experiences with words like "mild" or "minor" but each one of them was a trauma that lives in my mind and body. Thank you for being here 🙏
The Artist's Way was life changing for me. I did it three years ago and some of the positive effects still endure. I'm not as consistent with my morning pages as I once was, but I've embraced the progress I have made versus worrying about the days I miss.
I think that's the perfect approach, SB. Few of us can do anything every single day but when we strive to do it as much as we can, the benefits are clear. Thanks for your comment. I'm so glad that The Artist's Way was a meaningful process for you.
This is so beautifully and thoughtfully written, Clare, and was a good reminder for me - thank you! Also, as far as being nature stoned, I regularly go on long walks and take photos of flowers or anything growing abs green, and have found this incredibly soothing and a delight. For quite a while, my instagram was only photos of flowers. (Then my grandchildren were born, lol.) But again, thank you. l found this moving and inspirational.
Thank you Constance. I think we underestimate the healing power of nature, even in our small daily interactions. I wish you a pleasant nature high, and thank you again for your kind words.
This essay brought up a lot of feelings for me that I want to take time to sit with and process, but I just wanted to say thank you. The words you write come from a place that is not easy to access... and the fact that you do is courageous and deeply appreciated.
Thank you Rachel. I so appreciate your kind words 🙏 I'm exhausted today - there's been too much 'output' in my life, and not enough 'input' but I'm so grateful that my work resonates with you. That makes the tiredness feel worthwhile. Thank you again 🙏
i loved this. You are SUCH a beautiful and brilliantly clear writer.
I've just this week re-started doing Morning Pages for the first time in years, and had forgotten just HOW much they help me figure things out.
Re getting in your own way: on my desk is a post-it that says "Those thoughts are a HABIT". It's referring to the thoughts where I shit on myself and tell myself what a loser and a failure I am. A habit that I can choose to turn away from, once I notice it's happening.
Thank you Em. You kind words are precious fuel for me when those voices raise their ugly heads. 🙏 Godspeed with the Morning Pages - I wrote tons this morning and felt so much lighter afterwards.
I so enjoyed working my way through the Artists Way which I did a long time ago now - but still remember words or phrases or exercises from every now and again. It is definitely a book which stays with you.
I most relate to the parts of this piece about trauma. Oh do I know that freeze response so well and judging it and working out how to unfreeze slowly. Or living in a state of disassociation for a very long time.
I also know those 'less bad' aggressions can have such deep and confusing trauma impacts as what is considered by the legal system as a more serious crime. I am glad that the legal definitions of rape have broadened over the last 20 years. but I don't think public image, the culture of victim blame or the social understanding of how these crimes operate have shifted enough. And these types of aggressions often end up being very hard to explain, have support with or prosecute.
This is a very big topic - which I could keep writing about - but I will leave it there for now. In short - I relate and appreciate you writing about these issues.
Thank you Catriona. I agree with you re: the need for a broader societal shift. It gives me hope to know that there are people who are at least open to reading and learning about this topic. I apprecaite you being here 🙏
Also, l empathize deeply about the trauma you experienced and am sending love.
This is an amazing essay! I love how you write!💖 And I’m so sorry for what you’ve been through. You write about your inner world in such a profound way💜 Trauma blocked my view on the world, too, and I have to thank the Artist’s Way to open up my eyes properly. Thanks for the forest bathing tip too, I’ll visit Ireland in July, maybe they’ll have an event then 😊
Thank you Mazsi, that's so kind of you! Highlighly recommend forrest bathing too - I loved it so much I'm planning to go back! :)
This is beautiful, Clare. It's been years since I read The Artist's Way, and I'm inspired to return to it - and to get nature stoned!
Do you know of Jeannine Ouellette here on Substack? She writes about attention quite a bit and its role in writing and creating. You might enjoy her work: https://writinginthedark.substack.com/
Thank you for your beautiful, touching writing!
Hi Dana, thanks for your lovely comment. I am a fan of Jeannine's work. Her substack is great and I really adored her book too.
Thank your for being another person I want to join the journey of life with! Openness, honesty, truth, experience, pain…all put out there for others to not feel alone and know the journey we are on is together, not separate.
Thank you Cory. That means a lot 🙏
‘As with many hard things in life, the ‘cure’ was only slightly less devastating than the illness.’ This resonates so much with my experience. I honestly don’t know if I’m ‘cured’ or ‘healing’ so much as becoming closer to the person I might have been without my many traumatic experiences. In plural because apart from the initial harm I suffered I have also experienced the ‘normal’ life of being catcalled, and followed and workplace harassment. Just writing this out I experience an urge to say mild harassment because that’s how deep my conditioning goes. Thank you for putting into words the feelings trapped inside me.
I too have found a lot of comfort in going to the forest. It took me a while to find the courage to go alone, but every time I complete a solo walk, I feel a little bit more free.
Thank you Dee. I'm hoping to make it to the forest this weekend for exactly that reason.
I'm sorry for the trauma you experienced. I also have to fight the urge to qualify some of my experiences with words like "mild" or "minor" but each one of them was a trauma that lives in my mind and body. Thank you for being here 🙏
The Artist's Way was life changing for me. I did it three years ago and some of the positive effects still endure. I'm not as consistent with my morning pages as I once was, but I've embraced the progress I have made versus worrying about the days I miss.
I think that's the perfect approach, SB. Few of us can do anything every single day but when we strive to do it as much as we can, the benefits are clear. Thanks for your comment. I'm so glad that The Artist's Way was a meaningful process for you.
This is so beautifully and thoughtfully written, Clare, and was a good reminder for me - thank you! Also, as far as being nature stoned, I regularly go on long walks and take photos of flowers or anything growing abs green, and have found this incredibly soothing and a delight. For quite a while, my instagram was only photos of flowers. (Then my grandchildren were born, lol.) But again, thank you. l found this moving and inspirational.
Thank you Constance. I think we underestimate the healing power of nature, even in our small daily interactions. I wish you a pleasant nature high, and thank you again for your kind words.