life and art
I haven’t been sleeping again, soI started writing myself a little insomnia companion book for the dark hours… Picture a sandy shore, right at the edge where the waves wash up. Imagine this is your mind. Listen to the sound of your breath. Imagine it is the waves of the ocean. Breathe in – the …
Continue reading “Insomnia companion, part 1: the sandy shore”
The funny thing about cancer is that it puts blinders on, so everything that isn’t focused on pure survival gets pushed to the side. Obviously it’s a huge relief to be feeling better to do more, and reengage with life. But emerging back into normal life, where all those other concerns come rushing to the …
Continue reading “A simple barometer for complex life choices”
I keep having bad dreams. Not even interesting bad dreams. I have been having the most boring bad dreams imaginable. Last night, I was doing my taxes for hours – adding figures, calculating things out, entering form numbers. The two nights prior to that, I spent all night researching nurseries for Rose, making calls, and …
In my meditation group tonight, our teacher talked a bit about the value of setting intentions – for a given night of practice, or even for an entire year. He likened this to driving without a map from London to Newcastle, far in the North of England. You’ll get there eventually, but it might take …
Continue reading “Setting intentions creates a map for your life”
Today I attended a workshop through ‘Look Good Feel Better’. It’s a wonderful charity where expert volunteers provide a makeup workshop for women being treated for cancer, and everyone leaves with a goody bag donated by cosmetics companies. I had a really lovely time and felt quite spoiled with all the goodies. But the best part …
Last week, I lost the medical bracelet I had been wearing religiously since April, when my Powerport was implanted. The bracelet was simple – a flexible silicon band, with imprinted letters you had to look closely to make out. It was dark grey – unobtrusive and unflashy. After the surgery to place the port, I …
Continue reading “Losing a bracelet: or, discovering a new normal”
I’ve been having dreams about breasts. A few nights ago, there was a dream where I had a baby. I’m not sure whether it was a boy or a girl, it was a mystery. The baby was still very tiny. The baby started rooting – I lifted them to my breast, and they fed. I …
Autumn is my favourite time of year, she said. With a burst of transcendent colour.Like a sunset,The world marks its endingIn shades of flame. And yet,The ending isn’t an ending.There is life buriedIn the marrow of that wood.There is a promise of returnAfter the cold cleansing,and frosty quietOf a winter’s rest. Let us revel in …
Continue reading “Autumn is my favourite time of year, she said.”
Endings are hard. Yet Autumn is possibly the most psychologically delicious season. Ask people what their favourite season is – most of my friends say Autumn. It has a warm, rich feeling – bonfires, cider, crunching leaves, a particular kind of golden sunshine. But part of the appeal for me, I think, was that it …
I love flying BA, because they have such a great music selection I always end up discovering new things. I’d read about ’12 Little Spells’ when it came out a year ago, but hadn’t ever listened to Esperanza Spalding’s work. Each little spell is dedicated to a specific part of the body – conjuring and …
Continue reading “12 Little Spells by Esperanza Spalding is pure magic”
