If we saw the brain As an elaborately folded flower Containing thought bees Nestling among the petals Searching for nectar We might think of the soul As the roots of that flower Drawing nutrients from the river mud.
See the world as a rabbit sees it. Wide angle view, Not straight ahead As a predator sees, But sidelong, as prey animals see.
Long shadows, Tall grass. Noting every hiding place. Ready to bolt At the first sign Of predators. Each breath taken Short and shallow. Darting from shelter To shelter. Grass here, Lettuce there. Sun is warm, Earth is kind.
Just out of the corner Of your conscious mind Something lurks in the shadows: A half forgotten memory Surfacing from below. A shark or a whale Sliding through dark water. The mountain of a lost continent, Land of make-believe And childhood imaginings, Or some drowned feeling Covered in seaweed. Not quite reachable, Not quite visible, But it leaves a trace As it heaves through The dark oily water.
Yvonne Aburrow (8:28 am, 21 April 2022)
Inspired by the phrase “submerged peaks” in Great Ships by ADAM ZAGAJEWSKI translated by CLARE CAVANAGH
I was on the Missing Witches podcast recently. It’s a new and original format for a podcast: more like a structured group chat, ably facilitated by the lovely hosts.
Among other things, we discussed the subject of the book I’m currently writing, Changing Paths, which is about changing from one spiritual path to another. I was also really pleased with the circle opening that I did for this episode.
What is the fulcrum of your life? Do you keep it in that drawer of odds and ends Near the sink? Or the basket of mismatched wool and thread That sits neglected under the bed? Does that old key still have a matching lock? What about the oddments sitting quiescent In the basement, gathering dust? Are any of these the key to your dreams? The one lever that would make you turn And view your life from a new angle, Or lift the carpet that hides the stain on the floor? What is that different fulcrum, That would turn your face to look up at the stars Or down at the flowers around your feet?
Yvonne Aburrow 9:34 pm, 18 April 2022
Inspired by the phrase “that different fulcrum” in Making Peace by DENISE LEVERTOV
Shadow work seems to be the thing all the kids are talking about these days. I assumed that people were talking about the integration of the shadow as is talked about in Jungian psychology. But do you know about the concept of the Golden Shadow? Check out my YouTube video, “Archetypes and shadow work” for more about Jungian shadow concepts, including the Golden Shadow.
Incredibly clear, beautifully written explanation of the Hermetic Qabala and its inherent queerness, expressed in the idea that there are three pillars (force, balance, and form), and that the Divine includes all genders and sexualities.
The book is written with style and wit by an expert in the subject. There are pathworkings to help you fully experience all aspects of the Qabala, and journal exercises to deepen your understanding of the worlds, spheres, and pathways of the Tree of Life.
All the aspects of the Tree are related to queer experiences and life events like coming out to yourself and others, and finding queer community. It explores both the wonderful and the scary aspects of being queer, including queer joy and sorrow.
This exploration of the many aspects of the Tree is grounded in a deep knowledge of the Qabala, and the overlapping Pagan and queer communities. This is a vision of Qabala that understands the importance of cyclicity: growth and decay, death and rebirth, darkness and light, immanence and transcendence, the manifest and the unmanifest.
It offers magical workings based on queer Qabala which relate to each sphere of the Tree of life and everyday experiences like getting a job or finishing a project. It is pragmatic and fun, accessible and inclusive.
This book will be valuable to everyone from beginners, who will find the subject thoroughly explored and explained, to people who are already working with Qabala, who will gain a fresh perspective on it. Sure to be a contemporary classic!