Thank you! I pushed play and turned my head toward the window, where three colors of leaves mercifully wave in the light, hot breeze that will chase our mercury down by tomorrow. I listened to your voice reading, grateful to have electricity after yesterday’s power outage, grateful that the wildfire smoke is not as thick as yesterday. And these words stood out to me with particular vividness:
“May each person carry out their tasks with a great tenderness. May each body be able to rest under a tree. May the cooks have everything they need. May the artists turn again to the colors they love.”
Writing in from the “away” as we speak. Breeze coming through the window carrying the scent of grass and plants, leaves shimmering on the big tree that fills my view.
hey sal, it's taken a while to get back to you on this, but not because of any lack of things to say. i've listened many times, and it's been making me think of many things, not least because it touches on so many things. you mention the state of the nation, and i assume you're mainly referring to the US, but since it's a poem, and since a nation can be all kinds of things, i'm not letting these references prevent me from receiving the spell as my own. it's interesting that you begin with "this is a spell to bring back what is forgotten." there's a whole lot of forgotten stuff i'm sure i wouldn't want back, but this makes me wonder what forgotten things i do want back, which immediately brings back some of those things, that were obviously not truly forgotten, so the spell works on that level (if it worked on the level of being able to bring back the other stuff, it'd probably be more of a curse). really like the way "this spell is breathing hard" enters the fray, adding a third term to the you/me set-up, there's you, there's me, and there's this breathing text that's doing some heavy lifting. by the time we get to "what were you thinking?" things are beginning to feel slightly desperate, and then the repetition of "this is a spell to hold you" is that classic reassuring/scary thing of "are things really this bad?" also interesting to listen at increased speeds: does doubling playback speed double the spell's efficacy? or halve it? look forward to reading and listening to more such incantations. or is it more of a one-off thing? greetings from berlin! n.
Nick! So wonderful to hear all this. Many thoughts, but I'm trying to stay away from media during this retreat, so I'll save them for now and catch up soon. Soon!
Nick! Finally catching up with things after that retreat. Two weeks of silence, good for the soul but it takes a bit of returning from. I'd love to do some more incantations. They seem to arise from the unconscious/less conscious parts of the mind and the self, and speak of their own accord. Yet at the same time my own experience of the state of the world — this US nation, and as you say, so many other nations, maybe all nations – makes me long for a bit of magical thinking and spooky action at a distance. Thinking of you there in Berlin (which does seem to be one of the best places to be) and sending love. S
Thank you so much for this beautiful poem/spell. This is a poem that I will return to again and again. It inspired the latest issue (#157) of my newsletter at jeanvengua.substack.com
Gorgeous.
Thank you, Constance!
Thank you so much. Exactly what I need to hear. And I will read it many times very beautiful and true.
Wonderful to hear, Maj-Britt! I love the thought that it could be helpful.
good witch!
As are you!
This is beautiful Sal and made my day.
Frauke, next time I’ll add more aromas!
I would love that! 😊
Thank you! I pushed play and turned my head toward the window, where three colors of leaves mercifully wave in the light, hot breeze that will chase our mercury down by tomorrow. I listened to your voice reading, grateful to have electricity after yesterday’s power outage, grateful that the wildfire smoke is not as thick as yesterday. And these words stood out to me with particular vividness:
“May each person carry out their tasks with a great tenderness. May each body be able to rest under a tree. May the cooks have everything they need. May the artists turn again to the colors they love.”
Wishing you a spirited time away.
Writing in from the “away” as we speak. Breeze coming through the window carrying the scent of grass and plants, leaves shimmering on the big tree that fills my view.
Enchanting! 😉
I fell under the spell! All I needed was to hear the passion in your voice. Thank you for sharing and making my day :)
Thank you!!
hey sal, it's taken a while to get back to you on this, but not because of any lack of things to say. i've listened many times, and it's been making me think of many things, not least because it touches on so many things. you mention the state of the nation, and i assume you're mainly referring to the US, but since it's a poem, and since a nation can be all kinds of things, i'm not letting these references prevent me from receiving the spell as my own. it's interesting that you begin with "this is a spell to bring back what is forgotten." there's a whole lot of forgotten stuff i'm sure i wouldn't want back, but this makes me wonder what forgotten things i do want back, which immediately brings back some of those things, that were obviously not truly forgotten, so the spell works on that level (if it worked on the level of being able to bring back the other stuff, it'd probably be more of a curse). really like the way "this spell is breathing hard" enters the fray, adding a third term to the you/me set-up, there's you, there's me, and there's this breathing text that's doing some heavy lifting. by the time we get to "what were you thinking?" things are beginning to feel slightly desperate, and then the repetition of "this is a spell to hold you" is that classic reassuring/scary thing of "are things really this bad?" also interesting to listen at increased speeds: does doubling playback speed double the spell's efficacy? or halve it? look forward to reading and listening to more such incantations. or is it more of a one-off thing? greetings from berlin! n.
Nick! So wonderful to hear all this. Many thoughts, but I'm trying to stay away from media during this retreat, so I'll save them for now and catch up soon. Soon!
Nick! Finally catching up with things after that retreat. Two weeks of silence, good for the soul but it takes a bit of returning from. I'd love to do some more incantations. They seem to arise from the unconscious/less conscious parts of the mind and the self, and speak of their own accord. Yet at the same time my own experience of the state of the world — this US nation, and as you say, so many other nations, maybe all nations – makes me long for a bit of magical thinking and spooky action at a distance. Thinking of you there in Berlin (which does seem to be one of the best places to be) and sending love. S
Thank you so much for this beautiful poem/spell. This is a poem that I will return to again and again. It inspired the latest issue (#157) of my newsletter at jeanvengua.substack.com
Thank you! And thank you for sharing it!