Well, we got the usual sunshine and from our cars the day looked bright and great for writing. But the minute we opened our car doors we were subject to a howling gale that wrapped us in icy tentacles and warned us not to open notebooks! We could not start the session around a picnic table as no tables were sheltered from this insistent wind, so we ventured towards the timbered area, stopping at the lookout platform to greet and admire the tumbling waters of Lal Lal Falls. Although the fence on the platform comes up to my chin (being short) I for one was glad the wind was blowing at our faces, not from behind.
Among the trees we were sheltered and began the session by discussing "small stones", a particular style of writing that captures moments of total awareness, particularly when letting nature speak to you. This type of writing was first brought to my attention by Fiona Robyn of Writing Our Way Home website. She and her husband, Kaspalita, run online workshops in mindful writing. In 2011 they set us a challenge: to notice one thing properly every day during January and write it down. The result was a collection of the "small stones" written by over 350 people worldwide, entitled "pay attention: a river of stones".
There are no rules for writing "small stones", it's all about the process - observing, being fully engaged with what is there right in that moment, translating whatever that is into words.
Here is some of our "work".
by Lyn Purcell ...
on the
rocks below,
splitting into infinity.
pulls
me closer and closer.
I am
dizzy.
a
Wattles send air messages on windy days,
challenging bees to find them.
needing its mate.
I would stop here
and
eat only the new green grass.
Tired out with living
The old tree falls in favour
Of the next generation.
On the woodland floor
A beetle wipes its face.
the
spring sun pushes its way
through the umbrella of eucalypt leaves.
Around me, holding me and saying
You are safe.
Stay here a while
Hear the sound of chanting in the wind
The dream-time is all around us.
It is time to do nothing.
by Jan Hampton ...
An arrow points upwards
I search the sky
A bench marks where we sat gazing out into the
world
Roll on clouds roll on over me
Wind overpowers like a spoilt child diminishing
waters voice
Left to nature beauty abounds
Bark sheds revealing more than man ever
does
by Jennie Fraine ...
behind us a sweet bird
thrush calling cooo eee
the trees have a lot to say
to the wind - a conversation
thrashing something out
even the hawk
is tossed
across the chasm
the log is warm
trees sing as choir
alto section to my right
bass on the left
Plant Nation (not Plantation)
every log sculpture unique
no two trees the same
how easy to feel
place as sacred
even as wind blows
hair across my face
"Those people went.
They haven't come back."
We continue writing
in the sun.
the valley darkens
trees lit from within
walkers return -
no greetings this time
what have they seen?
we are walking in the homelands
Bunjil shows us how to navigate
strong winds, changing weather
between bushland and pine plantation
by Nichole and Tyler ... ?
Lovely. Sucked me right in until I felt i was there.
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