I love this and feel so inspired to have this name/word/intentionality behind what I’ve been playing with and feeling called to have more “unhedged” time. The pattern of what happens when we have a too tight pen/fence for our ideas, time, actions and flow is alive and I love this concept of Shmita as being able to cross pollinate the mystery with potential and form.
I love this so much! I have been circling around this idea but you made it concrete. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful words and ideas and best wishes for your Shmita 🌞
Thank you, I really needed to hear it right now. I've rearranged my whole life so that I can live a quiet reclusive life in nature that allows me to prioritize listening, inner work and the process of creation. It's taken years to get here, but now that I have, I'm really struggling with my own relentless internal pressure of feeling I have to be productive all the time. I'm an artist and I'm trying to make a living through my creations, to really go deep into the process, which requires receptivity and stillness and a willingness to play, but I struggle with those things. I have this deep longing to make a miniature version of my 'inner house' (like Jung's model of the psyche as a house), and to populate it with symbols and scenes from my own dreams, and alter it as my dreams change, kind of like a living map. But I'm finding it difficult to allow time for that because I'm getting low on money and feel like I need to be making things I can sell, not whimsical, highly personal art that no one will see but me. But reading this post has been a strong affirmation to trust my inner promptings, so thank you. I'm going to set aside a couple hours every morning and just allow myself to play with this inner house idea and create whatever wants to come through. My feeling is that by doing so, I'm investing in something that I don't understand yet, but will, at the very least, enrich my creativity. Thank you!
I have to share this amazing synchronicity with you: The dream that prompted the writing of this post was of creating a small house—a diorama—of the things that bring meaning and joy to my soul!
What delectable timing, as I’m about to begin my “no plans July”—a month long break not only from my Substack, but also from external commitments. My dream is to make up the days as I go along, to practice walking while I’m walking and being still when I’m being still. Also to eat lots of vegetables with maximum enjoyment. Marvelous to be able to give it a name. Thank you for all you do and bring to the world.
This showed up in my gmail inbox this morning, two days after I deleted this app and without my ever following you here. Yet it is EXACTLY what I needed to read today. Thank you.
Thank you Tokopa for your rich sharing always. I’ve just moved interstate to be closer to my daughter and her new family. I have a one year old granddaughter . My husband is working here from home and I’ve left the most fulfilling role of my working life and a home and garden that I nurtured and nurtured me in return. My little dog passed away a week into arriving here. It’s feeling enormous in its emptiness. Your words are speaking to my heart as I attempt to navigate this new terrain and lean into the dear and precious time with my daughter and granddaughter the flip side is real.
Thanks for a fascinating piece, Wen. I confess to not understanding everything, but I have definitely grasped your basic concept, the need for quiet renewal. Clearly from the other comments, you’ve touched a lot of people. I look forward to further posts from you.
This post is lovely and thought-provoking, Toko-Pa. It mirrors and echoes the poem "Clearing" by Martha Postlethwaite , and also resonates with an image I had of a fountain appearing in a clearing. Peering down into the water, what was mirrored and magnified back was this surprising sense of intimacy, loving and being loved. This only happens when there is a clearing in 'the dense forest of my life'. This post also inspires trust in the mysterious unfolding, less clawing and more holding with a light touch. Thank you. May your sacred Shmita journey unearth what has longed to be known and tenderly held.
Yes! I don't know if you listened to my recent Murmurings episode "The Receiving Muscle" where I read that poem, but it was a natural flowing from that to this! Thank you for your blessing on my Shmita—I feel its warmth even through the digital sphere.
This is the second time I've encountered this word today. In the meantime, waiting for me at the library is a book about uncertainty. Being hospitable to the unknown, putting myself in the way of change, refusing urgency--potent medicine. Thank you Toko-pa
Thank you so much Toko-Pa. As always you seem to know what I need to hear, it’s just so uncanny. Have a really restful time and I’ll look forward to when you’re back. Much love.
Before reading to the end (distracted by my visiting granddaughter), it occurred to me to be in this beautiful state of allowing this season. What a gorgeous invitation to deeper daily sacredness. 🙏🏽
This is super helpful for me right now as I believe I'm entering a time of Shmita. I just didn't have a word for it. Thank you for giving me the word for this "structured-unstructured" time, and blessings on your own.
I love this! I know that you and I use different words to describe the same thing, but so what? I'm just happy to be able to enter the conversation with you. I completely support your Shmita period this coming summer, and I know that it will bring you blessings beyond your wildest imaginings.
I love this and feel so inspired to have this name/word/intentionality behind what I’ve been playing with and feeling called to have more “unhedged” time. The pattern of what happens when we have a too tight pen/fence for our ideas, time, actions and flow is alive and I love this concept of Shmita as being able to cross pollinate the mystery with potential and form.
Flow mode indeed! We do need, from time to time, to take inventory of our outputs and inputs and diversify those investments ;)
I love this so much! I have been circling around this idea but you made it concrete. Thank you so much for sharing your beautiful words and ideas and best wishes for your Shmita 🌞
Oh my, I am continually amazed by the wise way you see and feel life and can put it into words—- it slows me down to read this piece….
Thank you for your wise words Toko-pa. May you rest well.
Yay! I'm so glad it landed in a good way for you here. And thank you for your warm wishes. I'm excited!
Thank you, I really needed to hear it right now. I've rearranged my whole life so that I can live a quiet reclusive life in nature that allows me to prioritize listening, inner work and the process of creation. It's taken years to get here, but now that I have, I'm really struggling with my own relentless internal pressure of feeling I have to be productive all the time. I'm an artist and I'm trying to make a living through my creations, to really go deep into the process, which requires receptivity and stillness and a willingness to play, but I struggle with those things. I have this deep longing to make a miniature version of my 'inner house' (like Jung's model of the psyche as a house), and to populate it with symbols and scenes from my own dreams, and alter it as my dreams change, kind of like a living map. But I'm finding it difficult to allow time for that because I'm getting low on money and feel like I need to be making things I can sell, not whimsical, highly personal art that no one will see but me. But reading this post has been a strong affirmation to trust my inner promptings, so thank you. I'm going to set aside a couple hours every morning and just allow myself to play with this inner house idea and create whatever wants to come through. My feeling is that by doing so, I'm investing in something that I don't understand yet, but will, at the very least, enrich my creativity. Thank you!
I have to share this amazing synchronicity with you: The dream that prompted the writing of this post was of creating a small house—a diorama—of the things that bring meaning and joy to my soul!
Oh wow! I love it when things line up like that. And I almost didn't mention the house because I thought my comment was too long, lol
Seriously uncanny and not at all random!
What delectable timing, as I’m about to begin my “no plans July”—a month long break not only from my Substack, but also from external commitments. My dream is to make up the days as I go along, to practice walking while I’m walking and being still when I’m being still. Also to eat lots of vegetables with maximum enjoyment. Marvelous to be able to give it a name. Thank you for all you do and bring to the world.
Samesies! I love that you have dubbed the whole month (of my birth). I may have to make a tradition out of this too. Yoink!
And happy early birthday!
This showed up in my gmail inbox this morning, two days after I deleted this app and without my ever following you here. Yet it is EXACTLY what I needed to read today. Thank you.
Hmmmmm that is bizarre, but hopefully welcome in the end.
Thank you Tokopa for your rich sharing always. I’ve just moved interstate to be closer to my daughter and her new family. I have a one year old granddaughter . My husband is working here from home and I’ve left the most fulfilling role of my working life and a home and garden that I nurtured and nurtured me in return. My little dog passed away a week into arriving here. It’s feeling enormous in its emptiness. Your words are speaking to my heart as I attempt to navigate this new terrain and lean into the dear and precious time with my daughter and granddaughter the flip side is real.
Enjoy your time away from order.🙏🏼💚
Thanks for a fascinating piece, Wen. I confess to not understanding everything, but I have definitely grasped your basic concept, the need for quiet renewal. Clearly from the other comments, you’ve touched a lot of people. I look forward to further posts from you.
Lovely to have you here, Ivan!
Love the art work.
Also related deeply to the article
Thank you.
This post is lovely and thought-provoking, Toko-Pa. It mirrors and echoes the poem "Clearing" by Martha Postlethwaite , and also resonates with an image I had of a fountain appearing in a clearing. Peering down into the water, what was mirrored and magnified back was this surprising sense of intimacy, loving and being loved. This only happens when there is a clearing in 'the dense forest of my life'. This post also inspires trust in the mysterious unfolding, less clawing and more holding with a light touch. Thank you. May your sacred Shmita journey unearth what has longed to be known and tenderly held.
Yes! I don't know if you listened to my recent Murmurings episode "The Receiving Muscle" where I read that poem, but it was a natural flowing from that to this! Thank you for your blessing on my Shmita—I feel its warmth even through the digital sphere.
Yes, you did! And then it showed up in an imaginal meditation sit. Love the synchronicity🙏🏽
This is the second time I've encountered this word today. In the meantime, waiting for me at the library is a book about uncertainty. Being hospitable to the unknown, putting myself in the way of change, refusing urgency--potent medicine. Thank you Toko-pa
That's very cool - it's not like its commonly known or talked about! It must be in the field for us xoxo
Thank you so much Toko-Pa. As always you seem to know what I need to hear, it’s just so uncanny. Have a really restful time and I’ll look forward to when you’re back. Much love.
Thank you Elizabeth! I love hearing when the timing lines up for you, confirming that I’ve caught the right ripple in the slipstream 🌀
Before reading to the end (distracted by my visiting granddaughter), it occurred to me to be in this beautiful state of allowing this season. What a gorgeous invitation to deeper daily sacredness. 🙏🏽
This is super helpful for me right now as I believe I'm entering a time of Shmita. I just didn't have a word for it. Thank you for giving me the word for this "structured-unstructured" time, and blessings on your own.
I love this! I know that you and I use different words to describe the same thing, but so what? I'm just happy to be able to enter the conversation with you. I completely support your Shmita period this coming summer, and I know that it will bring you blessings beyond your wildest imaginings.
Thank you so much! I feel your enthusiasm like wind at my back.
I've been feeling the call to go internal and re ignite my imaginative capacity. Thank you for the inspiration.
I'll be thinking of you "out there' in the imaginal wilds.
As I will you, and I look forward to hearing your musings when they come into the world.