#2 The Library of Interesting Things

Plus a special January edition of the 'Permission just to be' slip.

It is late afternoon and I am sitting in the bed in my office/spare room as I write this to you, a cup of tea to my right and my little Milly tucked to my left. The weather has fallen into grey, and a mid-January mist is heavy. I keep my Christmas lights up all year for days like this; a string on them on my headboard, adding an extra bit of twinkle for when the stars are covered. There are candles too, and pillows, and a big sheepskin cushion to prop me up as I type. Creaturely comforts come into their own on days like this. I am but their faithful servant.

As a freelancer, it’s around about now in January when ‘the busyness’ can begin to creep. I find it takes a few weeks for people to get back into their own routines before reaching out and for new work to begin coming in. I both have to hold my nerve, that the work is coming, and also protect the spaciousness and quiet of the dark months. Outside the land and animals are still in their winter, while I am still learning to allow my own. I was teaching a full week with undergraduates last week (an amazing class), so hence the bed this week. Naps, rest, space, dream; it’s how the deeper creative cycles are tended to; in the pause we have time to sink into and listen deeper to what is really stirring. It’s about taking time to review and learn and read and be.

A little secret: I put in ‘meetings’ in my diary for times like these. They are times other people can’t book, or meet me for a walk or coffee. I turn my phone off for the hour, and my wifi, so I am not tempted to look at social media or check email. I try to have at least one of these a day; a special kind of meeting- a meeting with myself. Sometimes I use these to write. Sometimes I use them to nap. Sometimes I just sit on the sofa with the dog, and it looks like I am staring into a very odd form of middle distance. The trick for me is allow the space to be what it needs to be. It’s about permission just to be. How radical that has become. And how odd it is to even feel a need to declare ‘permission to just be’.

So here is my permission slip to you, and to me, in case you need one too: A special January edition. With extra fairy lights, for good measure.

One hour. Just to be.

After my little nap today, I got excited about writing up my ‘Library of Interesting Things’. I love the idea of curating a little library. I have been making these round-up lists of things I have been reading/ watching/ learning since about 2015, and it is an amazing archive of my own reading and learning trajectory. I see interests deepening, shifting, evolving in current with my own shifts and changes. There are writers who come in and out of my favour, and then others who, even if they published their shopping lists, I’d want to read. And it’s a great way to keep track of learning programmes, courses and materials that stick.

Below, for paid subscribers, is my Library of Interesting Things from December into early January.

It’s a feature for paid membership of The Wild Edge - a way of honouring my time to put this together, and my way of supporting my on-going work. All illustrations, design, photography and artwork are my own.

And a quick reminder of what else is coming up on The Wild Edge

Owl Hours: An hour of creative practice, for accountability and intentional working. Thursday 16^th and 23^rd, 8-9pm Irish/UK time. Find out more here.

Imbloc Salon: An evening of poetry, journalling and seasonal ritual. Friday 31 January, 7-8.30pm (Irish/ UK time). Gold Members have a ticket included. Otherwise tickets here.

If you are not a paid member, I still have lovely things for you over the coming weeks, including my five minute creative retreats and I’ll have some seasonal musings for you as we approach the new Celtic seasons of Imbolc.

Thank you for being here.