Linda France‘s Writing Hours and Startlings Thursday 22nd August 4 to 5pm
I find the New Moon Writing Hour on zoom – a boost to my commitment to free-write everyday. . I also recommend Linda’s Startlings, which are rich with ideas, books, and reflections on her life as a writer. She reaches out to other writers and readers inviting comments and seeking mutual inspiration. A recent Startling was a list of What ifs . . . including: ~ what if living is a rehearsal for dying? ~ what if not-knowing is just not-knowing?~ what if imperfection was the holy grail? ~ what if the living world & everything in it are a bubble, a wave, an illusion, a dream?
When the Grass Dances by Valerie Gillies & Rebecca Marr
This is a stunning website and a resource for appreciating the beauty and benefits of grass, and learning the healing power of grasses. And When the Grass Dances is now a book recently published by Luath ISBN 978-1-80425-241-3 over 200 pages filled with photos, and poems and all you need to know about grass. The book will be launched in Stromness on Orkney 5th September with Valerie & Rebecca; they will weave a story of grass through poems and images and natural history readings. “The collaboration is utterly beautiful. The two are equal partners and symbiotic. Each is augmented by the other and converses with it.” John Glenday, poet. “It’s a delightful and deep curation, a reverence indeed.” Rob McGuire, poet. The diversity of grasses is so important and is being remembered just as it’s being lost. I loved this beautiful collaboration. Amy Liptrot, Writer
The Poet’s Way 2025 – Sunday 7th September5:15pm.
2025 dates: 7th September, 5th October, 2nd November, 7th December. Doors open at 5:15pm for a prompt start at 5:30 – ending around 9pm Venue: Glasgow Buddhist Centre: 72 Berkeley St (G3 7DS),
The Poet’s Way awakens to the power of poems to compliment & enhance our spiritual practice. Bring a poem to share, your own or a favourite published poem. Please bring 4 copies of the one poem you want appreciated. Also please bring writing materials and vege food-to-share during a comfort break. Our programme includes a guided meditation inspired by poetry, and small groups for close reading and appreciation of poetry.
‘By Leaves We Live’: a Tree Renga with Mandy Haggith
An ambulatory botanical collective drop-in poem creation in memory of Gerry Loose Sunday, September 14 · 10:30am – 3:30pm GMT+1
Lapidus Scotland – i.m. Gerry Loose Autumn Tree Renga. Renga is a communal form of writing practiced by Gerry, with roots in Japan. We plan to mark the four seasons with a renga at the Gardens, with the first event taking place at the end of May. During this second event we’ll visit those poems of Gerry’s that remain in the Gardens, and use them and their settings as prompts for writing. To book a place, click on the link above. Mandy recently published a book called Lost Elms – which has been receiving positive reviews – described as a love letter to lost trees.
The Poetic Mind Seminar
Dr Jonathan Green is a good friend of mine and loves reading poetry – he’s also visual artist as well as a professor developing therapeutic tools for people with autism. He plans to write an article about an interpersonal approach to poetry. An event in London and online on Monday 8th September will be partly a preparation for this. Regarding tickets Jonathan sent me this message:
“In response to the question on poetry lovers discounts – David (the organiser) says ‘just turn up – more the merrier …’ – so no need to pay if you or Lapidus friends or others turn up in person. Poetry DANA! If you’re joining online the same – but I’ll check out how that will work for the registration … probably I’ll just send a link around if you tell me who has registered …“ So if you’d like to attend online let us know, and we’ll send you a link. The event is part of The Poetic Mind Seminar, a series centered on the intersection of poetry and psychoanalysis can explore how both disciplines utilise language to navigate the complexities of human experience.
Each month Lapidus Scotland brings news of the latest goings-on in LS as well as highlighting resources for writers and facilitators for well-being available on our website and in print. Previous newsletters can be found here
Bringing Mindfulness to Life – 3rd edition
Bringing Mindfulness to Life has had two print editions and is now out of print, but continues to be available on-line – as an e-reading and soon as print-on-demand. Ratnadevi continues to write for Buddhist Global Door and is currently editing her second book. Her most recent article is “Walking into the World as into Our Own Heart: A Tribute to Joanna Macy”
Autumn Voices – Getting On – Love in Later Life
Getting On: Understanding & Writing Love in Later Life is a new project that explores and embraces the lived experience and cultural representations of love in later life in Scotland today. The project is being run from the University of Strathclyde by staff in Creative Writing and Social Work/Social Policy in collaboration with Autumn Voices.
I will be leading one of the reading/writing groups. Copies of the book Autumn Voices are still available.
Living Our Dying – Half Price
I’ve printed a third edition of this book along with the pamphlet “What’s Missing from the book Living Our Dying“. The next 20 copies sold will be half-price (£7.50) and include a free copy of What’s Missing.
Reading this book was an enlightening journey into the possibility of creating a good death for oneself, and for others. The love, compassion, hope, humour and beauty of many of the essay, poems and reflections, particularly those of David Donnison himself, are uplifting and informative. It is also a practical book. The chapter ‘Digital Legacy’ for example, discusses how to organise the information one will leave online and reminds the reader that there is much to be done to prepare a good death.
“I love this beautiful book. It will not only help you to die a good death, it will strengthen you to live a good life” Richard Holloway
Ten Windows by Jane Hirshfield
This link goes to a book review by Kathryn MacDonald. I’ve been reading the book and finding it opens doors as well as windows – doors into ways of reading a better understanding of how great poems transform the world and my way of thinking. Hirshfield dives in deep – sometime over my head! “a single word (of Emily Dickinson) cam be as consequential as a poem’s ultimate experience and meaning as a single link is to the integrity of a chain . . . to the point of vertiginous plunge.” I’ve bought a hardback copy, a book to be savoured at my leisure over.
PlaySpace Publications 