“Adore and Endure“

These words are written on a wall in Brussels railway station. The complete phrase is “Adore and Endure Each Other”. This become the title of our renga which Ratnadevi and I wrote while travelling from Glasgow to Andernach in Germany and back to Glasgow. On returning I received a letter from Amnesty International thanking PlaySpace Publications for a donation of £140 made in memory of the late Patricia Sutherland, author of Everything Goes Out Dancing. “this gift enables us to continue our work in monitoring and researching human rights situations around the world and disclosing human rights abuses accurately, quickly and persistently.” A further £140 has been donated to Lapidus Scotland. These gifts were received during the memorial celebration for Pat Sutherland at the House of an Art Lover.

Forthcoming PSP Publication: Steadfast Trickster tributes to the life and times of Robin Lloyd Jones

“Robin first came into my life when he asked me to publish Autumn Voices, and send a letter to Creative Scotland to support his grant application, stating I would publish the book. I agreed, sent the letter to CS and he was awarded a grant of about £13,500 to cover the cost of research, interviewing twenty-one published writers in Scotland who were over seventy years old – and curating pieces they had published since turning seventy. . . .” Contributors include Robin’s wife Sallie Lloyd-Jones, son Glyn, daughters Kally and Leonie, grandchildren Chloe, Cassandra and Andre, colleagues and readers – Mary Irving, Dougie MacKenzie and Simon Berry and Sheila Templeton. I’ve had the privilege of compiling and editing the Steadfast Trickster.

Dates for your Diary

The Poet’s Way 6th August 5:15pm in person and on zoom

Hello dear Poetry Wayfarers- Sunday 6th July – zoom door opening at 5:15pm for a prompt start at 5:30 – ending around 9pm and with one short comfort break and a longer 30 to 40 minute break for refreshment and writing time. NB. This is an in-person hybrid event. If you’re within an hour of Glasgow, please come to the Glasgow Buddhist Centre: 72 Berkeley St (G3 7DS), sharing space with the Glasgow Unitarian Church.
Bring a poem to screen share, your own or a favourite published poem.

Awakening to the power of poems to compliment & enhance our spiritual practice. Inspired by Manjusvara’s book The Poet’s Way (Jane Hirshfield says “this book offers warm-hearted, step-by-step awakening into the possibilities and powers of poems”).

Please bring a poem to share – yours or a published poem you’d like to hear appreciated through a deep reading. The zoom link will open at 5:15 for a 5:30pm start. Do you have a mid-Summer poem to share?

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. Future 2023 Poet’s Way: 10th September, 8th October, 12th November, 10th December

Active Hope for Humanity 3 Nov to 10 Nov 2023

Seeing the dangers confronting humankind these days, we can feel depressed, demoralised and helpless to avert disaster – or even to talk about such feelings. This retreat provides a space not only to talk but to explore an extraordinary sequence of reflections and communal practices that can rekindle an active hope and vision for humanity.

The retreat takes its title from a book called ‘Active Hope’ co-authored by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone. Having studied Buddhism, Joanna went on to develop this sequence of exercises and reflections to help us move from despair into an ‘active hope’. Such hope is far more than something vague and passive … more like a vision for humanity, a future to which we can contribute and actively help to bring about.

as ever may you be well, thrive and endure

Sukhema