I AM BECAUSE WE ARE

In addition to a monthly PSP newsletter, there will be an extract from the book I Am Because We Are edited by Robin Lloyd-Jones. The subtitle is “A rather weird and unreliable biography of Larry Butler seen through the eyes of others.” And you are the others! I welcome comments. As an introduction here’s a link to the first extract: https://sukhema.substack.com/about

New Moon Writing Hour – 5th August 4pm

Linda France’s New Moon Writing Hour on zoom. The next Writing into Being Writing Hour   Monday 5th August 4 – 5pm BST. Here’s the zoom link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89571264876?pwd=mchP92u5WJYgn2DWGRWx7RkZR5aFzh.1

Words Hold Us Together

A facilitator training day in bibliotherapy with Valerie Gillies & Sukhema Butler, plus guest Ted Bowman
Saturday 7 September 2024, 10am – 5pm
Scottish Storytelling Centre, 43-45 High Street, Edinburgh EH1 1SR

The workshop will encourage writers and storytellers to find the tools they need to increase their powers of facilitation, and to deepen their understanding in how to use words for wellbeing. They will experience how poetry and story can refill the reservoir of health. Moreover, they will be able to observe how words can become a life-raft in stormy seas. The workshop offers an opportunity to learn how to facilitate in a way which is both therapeutic and creative. Click on the link above for more details and application form.

To book please download, complete and return the booking form as soon as possible, and no later than 20 August. Words Hold Us Together APPLICATION FORM

The Honeyed Hive by Lesley O’Brien

Since Lesley and I met, maybe 20 years ago we have worked closely on many projects from Hidden Voices, the Bank Street Writers, Lapidus Scotland Management Group, Mental Health Arts & Film Festivals, Maggie Cancer Care Centre, Big Tent Festival, Move on Up – Stories of Hope & Recovery from Addiction with Alison Galbraith, Writing Places, and most recently: Walking & Writing events during and post-covid.. . .. For several years Lesley was on the LS management committee and took on the role of Chairperson. I still have in my inbox hundreds of short messages from Lesley going back to 2006.

One of the first Lesley O’Brien poems I published was in a pamphlet called Open-Up – which included a CD. This was part of the Mental Health Arts and Film Festival in 2007 where LS hosted a series of workshops culminating in a guided literary tour of an Art Exhibition in ProjectAbility. Lesley accompanied our tour with guitar and song:

This month we feature On the Scent of the Honeyed Hive, a brand new collection of poems by long-time Lapidus Scotland associate Lesley O’Brien. Lesley’s poetry has been described by Beth Cochrane as “‘lyrical, insightful, and poignant with moments of deep memory… formally inventive and also rooted in the natural world’.It’s available from Seahorse Publications. The book was launched at Avant Garde, on Wednesday July 10th, 2024, at 7 for 7.30pm, with music from Kittlin, Lesley’s band. Lesley was joined by Sukhema (Larry Butler), Giovanna MacKenna, Mairi Murphy and Kathryn Metcalfe.

The Poet’s Way “live” on Sunday 1st September

Doors open 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. Venue: Glasgow Buddhist Centre: 72 Berkeley St (G3 7DS), sharing space with the Glasgow Unitarian Church. Bring a poem to share, your own or a favourite published poem. Please bring 4 copies of the one poem you want appreciated.

The Poet’s Way awakens 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”).

Next dates: Sundays 6th October, 3rd November and 1st December

Poet’s Way Autumn Equinox 7pm UK-time on 19th September

You are invited to a Zoom meeting: The Poet’s Way
When: Sep 19, 2024 07:00 PM London. Register in advance for this meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZMrd–rrj8uEtF0zfKrxyoySboRIugADLkg

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Please bring an Autumn poem to screen share, your own or a favourite published poem. The evening will include a guided meditation and small appreciation groups for close reading of poems.

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.