Letting Go

As I prepare to lead a series of writing workshops on the theme of Letting Go for Autumn Voices starting on the 13th January – which is fully booked with a waiting list – I decided to catch up on backlog of email messages and let go of as many as I can. Having just returned from 12 days of solitude in the snowy Scottish Highlands where we needed a sledge to get our luggage to the bus stop, I arrived home to over 400 new emails adding to the 14,000+ unread messages in my inboxes! I carefully selected what to read first which was one of Linda Frances’ Startlings – which happened to be on the theme of Letting Go – she gave this Startling the title: Something Old. This will be the Chinese Year of the Horse. The Fire Horse is viewed as a year of optimism and opportunity, a time to be bold about letting go! The workshops will culminate in a public reading and open mic where participants in the workshop are invited to share something they wrote. Please invite friends who might be interested in Letting Go of whatever. The reading is free and you can book here.

Linda France‘s Writing Hours Monday 19th January 4 to 5pm

The Poet’s Way Sunday 10th January

The Poet’s Way – Saturday 10^th January, 5.15pm

You are invited by Sukhema to the next Poet’s Way:

Doors open at 5:15pm for a prompt start at 5:30 – ending around 9pm

Venue:Glasgow Buddhist Centre: 72 Berkeley St (G3 7DS)

Bring a poem to share, your own or a favourite published poem. Please bring 4 copies of one poem you want appreciated. And bring vege food to share during the comfort break

The Poet’s Way awakens to the power of poems to compliment and 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’).  

Climate Stories

What do people in Scotland think and feel about climate change? We’re collecting stories from people around Scotland for a research project at the University of Glasgow. . . . Read more on the website click on the link and submit your story.

Work That Reconnects Retreats and Workshops

Coming Back to Life at the Glasgow Buddhist Centre – 7th February 5:15 to 9pm

Waking Up our Ecological Selves on Holy Isle – 14^th to 18 May 2026

for more information and booking email: info@livingmindfulness.net

active hope for humanity

12 June, 2026 – 19 June, 2026 Led by: Smritiratna, Sukhema, Candradhi, Amayaraja

White Crane Spreads Wings

tai chi, writing and meditation 18 September, 2026 – 25 September, 2026
A residential retreat in Dhanakosa Led by: Sukhema & Jayaraja & Shubhalila

A retreat expanding our horizons through language: opening to the wisdom of the body and integrating our head and heart. Tai chi, writing and meditation have much in common: form, structure, sensitivity and a striving towards wholeness.

Each move in tai chi is a metaphor and the structured forms of the practice provide an inspiring backdrop for the creation of rhythmic patterns with words. Clouds like thoughts come and go; inspired by the surrounding mountains, water and sky, we will combine writing with movement and mindfulness for our own well-being and for all living beings everywhere.

This retreat will trace our intimate relation to each other and our earth. Whatever arises from our practice we will use to play with the reality of our interconnectedness – write about it and share our stories.

This retreat is suitable for complete beginners to meditation and tai chi as well as being an ideal refresher for those who already have some experience. For more information, read the retreat information sheet.

PS: I Am Because We Are

You are warmly invited to read my never ending story and add your own story and comments. You can subscribe free for monthly chapters.