Hi Jane! I'm really interested in literary form, and the shape of this piece really took my breath away. It was quite poetic, prose taking on the emotion of poetry, anyway, groups of thought flying free, like birds, yet tethered together in stanzas... or perhaps murmurations would a more accurate description! I absolutely loved it, and it really suited the subject matter.
As you know, when I go walking, my eyes are raking the ground, but they also lift to the sky. It's not falcons flying overhead, but buzzards and ravens. Something about the wild call of a buzzard that ignites the wild in me, I guess. One of my most treasured memories is waiting for the condors at the Colca Csnyon in Peru... waited all day for them, they didn't arrive until I'd given up and was just starting to move on. One went to their eerie in the canyon, or whatever their nest is called, the other flew in a circle overhead, checking me out, so low I could see the gaps along the edge of his wings where some feathers were missing. It was one of those moments when time seems to freeze. I'll never forget it. Thanks for taking me there again. It's amazing how our memories are all folded and tucked away, how we forget to shake the dust off now and again and relive all the feels! 💕 One of your other commenters described this piece as exquisite, and I agree.
Ali, I love talking about this! I don't know what to call this form (I have no formal writing training at all) other than to say that I have read a lot of work the last few years that were written as fragments, and something obviously started to take shape in my brain. The last few pieces I have written (about the frogs, on bottling birdsong) have taken this shape and it feels very natural to write this way. Sound and rhythm are so important to me, I'm constantly reading out loud hearing for the tune. I've attempted to go in different directions but for the moment, I keep returning to this format, like writing verses of a song.
And what amazing memories. I was just having a conversation that other day with a friend who had seen the Peruvian Condors. Reading your words conjures them up in my mind, and even that is moving. Birds are heaven.
The questions you raise about ease, comfort, anxiety and fear will stay with me today. They’re the same questions I don’t know I was carrying. Chris LaTray wrote something along these lines a while back - that the rest of the world pays a high price for our comfort. And we somehow feel entitled to it.
I have sat with these questions so much Julie, and it's been a revelation to me. I read a lot about women who spend a lot of time wild camping and realised a lot of that time is spent in a constant state of high attention (and often anxiety) which is appropriate for the situation they find themselves in. There is obviously a difference between anxiety disorders that have come about as a result of our human-animal body living in a reality that it's not designed to handle, but beyond that, I really do think we have come to aspire to a few very fixed feeling states that aren't representative of a vital body, or one that is adaptive to our environment. It's all so interesting- thank you so much for reading xx
Another beautiful piece and I’m interested in the idea that it’s certainly not normal or attainable for us humans to be striving for a permanent neutral as though discomfort & worry are something we have to remove from our lives at all cost and if we can’t then why not for goodness sake!!!! This comforts me that all the worry, all the sadness isn’t to be shood away and I can try to be with it a bit more. Thank you
Thank you Christine ❤️ we have become a culture obsessed with calm as opposed to adaptive to reality. And along with reality comes a myriad of different states and feelings which I believe are a very “normal” experience for anyone in a body who’s paying attention xx
This is so beautiful Jane and speaks to me of the interconnectedness of everything. We can be the eagle that soars, we can be the wind on the wing, we can be the element of air. I love journeying as an eagle, it's so freeing and magical.
I listened to this yesterday and the “death has no crisp edges” resonated with me so much…. I love your writing and love to listen even more!! You’re inspiring me!! Thank you xx
Inspiring. There is definitely Someone in Charge. Not a halo of feathers forms of which He is unaware…. You write beautifully and it gives me peace. Thank you. -Joann
This is exquisitively beautiful, but it is much more. I am still thinking about the feathers on the ground and I know what that means. I am also thinking about birds being always aware of everything, every sound, even in my presence, although I feed my avian companions daily. They know me. They watch intently.
But unlike humans, they show no sign of anxiety, but are attuned to their surroundings in a way that I aspire to. I am learning from the avians and the squirrels. I feel most at home with my bird companions, and also with the squirrels, for whom I also lay down nuts. The communication between them is beyond our communication.
So beautiful, thank you for sharing Perry, and for taking the time to read my words. I agree with everything you have written- their awareness and attunement is something to aspire to.
A while back, I read that the 'silences' that punctuates the notes in the song of the Tūī, one of our native birds, is actually not silence at all, but sound that exists beyond our capacity to hear. It got me thinking what else I was missing, what else sat outside of my awareness. They are magical xx
I always felt such awe and honour to witness these beautiful birds when we lived in Paradise near Glenorchy. You have again put into words that which I cannot. Thank you Jane xx
Thank you so much Karyn-- they really are glorious. I didn't know you lived in Paradise! That is one of my favourite places on earth. It's very appropriately named! xx
Jo! Firstly, I'm always excited to meet a Kiwi here (and we are close! I'm in Dunedin but spend a lot of time in Central), so I have to contain myself about that 😆 And that makes me so happy to hear. I love that you have a resident Falcon 🪶 Thank you so much for reading xx
Hi Jane! I'm really interested in literary form, and the shape of this piece really took my breath away. It was quite poetic, prose taking on the emotion of poetry, anyway, groups of thought flying free, like birds, yet tethered together in stanzas... or perhaps murmurations would a more accurate description! I absolutely loved it, and it really suited the subject matter.
As you know, when I go walking, my eyes are raking the ground, but they also lift to the sky. It's not falcons flying overhead, but buzzards and ravens. Something about the wild call of a buzzard that ignites the wild in me, I guess. One of my most treasured memories is waiting for the condors at the Colca Csnyon in Peru... waited all day for them, they didn't arrive until I'd given up and was just starting to move on. One went to their eerie in the canyon, or whatever their nest is called, the other flew in a circle overhead, checking me out, so low I could see the gaps along the edge of his wings where some feathers were missing. It was one of those moments when time seems to freeze. I'll never forget it. Thanks for taking me there again. It's amazing how our memories are all folded and tucked away, how we forget to shake the dust off now and again and relive all the feels! 💕 One of your other commenters described this piece as exquisite, and I agree.
Ali, I love talking about this! I don't know what to call this form (I have no formal writing training at all) other than to say that I have read a lot of work the last few years that were written as fragments, and something obviously started to take shape in my brain. The last few pieces I have written (about the frogs, on bottling birdsong) have taken this shape and it feels very natural to write this way. Sound and rhythm are so important to me, I'm constantly reading out loud hearing for the tune. I've attempted to go in different directions but for the moment, I keep returning to this format, like writing verses of a song.
And what amazing memories. I was just having a conversation that other day with a friend who had seen the Peruvian Condors. Reading your words conjures them up in my mind, and even that is moving. Birds are heaven.
Thank you so much xx
Well it works, so keep at it! I look forward to reading more. 😍
The questions you raise about ease, comfort, anxiety and fear will stay with me today. They’re the same questions I don’t know I was carrying. Chris LaTray wrote something along these lines a while back - that the rest of the world pays a high price for our comfort. And we somehow feel entitled to it.
I have sat with these questions so much Julie, and it's been a revelation to me. I read a lot about women who spend a lot of time wild camping and realised a lot of that time is spent in a constant state of high attention (and often anxiety) which is appropriate for the situation they find themselves in. There is obviously a difference between anxiety disorders that have come about as a result of our human-animal body living in a reality that it's not designed to handle, but beyond that, I really do think we have come to aspire to a few very fixed feeling states that aren't representative of a vital body, or one that is adaptive to our environment. It's all so interesting- thank you so much for reading xx
This is full of power and mystery and beauty. It is, indeed, a spell cast without the limits of time and space. Thank you.
Thank you so much Denise- I really appreciate you reading and your lovely words xx
Another beautiful piece and I’m interested in the idea that it’s certainly not normal or attainable for us humans to be striving for a permanent neutral as though discomfort & worry are something we have to remove from our lives at all cost and if we can’t then why not for goodness sake!!!! This comforts me that all the worry, all the sadness isn’t to be shood away and I can try to be with it a bit more. Thank you
Thank you Christine ❤️ we have become a culture obsessed with calm as opposed to adaptive to reality. And along with reality comes a myriad of different states and feelings which I believe are a very “normal” experience for anyone in a body who’s paying attention xx
This is so beautiful Jane and speaks to me of the interconnectedness of everything. We can be the eagle that soars, we can be the wind on the wing, we can be the element of air. I love journeying as an eagle, it's so freeing and magical.
Yes- I love this Louise. Thank you so much xx
I'll be sitting with this and coming back again and again. There is mystery here that I am so looking forward to exploring.
Thank you Raine! Thank you for taking the time to read and for your lovely words xx
I listened to this yesterday and the “death has no crisp edges” resonated with me so much…. I love your writing and love to listen even more!! You’re inspiring me!! Thank you xx
Thank you so much Helen- I’m so appreciative of you reading xx
What a spacious, transcendent exploration. Unfurling in response.
Thank you 🙏🏻 -- for taking the time to read and your lovely words xx
Inspiring. There is definitely Someone in Charge. Not a halo of feathers forms of which He is unaware…. You write beautifully and it gives me peace. Thank you. -Joann
Thank you so much Joann- I'm so appreciative of you taking the time to read xx
Stunning.
Thank you so much Amanda 💛🪶
This is exquisitively beautiful, but it is much more. I am still thinking about the feathers on the ground and I know what that means. I am also thinking about birds being always aware of everything, every sound, even in my presence, although I feed my avian companions daily. They know me. They watch intently.
But unlike humans, they show no sign of anxiety, but are attuned to their surroundings in a way that I aspire to. I am learning from the avians and the squirrels. I feel most at home with my bird companions, and also with the squirrels, for whom I also lay down nuts. The communication between them is beyond our communication.
So beautiful, thank you for sharing Perry, and for taking the time to read my words. I agree with everything you have written- their awareness and attunement is something to aspire to.
A while back, I read that the 'silences' that punctuates the notes in the song of the Tūī, one of our native birds, is actually not silence at all, but sound that exists beyond our capacity to hear. It got me thinking what else I was missing, what else sat outside of my awareness. They are magical xx
I always felt such awe and honour to witness these beautiful birds when we lived in Paradise near Glenorchy. You have again put into words that which I cannot. Thank you Jane xx
Thank you so much Karyn-- they really are glorious. I didn't know you lived in Paradise! That is one of my favourite places on earth. It's very appropriately named! xx
Such a beautiful witnessing of the Kārearea and life itself.
I feel very grateful to be able to see a falcon soaring above nearly ever day here in Wānaka.
Thank you for this honouring Jane. It resonates.
Jo! Firstly, I'm always excited to meet a Kiwi here (and we are close! I'm in Dunedin but spend a lot of time in Central), so I have to contain myself about that 😆 And that makes me so happy to hear. I love that you have a resident Falcon 🪶 Thank you so much for reading xx
Thanks Jane, love your excitement as I feel that too when I meet a fellow Kiwi on Substack. 🥰
Looking forward to sharing and enjoying each other's offerings in this space. Thank you for subscribing. 🪷