This chimes and resonates perfectly with me, walker of a mixed heritage path. The Way and The Way have long felt seamlessly entwined.
I see it like the flow of ancient holloways, holding together the timeless imprints of many pilgrims. Naturally quiescent in stillness and shelter, often empty inside, yielding to storms, sometimes blocked by brambles that unavoidably snag and rip, but full of wonderful windows on the world and so many opportunities to venture out, or deeper in, to engage and to learn.
Thank you for these thoughts! I think I will come back to them a few times. I look forward to watching the islands when I can. I spent a life changing week in the Hebrides almost twenty years ago, on South Uist. I remember thinking: probably no one rich or powerful or influential has ever asked the islanders what is their secret. But they know how to live. In my own way I have tried to remember what I learned there every day since.
hello caroline. thank you for this timely post. i have been eyeing your neck of the woods for awhile and am entirely charmed by the view through your substack window. i have just become a paid subscriber to support the beauty you model for the world. i want very much to be part of a community that contains spirits like yours. i have now lived long enough, lol, to have my experience and tattered old mind/body endorse the wisdom behind the koan, all resistance is futile. namaste sweet soul.
‘Tiny paths back to sanity’ really love that. Yielding is one of my favourite words (wonky is another) - yielding is often seen as weakness or passivity, but is actually the opposite - it takes great strength of character, it takes discipline and appreciation and awareness of the moment. Really enjoyed this Caroline, thankyou
This chimes and resonates perfectly with me, walker of a mixed heritage path. The Way and The Way have long felt seamlessly entwined.
I see it like the flow of ancient holloways, holding together the timeless imprints of many pilgrims. Naturally quiescent in stillness and shelter, often empty inside, yielding to storms, sometimes blocked by brambles that unavoidably snag and rip, but full of wonderful windows on the world and so many opportunities to venture out, or deeper in, to engage and to learn.
Exactly this!
Thank you for these thoughts! I think I will come back to them a few times. I look forward to watching the islands when I can. I spent a life changing week in the Hebrides almost twenty years ago, on South Uist. I remember thinking: probably no one rich or powerful or influential has ever asked the islanders what is their secret. But they know how to live. In my own way I have tried to remember what I learned there every day since.
hello caroline. thank you for this timely post. i have been eyeing your neck of the woods for awhile and am entirely charmed by the view through your substack window. i have just become a paid subscriber to support the beauty you model for the world. i want very much to be part of a community that contains spirits like yours. i have now lived long enough, lol, to have my experience and tattered old mind/body endorse the wisdom behind the koan, all resistance is futile. namaste sweet soul.
‘Tiny paths back to sanity’ really love that. Yielding is one of my favourite words (wonky is another) - yielding is often seen as weakness or passivity, but is actually the opposite - it takes great strength of character, it takes discipline and appreciation and awareness of the moment. Really enjoyed this Caroline, thankyou