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Hi all, Zoe here, daughter to the lovely, beautiful and smart Jacqui. Mum don't delete that. When mum said she was a bit stuck on the title for this month's issue, but that she wanted it to reflect stillness and quiet reflecting in the new year, I told her of what I've been reading and pondering, and per her request I will repeat it here for you all. As we enter the new year it is tempting to put ourselves under a microscope and search for every minute flaw we can in our character or appearance, as if we don't do that in our lowest moments already. I don't know about you but I don't want to enter into the new year scrutinising myself. Sure self-assessment and reflection are good, but as a chronic overthinker I don't necessarily need a special day to do that. The notion that we need to upgrade, rebrand, reboot our system every 364 days does not compute (pardon the pun) well with our human-ness. We are not products. We are not the latest iPhone. Character evolution and human development is a fluid process, and as natural as the very real, fleshly bodies that we inhabit. So may you take this an invitation to not judge yourself harshly this January 2022. Ok, two cents offered, I will now go back to my day as this is what happens when I come into mum's studio for a quick chat. She'll just be grateful I didn't go into a full blown rant on capitalism. Happy New Year!
Prepare Him Room
𝐽𝑎𝑐𝑞𝑢𝑖 𝑊𝑎𝑘𝑒𝑙𝑎𝑚
Hush now
be still
wait a little.
Just one minute
or two
should do it.
Sshhhh.
O our hearts, as busy as Bethlehem,
hear the gentle knock.
Silence.
There is no need for ceremony
He does not despise the ordinary
spaces
the birthplaces
of arrival.
Hello dear friends and a happy new year to you!
Consider this your official invitation to keep the posture of Advent and Christmas going, all year if we can, what do you think?!
I enjoyed a wonderful three week break from social media over December in order to fully immerse myself in Advent and the approach to Christmas. I like to think of these breaks not so much a turning away but a turning towards, a saying no to one area so I can say yes to another. For everything there is a time and a season, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing, maybe that is Covid's catch cry! I hurt my back almost four weeks ago (evidence the gym is bad for your health? lol) that slowed me down a lot physically as you can imagine, it's almost better but I think a good physio visit is in order this week. And please forgive any typos today as I'm wiring with newly swollen glands and a fuzzy head, oh joy :)
As you'll know, the turn of the clock, season or date doesn't issue a magic bullet to the difficult circumstances of our lives. In fact, I feel those expectations do so much harm and pile pressure upon us. Rather than putting faith in new dates and new beginnings I tend to lean towards a more circular, rhythmic mindset and a continuity of the good things already learned and gained, a building upon rather than a new thing needed.