Holy Invitation
A poem for your Wednesday & reminder: "Write Yourself Free" gathering tomorrow
“Resting is about getting people back to their truest selves. To what they were before capitalism robbed you of your ability to just be. Rest is anything that slows you down enough to allow your body and mind to connect in the deepest way.”― Tricia Hersey (from her book Rest is Resistance)
Dear you,
It’s that time of year again, the time of year when focus can so easily (and habitually) go to doing, buying, cleaning, checking off—busying ourselves with more more more.
And…
there is a holy invitation to slow down—to, regardless of what’s going on, pause in the middle of a moment and listen to the morning rain, to step outside and notice the sky, to light a candle and watch the flame dance, to notice this inhale, this exhale—to pick up the pen and write.
A holy invitation to notice that you are tired, and you can simply press pause and rest. Not only that you can, but that you must. With the intense heaviness in the world, everything depends on how we take care of ourselves and each other, on where we place our attention.
Today’s poem speaks to this invitation. And also, you are invited to be rebellious—to set everything aside & gather with me (and other rebels!) tomorrow, December 18th (from 9:00-11:00am PST) where we will press pause, circle, steep ourselves in poetry, pick up our pens and connect in the deepest way. (See below for details.) Consider it a refuge for your tired spirt, light in the midst of so much darkness.
I would so love it if you decide to press pause & join me.
I send you love during this holiday season. May you remember to slow, to know that in each moment there is a holy invitation, and you can choose to accept that invitation.
This troubled world so needs us rested and full, asking not: Am I good enough? But…
Am I showing up with love?
I truly believe everything depends on it.
Blessings galore to you. Thank you for supporting my work, it means the world to me.
Julia xo
PS: Check out this “Ultimate Gift Guide for Writers,” curated by the incredible Beth Kempton.
Holy Invitation
Yes, I know, there are gifts to wrap, meals to plan, dusty corners to clean, items on the very important list still waiting to be checked off. And as always, there is a holy invitation to stand beneath this open sky moment, to do nothing but enter all the way—no strand of you anywhere else. A holy invitation to pause all that pulls and listen to the poetry inside your pulse. I have laid out a blanket of softness— please, won’t you join me?
Our December Write Yourself Free class is on Thursday, December 18th from 9:00—11:00 am (PST).
This will be a special, pre-holiday offering. There will be lots of poetry, an opportunity to ask me questions about my writing life, and some time to get some ink on the page.
You are invited to give your thinking/planning/gift-buying/restless mind a rest & show up as you are. Consider it a sanctuary for your tired spirt. Bring your favorite beverage, your comfiest clothes, an open mind.
Click on the below button to read more & to access the Zoom link:
Google tells me that today is the last day to ship packages if they have a chance of arriving by Christmas. During this holiday season, any orders placed from my Etsy shop will be shipped on the same day. Click below for signed copies of my book Staying in Love and signed poetry prints.
Gosh, I love this poem so much. I have been sitting with it since you posted it.
"A holy invitation
to pause all that pulls and listen
to the poetry inside your pulse."
Oh yes! THIS. This takes my breath away and returns it to me, softer, fuller, deeper. "The poetry inside your pulse." That line brings tears to my eyes. The beauty of it, the truth of it. Your poetry truly feels like a "blanket of softness." And I am deeply grateful. Thank you, Julia.