Untamable

A new poem, Sue Monk Kidd's new book on writing & a question for you to ponder

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“If you encounter writing infused with soul, you know it. It feeds you somewhere inside. Such writing can open your eyes and your heart, re-enchant your world or rearrange how you see it. It can return you to yourself. A work with soul lingers. It leaves a mark. It can even change you.

But revelations from the mysterious hinterland are unpredictable. Their appearance can’t be coerced or controlled. Its hard, for instance, to manufacture an image from the unconscious or fabricate a creative aha. There’s a parallel here to Annie Dillard’s observation.

I cannot cause light; the most I can do is try to put myself in the path of its beam.

We may not be able to force the psyche to offer up its creative pearls, but no doubt the soul wishes to reveal itself. In the words of Parker Palmer:

The soul does not want to be saved. It wants to be witnessed, to be seen and heard.

The question becomes how can we, as writers, put ourselves in the path of soul?”

— Sue Monk Kidd (from her deeply powerful book “Writing Creativity and Soul.”)

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My new favorite book on writing…

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I am currently reading Sue Monk Kidd’s new book on writing, and, holy shmoly, am I finding it powerful. I’m a little more than halfway in & I don’t want it to end.

I shared the above words from page 7 of Writing Creativity and Soul with the women in my “Write Yourself Free” class yesterday and decided I need to share them more widely, so Sue Monk Kidd’s words (and pointing you to her book), are the best gifts I can give to you today.

A question I invite you to ponder…

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How can we, as writers (and people), put ourselves in the path of soul?”

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Below is a poem (written this morning), and an announcement about November’s guest writer…

Here’s to putting ourselves (again & again) in the path of soul—to remembering that the soul does not want to be saved or tamed. It wants to be witnessed, to be seen and heard.

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Photo by jean wimmerlin on Unsplash

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Day #226 of (mostly unedited, mostly daily) writing/sharing.

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Untamable

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It is a wilderness 
out there, 
in here too,

seasons come,
seasons go,

still-spotted fawn
stops to smell the flowers 
in the front lawn,

quiet rainfall, 
golden leaves 
that slowly let go,

and sometimes—

a roaring lioness 
who cannot, will not 
be quiet, and 

wave after wave 
of wild sea, 

thunderous longing 
that never
leaves—

wildness that cannot,
         will not 
be tamed—

You. Me. 

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For paid subscribers of Julia’s Substack page…

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Join artist/writer Carrie Schmitt & me for a conversation (via Zoom)

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Thursday, November 20th from 9:00—10:15 AM (PST)

for a conversation (via Zoom) about awakening creativity.

If you don’t already know Carrie, I am super eager & excited for you to meet her!

Carrie’s brand new book: Awakening Creativity: A Sacred Journey to Reclaim Your Inner Artist is an amazingly powerful book that inspired & touched me deeply.

During this hour+, Carrie & I will dive into a conversation about her new book. Live participants will have a chance to ask questions & engage with Carrie.

If you plan to come, no need to RSVP this month. You can access the Zoom link by clicking the link below…

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PS: To access all paid subscriber content, including my conversations with poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer, Julie Barton & Alix Klingenberg & the replay of our most recent “Write Yourself Free” class, click here.

Access all “Sunday Spark” content here.

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