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Original poster

Feminist self care. A thread to comfort and console.

58 replies

ArthurbellaScott · 12/12/2023 16:02

A Poem for Someone Who is Juggling Her Life

This is a poem for someone
who is juggling her life.
Be still sometimes.
Be still sometimes.

It needs repeating
over and over
to catch her attention
over and over,
as someone who is juggling her life
finds it difficult to hear.

Be still sometimes.
Be still sometimes.
Let it all fall sometimes.

Rose Cook, from Notes From a Bright Field (Cultured Llama, 2013)

Notes From a Bright Field - Cultured Llama

by Rose Cook Rose Cook’s Notes From a Bright Field is ‘a single quiet path, in and out’, capturing the transitory beauties of the everyday: a mother’s ashes imagined as ‘Lux flakes’; the ‘fruit-gummed glass’ of a cathedral. Where the poems’ themes are...

http://www.culturedllama.co.uk/books/notes-from-a-bright-field

OP posts:
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14
Muddays · 14/12/2023 04:22

@ArthurbellaScott your night prayer was simple and beautiful. Thank you so much for sharing it. People like you will always be blessed for comforting others like this.

MrsOvertonsWindow · 13/12/2023 23:34

Lovely lovely thread. At the moment I'm often reminded of that old proverb "When sleeping women wake, mountains move"

The recent regrowth of the women's movement, women talking, sharing, analysing and protesting. Making changes and taking on this massive injustice. It's been a wonderful unexpected development with new friendships and alliances being forged.

The company of women.

(and if you're looking up at the stars over the next few nights you may see the Geminids meteor showers ). 🌠🎆

HagoftheNorth · 13/12/2023 23:11

A contribution from Kermode & Mayo (!)

It’ll all be alright in the end
If it’s not alright, it’s not the end

x

EdithStourton · 13/12/2023 21:48

@PriOn1 that is beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

DameMaud · 13/12/2023 21:48

I'm right with you there @EdithStourton !

EdithStourton · 13/12/2023 21:42

@DameMaud that is lovely poem (I am very picky about which poems I like, so that is high praise).

I need to check out Dog Songs. Dogs are one of life's great pleasures.

I live fairly rurally, and the mix of the countryside and the dogs at winter dusk or dawn does good things for me: haunting beauty, and the bright lives of two energetic dogs in the middle of it.

PriOn1 · 13/12/2023 21:38

Such lovely words. Thank you for the thread. This is a bit off the wall, but this is music from a band from the north of Norway with film of Sami families rounding up their reindeer. I find it incredibly soothing to watch them. Hope someone else might enjoy it.

Violet Road - "Keep on Running"

The official music video for our newest single "Keep on Running"The video shows moving of several reindeer herds from the coast to the winter pasture by the ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rKLv-wjvdzQ

SidewaysOtter · 13/12/2023 21:34

@ArthurbellaScott I’m not a Christian, being more of an Earth-based belief type person, but I love that prayer. It’s very grounding and a beautiful way to end a day.

I’m a big fan of comfort. Hygge if you will. Retiring to my bed at the end of each day with lovely scented candles (I absolutely recommend the Botanical Candle Company), snug blankets and a book. A little bit of luxury and comfort goes a long way.

OP posts:
Original poster
ArthurbellaScott · 13/12/2023 21:25

Planning something lovely for the weekend, or your next day off is a great idea.

I'm not religious, but I love this prayer and find it a great comfort at the times when one needs a prayer:

Lord,
it is night.

The night is for stillness.
Let us be still in the presence of God.

It is night after a long day.
What has been done has been done;
what has not been done has not been done;
let it be.

The night is dark.
Let our fears of the darkness of the world and of our own lives
rest in you.

The night is quiet.
Let the quietness of your peace enfold us,
all dear to us,
and all who have no peace.

The night heralds the dawn.
Let us look expectantly to a new day,
new joys,
new possibilities.

In your name we pray.
Amen.

https://liturgy.co.nz/lord-it-is-night

Tekapo Church

Lord, it is night. - Liturgy

This prayer in Night Prayer of A New Zealand Prayer Book He Karakia Mihinare o Aotearoa (page 184) is possibly the best-known, best-loved of the "endemic"

https://liturgy.co.nz/lord-it-is-night

OP posts:
EllaMenopee · 13/12/2023 21:02

And after rereading some Kate Baer, I've decided I will spend Saturday baking. I love to bake, but fear what eating the lovely results will do to my body. So, there is a bake sale I can share my goodies with on Sunday. I will get to enjoy my baking, savour some of the cakes and offer the remainder. I'm already feeling better about this week for making the decision.

EllaMenopee · 13/12/2023 20:31

Ive just found out I'm getting a bonus at work (small charity, so very unexpected) and I'm going to treat myself to a Mary Oliver book of poetry. 😊
My contribution is Kate Baer. I love her work.

Feminist self care. A thread to comfort and console.
WitchyWitcherson · 13/12/2023 17:42

The thread I didn't know I needed! Thank you for the lovely poems (they made me cry!)

Vegemiteandhoneyontoast · 13/12/2023 09:25

'Dog Songs'

Now that sounds wonderful, I must look it up.

With the making the bed ready thing, I do that and it makes a huge difference to bedtime. Our bedroom is very basic, just the necessary furniture and some bookcases. It's a good place to sleep.

DameMaud · 13/12/2023 09:11

Mary Oliver has a whole book about the love of dogs, called 'Dog Songs'.
Appreciation of the simple, innocent, and every day pleasures is such an antidote to the mad, dark times we are in right now.
I think we need to make ourselves look away at that sometimes ( not looking too much 'into the abyss') - difficult as it's so compelling! And keep reminding ourselves of the light that is still there.
It's a balance I think, between facing the dark realities, with eyes wide open, whilst still holding onto the best in humanity and ourselves.

I really appreciate this thread!

AllProperTeaIsTheft · 12/12/2023 23:09

Love Mary Oliver

Me too. I only discovered her poems very recently - no idea how I'd missed oit on such a pleasure!

JanesLittleGirl · 12/12/2023 22:34

When I am angry I shout.
When I feel that I can make a difference I mobilise.
The other 99% of the time I just take the piss to relieve the stress.

Original poster
ArthurbellaScott · 12/12/2023 22:18

Love Mary Oliver.

And on the note of bedtime: go early and read a book in bed! (No devices in the bedroom).

OP posts:
Tomychild · 12/12/2023 22:11

Thank you, what beautiful poems.
it's ok to take care of yourself and encourage yourself. You’ll get more done if you are happy and encourage yourself. Easy to say, very worth it to do.

RedLem0nade · 12/12/2023 21:48

Thanks for this thread OP🙏🏻

MrInbetween · 12/12/2023 21:38

Sorry I meant ‘Under the duvet of darkness’*

*Been a long day

MrInbetween · 12/12/2023 21:25

This week I bought the Volume Two cover of darkness.

It’s official I’m a published author (yes????)

That was a little act of care to myself, buying this book.

Do a little act of care to yourself this week, however small!!!

MrsOvertonsWindow · 12/12/2023 21:03

That's such a lovely poem @DameMaud.

Melroses · 12/12/2023 20:55

I don't have a poem or anything to contribute, but I did read advice once on self-care that included:

Bedtime - go to the bedroom, half an hour before bedtime, draw the curtains, turn on the bedside light, tidy/turn down bed ready, then go back and do your last minute jobs, and when you go to bed it will all be ready and welcoming for you.

I like the thought more than the actual doing but it is nice occasionally.

vivariumvivariumsvivaria · 12/12/2023 20:43

Oh, what a lovely thread. Thank you.