Happy Sunday
I am so glad to be back writing to you
Hello Dear Friend,
Welcome to another Sunday Letter, my sincere apologies for my absence. Have you missed me? I have missed writing to you. I hope you are safe and well wherever you are and that life is treating you kindly. I had forgotten when I wrote last week that I had a Christmas Craft Fair last weekend, so I have been recovering from that. It was lovely, I had forgotten how much I enjoyed doing these events, and meeting people both familiar and new. Thank you if you were able to make it.
The Ebb and Flow of Life
These past few weeks have taught me to accept my limitations, and to accept, hopefully with grace and compassion, those times when I cannot do all I would like to do. Wednesday morning’s Writers Hour Words of Wisdom really spoke to me:
Everything has an ebb and flow. When we take judgement away from the various phases in our work, relationships, health, and so on, we can often get the best from those things. The ebb, the rut, the fallow, the quiet is just as enriching as the flow, the routine, the spring, the connection.”
– Madeleine Dore, in the Extraordinary Routines newsletter
So if you are in an ebb or flow state, I hope you will allow yourself the grace to sit quietly within that space soaking up the peace and serenity before another flow state whisks you away to who knows where…
The Nearness
Since the middle of October, I have been taking part in an experiment of sorts, called The Nearness.
I have mentioned it on and off over the past few months, but have found it hard to explain what it is.
In essence, it is a very gentle way to become more aware of your spiritual life, practised in small groups, there were seven in my group. There are seven, I should say as we are staying in touch now via WhatsApp. Over our eight weeks together in the official program, we meditated together, shared our lives, our hopes, and our fears, and learned to be vulnerable, in a safe protected space. I was a little hesitant when I signed up, as it seemed like it could be a little weird, could it, possibly, just possibly, be a cult starting up…
At our last session, several of us shared similar feelings and apprehensions at the beginning of our journey together. The thing that persuaded us to sign up? It was a line in the FAQs that basically asked if The Nearness was a cult.
I can confirm that it is not a cult, just a gentle way to increase your connectedness and your honest interactions with everyone, family, friends, and your wider community. If you are interested at all, you can find more information here
They are about to start a new round of sessions, and they sent me an email to share with you, it is below:
We’re The Nearness - a new cooperative to help you nurture your spiritual life.
Our goal is to help you connect more deeply with yourself, the world around you, and the people you love.
Our next 6-week journey runs from January 23, 2023 - March 5, 2023, and we’d love you to join us! You’ll experience:
Weekly Small Groups: 90-minute ritual conversations where you can practice being open, vulnerable, and honest
Expert Guidance: Structured practices, conversation prompts, and support along the way
Inspiring Workshops: Inspiration from poets, activists, and wisdom teachers
Your friend is sharing this invite with you, so use the code SHARE15 to get 15% off the standard price when you sign up. (We also have a pay-what-you-can offer available.)
Things catching my eye this week:
Not so much what is catching my eye, as what are your plans for this holiday season, if you celebrate it that is.
Over the past few years, I have cast on a new pair of socks on Christmas Eve, usually, the pattern is from my friend Danni aka LittleBobbins this year’s pattern is called By The Fire and is very sweet, a picture is below. The links will be below with separate ones for Ravelry and Payhip, as I know some folks are still having issues with Ravelry.
Do you have a tradition, new or old that happens at this time of the year? I would love to know what they are, maybe share them in the chat below. our other tradition is peeling the sprouts and prepping the vegetables while we watch or listen to Carols from Kings, here is a link to last year’s service (via the BBC iPlayer) if you are interested.
Do you have a reading list? I have a new book about Angels which I am looking forward to getting into, *The Gospel of Mary Magdalene by Jean-Yves Leloup, and Michelle Obama’s latest book, *The Light We Carry
I think that is all from me today, take care.
Until next time, as ever, may your angels and guides watch over you and protect you until we meet again.
Love and Light,
Tracy
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Until next time, bye for now.
Links:
London Writers’ Salon Writers Hour
Extraordinary Routines Newsletter from Madeline Dore
BBC iPlayer - Carols from Kings
Anything in bold and underlined is a link to the relevant article or web page. None are affiliate links, just things I hope to benefit you, or people whom I admire and have worked with in the past.
Note: If there is a * these are affiliate links and may earn me a few pennies without adding to your cost. Disclosure: If you buy books linked here, I may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookshops
Aw Tracy....so lovely reading your words and listening to your voice...you are the magical gentle reminder to us all that life is full of up's and downs and it's important to acknowledge the ebb and flow of life...Love your special way of looking at the world. Did I mention I think you are magic....just in case you have forgotten this, YOU ARE xx
I did miss you! It was only yesterday I thought to myself, I hadn't heard from you in a while. So nice to have you back in our inboxes but so grateful you were gentle with yourself too xoxo