Happy New Year!

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Welcome to the new year, Gardeners! I’m excited for the new year to start. We have a lot of ideas for content and good stuff to put out there, which I think is especially needed in today’s world.

As I write this, we are still snowed in here in our part of the world. We had unseasonably low temperatures coupled with snow that came down to the lowlands west of the Cascades, and we’re just not prepared for it. Between the hills and mountainous terrain and the lack of snow plows and other severe weather gear, the Seattle area really shut down for the most part. Since Omicron is on the rise and it’s not particularly safe or recommended to go out, this worked out.

It’s hard to believe that we’re coming up on the second anniversary of A Good Yarn – Craft Salon & Makerspace, our weekly craft circles. We’ve collectively made our way, literally, through the year, building friendships along the way. These will definitely continue on Saturdays at noon Pacific; drop me a comment below if you’d like to be included. I’ll need a good email for you; if you’d rather not put that in comments, please email me at noony AT acatherinenoon DOT com.

We have a plan for some new posts over the next three months. We won’t be back to our daily frequency, but we are dipping our collective toes in the water once or twice a month. Since it’s more than one of us, you’ll have some good content to read over the next twelve weeks.

And in April, you can look forward to another year of the A to Z Blog Challenge! We’re working on selecting a theme for this year; if you have some ideas or suggestions, drop them in the comments below. We’d love to hear.

Last but not least, if you haven’t joined our FB group, please come on by! You can find it here.

That’s all for now, Gardeners. But remember: make something, write something, create something. It’ll make you feel better.

Cheers!

Twenty Years

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Twenty years is a long time. But I remember where I was, and who was lost; and that those who have been lost weren’t all lost on that fateful day in New York but have fallen in the years since from post-traumatic stress, diseases from dealing with contaminants, and a host of other issues.

Many far more eloquent than me have ruminated on the meaning of today. I do not intend to add to their words, for they can say with more grace what is in my heart. What I do want to honor today is the thread of the makers.

Since the pandemic began in early 2020, we have been meeting weekly on Saturdays at noon Pacific via Zoom to continue the work of makers and craftspersons from before recorded time began. We weave, knit, color, paint, make tea, do dishes, and even sometimes sneak in some work emails – but all in the company of others who create, who know what it is to feel that power within oneself, that power that we lose so often in modern life when beset by the incessant chatter of “social” media. That’s the chimera of it: it’s not “social,” it’s algorithmically controlled for maximum engagement from the consumer: us. To take our attention back, therefore, becomes a radical act.

So today I offer you this: turn away from the world, a go within: to that place inside where you harbor your making. Whether it’s cooking, or craft, or writing, or woodworking – whatever that making is, do some today. And if it’s been long since you have opened the door in your mind where that place dwells, just sit and think about it and consider how you might invite that place back into your daily round.

We are stronger together, and we are more grounded when we make. Hand to hand, and heart to heart.

Namaste.

New Year’s Eve

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Well, we made it. We’re at the end of 2020. I’m not going to make any prognostications for the new year, or frankly even mention the new year. Just tiptoe in and take my place, and move forward. šŸ™‚

But I want each of you to know, you are a piece of my heart. Thank you for helping me to create our little corner of the interwebs, and for making Writer Zen Garden a calm haven amidst the storm.

Here’s to making our boat bigger and more equitable for all of us, each of us. You. And me. And you. And them over there. All of us.

I wish each of us the words to express what is in our hearts and minds, the strength to find within us the resiliency we need to meet the challenges we face, the courage to move forward despite our fears, the wisdom to take rest when we need to. May we each find fellowship and solace in circle with one another. And may you truly, have a very happy and safe New Year.

Namaste.

Self-Care Saturdays – Every Saturday During October, Come Spend Some Time in Makerspace

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The world is on fire and our democracy is under attack, but by G*d we can MAKE something. And making things feeds the soul, which keeps us resilient and helps us develop and nurture the strength we need for the challenges ahead.

Join us each Saturday in October for a two hour block of time in which to relax, create, dream, and share community. Try a new craft or work on an old one. Pick up some mending. Play in your journal. Work on a puzzle. Color in a design. Or just hang out and take in the vibe.

Click here to sign up, and I’ll send you the Zoom meeting details for your date(s) of choice.

Also, vote.

New Workshop Starting June 14th: Finding Water | The Art of Perseverance (free)

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This is your invitation to come back to your center, to find the water at the bottom of the well, to become your own divining rod for your creativity. Join me. Together, we will find a way through.

In March of this year, the Pandemic hit in full force and thus began The Great Pause. Stores closed. Supply chains were disrupted. Toilet paper became a hot commodity along with soap and hand sanitizer. People started gardening in record numbers. Children were homeschooled while parents struggled to work from home or, worse, lost their jobs and had to file for unemployment or make other arrangements.

If you, like me, are heartsick and devastated, know that you are not alone. I am in pain, and yet I know my pain and outrage is nothing compared to what our Black and Brown friends, neighbors, and family members are experiencing: not just today, but all the time.

As I write this, riots and protests are happening across the globe. The murder of George Floyd has sparked off a powder keg. Our communities are traumatized, enraged, and demand justice.

I canā€™t fix that alone. And itā€™s not even about me, and itā€™s not about my outrage. If you feel, as I do, that things must change, there are many good resources and voices of color whom you can listen to, learn from, and support. If you need ideas, please PM me and Iā€™ll share what resources I have. If you have resources to share, please PM me so I can learn and amplify their reach.

But this brings me to you and me. If you are reading this, you are a fellow writer, struggling with your words to find Story and your own Truth. Me too.

On Sunday, June 14, 2020, I will be hosting a free online workshop using Julia Cameronā€™s third book in the Artistā€™s Way trilogy as our guide: Finding Water | the Art of Perseverance. I picked this one because the idea of this book is around how to fend off prolonged creative dry spells, or how to come out of one if youā€™ve fallen into one. Cameron has given her tools away for free with two stipulations: facilitators must do the work with participants, in her words, ā€œNo gurus.ā€ And second, we cannot charge for this work.

Iā€™ve facilitated Artistā€™s Way workshops since 2007 both in person and online. I find the tools deeply resonate with me and have helped me become and stay prolific. Right now, Iā€™ve been struggling with finding that place of creativity, even while I have been outwardly creative: Iā€™ve been journaling like crazy and weaving. But Iā€™m not comfortable within myself, and thatā€™s what I want to change. The collective trauma we were already experiencing with the pandemic (and over 100,000 dead in the U.S. alone; over 371,000 thousand worldwide as of this writing) has been added to by excessive police violence and racism. Letā€™s be clear here: the racist acts have not changed. Whatā€™s changed is theyā€™re being filmed. While this is traumatic for many of us, for our beloved POC neighbors, friends, and family members this is daily lived experience. Yes, we are experiencing a trauma. My hope is, though, that we can come through this as a portal, not fall into it as a hole. With hard work we can emerge stronger, more equitable, more aware, and more creative.

Join me on this journey. The only thing necessary is the willingness to be open, to experience, and to be honest with yourself.

We begin Sunday, 06/14/2020.

Workshop details below:

The workshop will take place on our online forum, located https://writerzengarden.com/forums/

. If you havenā€™t already done so, please sign up for a free user account. We will be together for 14 weeks. Each week starts on Sunday. We will use a combination of Zoom calls (in person) and written discussion. I will announce the schedule for the Zoom calls when we get closer to the workshop start date.

Introductory Week:Ā  Discuss the basic tools.Ā  Share our goals and hopes, and maybe even a fear or two.Ā  Figure out what weā€™re about so we can get the most out of the coming weeks.

Week 1:Ā  Uncovering a Sense of Optimism

Week 2:Ā  Uncovering a Sense of Reality

Week 3:Ā  Uncovering a Sense of Support

Week 4:Ā  Uncovering a Sense of Balance

Week 5:Ā  Uncovering a Sense of Autonomy

Week 6:Ā  Uncovering a Sense of Resolve

Week 7:Ā  Uncovering a Sense of Resilience

Week 8:Ā  Uncovering a Sense of Truth

Week 9:Ā  Uncovering a Sense of Perspective

Week 10:Ā  Uncovering a Sense of Safety

Week 11:Ā  Uncovering a Sense of Discipline

Week 12:Ā  Uncovering a Sense of Perseverance

Wrap Up:Ā  Look back and review what weā€™ve gained.Ā  Look forward and figure out what next steps we want to take.Ā  Honor the work, and play, weā€™ve done.

Please let me know if you have any questions or issues. My email is noony AT acatherinenoon DOT com.

Z Is For… Zygote!

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Photograph of white flowers.

A zygote is a fertilized egg. Or, a symbol of new beginnings. We are at the end of the A to Z Challenge, but that doesn’t mean the fun stops. We will keep writing.

The world around us has changed, and some of those changes will be long-term if not permanent. Other changes are shorter term, and still deeply impact us. And we, left in the middle, must still find a way to move forward.

Here are five suggestions for doing just that: continuing to be creative in the midst of the Great Pause.

  1. Meditate. You don’t need any special skills or tools, either. Just set a timer for five or ten minutes and focus on your breath. Count your inhale as 1. The next inhale as 2. The next inhale as 3. And so on, up through 10. When you get to 10, start over at 1.
  2. Make yourself a cup of tea or your favorite beverage. Sit down in a comfortable spot, or quiet place, and enjoy drinking it.
  3. Take a long, hot shower or bath. Really do it up. Light some candles, play some music, and let yourself enjoy the process.
  4. Spend some time making something.Ā  If you have a craft that you’ve played with, pick it up and spend a half hour with it. If you haven’t got one yet, take a look on google for easy crafts you can do at home. In fact, here’s a link you can try.
  5. Make some time with a friend or family member for a video chat. Don’t just use voice; there’s a magic that happens when you see people close to you. Google Hangouts, Skype, Facebook Messenger, and Zoom all have free video calls.

What about you? What are some of your favorite tools to keep yourself sane during the Great Pause?

Thank you for joining us for the A to Z Challenge. Keep writing!

Y Is For… YouTube

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Contributed by Tina Holland.

As I write this in my state, ND is expected to lift the quarantine ban on May 1st.Ā Ā  Given everything, Iā€™m doubtful this will be the case.Ā  I guess I will find out the next time our Governor streams on Facebook.

I do know one thing.Ā  YouTube and all the streaming services of Netflix, Amazon, Vudu, Tubi, and a hundred more have made life a bit more bearable giving me something to escape from or learn new things.

Iā€™ve attended a ton of write-ins with The Courtney Project as well as Craft Time in the Time of Corona Virus with Writer Zen Garden.Ā Ā Ā  These have been necessary at times to keep me motivated. Because more people are working from home, and if you are like me you need some people interaction, this has been very helpful in connecting with others.Ā  I know for First Friday Lunch on April 3rd,Ā  I saw double my viewership, a grand total of 8 people, on my April video.

Weā€™ve been able to keep in touch with loved ones across town, and maybe weā€™ve stayed more connected to those across the world taking advantage of things like Facetime, Hangouts, House Party, Zoom, Skype, and a ton more apps letting us talk to one another.Ā Ā  And while some of you may have noticed your systems getting bogged down because of increased traffic, it is nice to have these options available to us.

Believe it or not, there are some people who do not have access to the internet or paid streaming services.Ā Ā  I can only hope that they have found ways to escape, bond, or create in The Time of COVID-19.Ā Ā  Iā€™m sure in the months to come stories of connection, creation, isolation, and perseverance will emerge painting a picture of this moment and even though we will be connecting face-to-face, I donā€™t doubt our stories on these services will serve as a record for months (maybe even years) to come.

X Is For… A Blog from Madam X

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Contributed by Holly Kiely.

Hello Dear Friends and welcome to my essay on X.

I had so many things I wanted to talk about! I decided to keep it light and share an excellent mystery that I find myself examining closely. It all starts with an exclamatory dream that happened in February.

I was cuddled in my bed with my hubby and two dogs. I was sleeping peacefully but I began dreaming intensely. I was huddled around a book with two other women, one of which was holding a candle in order to illuminate the text we were reading in the dream. I heard one of the women say, ā€œThis is important, you need to read about Abelard and Heloise.ā€ The idea took root in my mind and the words Abelard and Heloise were exclaimed over and over until I turned over in bed and sleepily googled the names.

I didnā€™t even know particularly that they were names. I do not ever recall hearing ā€œAbelard and Heloiseā€ before. I was relieved to find plenty of references on the names and feeling secure I would not forget, I went back to sleep. I woke early the next morning and felt I must immediately examine the google results.

I found quite an expose on the famous lovers. They were medieval monastic scholars and quite accomplished both in their own right. Abelard insinuated himself into the employ of Heloiseā€™s Uncle as a way to be near her. They fell in love and she became pregnant but did not want to marry. She was excessively intelligent and educated and was whisked away to a nunnery. She bore a son, Astrolabe. He was named for the most excellent instrument the Astrolabe. There is little known of what happened to their son.

However, Abelard was attacked and castrated by a group of men when his love for Heloise was exposed. He returned to teaching and had quite a life of exposition on many philosophies. Heloise founded her own orders and became quite famous in her own right. Their letters endure and I am in the process of examining the letter for myself.

So, what am I to learn from this exciting mystery? Are we the reincarnation of Abelard and Heloise? I have no answers but their story exudes intrigue. I have committed myself to an existential examination of this excellent correspondence. So dear friends, ā€œWhat say you?ā€ Have you ever heard of Abelard and Heloise? Have you ever had this type of dream?

Signed Madam X

V Is For… Vehicle Preparedness!

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Contributed by Rachel Wilder.

At some point in our lives our faithful wheels are going to let up down. Right now, we might be thinking about what we could have had in our houses to make ā€˜sheltering at homeā€™ easier but hopefully in a few weeks weā€™ll be back on the road. And, itā€™s not going to be a world-wide event that puts us in danger but perhaps a rusty nail.

Picture of wrecked car on tow truck with caption reading: Sad car sorry for letting you down.

First off, before you think about getting a kit consider making one yourself. It will be cheaper and youā€™ll have control over the quality of items in it. Also, you can get a few items at a time and tailor it to your environment.

Before a kit, though, make sure you have your car insurance in your glove box and towing and taxi service phone numbers in your phone, or old school and printed on a card. Make sure you have an extra phone charger cord in there as well. Consider joining AAA, they really are helpful for the low cost of membership. And all the proper tools to change a flat tire or jump start your battery, wonā€™t do any good if you donā€™t know how. If you canā€™t find anyone to show you, then watch some YouTube videos.

You might not have the room or money for everything below, but even a few items could make a huge difference in your safety. Even if your kit doesnā€™t have items to fix the problem yourself, have items in your vehicle that make the wait for help better. Even something as simple as water or an extra old coat.

Picture of example car kit.

Car Kit

  • Small duffle bag to put this all in (Walmart $6-8) or a cheapy backpack
  • I have a small fleece blanket folded over the duffle to help hide it.
  • A blanket (mine is folded flat and used as a cargo liner)
  • A gallon of water
  • Easy to keep snack foods in the cooler months.
  • Empty plastic gas container
  • Jumper cables, long ones like 16-18 feet
  • A flashlight with fresh batteries
  • Head lamp
  • A tire pressure gauge
  • Good spare tire and know how to get to it
  • Good jack (Walmart has a 2 ton in a carrying case that could go under duffle for 24.99)
  • Lug wrench one looks like an X (Walmart 14.99)
  • Glow sticks
  • A first-aid kit (mainly blood flow stuff, medical scissors) latex gloves
  • Hand wipes & sanitizer
  • Ziplock bag w/ Kleenex
  • Work gloves
  • Extra hat & scarf (two hats for cold and sun)
  • Extra clothes
  • Walking shoes\boots (throw in those old gym shoes)
  • Cheap reflective vest
  • Basic tool kit (Flat head and Phillips head screwdriver, pliers) or multitool – Leatherman
  • A roll of duct tape
  • Small tarp
  • An ice scraper (more for cold weather)
  • Hand warmers
  • Small folding shovel (opt for cold weather but also for off road adventures)
  • Fix-a ā€“flat
  • Fire extinguisher
  • Empty gas container
  • Roadside flares
  • Tow strap
  • Emergency escape tool with pocketknife
  • Firestarter/ matches
  • Maps, city and state
  • I bought a sun visor thingy that holds my escape tool in the sunglass slot, tire gauge, maps, chapstick and extra hair ties)
  • Emergency gas money (hidden in my car is a $20)
  • Most important: Keep your gas tank at least half full whenever possible.

Picture of example car it.

Do some research for yourself- a great start is this link:Ā https://bestreviews.com/best-car-emergency-kits

My motto is: Be prepared- not scared and consider yourself to be aā€¦

Picture of Mad Max Road Warrior cartoon.

 

U Is For… Unicorns – a Search for Magic in the Madness!

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Contributed by Karen Ferguson.

So here we are in 2020, which couldnā€™t get more bizarre if it tried. One moment I was wondering how much I could squeeze into one suitcase as I packed to immigrate to a little island in the Caribbean, and the next I was sitting in the Kruger National Park of South Africa in a 5-week national lockdown. Boom. Talk about a change of plans.

But everything was going to be okay because I had unicorns around me.Ā  And they brought messages for us.

Photograph of sleeping rhinoceros.

Derived from the Latin word unicornis, it literally means ā€˜single hornā€™ and it all started about 2400 years ago when the historian Ctesias laid eyes on an Indian Rhino for the very first time and described it as being the size of a horse, white in color with a purple head and blue eyes, and a single large horn protruding from the forehead.

Wait, whaaaat?

Yes, abracadabra, the unicorn is born and for centuries weā€™ve been enthralled. And why not? How could such a creature not be pure magic? The horn itself held its own powers and those who drank from it were believed to be protected from stomach ailments, epilepsy and poison.

Similarly, the rhinoā€™s horn has been both its blessing and its curse and has made them a target for hundreds of years. Around 130BC it was widely believed in China that drinking from a cup made of rhino horn could literally save oneā€™s life by detecting poison as the liquid would fizz. In todayā€™s world itā€™s believed to be a cure for many things from impotence to cancer and rhinos are dying at an unsustainable rate.

*sigh

Back to the magic though. And the fact that Iā€™ll never think of a rhino as a rhino again. Being largely solitary animals, these unicorns ā€˜listen more than they speakā€™. Iā€™ve been around them more times than I can count and never have I heard them make a single sound.

The message…

Create a Space for Silence

ā€˜The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear.ā€™ – Rumi

Picture of yoga matts on a wooden deck.

Find a space that can be dedicated solely to some daily quiet time. I picked an outside deck supposed to have been a bathroom for a treehouse, but nobody ever got that far and itā€™s now the loveliest yoga studio in all the universes. I keep my yoga mat ready and whenever I can, I take a few minutes to just sit and breathe. My 8-year old does it with me (for two to five minutes at a time) and so does my husband (we started with five and worked our way up to fifteen minutes).

TRY THIS:

Sit in a comfortable position with your back straight and your eyes closed. Breathe deeply and count slowly to three as you inhale and to four as you exhale. Extend that to five on the in-breath and six on the out-breath.

When you feel relaxed and your breathing is deep and even, start listening to what is around you. Identify as many sounds as you can. When you hear something pleasant, follow it for a few seconds before switching to another.

Picture of author seated on yoga matt, meditating.

Meditation 101.Ā  Because the family that meditates together, stays together.

Seen as a symbol of stability, the African unicorn asks us to shift our thinking from a place of fear to one of adaptation.

The message…

Live with a Sense of Normality

ā€˜Maybe itā€™s time to find a new normal.ā€™ – Trish Doller

Picture of coffee and handwritten gratitude journal.

Because we simply feel better when our days have some kind of purpose. Make your bed in the morning, shower and get dressed just as if it was any normal day in the life of you.

Wear your bangles and put on a little lippy, and if you donā€™t have some kind of daily routine, create one!

TRY THIS:

When you wake up, pour hot water into a cup and squeeze the juice from half a lemon into the water. Sit in your favorite morning spot and drink your lemon-magic while pondering over three concepts. If you like journaling, even better:

Ā *Think of three things youā€™re grateful for.

*Think of three things youā€™d love to get done.

*Think of three blessings for specific friends or family members.

Picture of hot tea with lemon.

Keep doing the little things that make you feel in control like a simple morning routine.

Even though theyā€™re gentle, unicorns are immensely powerful and they remind us that weā€™re stronger than we think.

The message…

Use your Strength Wisely

ā€˜Strength doesnā€™t come from what you can do. It comes from overcoming the things you thought you couldnā€™t.ā€™ – Unknown

Picture of hand with henna tattoo and drum.

Being the queen of trying new things, I think Iā€™ve done them all. And most of it in my forties! I took drumming lessons and found yoga. I taught myself to sew with Aunty Googleā€™s help, started an art journal, and went back to school. I got a helix piercing, immersed myself in sound healing and the art of manifesting, hosted five spiritual retreats in distant places like Morocco and Mykonos, and learned how to cook. For real.

TRY ONE OF THESE:

*Do an online course on something youā€™ve always been interested in, or finally take the time to practice the art of practicing: drumming or baking or yoga or cross-stitch or a French braid (yup that was on my list).

*Declutter your home by doing one room or area or drawer every day.

*Make your own body lotion.

*Learn to paint with watercolors.

*Plan a herb garden.

*Teach yourself tai chi.

Whatever it is youā€™ve always wanted to do… do that!

None of us know how this is going to end. The only thing we have is today. For some that looks better than for others, but in the midst of it all the sun still rises and sets, our children still canā€™t find their shoes, dishes need washing, and how we deal with one of the biggest challenges weā€™ll ever get to face during this lifetime still remains a choice.

Photograph of napping rhinoceros.

I choose to search for a little magic in the madness. Just me and the unicorns.