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There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening, that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.
Martha Graham
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Gratitude Box
These newsletters include a sidebar to cultivate the practice of gratefulness: for writing, for the natural world, and for all the gifts of Life.
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...the nestlings' newfound voices...
Every twenty minutes throughout the day two baby birds vocalize in their high-pitched squeaks as the parent arrives at the nest with another of those juicy worms I've seen dangling from her bill. The babies' voices have grown much louder in the past few days; they will fledge soon. I remember that just one week ago all they could manage was a silent, open-beaked gesture. I am grateful for their growing strength.
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I encourage you and your family to begin the beautiful expression of thanksgiving that a friend, her partner, and their children (ages 10, 5, and 2 1/2) practice every night at the dinner table: each offers a remark about one thing for which they are grateful that day.
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Books | | |
Common Ground Between Crafts Collectives and Conservation
Weaving a Network
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Greetings!
Happy Late Spring! Living in Northern California since autumn of last year has brought with it a whole new orientation to the seasons. This is the longest springtime I have ever experienced! It began with my return from an international trip in mid-February; driving down the road toward home I saw white flowers covering the formerly-barren limbs on the trees in the wide lush median. Then arrived the pastel pinks, lavenders, pale and vibrant yellows that bled into the next round of color: reds and bright blues, along with that annually-unbelievable yellow-green hue of fresh leaf buds. The songbirds began in earnest, coming in droves. The citrus trees are bearing fruit and flowers. I harvested the first batch of succulent cherries off a tree in the backyard yesterday. Now, three months later, I am starting to believe that in my new home place it will be paradise until autumn fades into winter fogs and skeletal trees dominate the landscape. This issue focuses on the delight of spring birth and the emergence of something new, powerful, when we create safe havens for our stories. TEALarbor stories' newsletters offer inspiration, encouragement, and beauty; inform about the connection between story, the natural world and all things writerly; and promote our professional offerings. |
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Nests, Eggs, Chicks and Words
|  I have been observing and listening to the natural goings-on outside my office window in recent weeks. Excessive bird attention to the bush that flourishes on the other side of the pane enticed me to search outside one day until I came upon a mockingbird nest. While eggs hatched, nestlings grew, a chick fell out of the perch and a human replaced it upon its twiggy home, the nest - too - has transformed. It has become used, worn, but also embellished. There is some white cottony fluff around the edges that was not present two weeks ago. Light green wiry moss lines the inside walls of the concave home. It is even more beautiful now than when it was pristine, unused, quiet. Still camouflaged nicely amidst the taupe branches of the bush, the nest today has an eroded western edge, perhaps the side over which the chick fell a few days ago. The wind came strongly this week; I watched as the bush was greatly rustled by the gusts. Frankly, the nest has become a bit messy, unkempt. And yet, it continues to serve well as it holds the unfolding story of this small brood of mockingbird nestlings.
Words weave and spiral, making something: a container, perhaps.
I work with writers to help hold that nest, that home for what will emerge as new life: a poignant memoir, a scholarly paper, a research interview, poetry, a curriculum vitae, even. It does not matter into which format the writer must craft her story. The deep truth comes out when she moves through resistance, fear or other messy barriers and engages the significance of her life, arriving at the page willing to give everything she has in service to the writing project. She, or he, does this - no matter what it takes.
A small movement, internal and unseen...then a hairline crack, so tiny it is not yet visible. But the new story knows and pushes a bit more; fissures appear, the shell breaks open and there is a new thing: precious, honest and intrepid.
This is what we do at TEALarbor stories.
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|  What makes TEALarbor stories unique is its focus on earth-based practices, ritual, and non-written creative activities as means for aspiring writers to move deeper into an understanding of what they are called to write: their deep, soulful story. While offering more traditional writing services, TEALarbor stories also provides clients with the opportunity for experiences in nature that serve to bring forth their deepest expression of who they are as they come to their writing. Story & Nature Guiding © is TEALarbor stories' signature process, offering individuals the opportunity to learn from nature in service to their work in the world. Please see the tab on the website: www.tealarborstories.com/teal/story.cfm |
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News and Updates
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- TEALarbor stories blogs are generally posted on Fridays. The "follow by email" is not always reliable, so please check the blog on weekends for the latest posting.
- We reach a global audience. An internet connection, Skype or email account are all that a person needs in order to access any of our services.
- You can sponsor a writer who wants TEALarbor stories' services. Please send an email for more information.
May this springtime (or autumn, for my friends in the Southern Hemisphere) hold with tenderness your fresh stories.
Blessings,
Jennifer Wilhoit
TEALarbor stories
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TEALarbor stories' mission is to support people as they discover and convey through writing their deepest Stories. The nature-based, creative processes help individuals to: write for insight, write as rite, write for outcome.
Offering mentoring, editing, tutoring, story & nature guiding ©, workshops and more...
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