Threading Waters, an apt title to seven letters/stories/essays that begin merely as an idea and are permitted to flow. These stories wind around, thread with nothing but a an initial letter. With these letters, we share a conversation, invite perspective.
Thanks for taking the lead, Julia, in bringing our vision to life in this first post of our series. I'm so pleased to be part of this collaboration. We are able to share a truly wonderful collection of ideas and words.
Yasmin Chopin, really great to read your personal introduction to our collective endeavour this afternoon.
And, as ever, thank you for your kind words. I feel so proud of what we've achieved in such a short space of time. I will always think of you, you know, whenever I see a wisteria, now.
Julia, I would love to know more about your ecological, artistic journey. From Australia to Sweden... that's quite the journey!
I hope your subscribers will get involved with comments and beyond, I’ve found it a challenge encouraging folk to comment, but when they do it’s so interesting and uplifting and useful.
I usually have a good level of engagement and I’m confident there’ll be interest in what we’ve produced. But this is the longest post I’ve published so we’ll see.
I love this writing. I love it so much I'm crying. I heard somewhere that tears cried with great devotion are holy water. But also, I also love the collaboration between women.
Thanks So much Mariana. I think moving you to tears is the greatest compliment we writers can receive. It has been a kismet sort of thing where we all landed in the same place and started talking and this gorgeous collaboration bloomed. My favorite part about it is the blending of all our voices, and how they weave together.
Thank you so much for your comment, Mariana. What a great compliment your tears pay us, flowing from a sacred spot in your heart. We’re all very fortunate to have found one another, and the blending of voices is sheer delight.
What a marvelous compilation. Everyone took a different direction, celebrating our diversity and yet our connectiveness. Still waters apparently run wild.
Yes, Luanne. We decided to each do our own thing and see what turned up. Surprisingly, there is a strong fine thread that holds the pieces together. It's what we hoped for, and I think it worked well in this first iteration.
Thanks Bee.l tend to write about cities, parts of London,Hong Kong. These places have meaning for me and I’m aware of the environmental issues surrounding them. Not sure that this fits into your group’s brief but happy to be wrong about this .l think it’s so interesting having different perspectives from all over the world and love your themes.
I got to meet the Thames in March and was really struck by the power of the river. In spite of centuries of pollution, it was moving watching the current, the barrelling of an unstoppable spirit. I dug 'round on the banks and found a small treasure, a fossily rock thing that looks like a claw and feels like a talisman to the place my great grandmother grew up before moving to Australia. I don't know Hong Kong at all, but it seems that most cities have strong water spirits, and that's why they became densely populated place to begin with. Of course there's the practical aspect of ease of transportation but I get a sense there is something much more than that. They are often places where waters meet, rivers and seas and all our human embodied waters.
Your comments bring to mind my recent trip down the Rhine, Julia. It is both a transportation corridor and a connection between past and present, a kind of conveyor belt bringing people—me—through space and time, able to observe ancient castles and modern industrial facilities.
I’ve left you and Julia a comment re Lara’s book somewhere in this wondrous watery thread, Julie. And then discover our very own @Yasmin Chopin has written a review of said book. <doing happy dance while prepping supper>
I love this visual, the connection of water and humans. There exists something about being drawn towards, seeing ourselves on the surface, pulling from her what keeps us alive.
I'm so glad the writing has resonated with you, Barbara.
My focus is on Home and Place and that very much includes cities. The built environment has a lot to teach us and for most of the population on this planet it is 'home'. Your interests definitely align with our brief!
Thank you for taking the time to read our joy filled project. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with these talented writers. I can’t wait to thread more art together with them.
Thanks Barbara! It does have a quality of unexpected wonder to play together in this way. When everyones responses came in, they seemed to arrange themselves in a meaningful order, quite effortlessly.
So happy to wake up to our first post already live. Yay!! I probably overdid restacking and also posted it on Notes myself. lol. I’m just so excited.
Spreading joy is never wrong, Amanda!!
Threading Waters, an apt title to seven letters/stories/essays that begin merely as an idea and are permitted to flow. These stories wind around, thread with nothing but a an initial letter. With these letters, we share a conversation, invite perspective.
A beautiful beginning, Julia.
Thanks for taking the lead, Julia, in bringing our vision to life in this first post of our series. I'm so pleased to be part of this collaboration. We are able to share a truly wonderful collection of ideas and words.
Yasmin Chopin, really great to read your personal introduction to our collective endeavour this afternoon.
And, as ever, thank you for your kind words. I feel so proud of what we've achieved in such a short space of time. I will always think of you, you know, whenever I see a wisteria, now.
Julia, I would love to know more about your ecological, artistic journey. From Australia to Sweden... that's quite the journey!
Likewise, your personal introduction has such depth. Well separated with notes and worth the read.
Thanks, Bee. I'm interested to see how it lands with my subscribers...
I hope your subscribers will get involved with comments and beyond, I’ve found it a challenge encouraging folk to comment, but when they do it’s so interesting and uplifting and useful.
I usually have a good level of engagement and I’m confident there’ll be interest in what we’ve produced. But this is the longest post I’ve published so we’ll see.
I love this writing. I love it so much I'm crying. I heard somewhere that tears cried with great devotion are holy water. But also, I also love the collaboration between women.
Thanks So much Mariana. I think moving you to tears is the greatest compliment we writers can receive. It has been a kismet sort of thing where we all landed in the same place and started talking and this gorgeous collaboration bloomed. My favorite part about it is the blending of all our voices, and how they weave together.
This, this makes my heart feel full. We need to build one another up, not tear one another down.
Thank you so much for your comment, Mariana. What a great compliment your tears pay us, flowing from a sacred spot in your heart. We’re all very fortunate to have found one another, and the blending of voices is sheer delight.
Thank you, Mariana. It is a beautiful experience for sure, feels like something to hold on to, to treasure.
I loved reading these wonderful essays/ letters, perfect in confused times.
Thank you so much, Sarah. That means a lot to us!
Thank you. We so appreciate you reading our weaving of words.
Ah, thanks so much Sarah!
What a marvelous compilation. Everyone took a different direction, celebrating our diversity and yet our connectiveness. Still waters apparently run wild.
I love that. “Still waters apparently run wild!” Perfect.
Yes, Luanne. We decided to each do our own thing and see what turned up. Surprisingly, there is a strong fine thread that holds the pieces together. It's what we hoped for, and I think it worked well in this first iteration.
Let's see what happens next month!
Thank you, Luanne.
We appreciate your support, Luanne!!
This is phenomenal work. So cool!
Thank you, Julie. Reading some of our our forthcoming issue today that’s what I thought too. These women. 💚
Thanks for you appreciation Julie! It’s such a treasure to spark words with these phenomenal women!!
Thanks Julie.
I'm honoured to be part of this group of wonderful women, and I'm enjoying the challenge. Each month we create a new piece of work.
I love what you’re doing. Brilliant idea to collaborate in this way.
Thank you, Barbara.
“Is there a water/place stirring in you or that you feel somehow indebted to?
Or perhaps an undercurrent of environmental contradiction that needs air?” (Julia Adzuki)
Go for it, Barbara!
Thanks Bee.l tend to write about cities, parts of London,Hong Kong. These places have meaning for me and I’m aware of the environmental issues surrounding them. Not sure that this fits into your group’s brief but happy to be wrong about this .l think it’s so interesting having different perspectives from all over the world and love your themes.
Julia, I’m so happy you’ve started us off with your ode to water. Can’t wait to keep up our momentum. Great work, everyone!!
I got to meet the Thames in March and was really struck by the power of the river. In spite of centuries of pollution, it was moving watching the current, the barrelling of an unstoppable spirit. I dug 'round on the banks and found a small treasure, a fossily rock thing that looks like a claw and feels like a talisman to the place my great grandmother grew up before moving to Australia. I don't know Hong Kong at all, but it seems that most cities have strong water spirits, and that's why they became densely populated place to begin with. Of course there's the practical aspect of ease of transportation but I get a sense there is something much more than that. They are often places where waters meet, rivers and seas and all our human embodied waters.
Your comments bring to mind my recent trip down the Rhine, Julia. It is both a transportation corridor and a connection between past and present, a kind of conveyor belt bringing people—me—through space and time, able to observe ancient castles and modern industrial facilities.
I’ve left you and Julia a comment re Lara’s book somewhere in this wondrous watery thread, Julie. And then discover our very own @Yasmin Chopin has written a review of said book. <doing happy dance while prepping supper>
Cool!
I love this visual, the connection of water and humans. There exists something about being drawn towards, seeing ourselves on the surface, pulling from her what keeps us alive.
If you haven’t read it already, Julia, and Julie, London mudlarker Lara Maiklem’s book is fascinating. laramaiklem.com
Loved this book, Bee.
I've written a review about it here: https://yasminchopin.substack.com/p/mudlarking-by-lara-maiklem
Oh joy!!!
I'm so glad the writing has resonated with you, Barbara.
My focus is on Home and Place and that very much includes cities. The built environment has a lot to teach us and for most of the population on this planet it is 'home'. Your interests definitely align with our brief!
Thank you for taking the time to read our joy filled project. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with these talented writers. I can’t wait to thread more art together with them.
Thanks Barbara! It does have a quality of unexpected wonder to play together in this way. When everyones responses came in, they seemed to arrange themselves in a meaningful order, quite effortlessly.