I can't think of a more hopeful season in the northern hemisphere than Spring as it sends up new shoots any way it can. It's my favourite season and I find it genuinely hopeful.
I think that hope comes from working together with people who desire the kind of future that is truly possible if we can conjure up the collective will. I think if there is any hope we'll find it with each other in community doing what we can to create a future that is not only liveable but inspired.
Best of luck with your project. I look forward to reading what gives others hope. And I hope it gives you some hope too.
Thanks for this Diana. I live in the Gulf so for me this is the season where it starts to get hotter and less hopeful! Which is maybe what inspired me to write this now. I agree Spring is such a relief in the Northern hemisphere after so much darkness. I look forward to reading your post on this. I think its so easy to get stuck in thinking this is just the way things are - but they have changed in the past and so we can change them again.
And times of great upheaval are often when the most important changes can be made, Catriona. It's important to find ways of pushing in the same direction. Geopolitically and, in the west, nationally, there's so much going on. It could be a real opportunity for positive change if enough of us do our bit.
Diana... I feel the same. There are signs that the patriarchal system is headed for collapse eventually. Deep greed and self centeredness never lasts. AI is going to further the collapse in my opinion. Now is the perfect time to collaborate on building a new paradigm.... one of hope, of equality, of collaboration and mutual benefit. With you!
Beautiful words Stan. I enjoy your thoughts - that even at a time when we are being presented with the idea that the patriarchy and AI are growing stronger that you can see beyond this and that into new ways of being. Your words about greed remind me a little of a piece I wrote a while ago but never published, I might have to dig it out again. Thank you for thoughtful comment and your offer of a vision into something beyond the evidence we see now.
I love this Diana - what strong words - the power and potential of using upheveal to push in a better direction. And I completely agree. Let's explore ways to work together to shape positive change. Thank you for your vision beyond the evidence into what is next. Or what could be next, if we try to create it.
I wrote this a few weeks ago literally for hope ('the hidden colours') during an extended period of difficulty. The photos themselves were shot early one morning on the way to an important and worrying appointment. These past 3 months have nurtured a sharper eye for hope within despair (a concept that would work more poetically in French with the play on espoir vs désespoir).
Thank you for sharing Artemisia your journey through hope and despair and those hidden colours - I love your thoughts on espoir/desespoir. Looking forward to reading more.
Extraordinary. Deeply insightful. Feeling connected to a mission of benevolent transformation. From your very soul. Deep abiding gratefulness. "Be the change you want to see in the world." ~ Gandhi. Live your truth. I am with you!
I love this Catriona! Women's circles are where hope is for me. I will share more here and in Notes after the weekend. Thank you for the mention too! ☺️
Thank you Jo. I was inspired by some of our conversations to think beyond words/images into other entry points for those who want to take part. I think thats also a great way to explore topics like hope which can seem hard to relate to - or its a theme that has felt hard to relate to for me.
I missed this somehow. Will try to read and understand again. Sorry, I'm late to this because of Ramadan. Would love to contribute and collaborate with you, Catriona.
I live this! And I would love to explore all the four topics of your poll!
Thanks Liza - good to know all the topics interest you. I was trying to think of good themes to explore!
Hi Catriona,
I can't think of a more hopeful season in the northern hemisphere than Spring as it sends up new shoots any way it can. It's my favourite season and I find it genuinely hopeful.
Here's a post I wrote recently that attempts to instil hope. https://dianavaneyk.substack.com/p/envisioning-the-kind-of-world-we
I think that hope comes from working together with people who desire the kind of future that is truly possible if we can conjure up the collective will. I think if there is any hope we'll find it with each other in community doing what we can to create a future that is not only liveable but inspired.
Best of luck with your project. I look forward to reading what gives others hope. And I hope it gives you some hope too.
Thanks for this Diana. I live in the Gulf so for me this is the season where it starts to get hotter and less hopeful! Which is maybe what inspired me to write this now. I agree Spring is such a relief in the Northern hemisphere after so much darkness. I look forward to reading your post on this. I think its so easy to get stuck in thinking this is just the way things are - but they have changed in the past and so we can change them again.
And times of great upheaval are often when the most important changes can be made, Catriona. It's important to find ways of pushing in the same direction. Geopolitically and, in the west, nationally, there's so much going on. It could be a real opportunity for positive change if enough of us do our bit.
Diana... I feel the same. There are signs that the patriarchal system is headed for collapse eventually. Deep greed and self centeredness never lasts. AI is going to further the collapse in my opinion. Now is the perfect time to collaborate on building a new paradigm.... one of hope, of equality, of collaboration and mutual benefit. With you!
Beautiful words Stan. I enjoy your thoughts - that even at a time when we are being presented with the idea that the patriarchy and AI are growing stronger that you can see beyond this and that into new ways of being. Your words about greed remind me a little of a piece I wrote a while ago but never published, I might have to dig it out again. Thank you for thoughtful comment and your offer of a vision into something beyond the evidence we see now.
I love this Diana - what strong words - the power and potential of using upheveal to push in a better direction. And I completely agree. Let's explore ways to work together to shape positive change. Thank you for your vision beyond the evidence into what is next. Or what could be next, if we try to create it.
Yes, let's, Catriona. I think we need to realize the potential for change, and do all we can to create change for the better.
I wrote this a few weeks ago literally for hope ('the hidden colours') during an extended period of difficulty. The photos themselves were shot early one morning on the way to an important and worrying appointment. These past 3 months have nurtured a sharper eye for hope within despair (a concept that would work more poetically in French with the play on espoir vs désespoir).
https://open.substack.com/pub/flyfirebird/p/the-hidden-colour-of-things?r=4vhd6u&utm_medium=ios
Thank you for sharing Artemisia your journey through hope and despair and those hidden colours - I love your thoughts on espoir/desespoir. Looking forward to reading more.
Thank you for your time reading xx
Extraordinary. Deeply insightful. Feeling connected to a mission of benevolent transformation. From your very soul. Deep abiding gratefulness. "Be the change you want to see in the world." ~ Gandhi. Live your truth. I am with you!
Thank you so much Stan. I appreciate your beautiful comment and support! Thank you for walking with me.
I love this Catriona! Women's circles are where hope is for me. I will share more here and in Notes after the weekend. Thank you for the mention too! ☺️
Amazing Annette - really looking forward to read more about the hope you have found in women's circles. That sounds so interesting.
I love this idea, Catriona. I’ll have a think about what I could contribute.
Thank you Jo. I was inspired by some of our conversations to think beyond words/images into other entry points for those who want to take part. I think thats also a great way to explore topics like hope which can seem hard to relate to - or its a theme that has felt hard to relate to for me.
That’s wonderful. I think the scrapbooking idea is a lovely one. It feels like an organic way to explore hope.
What a great idea! I'll share my submission via Notes later this week. Thank you for the opportunity Catriona 💕
This is the world that Jack built.
This is the bounty
That lay in the world that Jack built,
This is the flock
That ate the bounty
That lay in the world that Jack built.
This is the shock
That killed the flock
That ate the bounty
That lay in the world that Jack built.
This is the greed
That caused the shock
That killed the flock
That ate the bounty
That lay in the world that Jack built.
This is the ever clouded morn
Pall of the greed
That caused the shock
That killed the flock
That ate the bounty
That lay in the world that Jack built.
This is the empty sea dead and forlorn
Beneath ever clouded morn
Pall of the greed
That caused the shock
That killed the flock
That ate the bounty
That lay in the world that Jack built.
This is the landscape tattered and torn
The empty sea dead and forlorn
Beneath ever clouded morn
Pall of the greed
That caused the shock
That killed the flock
That ate the bounty
That lay in the world that Jack built.
This is the bare forest shaven and shorn
The landscape tattered and torn
The empty sea dead and forlorn
Beneath ever clouded morn
Pall of the greed that caused the shock
That killed the flock
That ate the bounty
That lay in the world that Jack built.
There was fair warning to all then born
Not to leave forests shaven and shorn
The landscape tattered and torn
The empty sea dead and forlorn
To clear ever clouded morn
Pall of the greed that caused the shock
That killed the flock
That ate the bounty
That lay in the world that Jack built.
Yet wild oats remained endlessly sown
Deaf to fair warning to all then born
Not to leave forests shaven and shorn
The landscape tattered and torn
The empty sea dead and forlorn
To clear ever clouded morn
Pall of the greed that caused the shock
That killed the flock
That ate the bounty
That lay in the world that Jack built.
I missed this somehow. Will try to read and understand again. Sorry, I'm late to this because of Ramadan. Would love to contribute and collaborate with you, Catriona.