“We are not all born at once, but by bits. The body first, and the spirit later... Our mothers are racked with the pains of our physical birth; we ourselves suffer the longer pains of our spiritual growth.”
Mary Austin
I recently fell in love with Mary Hunter Austin.
I didn’t know who she was until ten days ago when I was driving through Independence, California en route to Bishop, California and saw a historical marker directing me to “Mary Austin home”.
I didn’t know who Mary Austin was at all and I had vowed not to follow my usual leanings toward forever following historical markers. By the time we turned back toward home I decided I simply must follow it. She was a woman, after all.
So off I went and found a simple home with a marker that had a poem on it.
Ten days later I’ve dug deeper and found she spent some of her youngest adult years right here in Kern County, close enough to me that I can find her home site. Well, it isn’t as if there are flashing lights to point me the way, but I look forward to finding out more and sharing that more with you along the way.
So what is it may bring you to delight about Mary?
Well, she connects. She connects to me. She connects to me and others who love nature and adore the sweet, sweet bliss of word-love and adventure of growing as a member of our creative and human community.
We’re going to play with her initial quote to inspire some writing and thought so you two may get acquainted.
Questions for Reflection and Writing:
What thought have you given to your spiritual growth and development?
Where would you like to focus more upon for your future growth?
What is in your past that may be fruitful for your future? You might want to start with a list or a mindmap to develop as a human being.
Sentence starters:
I would describe my current birth process as…
I am being born right now to…
I have been stuck in birth…
Contemplation at the end of the day:
Today I felt labor pains when trying to birth…
I also noticed….
I would feel fewer pain pangs if I…
I might feel fewer pain pangs if I….
I wish I could…
Tomorrow I would like to…
This week it would be best for me to…
This blog post is a part of April's Blogging from A to Z Challenge. Visit here daily in April to be inspired by literary grannies across time.
==========
Julie Jordan Scott inspires people to experience artistic rebirth via her programs, playshops, books, performances and simply being herself out in the world. She is a writer, creative life coach, speaker, performance poet, Mommy-extraordinaire and mixed-media artist whose Writing Camps and Writing Playgrounds permanently transform people's creative lives. Watch for the announcement of new programs coming in Spring, 2015 and beyond.
Check out the links below to follow her on a bunch of different social media channels, especially if you find the idea of a Word-Love Party bus particularly enticing.
Please stay in touch: Follow me on Twitter: @JulieJordanScot
Be sure to "Like" WritingCampwithJJS on Facebook. (Thank you!)
Follow on Instagram
And naturally, on Pinterest, too!
© 2015