On leaving

Sometimes it takes a great sky to find that first, bright and indescribable wedge of freedom in your own heart.

David Whyte

Leaving a place you have inhabited is hardly ever simple. But, leaving can also be beautiful, and invite unexpected, exquisite possibility.

As I make my own transition from Providence, Rhode Island to Anchorage, Alaska, I wanted to share a short practice for opening to the great sky and creating heartspace for freedom in the unknown.

First, gather a few, small things that make you feel at home.

Make notes of their shared and individual qualities. You might make tiny sketches of them as a means to notice them, and keep them.

Give one of these things away to someone you care for.

Place one of these things in a place where someone will find it unexpectedly.

View fullsize

View fullsize

Put at least one of these things in a precious place where it can be near you on your journey.

In the process of leaving, take extra notice of how and where the qualities of these small things that make you feel at home are found in other objects, individuals or experiences. Maybe even yourself. You might write these things down. Make a mantra or a prayer.

I’ll be journeying to Alaska through mid June. I would deeply appreciate the sending of positive travel mojo towards me and my car. Updates may be intermittent and dependent on internet access. 

An invitation to a Ritual: creating a house, wherever you are

Please read through the ritual entirely before beginning the process. 

Materials: 

• vellum floorplan received on May 6th at 'From one to another' performance or a print out of floorplan below
• sharp scissors 
• adhesive (double sided tape or a clear, quick-drying glue is recommended)
• some time
• access to a body of water (bathtubs do not count, birdbaths or puddles are acceptable)
• a kind of mineral (crystal, stone, bit of earth; preferable if it has seen moonlight or snow)
• a candle 
• paper and writing utensil (optional)

Actions: 

First make time for yourself. For example, cook a meal, read a book, do something you would like to do, even if it is the laundry.  

Afterwards, in a quite space, and with care, cut out and assemble the tiny vellum house using the scissors and adhesive. As you are cutting and assembling, think about all of the home spaces you have inhabited both physical and otherwise. Imbue your tiny house with all the positive qualities of those places. 

Anoint your tiny home with a drop of water from a body of water proximate (relatively) to your current home place.  

Ground your tiny home next to the mineral you collected for at least one night. Keep mental note of your thoughts each time you encounter the tiny home. You might choose to write them down, or draw them. Maybe they are imaginings, maybe they are memories or dreams. 

Your house may stay grounded next to the mineral for many nights until it is time for the next action. 

On June 2nd, or any day between June 2nd and June 14th put the mineral in your pocket and take your tiny house with you into the night. Don't forget your candle. 

Allow for a little wandering. Find yourself in a place you have not been before (even if it is just a corner of the back garden you rarely visit). 

Light the candle and let it burn for a little while. During that while review your mental notes of encountering your little home. Hold your home close. Consider taking the sense of home with you. Consider inviting others who are dear to you into this sensibility with you. 

Blow out the candle with your eyes closed. 

The little home can be kept, given to another, or recycled once it has served this purpose. 

If you happen to document your ritual I would love to see it via social media (#fromonetoanother) or through email (s.hollismickey (at) gmail dot com), as it will certainly buoy me on my journey set to take place June 2-June 14 from one place to another. Watch this space for journey updates.