4 Comments
User's avatar
Bruce Maltby's avatar

"I’m curious about our attachment to places, about what makes a community thrive or wither, about how we reach past divides and difference."

>What makes a community thrive or wither - a once a month pop up village pub isn't a half bad way for a community to thrive (speaking as someone who has just been to one).

>how we reach beyond divides and division - often only by going through a period of silence, absorption and a return to the place of pain having dispensed with the negative emotion.

"Experience is not what happens to you, it is what you do with what happens to you" Aldous Huxley

Two words you used which stood out were 'Aliveness' and 'Numinous' which seem to operate very comfortably together...

Thank you Elizabeth for your always thought provoking words by hand and via keyboard.

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Wainwright's avatar

Thanks for your thoughts and kind words Bruce. Glad you enjoyed the pop up pub! Our village has a permanent pub, I hope it’s here to stay, so many rural pubs are closing.

Yes, the words ’aliveness’ and ‘numinous’ have been rattling around my head… I hadn’t thought about how they sit together though, thanks for the prompt 🙏

Expand full comment
Sally Hirst's avatar

What a lovely introduction. We have a lot in common - books we both like, poetry (I love the Lautus Press editions) and an interest in our connection to place. I am from Wales originally and currently live in Australia, and never feel at home properly anywhere. I feel more attached to spaces I make with my family than the actual location. My son lives in Nairobi at the moment and I have, unexpectedly, greatly enjoyed exploring Kenya. Definitely think. like you, that we need more kindness and compassion in the world. I look forward to reading more - and then creating a stronger attachment in supporting your writing.

Expand full comment
Elizabeth Wainwright's avatar

Thank you for your comment, Sally! I bet you’ve lots of stories about your journey from Wales to Australia.

I’m so curious about that feeling you mention of being ‘at home’ - I’ve been thinking and writing a bit about this recently too. It’s a clear feeling, but still so hard to distil.

Ah Kenya. I’ve loved my time there. The coast, the highlands, the ancientness of some places. Enjoy your future explorations.

Thanks for being here and supporting my work 🙏

Expand full comment