TRAVELING WITHOUT MOVING Quick Writing Help Exercise By Claire Williamson, Metanoia Institute
GET READY Before taking part in the writing exercise, ask yourself whether you are in a good position to do this exercise today. Don’t be afraid to stop if you find yourself in deeper territory. It can be helpful to share the work with a friend or household member afterwards, or to do the exercise together at the same time.
1
Begin by taking a few deep breaths and let your feet find the floor to give yourself a sense of ground. Notice a few aspects of the room around you and make a note of them this could be very simple, such as a keyboard, cup, table, bed, the colour of the walls.
2 Read 'The Lake Isle of Innisfree' byWilliam Butler Yeats
I will arise and go now, and go to Innisfree, And a small cabin build there, of clay and wattles made; Nine bean-rows will I have there, a hive for the honey-bee, And live alone in the bee-loud glade. And I shall have some peace there, for peace comes dropping slow, Dropping from the veils of the morning to where the cricket sings; There midnight’s all a glimmer, and noon a purple glow, And evening full of the linnet’s wings. I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping with low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey, I hear it in the deep heart’s core.
3
If you could 'arise and go now' where would you go and what would you take with you to look after yourself? This could include special people too. You can remember a place that was calm, or even a small moment on a walk, with a friend, or somewhere you have enjoyed being. Alternatively, you could imagine a special place and who you would like there with you. Write for ten minutes about your place/moment in any form that feels comfortable. It could be a mind-map, a poem, free-writing (prose), a letter to the place, a list of features.
4
Pick a few phrases from your own writing to create three short lines to help you capture this place. For example (using The Lake Isle of Innisfree): Midnight’s all a glimmer Low sounds by the shore Some peace there
5
Is there something you want to take forward from this exercise into life? You could write yourself a short motto. For example: Stand still for a few moments each day or Listen for the deep heart’s core Or Breathe in, breathe out
6
Gently reconnect with the ground and the objects that you noticed around at the beginning. You could touch the objects for a few seconds each to return from the writing space.
7
Be gentle with yourself. Maybe now choose something to eat or drink, or take a bath or shower. Think what will nourish you after the writing.