Earth and the inner Harvest

I have just spent another wonderful three days in the company of Lorna Penney, at her seasonal workshop honouring the Earth element. For those more used to Earth dwelling in wintertime, this work comes from the five element tradition, where winter is the realm of metal. So here at the beginning of Autumn, we honour the dynamic Earth and our own inner harvest.

As is generally the case with Lorna's work, there is no escape from the inner reality. Even by stepping into the room, those present invite themselves into a place of transformation. 

We explored themes such as "surface politeness" - how we often turn up, or behave in a particular way, or say a particualr thing because it is the polite thing to do. And how utterly depleting that can be.

As Lorna said " How can I, in my uniqueness, be available to this situation, exactly as it is unfolding." 

This question: "what am I available for?" is a simple but powerful and potentially transformational reminder that there is a choice in what, and how and with whom we can be fully present. 

Earth = Complete, Dynamic Availability

Through movement, breath, sound and text I found myself navigating the "void". I was reminded, as I am cyclically of chapter 11 from the Tao Te Ching

Thirty spokes share the wheel's hub;

It is the centre hole that makes it useful.
Shape clay into a vessel;
It is the space within that makes it useful.
Cut doors and windows for a room;
It is the holes which make it useful.
Therefore benefit comes from what is there;
Usefulness from what is not there.

And we played with this juxtaposition:

 w(hole)

Remove Wholeness from the Whole, Wholeness remains.