16 Comments
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Annette Vaucanson Kelly's avatar

Oh my heart, all the hearts, this is so beautiful, Aoibhín ✨ What a profound honour to have my words included among those of mother-writers I admire so, so much, thank you 🙏🏻. If I were to share one word, one line, and add one fragment to the circle, it would be something I read in Clare Mulvany's Bealtaine post: "The tree must risk its bud to blossom. The birds must risk their branch to fly." Thank you 💖

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Aoibhín's avatar

This line... it is stunning and heartbreaking, and full of courage, and fear and strength. Thank you for sharing Annette

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Anastasia Maier's avatar

This swallowed me - thank you for your invitation. I recently learned of a song from song keeper, Peia Luzzi. It’s a song from the Hebrides Islands sung in seal language. She pairs it with her telling of the Selkie. I can stop singing it. I’m reminded of the animal body, returning to source and all the ways our heart opens and breaks at once. It’s something to be spoken so I don’t have written words for it but felt drawn to share.

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Aoibhín's avatar

This sounds incredibly special Anastasia. Thank you for this beautiful fragment. Songs, music and dance find places the words don't always reach, don't they?

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Annette Vaucanson Kelly's avatar

I would love yo hear that Selkie song by Peia, Anastasia. Do you have a link to it, please?

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Aoibhín's avatar

How magical that @anastasiamaier shared this gift the week of your first Selkie Circle! Perfect timing

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Anastasia Maier's avatar

I tried finding one Annette! No luck so far but will keep an eye out. I can also try singing it and sending to you if you open to that exchange 🦭

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Lauren Barber's avatar

Oh my heart longs to be at that kitchen table. What a beautiful piece. I’m so tired today I can’t conjure up a response to your question but I feel soothed by your words. Xx

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Caroline Mellor's avatar

So beautifully written. Navigating this fragmented path together 🤍

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Aoibhín's avatar

Thank you Caroline. Yes, realising we are all together on this path is the first step I think 🙏

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Genevieve Beech's avatar

this is beautiful! thank you for inviting me to such a dreamy gathering of mothers, and for musing on my use of the lowercase i. i am so glad to be part of the fragments, a small semblance of togetherness while we mother...

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Aoibhín's avatar

Ah Genevieve, the special 'i' that has wandered through my thoughts for weeks. Thank you 💚

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Lisa Southard's avatar

I am a grandmother writer now, steeped, not quite stooped; I feel like a seabird perched high in a clifftop, aware of the ocean depths and dangers, alive to the beauty of it all. Much love to all the mothers, past, present, and future xx

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Kelly Hargie's avatar

Oh, so beautiful 💙

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Nelly Bryce's avatar

Oh what beautiful writing. I know those motherhood aches that stick in our throats SO well. Thank you for giving them a little sound x

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Annika Horgan's avatar

Such a beautiful read. I feel so deeply connected by your articulation of mothering. It reminded me of the Japanese art of Kintsugi, fragments and scars creating unique beauty and something more precious 💚

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