During 2023, I was lucky enough to spend time with some truly exceptional people in various exciting venues, both indoors and out: from a wellbeing centre, a wedding show and menopause event, to a thatched Devon longhouse and a secret Italian garden deep in the countryside (www.theitaliangarden.org).
OutPour works equally well on a one-to-one basis and in a workshop environment, with sessions always led and shaped by the people involved. Delivering workshops to small groups can start out feeling daunting, but always ends up being such an uplifting experience. Seeing people open up by writing about their thoughts and feelings, and often choosing to share insights, makes my heart sing.
I take little credit, as the facilitator rather than the fixer. These sessions have a life of their own, and the people who attend have often been harbouring pent-up issues and problems for some time, which explode onto the page creating much needed release.
Someone who I have been truly honoured to work with in one-to-one sessions is Rachael Coles: an inspirational poet, who uses the written word to help overcome various challenges.
Rachael has given permission to share her name and three of her poems on the website and social media platforms. These poems were written by Rachael in her own time, and not as part of our OutPour sessions. They are touching and heartfelt pieces of writing which may serve to inspire others, with a central theme of looking inwards rather than seeking answers elsewhere.
I look forward to meeting many more of you during 2024. Come without expectations or agendas and you will surprise yourself with what you write and how empowered it can make you feel.
DJ
MYSTERY
Life is a puzzle.
We look at books to find the answers.
After all the books
Still remains The Great Mystery.
I won’t solve the enigma by reading books.
I will find the answer deep within my heart.
Life is a puzzle.
We look to the sun, moon and stars
To find the answers.
After all the looking
Still remains The Great Mystery.
I won’t solve the enigma by looking to the stars.
I will find the answer deep within my heart.
Rachael Coles
STARDUST part 1
I sit as one woman
Gazing up to the stars
That are so far.
What I can see
Light years away
Is all within me.
I am the starlight
I am the moon glow
I am the sunrise
I am the sunset.
I sit as one woman
Gazing up to the stars
That are so far.
What I can see
Light years away
Is all within me.
Rachael Coles
STARDUST Part 2
When I look to the heavens
And gaze to the stars
I realise I’m stardust
And come from the stars.
When I look to the heavens
And gaze to the stars
I realise I am only a small dot
In a very big universe.
When I look to the heavens
And gaze to the stars
I realise I am dust
And to dust I will return.
Rachael Coles