Simply Being

My book "Simple Being" is finished.

This book and its words has been swirling around in my head for years, and has had many, many, imagined manifestations. Now here we are with one of them finally completed.

It is a simple accordion or concertina book, with the individual pages stitched together using a figure eight stitch and crochet cotton.

It can be read by simply turning the pages; or by having it stand in its pleated form. With light shining through the tiny pierced perforations.

The covers are a light grey book cloth over card; and the title page has a piece of tracing paper held by three French knots, overlayed over some pebbles with the title written with pencil. The piercing outlines only appear above and below the tracing paper overlay; they do not follow the full pebble or stone. Nor is there any swirling over the top of the pebble forms.

The first 'opening' or page. The first of the words are the words I began with and which have been somewhat talismanic in my way of remembering our times in Scotland. Forever, I am grateful that in our times there, I walk and look slowly. I look in a different way to how I walk and look in Maleny.

I have tried to sequence the words such that you feel like you could be doing these things alongside me.

Some lovely thoughts are expressed throughout - the notion of being able to 'be' lightly...

To pause, and act warmly. I like the feeling that conveys of kindness and warmth as we act towards and for others. Listening softly has me sitting and ever so gently and softly trying to listen to the quiet.

Holding kindly feels like you might be holding space, or holding others in your heart...kindly. Ahh how wonderful to shine quietly as we rest - that small glow that is ours to share and give, emerges and makes its way outwards and towards folk.

And then we breathe deeply, and go gently into the future...

I am really happy with this version of this book. I have plans and thoughts and dreams of more books using these words - I can see different ways of writing the words; different ways of illustrating the pages; different colours and layouts and bindings. I think they will be words I return to and return to and return to; but I am ever so grateful I have made it to here.