Sunday, July 12, 2009

how to start

i find myself struggling to start.

my story has so many entry points.

shall i start with my new job?

after two years of uncertainty
i am about to receive a salary again.

when i stepped out of my corporate career
i knew it was the right thing to do
yet i felt like i was stepping into nothingness.

the new world i stepped into is full of ideas
and sleeping late
while sunlight strokes a leaf
at eleven in the morning
i am often here to see it.

yet often the fear of non-survival
of not earning
made my stomach churn and my heart shake.

then i found a book.

one of many
entry points.

this one spoke of the way of the wild witch
of an earth-bound wild spirituality
of making a promise to the earth.

suddenly

a job as a research assistant
power relations within government
democracy and knowledge
management in South Africa.
how does these interact
with global environmental policy?

developing a greening proposal
for the geography department
introduces me to those working towards
changing mindsets across the university.

joining earthlife africa
a project investigating acid mine drainage
leads to the possibility of rehabilitation
of a mine poisoning the drinking water
of a local nature reserve
animals aborting their young and dying
of thirst.

for the first time in my life i feel like i
am doing what needs to be done.

i sink into each moment
without worry
about being more
present
in who i am suppose to be.

this new path
makes my heart tremble.

yet inside the sadness of all
that i cannot change

burns the hope about that which i can.


maybe i should start with the simple peace of knowing
things unfold in their own time.

13 comments:

kristen said...

congratulations. the last image is my favorite...i want to gaze in that water.

thailandchani said...

That's great! As always your pictures are stunning. What is the name of the book you read?



~*

Fire Byrd said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Fire Byrd said...

Wonderful words Hele, and as ever fantstic photography.
Hope is all.
xx

flutter said...

things always unfold in their own time. almost as if to let us know that the universe is in control, when we are not

d smith kaich jones said...

If we could look into the future and know, if we could only dream a true dream and know which door to open. But the universe works its miracles and now you "sink into each moment without worry" - a magical piece of prose. As always, coming here feeds my soul.

Debi

PixieDust said...

yes, they do unfold when they are ready... I am glad to come back to your blog after quite a time away and find you doing so well.

Congratulations!

:-)

Peter Clothier said...

A fine, thoughtful inner debate. And the pictures, as always, are a wonderful and apt accompaniment to what's going on inside. Like Chani, I'm interested to know about the book...

NotSoSage said...

hel, this seems so perfect! i am so, so excited for you.

Anonymous said...

You found your place. I'm glad.

Reya Mellicker said...

Bravo and congrats! Excellent work.

Those clouds in all your exquisite images do not look like they're just beginning, they look well underway.

Well done, you! Onwards & upwards!

Angela said...

All this time that you were struggling, I was thinking of you. This new job sounds like just the perfect thing for you. I am so glad you kept on going! Dear Hele, come and roll on my lawn and play with Paco, and enjoy every day of your life. Hugs from Angela

Maurey Pierce said...

Congratulations to you! Best of luck in your new venture.