Thanks Alison. Your words as ever resonate with my own thoughts and feelings. I love the idea that you have ‘naturalised’ in Ireland! Keep sharing your wisdom...more people are listening than you realise. xxx
Of course your boys will win; they're fantastic... I'm going out to Marseilles on Thursday(with my son and son in law) for the two quarters that are playing there this weekend, just in time to see England humiliated by the Fijians! Substack... okay. I've not explored that one - is that the one you're on? I'm still a wordpress sort of guy! There's a chance that we might be holidaying in your neck of the green next year. If it comes about, I'll let you know...
New writing style - yes, I'm actually considering it, after 30 years mostly giving useful information in my newsletters! Not sure how to do and still get a message about transformation across to others, but will think about it. My October news was about moving into the liminal spaces to visit with ancestors, and I did tell a brief story about requesting help from my ancestor medical team (my father and his 3 brothers, all deceased MDs) in getting a much-needed appointment I was being denied, and having what I needed in about 12 hours.
I am so happy for you, dear Ali! You are deeply connected to Ireland, and you deserve to be a bonafide citizen. Although I am an American citizen, I adore Ireland and the time I spend there. Your writing over the years has deepened my experience with the land, and I will be forever grateful. I have done a fair amount of studying Ireland's history and customs and myths. I find that you know far more about Ireland than the average Irish citizen. You love the land and have every right to claim her as your own. Woohoo!
I so appreciate the way you are willing to make yourself vulnerable in your poignant writing for your readers to see and identify with. I'm thinking that perhaps I should do more of that in my monthly newsletter.
Congratulations Ali! Your beautiful post is so heartfelt and moving, plus I love your references to Braiding Sweetgrass. As a French national married to an Irish man, bringing up 4 bi-national children and feeling at home in Ireland (been here 13 years), I really resonate with your idea of being naturalised, like the humble and potent plantain. Thank you for your words and reflections on identity and belonging - I see myself in them.
Hi Ali - as someone who has moved from Ireland to Canada (40 years and citizenship after 18 years there) and now back again to Ireland, I’m familiar with that insider/outsider feeling. But there’s real strength in it. You see things that insider/insiders don’t and can appreciate the strangeness, beauty and wonder of Ireland, even as you feel the frustrations of its overly-bureaucratic processes and lack of care for many people. You are making a difference for all of us here, and in the end, that’s the best any of us can hope to do. Naturalised plants are those that fit comfortably in their new surrounding and add to rather than take from biodiversity.
Hi Ali. What's the 'Stack? I'm sure I should know but..
I'm pretty good. The odd little creak and groan. Still embedded in sooty London life, still writing, still wondering where Great English Novel is hiding. I guess you're all wrapped up in rugby. I really hope they do it, given England don't deserve to still be there how they are playing.
Congratulations on obtaining your Irish citizenship, Ali. Through your article here I read a lot of perception. Through my life two things I’ve never allowed space for within me, Nationalism and Religion. I’ve no idea how I was taught this, though on my father’s side nobody seemed to have time for either. Mother’s side a lot different, and got annoyed at my attitude, yet most of them were very kind people.
Look at other species of animals, birds, insects, plants etc., and neither Nationalism or Religion are part of their lives and not concepts they understand, yet they can be tribal and territorial. Tribal and territorial is move flowing than the fixed Nationalism and Religion.
Another thing I do not have time for are Nationalists and Religious people who grab folklore and enforce ‘compliance’ to it, when what they are really trying to do is use folklore as a strange verification for their identity with their Nationalism and Religion.
I suppose I may do something similar when I use folklore as a verification of the flow of life through what we call nature, how the water flows, weather changes, seasonal changes and following through the cycles of plants, trees and how we adapt. To me, that is connection and you can be anywhere to feel that, feel at one, and not feel you have stepped out of a Nation or Religion, that I have always believed are ‘fake’ identities.
Both Nationalism and Religion also support the ‘fake’ patriarchal agenda of existence of male superiority and female subversiveness that no body is born with, but are cultured into from the moment of birth. Look at all of the current wars and uprisings, and Political swings. It all seems to be about re-enforcing male superiority and female subversiveness rather than balance.
I think you are doing ok Ali. You seem to recognise where real connection is, if only you could let go of maybe guilt of not carrying strong Nationalism or Religion. Who needs either? Like a former alcoholic who no longer needs a drink, though others are trying to lure the person back to the pub, or be alienated.
Alientation upon us seem to be strongest from people who have tried to disconnect from nature and life. Trust your flow. It’s there :-)
Thanks Alison. Your words as ever resonate with my own thoughts and feelings. I love the idea that you have ‘naturalised’ in Ireland! Keep sharing your wisdom...more people are listening than you realise. xxx
Of course your boys will win; they're fantastic... I'm going out to Marseilles on Thursday(with my son and son in law) for the two quarters that are playing there this weekend, just in time to see England humiliated by the Fijians! Substack... okay. I've not explored that one - is that the one you're on? I'm still a wordpress sort of guy! There's a chance that we might be holidaying in your neck of the green next year. If it comes about, I'll let you know...
Go to www.CompassionateClearing.com to sign up.
New writing style - yes, I'm actually considering it, after 30 years mostly giving useful information in my newsletters! Not sure how to do and still get a message about transformation across to others, but will think about it. My October news was about moving into the liminal spaces to visit with ancestors, and I did tell a brief story about requesting help from my ancestor medical team (my father and his 3 brothers, all deceased MDs) in getting a much-needed appointment I was being denied, and having what I needed in about 12 hours.
I am so happy for you, dear Ali! You are deeply connected to Ireland, and you deserve to be a bonafide citizen. Although I am an American citizen, I adore Ireland and the time I spend there. Your writing over the years has deepened my experience with the land, and I will be forever grateful. I have done a fair amount of studying Ireland's history and customs and myths. I find that you know far more about Ireland than the average Irish citizen. You love the land and have every right to claim her as your own. Woohoo!
I so appreciate the way you are willing to make yourself vulnerable in your poignant writing for your readers to see and identify with. I'm thinking that perhaps I should do more of that in my monthly newsletter.
Congratulations Ali! Your beautiful post is so heartfelt and moving, plus I love your references to Braiding Sweetgrass. As a French national married to an Irish man, bringing up 4 bi-national children and feeling at home in Ireland (been here 13 years), I really resonate with your idea of being naturalised, like the humble and potent plantain. Thank you for your words and reflections on identity and belonging - I see myself in them.
Aw, Ali. Congratulations! I was very moved by your post. My take-away: the land called you. End of story. You belong to the land. xx
Hi Ali - as someone who has moved from Ireland to Canada (40 years and citizenship after 18 years there) and now back again to Ireland, I’m familiar with that insider/outsider feeling. But there’s real strength in it. You see things that insider/insiders don’t and can appreciate the strangeness, beauty and wonder of Ireland, even as you feel the frustrations of its overly-bureaucratic processes and lack of care for many people. You are making a difference for all of us here, and in the end, that’s the best any of us can hope to do. Naturalised plants are those that fit comfortably in their new surrounding and add to rather than take from biodiversity.
Hi Ali. What's the 'Stack? I'm sure I should know but..
I'm pretty good. The odd little creak and groan. Still embedded in sooty London life, still writing, still wondering where Great English Novel is hiding. I guess you're all wrapped up in rugby. I really hope they do it, given England don't deserve to still be there how they are playing.
Congratulations Ali. That's one happy Irish woman. You can officially let you roots down and knit into the landscape!
Gorgeous writing here, and strangely relatable for me as an Irish expat in England. Congrats on your citizenship and keep up the amazing work!
Congratulations on obtaining your Irish citizenship, Ali. Through your article here I read a lot of perception. Through my life two things I’ve never allowed space for within me, Nationalism and Religion. I’ve no idea how I was taught this, though on my father’s side nobody seemed to have time for either. Mother’s side a lot different, and got annoyed at my attitude, yet most of them were very kind people.
Look at other species of animals, birds, insects, plants etc., and neither Nationalism or Religion are part of their lives and not concepts they understand, yet they can be tribal and territorial. Tribal and territorial is move flowing than the fixed Nationalism and Religion.
Another thing I do not have time for are Nationalists and Religious people who grab folklore and enforce ‘compliance’ to it, when what they are really trying to do is use folklore as a strange verification for their identity with their Nationalism and Religion.
I suppose I may do something similar when I use folklore as a verification of the flow of life through what we call nature, how the water flows, weather changes, seasonal changes and following through the cycles of plants, trees and how we adapt. To me, that is connection and you can be anywhere to feel that, feel at one, and not feel you have stepped out of a Nation or Religion, that I have always believed are ‘fake’ identities.
Both Nationalism and Religion also support the ‘fake’ patriarchal agenda of existence of male superiority and female subversiveness that no body is born with, but are cultured into from the moment of birth. Look at all of the current wars and uprisings, and Political swings. It all seems to be about re-enforcing male superiority and female subversiveness rather than balance.
I think you are doing ok Ali. You seem to recognise where real connection is, if only you could let go of maybe guilt of not carrying strong Nationalism or Religion. Who needs either? Like a former alcoholic who no longer needs a drink, though others are trying to lure the person back to the pub, or be alienated.
Alientation upon us seem to be strongest from people who have tried to disconnect from nature and life. Trust your flow. It’s there :-)
Beautiful piece Ali. Deep congratulations... and welcome home!