This writing is magical and brings me on a journey that traverses time and space, into your motherhood, womanhood, the pain, the joy and the complexities in between. I feel like crying at different passages, with tears of joy and amazement.
This really hit home:
"Burden’ is never yours or mine to carry.
Libby teaches us to unbury Joy and rest at home with who we are."
To your prompt, I have been trying to unburden myself from the heavy burden of expectations that I felt my parents put on me, to fulfill dreams that they couldn't fulfill in this lifetime. I'm glad that I feel more or less free from that imagined burden today.
Thank you so much for reading and for this beautiful comment and reflection on the burden of expectations from parents to fulfill dreams that they could not fill. That is a heavy one that hits so may of us in a wide range of directions.
I hope you will continue to feel less of this burden and more joyous space for you.
Thank you Prajna for panting images with your words , taking me on a journey where I get invited to pause and feel …from a different angle , to expand my world beyond the way I experience it through my body
I love how you made it possible and ease-full for CeeJoy to receive her blessing
How you knew her world so well thanks to your intimacy with your daughters worlds…
You are to me such a worlds Bridger .. in so many way , always in service to Love & Truth
Thank you for opening this door 🚪 and told this story …I’ll take with me Joy into the night!
I love this read! I love your family. I love the warmth, the wisdom, the invitation it sends to my own heart to open more to true belonging. I love the courage that leaps off the screen and shapes itself into my own “I CAN!”
You inspire me, Prajna! Your girls inspire me. Please send them my love, and tell Abby, I said, “Hi!” 🌸🌸🌸
Be. Longing. To “be:” the authenticity of standing in the light of truth, of knowing the very essence of one’s soul self, always whole and unbroken. “Longing:” the journey into connection as we find our way home. Longing is the state of the human condition. In this life, I’ve sometimes confused belonging with fitting in.
The way that your writing touches me, gives me a kind of permission to long, to see deeply into things, to crave intimate connection with other human beings. When I read your words, I feel your daughters write with you, a holy trinity of love, struggle and wisdom – the baptism of your words often touches my heart with indescribable tenderness and makes me want to be a better woman, as well as a better writer.
In these crone years, this third/third of my life, I’ve become a woman of letters and I find a sense of belonging with women like yourself whose stories reflect the longings of the human heart; women who share stories containing the depth of darkness and the ever expansive height of light; I feel a belonging as you do, in the natural world which whispers her secrets to me in symbols and metaphor. In you, dear Prajna, and in your daughters do I find belonging in the kindred spirit of a single intentional flame. Thank you for the work that you do in the world that gives voice to such longing, belonging.
Congratulations on publishing this epic post! And thank you so much for your kind mention! I am honoured to contribute my photos to your beautiful work! May it find a wide readership! 💞💞💞
Hello Rebecca, Thank you so much. I put so much into this one, as it is a deep unpacking of transmutation. Such a shift. I hope that our collaboration will bring your stack many more views... Thank you again new friend.
I could tell it was profound for you—you put so much love and wisdom in it! That is so kind of you! I hope so too! You are most welcome, new friend! ❤️❤️❤️
Your closing is a beautiful reminder: “All who have gone before and who are coming to unbury Joy — undress cloaks of denial and give full permission to feel, receive, rest, remember, and belong.” what a story!
Aww Katie, Thank you for this beautiful recognition and for reading. It felt like an entire chapter was coming, so many threads. I appreciate you and glad this resonated.
Hello Paulla, Thank you for this recognition. It was not easy to write and pull all the threads together. Was not easy to stop revising. I appreciate your writing, so these words from you mean tons to me.
I once had the most fulfilling orgasm while drumming alone during shamanic training. I will never forget that. I can do it now anytime I want. I drum alone on my land now.
Profound and moving, Prajna. Being born so raw, without a myelin sheath, and having to build that outside of the womb… I felt the rawness in this whole piece, and also the healing. The photograph of Libby Joy is so beautiful. She's aptly named. Thank you for writing this.
Great share Prajna, when I look at Libby Joys photo, her eyes twinkle as if to say, get on with it, life’s a blast, don’t waste a minute of your time, no matter what shows up, good, bad and everything else in between, all you have is now and NOW holds the secret to rip, raw, contagious belly laugh, I can hear Libby Joy say, just stay still long enough and you’ll understand what I mean. 😜
This writing is magical and brings me on a journey that traverses time and space, into your motherhood, womanhood, the pain, the joy and the complexities in between. I feel like crying at different passages, with tears of joy and amazement.
This really hit home:
"Burden’ is never yours or mine to carry.
Libby teaches us to unbury Joy and rest at home with who we are."
To your prompt, I have been trying to unburden myself from the heavy burden of expectations that I felt my parents put on me, to fulfill dreams that they couldn't fulfill in this lifetime. I'm glad that I feel more or less free from that imagined burden today.
Hello Louisa,
Thank you so much for reading and for this beautiful comment and reflection on the burden of expectations from parents to fulfill dreams that they could not fill. That is a heavy one that hits so may of us in a wide range of directions.
I hope you will continue to feel less of this burden and more joyous space for you.
Thank you Prajna for panting images with your words , taking me on a journey where I get invited to pause and feel …from a different angle , to expand my world beyond the way I experience it through my body
I love how you made it possible and ease-full for CeeJoy to receive her blessing
How you knew her world so well thanks to your intimacy with your daughters worlds…
You are to me such a worlds Bridger .. in so many way , always in service to Love & Truth
Thank you for opening this door 🚪 and told this story …I’ll take with me Joy into the night!
Thank you for this beautiful comment, dear Valerie. Joy is seen and received. I am glad you will take joy into your night body and rest well.
Painting … not panting ..
Hello Valerie. I know what you meant, I do typos all the time. LOL
Thank you for sharing. I deeply respect how you journey into these rituals. And I’m grateful you share such a heart-felt story. 🙏
Thank you Lara
I knew you would resonate based on your writing
🌹🌹🌹
I love this read! I love your family. I love the warmth, the wisdom, the invitation it sends to my own heart to open more to true belonging. I love the courage that leaps off the screen and shapes itself into my own “I CAN!”
You inspire me, Prajna! Your girls inspire me. Please send them my love, and tell Abby, I said, “Hi!” 🌸🌸🌸
Aww, thank you dear Lila. I am so glad this touched you. I will tell Abby for sure. Love back your way.
Be. Longing. To “be:” the authenticity of standing in the light of truth, of knowing the very essence of one’s soul self, always whole and unbroken. “Longing:” the journey into connection as we find our way home. Longing is the state of the human condition. In this life, I’ve sometimes confused belonging with fitting in.
The way that your writing touches me, gives me a kind of permission to long, to see deeply into things, to crave intimate connection with other human beings. When I read your words, I feel your daughters write with you, a holy trinity of love, struggle and wisdom – the baptism of your words often touches my heart with indescribable tenderness and makes me want to be a better woman, as well as a better writer.
In these crone years, this third/third of my life, I’ve become a woman of letters and I find a sense of belonging with women like yourself whose stories reflect the longings of the human heart; women who share stories containing the depth of darkness and the ever expansive height of light; I feel a belonging as you do, in the natural world which whispers her secrets to me in symbols and metaphor. In you, dear Prajna, and in your daughters do I find belonging in the kindred spirit of a single intentional flame. Thank you for the work that you do in the world that gives voice to such longing, belonging.
You have the best aka ”salty crone”
Love it!
Thank you
I just did a sanity check with your poetry
You speak Truth
Wow , Thank you! That means a lot.
What a lovely piece. I am struck by the interplay of burden and joy.
Yes the paradoxes in life — the art of holding the tensions, letting go without giving up. Thank you Mary! I appreciate you.
Congratulations on publishing this epic post! And thank you so much for your kind mention! I am honoured to contribute my photos to your beautiful work! May it find a wide readership! 💞💞💞
Hello Rebecca, Thank you so much. I put so much into this one, as it is a deep unpacking of transmutation. Such a shift. I hope that our collaboration will bring your stack many more views... Thank you again new friend.
I could tell it was profound for you—you put so much love and wisdom in it! That is so kind of you! I hope so too! You are most welcome, new friend! ❤️❤️❤️
Sweetness blooms
Your closing is a beautiful reminder: “All who have gone before and who are coming to unbury Joy — undress cloaks of denial and give full permission to feel, receive, rest, remember, and belong.” what a story!
Aww Katie, Thank you for this beautiful recognition and for reading. It felt like an entire chapter was coming, so many threads. I appreciate you and glad this resonated.
Thank you!
You always remind me of the gift that is life, Prajna. ❤️
Dear Rose, Thank you so much for these kind words. Good to focus on the gifts....
Wow. Joy is so obviously the operative word threaded through this piece, and not just in the names. 🙏🏻🙏🏻
Hello Paulla, Thank you for this recognition. It was not easy to write and pull all the threads together. Was not easy to stop revising. I appreciate your writing, so these words from you mean tons to me.
Thank you!
I once had the most fulfilling orgasm while drumming alone during shamanic training. I will never forget that. I can do it now anytime I want. I drum alone on my land now.
Hello Karen, I am so happy for you and your capacity for pleasure.
Thank you so much for reading.
I’m not at my desk right now so I can’t tell for sure but I think I put a link to my book at the bottom of this essay.
I’ll check again when I get to my desk and send you a message
Enjoy
Exquisite, really, your sharing of a mother's wisdom--you and our Mother Earth!
Hello Robin,
I saw your comment first and you really made my day, as I put so many hours in trying to connect so many threads and end with Joy.
I am glad you felt the Mother through this...
Thank you!
Informative
Thank you
You're welcome always God bless you and your family
Profound and moving, Prajna. Being born so raw, without a myelin sheath, and having to build that outside of the womb… I felt the rawness in this whole piece, and also the healing. The photograph of Libby Joy is so beautiful. She's aptly named. Thank you for writing this.
Hi Wendy
Thank you so very much for reading. Yes it’s been quite a journey raw and tender beyond measure.
🌹
Great share Prajna, when I look at Libby Joys photo, her eyes twinkle as if to say, get on with it, life’s a blast, don’t waste a minute of your time, no matter what shows up, good, bad and everything else in between, all you have is now and NOW holds the secret to rip, raw, contagious belly laugh, I can hear Libby Joy say, just stay still long enough and you’ll understand what I mean. 😜
Thank you Prajna for your great share 🙏
Sounds true.
Atreya, thank you so much for reading and commenting. 🌹
Your so welcome Prajna 🦋
Aww, thank you for your comments here on Substack - it mean a tone for this birth of writing.