We were in Enniscorthy today and there was a 'well-weathered, autumned' man, parking up his bike on the footpath. We glanced at each other. He beamed and called out ... "Well how are you?".....and yes, we did!... we answered in chorus to his chirpy acknowledgement of our presence.... "Great thanks!...and how are you?"..... Doesn't it just make your day! ? :) :) :)
Absolutely love this post... I love the balance all your work brings and the sense or reconnecting the dots as we travel along with you and as the next stepping stone appears... it's as though the more you uncover, the more you uncover.... and as we journey through the underworld and quagmire of truth... all roads lead home and back to the heart (hearth!)... we emerge with new eyes, new views, new perspectives, more pieces to add to the unfolding puzzle...
Your work is so so so well rounded and honestly is like a tonic and balm for my feminine Irish soul... you are putting words on so many unconscious knowings and bringing them up for air to be seen, felt, understood and in turn, transformed... allowing us to scratch the itch we didn't know we had...
Love reading your work and being part of this journey... your doing amazing work for us all - Thank You!
This is so powerful Belinda. Bringing the light and dark into the conversation feels so generative and real as an irish woman born in 1966….. and as really powerful. Thank you. 🙏🏻
This is such an interesting project you’re working on and I’m so pleased I’ve found your Substack because I’ve been doing some similar - or at least adjacent - work on what it means to be an Irish woman.
There’s no doubt that community-mindedness is tied to scrutiny and judgement. But that’s true everywhere to some extent, although it may play out in different ways. I’m living in England now and I often find myself completely flummoxed by everyday, subtextual communications/judgements about class or social capital - I’m sure I’m missing something, I just can’t unravel the nuances. And when I go back to visit
Ireland, I love getting into those conversations with passersby that start slap-bang in the middle, skipping past all the small stuff.
Ah Rosalind, thank you so much for your comment. The imagery of staring a conversation "slap-bang in the middle" gave me such a smile. I also live in the UK (have gone from England, to Scotland, back to England and now Wales over the last 10 years) so I very much know what you mean about the social codes being quite different here. But being 'outside' of Ireland has really helped me see what Ireland is like, 'inside' if you know what I mean -- having another culture to bring it all into refrain.
Look forward to leaning / hearing more about your project too!
Yes, distance often offers perspective. It sounds like you've moved around heaps, but I've always thought Wales must be a wonderful place to live. I'm in the north east up near Northumberland - definitely drawn to border areas and hinterlands!
Yes, I'm an 'edge' woman myself, love being near rivers, the sea, border places. Northumberland is beautiful. I'd be jealous of all the wonderful beaches you have access to up there!
Brilliant!.....so true of the Irish!
We were in Enniscorthy today and there was a 'well-weathered, autumned' man, parking up his bike on the footpath. We glanced at each other. He beamed and called out ... "Well how are you?".....and yes, we did!... we answered in chorus to his chirpy acknowledgement of our presence.... "Great thanks!...and how are you?"..... Doesn't it just make your day! ? :) :) :)
As a wexford woman (Now living in Dublin) I can say this is pretty typical for down home... you kinda brought me back for a moment... love it!
Ah Deborah, am glad to bring a bit of love from home to you. Beautiful. :) xx
Absolutely love this post... I love the balance all your work brings and the sense or reconnecting the dots as we travel along with you and as the next stepping stone appears... it's as though the more you uncover, the more you uncover.... and as we journey through the underworld and quagmire of truth... all roads lead home and back to the heart (hearth!)... we emerge with new eyes, new views, new perspectives, more pieces to add to the unfolding puzzle...
Your work is so so so well rounded and honestly is like a tonic and balm for my feminine Irish soul... you are putting words on so many unconscious knowings and bringing them up for air to be seen, felt, understood and in turn, transformed... allowing us to scratch the itch we didn't know we had...
Love reading your work and being part of this journey... your doing amazing work for us all - Thank You!
This is so powerful Belinda. Bringing the light and dark into the conversation feels so generative and real as an irish woman born in 1966….. and as really powerful. Thank you. 🙏🏻
Thank you Mari! Can definitely give credit to a year and a bit on the Wheel in helping me see the "dance of opposites" playing out xx
This is such an interesting project you’re working on and I’m so pleased I’ve found your Substack because I’ve been doing some similar - or at least adjacent - work on what it means to be an Irish woman.
There’s no doubt that community-mindedness is tied to scrutiny and judgement. But that’s true everywhere to some extent, although it may play out in different ways. I’m living in England now and I often find myself completely flummoxed by everyday, subtextual communications/judgements about class or social capital - I’m sure I’m missing something, I just can’t unravel the nuances. And when I go back to visit
Ireland, I love getting into those conversations with passersby that start slap-bang in the middle, skipping past all the small stuff.
Ah Rosalind, thank you so much for your comment. The imagery of staring a conversation "slap-bang in the middle" gave me such a smile. I also live in the UK (have gone from England, to Scotland, back to England and now Wales over the last 10 years) so I very much know what you mean about the social codes being quite different here. But being 'outside' of Ireland has really helped me see what Ireland is like, 'inside' if you know what I mean -- having another culture to bring it all into refrain.
Look forward to leaning / hearing more about your project too!
Yes, distance often offers perspective. It sounds like you've moved around heaps, but I've always thought Wales must be a wonderful place to live. I'm in the north east up near Northumberland - definitely drawn to border areas and hinterlands!
Yes, I'm an 'edge' woman myself, love being near rivers, the sea, border places. Northumberland is beautiful. I'd be jealous of all the wonderful beaches you have access to up there!
I love the idea of being an 'edge' woman! The beaches are wonderful - so wild and invigorating in the winter - but the sea is soooo cold