Our final: Day 21 - One

Pen Play: A poem-a-day writer's retreat in June

Hello you amazing people. Welcome to the very last day of this magical, heartwarming, and thoroughly nourishing adventure <3 

“One” is a point - a beginning and an end, a singularity, a phenomenon. At times in our lives, we underestimate it and at other times, we overestimate it. 

For me, One is a symbol of ultimate hope, of expression, of possibility. Life starts as a single seed, a single cell, a single speck, a single bang. From one, we can step to 100 or 1000; from one, we can build the foundation, and then the castle; from one, as one, we can be everything we want to be. 

Photo by Matthew Henry

I wanted to end our Pen Play time in this frequency, the true blank slate from which your words and your creations can jump forth as you, authentic and clear and clever, if you allow them. After everything we’ve stepped through and played with these last 21 days, we come back to One to know that we are the universe we see around us and that all lives with us because of us and through us. 

Today is a very special day, also, because it is the Summer Solstice, the brightest day of the year. It is a day that truly carries the energy of One - the radiance of not only Union and harmony, but of singularity and self. 

I invite you to let the light of this day wash over you, illuminate you, restore and rejuvenate your heart and soul so that you will be the you all of your creations need. 

I’m really celebrating you over here; it’s been such a special 21 days together, and I’m grateful for each One of you. 

If you wish to share, what is one thing you are taking forward from this retreat?

Happy Solstice; may this day be as bright as each of you are.

---

One

The last One
The final One 
One in a million
The One to lead all the rest

Everything starts 
And everything ends 
With One.
You seem to find it easy 
To begin, 
To step your foot through the door
And go off on your grand adventure,
But when the gates begin their close,
Returning to the One 
Is a new adventure entirely.
Why do we find you waiting,
Hesitant to let the One pass 
Through,
Renew, 
See the next cycle wake,
Find what’s around the next riverbend? 
What is this One, inevitably
The One you loved before, 
Now, that you fear it so? 
I see that fear, dear One, 
And I honor it, 
But let me ask you this still: 
Are you willing to be One
All the same? 
Will you be the champion 
That lets the One pass
Through, 
Renew, 
Sees the next cycle wake? 
My darling, 
There’s no great secret to One
     - The least of which because you’ve 
     Shared your singularity already -
It’s just love, 
Always love.
And that’s really it.
The truth is that it’s all you,
All yours,
All One,
And the only trick,
The only key, 
The only One 
That opens the door,
Lets the dogs out,
And has you smiling in the mountain air
On your porch in the dew-speckled morning
Is only Love from
The only One who ever needed to Be.

---

If you enjoyed this retreat, if you were moved by the connections you made, observed, and shared, if you feel more vivid in your words and your heart than you did 21 days ago, I wholeheartedly invite you to stay in this space with me and with all of us <3 

I will be sharing more information soon about the future of the Joy Journeys Substack, but I will say two things.

The first is that sharing this consistent poetry exchange has been so fun, so joyous, and so liberating for me that I know I must continue to hold space for it. I don’t have capacity to do a poem-a-day indefinitely (my heart wishes…), but you can definitely expect one on a weekly basis <3 I’ll be taking a small break to navigate my ongoing international move, but I believe I’ll begin these prompts in the first days of July :)

The second is that I am intentionally building Joy Journeys – especially the paid subscription – as a space where we can stay close, stay active, and stay curious. 

I’m exploring the ways we can interact more freely (i.e. I’ll try opening up the chats), because you’ve probably seen it’s not so easy to engage one-on-one, more privately, and/or in live time here so far. I want to create a space that honors the intention and investment of each one that joins it, and that encourages you to express, passionately and often. 

My long term intention is, as

Larry Brickner-Wood

said so lovingly, to create a space with my whole heart that I and each of us in it can trust will be held with the same loving care by you as well as by me. In this way, I see the monetary investment of a paid subscription not only as your support of my work here (which is an important part of this space and I deeply appreciate it), but also as a declaration of your commitment and respect to each other and our community. 

It’s scary to move to this step – and my mind races with 1000 doubts – but I know that what I’ve shared with you above is my truth in which I can hold confidence. I’m taking a deep breath, therefore, and inviting myself to show you the same trust which you have been faultless in showing me <3

I’ll be sending more information about this soon, so stay tuned :) That said, if the above resonates and you already feel like stepping in, I warmly welcome you to do so :) I’ve enjoyed being close, and I’ll be glad to keep you as such for as long as you wish to be with me. 

Thank you. I’m glad you’re here at this part of my journey <3 

Many blessings to you all, and much love. 

---

You can always return to the entire retreat right here, or share it with friends who may wish to play with the experience themselves. 

Of course, if you’re new, or not yet a subscriber, I invite you to subscribe to Joy Journeys to get new prompts and posts straight to your inbox: