My utopian dream is all people singing – unknown artist!
(found on retreat I was on in the Summer)
Warmth of the Ages, final stages, Gaza encampment stars/community Radio and folk clubs/Derwentside/Autumn relaxation.
Dear journal, dear all reading. Wonder how you are?
15 of us sat in a circle as a ball of twine is unwound, passing hands. The orange warmth of the line, weaves between or fingers, rises and falls, tightens and slacks as we, in turn speak; this is a grief circle – for conflict, for Gaza, the impunity of Israel state, for children, for hateful rhetoric and lies in politics, for the displaced Sudanese, for the draining nature of violence.
There’s a mixture of numbness and aliveness in me that ebbs and flows these days; the news is horrific, yet warmth remains in the breathing body something quiet. A song is started, voices join, “Women of the World Take Over”. There’s all that and there’s this, woven in.
I find ceremony so helpful, something of healing. I found the above cloud in a retreat centre i visited in Summer. Please sing, or do whatever it is that brings you hope.
Warmth of the Ages
I’m glad to release my next record, “Warmth of the Ages”in December. Myself and friends have continually taking steps in this direction over the last couple of years and the 10 songs are now being mixed and finished by the wonderful Myles Eastwood. I’m releasing them over 3 nights in December: Thursday 5th (online), Friday 6th and 7th in person in London, love you to be there.
The evenings are also fundraisers for 3 organisations that I have been involved with over the last few years – click through to find out more, book a place and donate for a copy of the record.
Gaza
Where do we go from here? Something must happen internally as we assimilate what we have seen this year. For myself the violence enters the body, and if I miss it, if it doesn’t get processed, I think it gets stuck – my learnings have been to act and relax. To relax is a privilege, impossible in some places right now – if i can to support some action – something aligns, I wonder how it is for you. I recorded this relaxation to try and stay grounded.
I felt inspired by the university encampment movement, visiting a number this year. These spaces of loving resistance felt healthy and open in ways authorities don’t like, many were shut down, I ask myself what that does to a cultural landscape when peaceful voices want peaceful change and they are closed.
This is a recording of “Stars Taught Me To Read” from the encampment in Newcastle, Northern England. I wrote it based on a mixture of Darwish’s poems – to voice, in my small way, the power and beauty of this Palestinian view; a love for people, place and land.
I’ll be present at another event this month, Stop SDSC, an arms fair in Telford, near Birmingham, we will have a day of protest through art, music, spoken word, vigil and action – all welcome.
Community Radio and folk clubs
Much love to community radio and folk clubs. New stories, poems and songs flow in and out of these blessed places! Giving my appreciation to a few here who’ve had me on in the last few months, Dreamers and The Bridge folk club at either edge of the country – Cambridge 105 and Brum Radio somewhere in the middle. You may find inspiring community content through each of their doors.
Derwentside
Derwentside Immigration Removal Centre is near Durham in the North East and detains people under current immigration laws. Up to recently the centre has been a women only centre, now transitioning to male only.
The government information on the site shared it’s intentions to …”detain a mixture of: time-served foreign national offenders, immigration offenders, those who have arrived into the UK illegally, prior to their removal under the Illegal Migration Act”.
myself and friend Christa were invited to sing at a demonstration there in October to raise questions about why detention is still happening as and more broadly what illegalising people who are in need does to the human consciousness. My feeling is that prison for vast majority of cases, should be re considered. With the population of people in prison increasing globally, what community solutions could there be?
Archive Relaxation
A relaxation for you lastly, the need for steadiness and feeling in balance while having the courage to engage in change. I recorded this one some months ago based on the Serenity Prayer: grant me the serenity to accept I cannot changed, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference
with my love, Joe
Quiet space still running morning and evening if you’d like to be in company with others having some quiet time.
take care friends.
Releases
All releases free (donation if you wish/have the means), I’d be honoured to send them to you – click the pictures and follow the links to be in touch…
Joe Holtaway 