Mindfulness, Writing and Drawing in our Secret Garden
Posted:24 July 2014
Earlier this month The Garden House opened it’s gate to a group organised by Evolution Arts (yes, we can be rented!) lead by practising artist and writer Wendy Ann Greenhaigh who for twenty years has worked professionally as an illustrator, photographer, performance artist, filmmaker, author and poet. Wendy Ann captured the days writing and drawing activities, and has kindly shared some beautiful photos the group’s Flower Haiku, and a poem curated at the end of the day from everyones writing.
Words by Wendy Ann Greenhaigh: You could say that mindfulness practice and creative practice have been the two loves of my life, mindfulness teaching me more about creativity, creativity teaching me more about mindfulness. I went away and studied art and writing, I went on retreats and lived in a dharma community. Then I became a teacher – and I brought mindfulness to this practice too. artofmindfulness.wordpress.com
This weekend I led a one-day mindfulness and creativity retreat in a secret garden, tucked away in the heart of Brighton. Ten of us came together to discover what a few hours of peaceful, mindful writing and drawing in a beautiful, sheltered space can do for the mind and the spirit. It was a only a day, but as one participant shared after “It was such a lovely day! I feel like Ive had a 2 week holiday!!” I cant wait to head back to The Garden House Brighton to write, draw and meditate in the space again (more photos below).
The Garden House
By Helen, Ian, Julie, Kath, Keith, Liz, Mitch, Rebecca and Suzanne
I am having
an excellent day in the playful
harmony of this exceptional
garden – safe haven and
peaceful refuge, revealing
gems of nature in
subtle ways.
Mosaic flowers
in a mosaic garden, and an olive tree
signifying peace. Inside
the secret house I call Wendy’s,
though it isn’t – soft cushions
beneath me – reds and greens blazing
outside. Turning, I spot
blackcurrants, still ripening
on the bush; grasses fluttering
on cotton thin stems; pink
and white flowers like bridesmaids’ dresses
floating in the breeze. Bright
sunshine lights up the garden
with beacons of red, orange, yellow.
Eyes and whiskers appear,
exploring and padding
around stalks. There’s a tortoise –
hiding his face from the sun beneath
the leaves. He knows I’m here. I know
he’s there. It’s cool between us. And
head high stems – grass seed sparklers –
are golden in the sunlight.
When I touch
you, you sing to me silently. Time ticks
away slowly and there are
hidden treasures
if you only take the time to look.
