Oh that is a beautiful thought Jane, thank you... Étain from The Wooing Of Étaín, a story I haven't read but have heard speak of during my yeas in Ireland many times.. now I am intrigued! 🙏🏼
I love the story of your encounter in the bog. Whether that being saved you from anything or not, the experience itself is valuable, a gift to be remembered - which clearly you have, even recognizing it when it shows up in different places and forms.❣️
I will never know the truth Sarah but this apparition gifted me two things that day, the first was a waining belief in miracles and the second, to never be certain of what the day holds, one never knows what is in store and what we may learn from it. It was a real Mary Oliver moment, as in;
“Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”
Many kind thanks for reading - may your day hold secrets yet to unfurl. 💫
Hi Betty, I cannot even begin to tell you how hard it was to hold back the tears - he really is an angel!
I am playing with logo's, lets just leave at that! Expect another change as soon as I come up for air... I have no idea how anyone keeps up here - I'm sure my BP is sky high !
Did you just get that huge and very loud storm that rattled the windows in the house here? X
Bless you Louise, I am incredibly touched by your kind words - I will be relaying them to my four legged woolly friends in the morning to remind them of the kind hand that feeds them, I have spent an afternoon in the lashing rain chasing them around the hill after a gust of wind ( I think ) blew open their gate and they would not return to my call... they are now closed inside their cabin until wind and rain has passed. When I went to check them at dusk, they looked so very forlorn I nearly let them out but thought better of it. Now they are yelling their heads off!
Sometimes being an angel is hard... but this, I am sure, you already know being one yourself! 🙏🏼xx
Sometimes there are points of light. They have come in the form of people, when darkness seems too thick to find a path forward . A hand reaches out to pull me into the light. Sometimes they unexpectedly come from within me . And every once in a while, they come from words. This morning I wake to yours. Thank you for sharing your angels and the beautiful wording to describe them. All the different shapes and forms they take. Witnessing the magical scene and capturing it on video! I’m certain I would have been overwhelmed by emotion . Thinking, is this for me?
(I’m glad you added a sound track. Though another video of Wolfie crunching on walnuts would be most enjoyable).
“Sometimes my heart feels like bursting, not as often as I would like but when it does a warmth radiates from inside permeating every doubt of self and human nature buried within. “
“Is there anything more important than love?”
Returning a smile.
(I could write another page about bogs. I was smitten by them ever since my first visit, a school field trip).
I would love to read a page, or many, on your thoughts about bogland Lor - do tell when you have time!
When we first bought the house in Ireland and learned of our right (we never owned it, bogland is never owned personally in Ireland not even by the big corporations who use it to cut commercially) to cut turf on the bog, I was excited and intrigued. I had read of the diverse wildlife found in these liminal spaces and in a second hand book store picked up a copy of Seamus Heaney's poem Bogland - I was smitten! The mysteries lying beneath all that black turf just waiting for discovery!
My husband works with timber, sculpting and designing furniture, every day, when I left for my walk he would say, 'don't forget to keep an eye out for bog oak' and I did, although it was easier said than done, only once did I return with a blackened branch but searching for these pieces, preserved by the peat, hardened like coal and as black, were the root to all my adventures. Black frogs though.... hmmm!
I wish you could have been there for the House Marten angels, these were special moments and to have captured them on camera in the arc of the suns rays - which I hadn't realised until I hit replay - was a gift of light and love from dear MN, of that I'm certain. As, and I think this goes without saying, were the words, in English spoken with such sincerity, from my little blue eyed angel - Lor, my heart nearly left my body on wings, my smile was huge!
As always my thanks and wishes for a fabulous week are winging their way to you. xx
Oh. My! WORD!!!! Susie!!!!!! I love, absolutely and completely, LOVE this post!! I have many stories, though not as beautiful, nor ethereal, as your angel. That is so, so lovely and providential. And your sweet story about work. Our little angels that we work with are the absolute best! How many times have you thought to yourself that perhaps you might be on the spectrum yourself, otherwise how could you so thoroughly resonate with these kiddos and vice versa? There is rarely a day that goes by where I don't believe it is a special gift, to be sure, to be able to work alongside and learn from these kids! They are amazing. Even more sweet when you understand, whether verbally or not, that a kid loves you. XO
Danielle, wow wow wow, I am SO relieved/happy/turning in circles that you say, "How many times have you thought to yourself that perhaps you might be on the spectrum yourself, otherwise how could you so thoroughly resonate with these kiddos and vice versa?" My answer is this, all the time! I sit at the meetings of experts and doctors on these matters - I've just returned from one such debacle - and I leave every time with the same fury. What do they know? They do not, and never have, worked along side these angels on a day to day basis. Each and every child I have worked with is different and I see a part of myself, either now, or as a child in every one... it is a gift, and one I cherish every single day. They touch my heart every day, they make me laugh and cry, even the really difficult kids have something to give and maybe we don't always understand, maybe sometimes they don't want us to because actually they are ten times wiser and cleverer than we are but this is what we have to learn from right!
Urgh... sorry for the rant, I am terribly passionate about these angels, they deserve the world and we can't always give it, at least standard education can't.
Bless you lovely... thank you always - may your week be filled with smiles and rainbow spectrums! 🌈xx
Yyyyyeeeeessssssssssss! I think I do, too. Especially because of how my heart is tethered to so many of them and vice versa!! I agree that, tho they are entitled to an education, it doesn't always do the greatest good for them! So much frustration on my part for the wishes that aren't, with regard to their schooling. It's why I can hardly bear to think of myself anywhere else and, at the same time, wonder how one person can ever make a difference. So far...I'm going with the hardly bear self.
I so agree with the wondering of how just one person can make a difference... this is a question that keeps me awake at night Danielle, especially when there is little or no parental back up. Its simply heartbreaking to watch.
I hope the week is being kind to you lovely - the rain here is incessant today - inspiration is noticeably lacking. with love xox
Amen, Susie. It is heartbreaking to hear and watch. That is why WE CAAANNN make a difference in these kids lives. WE, you and I, are their soft place to land, the people that want to hear and understand them and speak up FOR them. Because they deserve to be heard and appreciated. And I know WE do appreciate them so, so much! They are the loveliest and lovey-est children!!
Ugh - I caught the fall crud. Not hard to do when you work as closely with kiddos as we do, but it sure is going around. Both colds and a stomach bug. Aye, aye, aye. If it's not one thing, its another. BUT I know how to take excellent care of myself and I'm sure I'll be all mended up sooner, rather than later. Sorry about the rain :-( I love that kind of moody weather, but it is not for everyone. I hope you get a respite soon and you get to go on your hill and enjoy it to the fullest!!
I read this while sitting in autumn sun, the Aspen grove whispering alongside our clucking hens, your words inviting me to straddle the present and your most mysterious experience. I like to think that by arresting the need to know and replacing it with your deeply attuned listening awakens that liminal space where anything is possible. The unseen sees you and they see warmth, kindness, gentleness, wisdom. I have no doubt in my mind that the earth and her spirits return that favor ten fold to their human sister. Why? Because love is all that matters, and you, Susie, are love. ❤️
Your beautiful and generous comments touch the very core of my heart Kimberly, thank you from that soft place. I imagine you sitting in your Aspen grove with you little feathered loves clucking and pecking around you and I know, without doubt, that you too are present not only in the now but in those liminal places that cycle with it. I have always believed that each of us have a guardian angel, the unseen, a force of nature, a spirit, a celestial body beyond our very basic human abilities of recognition that reward and protect. Perhaps my bog angel was mine - I like to think so and I pray she follows me still.
I returned this evening, in unexpected sunshine after heavy rain, to see once again the House Martens, I hoped to see their gloriousness one last time, wings glinting in rainbow arcs of light but alas, they had already left for warmer climes, I wished them safe travels and whispered my thanks. As I returned, sitting on the bend at the top of the lane just before the descent back home was my hare sitting in a puddle of light. Magic replaced by magic - earth and spirits at their kindly work.
High praise indeed from the man who wrote The Sernox which is by far my favourite magical story on Substack to date. My most deep and humble thanks Nathan - that means the world.
I don't always get to teach angels as you can likely imagine but this one... bless his beautiful soul - autistic or otherwise, he will go far in this world, I only hope the world never changes him 👼🏻
Lovely story! I think your angel was Étain, leading you to safety though she couldn't find her own way.
Oh that is a beautiful thought Jane, thank you... Étain from The Wooing Of Étaín, a story I haven't read but have heard speak of during my yeas in Ireland many times.. now I am intrigued! 🙏🏼
You must read it. Full of complex characters and complex morality. No wonder the monks tied themselves in knots trying to keep it clean!
Beautiful, thank you for this.
Thank you for reading Dinah, I am delighted you enjoyed this mysterious recollection 💫
I love the story of your encounter in the bog. Whether that being saved you from anything or not, the experience itself is valuable, a gift to be remembered - which clearly you have, even recognizing it when it shows up in different places and forms.❣️
I will never know the truth Sarah but this apparition gifted me two things that day, the first was a waining belief in miracles and the second, to never be certain of what the day holds, one never knows what is in store and what we may learn from it. It was a real Mary Oliver moment, as in;
“Instructions for living a life.
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.”
Many kind thanks for reading - may your day hold secrets yet to unfurl. 💫
Gorgeous writing, Susie.
Thank you Jeffrey, apologies for my late reply.
Oh, Susie, that moment at school...an angel indeed.
By the way, is that a new logo you have? Did you sketch it yourself? Maybe I just haven't zoomed in and paid attention yet...
Hi Betty, I cannot even begin to tell you how hard it was to hold back the tears - he really is an angel!
I am playing with logo's, lets just leave at that! Expect another change as soon as I come up for air... I have no idea how anyone keeps up here - I'm sure my BP is sky high !
Did you just get that huge and very loud storm that rattled the windows in the house here? X
Yes, the storm came through here around 3pm. It didn't last long though.
Here neither and thank goodness, these old windows wouldn't have stood too much more rumbles of thunder like that!
Oh my, if I could give this 120 💖s, I would! Yes, yes, yes. Thank you. 🙏🏽
Thank you so much Grace, you made a very gloomy, stormy Sunday feel bright again! 💫🙏🏼💛
Susie, you are an angel to so many of us here. I loved this post. How lucky I am that you have somehow floated into my life. x
Bless you Louise, I am incredibly touched by your kind words - I will be relaying them to my four legged woolly friends in the morning to remind them of the kind hand that feeds them, I have spent an afternoon in the lashing rain chasing them around the hill after a gust of wind ( I think ) blew open their gate and they would not return to my call... they are now closed inside their cabin until wind and rain has passed. When I went to check them at dusk, they looked so very forlorn I nearly let them out but thought better of it. Now they are yelling their heads off!
Sometimes being an angel is hard... but this, I am sure, you already know being one yourself! 🙏🏼xx
Sometimes there are points of light. They have come in the form of people, when darkness seems too thick to find a path forward . A hand reaches out to pull me into the light. Sometimes they unexpectedly come from within me . And every once in a while, they come from words. This morning I wake to yours. Thank you for sharing your angels and the beautiful wording to describe them. All the different shapes and forms they take. Witnessing the magical scene and capturing it on video! I’m certain I would have been overwhelmed by emotion . Thinking, is this for me?
(I’m glad you added a sound track. Though another video of Wolfie crunching on walnuts would be most enjoyable).
“Sometimes my heart feels like bursting, not as often as I would like but when it does a warmth radiates from inside permeating every doubt of self and human nature buried within. “
“Is there anything more important than love?”
Returning a smile.
(I could write another page about bogs. I was smitten by them ever since my first visit, a school field trip).
I would love to read a page, or many, on your thoughts about bogland Lor - do tell when you have time!
When we first bought the house in Ireland and learned of our right (we never owned it, bogland is never owned personally in Ireland not even by the big corporations who use it to cut commercially) to cut turf on the bog, I was excited and intrigued. I had read of the diverse wildlife found in these liminal spaces and in a second hand book store picked up a copy of Seamus Heaney's poem Bogland - I was smitten! The mysteries lying beneath all that black turf just waiting for discovery!
My husband works with timber, sculpting and designing furniture, every day, when I left for my walk he would say, 'don't forget to keep an eye out for bog oak' and I did, although it was easier said than done, only once did I return with a blackened branch but searching for these pieces, preserved by the peat, hardened like coal and as black, were the root to all my adventures. Black frogs though.... hmmm!
I wish you could have been there for the House Marten angels, these were special moments and to have captured them on camera in the arc of the suns rays - which I hadn't realised until I hit replay - was a gift of light and love from dear MN, of that I'm certain. As, and I think this goes without saying, were the words, in English spoken with such sincerity, from my little blue eyed angel - Lor, my heart nearly left my body on wings, my smile was huge!
As always my thanks and wishes for a fabulous week are winging their way to you. xx
Oh. My! WORD!!!! Susie!!!!!! I love, absolutely and completely, LOVE this post!! I have many stories, though not as beautiful, nor ethereal, as your angel. That is so, so lovely and providential. And your sweet story about work. Our little angels that we work with are the absolute best! How many times have you thought to yourself that perhaps you might be on the spectrum yourself, otherwise how could you so thoroughly resonate with these kiddos and vice versa? There is rarely a day that goes by where I don't believe it is a special gift, to be sure, to be able to work alongside and learn from these kids! They are amazing. Even more sweet when you understand, whether verbally or not, that a kid loves you. XO
Danielle, wow wow wow, I am SO relieved/happy/turning in circles that you say, "How many times have you thought to yourself that perhaps you might be on the spectrum yourself, otherwise how could you so thoroughly resonate with these kiddos and vice versa?" My answer is this, all the time! I sit at the meetings of experts and doctors on these matters - I've just returned from one such debacle - and I leave every time with the same fury. What do they know? They do not, and never have, worked along side these angels on a day to day basis. Each and every child I have worked with is different and I see a part of myself, either now, or as a child in every one... it is a gift, and one I cherish every single day. They touch my heart every day, they make me laugh and cry, even the really difficult kids have something to give and maybe we don't always understand, maybe sometimes they don't want us to because actually they are ten times wiser and cleverer than we are but this is what we have to learn from right!
Urgh... sorry for the rant, I am terribly passionate about these angels, they deserve the world and we can't always give it, at least standard education can't.
Bless you lovely... thank you always - may your week be filled with smiles and rainbow spectrums! 🌈xx
Yyyyyeeeeessssssssssss! I think I do, too. Especially because of how my heart is tethered to so many of them and vice versa!! I agree that, tho they are entitled to an education, it doesn't always do the greatest good for them! So much frustration on my part for the wishes that aren't, with regard to their schooling. It's why I can hardly bear to think of myself anywhere else and, at the same time, wonder how one person can ever make a difference. So far...I'm going with the hardly bear self.
Have a beautiful week, sweet girl! XO
I so agree with the wondering of how just one person can make a difference... this is a question that keeps me awake at night Danielle, especially when there is little or no parental back up. Its simply heartbreaking to watch.
I hope the week is being kind to you lovely - the rain here is incessant today - inspiration is noticeably lacking. with love xox
Amen, Susie. It is heartbreaking to hear and watch. That is why WE CAAANNN make a difference in these kids lives. WE, you and I, are their soft place to land, the people that want to hear and understand them and speak up FOR them. Because they deserve to be heard and appreciated. And I know WE do appreciate them so, so much! They are the loveliest and lovey-est children!!
Ugh - I caught the fall crud. Not hard to do when you work as closely with kiddos as we do, but it sure is going around. Both colds and a stomach bug. Aye, aye, aye. If it's not one thing, its another. BUT I know how to take excellent care of myself and I'm sure I'll be all mended up sooner, rather than later. Sorry about the rain :-( I love that kind of moody weather, but it is not for everyone. I hope you get a respite soon and you get to go on your hill and enjoy it to the fullest!!
Love ya!! XO
I read this while sitting in autumn sun, the Aspen grove whispering alongside our clucking hens, your words inviting me to straddle the present and your most mysterious experience. I like to think that by arresting the need to know and replacing it with your deeply attuned listening awakens that liminal space where anything is possible. The unseen sees you and they see warmth, kindness, gentleness, wisdom. I have no doubt in my mind that the earth and her spirits return that favor ten fold to their human sister. Why? Because love is all that matters, and you, Susie, are love. ❤️
Your beautiful and generous comments touch the very core of my heart Kimberly, thank you from that soft place. I imagine you sitting in your Aspen grove with you little feathered loves clucking and pecking around you and I know, without doubt, that you too are present not only in the now but in those liminal places that cycle with it. I have always believed that each of us have a guardian angel, the unseen, a force of nature, a spirit, a celestial body beyond our very basic human abilities of recognition that reward and protect. Perhaps my bog angel was mine - I like to think so and I pray she follows me still.
I returned this evening, in unexpected sunshine after heavy rain, to see once again the House Martens, I hoped to see their gloriousness one last time, wings glinting in rainbow arcs of light but alas, they had already left for warmer climes, I wished them safe travels and whispered my thanks. As I returned, sitting on the bend at the top of the lane just before the descent back home was my hare sitting in a puddle of light. Magic replaced by magic - earth and spirits at their kindly work.
With love always 💫xx
Gosh, magical, Susie. Totally sucked in by your first story. I would love to experience something like that.
And what a beautiful conversation with your angel in class. 🧡
High praise indeed from the man who wrote The Sernox which is by far my favourite magical story on Substack to date. My most deep and humble thanks Nathan - that means the world.
I don't always get to teach angels as you can likely imagine but this one... bless his beautiful soul - autistic or otherwise, he will go far in this world, I only hope the world never changes him 👼🏻
I hope so too.
Your comment on The Sernox is a ray of sunshine for my bleary-eyed start to Monday. ;) Thanks, Susie.
Hope you have a wonderful week ahead.
As it was meant to be…
You too Nathan - thank you 💛
"Is there anything more important than love?" Oh heart! ❤️
Such a beautiful piece of writing Susie with love at it's core. Thank you for what you do. 🙏
I think love just might be the core of all our lives Jo with the huge and loving open heart - I think you already know though!
I hope your weekend is filled with it. ♥️x
Likewise. ❤️❤️❤️
Wow just gorgeous and captured in words, photography and music. I loved this and would be there with you on those morning walks if I could.
This one would have been worth the airfare Deirdre, a once in a lifetime walk... I'm happy to have had you join me even if only vicariously.
Outstanding vulnerability and joy.
Thank you……
If only such joy could be shared even further Alix, how much more glorious would this world be then. thank you for reading 🙏🏼
Blessed be all your angels that guide you - love you - dance around you, Susie! Thank you.
Thank you dear Fotini, I hope you are visited by guiding angels this weekend!
I am travelling back home, so any guidance is more than welcome. Thank you, dear!
Perfect. Thank you
Thank you always for reading and sharing Jonathan.