memories and security

“Smell is important. It reminds a person of all the things he's been through; it is a sheath of memories and security.”

― Tove Jansson, The Summer Book

Why do you have a yoga blog?

It's a sketch book!

I am not a religious person. I don't pray or chant and my meditation practice is patchy (at best), but images and lines from poems and books I love run through my head and they feel holy to me in a way. 

There's a line in Tove Janson's The Summer Book that I first read three years ago and I thought of it when I was asked the above question this morning. 

"Gathering is peculiar, because you see nothing but what you're looking for. If you're picking raspberries, you see only what's red, and if you're looking for bones you see only the white. No matter where you go, the only thing you see is bones."

So simple,  but It seemed such a radical thought when I read those lines the first time. I have always been a 'gatherer' and i think it's because it helps me learn. It sparks research into things, clarifies what I know and helps me see more clearly why I love what I love. I made it public because its nice to share! There is always someone out there who resonates with what you think/believe/love.

I can't count the number of times the line No matter where you go, the only thing you see is bones has run through my head in the past few years. You could say I'm devoted to it.

“I can dive", Sophia said. "Do you know what it feels like when you dive?"
Of course I do," her grandmother said. "You let go of everything and get ready and just dive. You can feel the seaweed against your legs. It's brown, and the water's clear, lighter towards the top, with lots of bubbles. And you glide. You hold your breath and glide and turn and come up, let yourself rise and breathe out. And then you float. Just float."
And all the time with your eyes open," Sophia said.
Naturally. People don't dive with their eyes shut."

-- Tove Jansson

Moomin Tales: The Life of Tove Jansson

I've got my Boxing Day TV watching sorted! I find Tove Jansson's work incredibly inspiring. If you haven't read The Summer Book then I highly recommend it!

“I can dive", Sophia said. "Do you know what it feels like when you dive?"
Of course I do," her grandmother said. "You let go of everything and get ready and just dive. You can feel the seaweed against your legs. It's brown, and the water's clear, lighter towards the top, with lots of bubbles. And you glide. You hold your breath and glide and turn and come up, let yourself rise and breathe out. And then you float. Just float."
And all the time with your eyes open," Sophia said.
Naturally. People don't dive with their eyes shut."
Do you believe I can dive without me showing you?" the child asked.
Yes, of course", Grandmother said.”
 
--Tove Jansson, The Summer Book