Guided Writing Sessions

Guided Writing Session Directory

Below, you will find recordings for each Guided Writing Session dating back to August 2021 when the sessions began.

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Oceanic pleasure

The sound of seagulls in the sky, the smell of the ocean in the air, the salty atmosphere merging with my body, and this luminous stillness that invades me as I get closer to the coast. Between the sea and I stand some sandhill’s, I take off my sandals and cross them. I can feel the sand under my bare feet, sliding through my toes, warm and smooth. Ahead, the vastness of this blue horizon.

I pause for a moment, my gaze fixed on the ocean, mesmerized. The sun is shining down creating sparkles of light on the water. The white foam on the smooth sand marks the border.

I drop my bag, stretch out my towel, remove my white dress, and approach the seashore. I can feel the breeze soft upon my face, caressing my body, entangling itself in my hair... I can feel my shoulders relaxing, my breath settling down, as I surrender to the ocean. I’m safe. I reach out and touch the water, its coolness contrasts with the warmth of the sun on my back. I rise, intoxicated by the breeze, transported to a timeless dimension, where the past, future and present are one. I feel alive.

If I had to define the pleasures of life, those that come to us from the hands of the senses, I would say that they are all those that make us feel alive. As if the beauty of life was suddenly embodied in a moment and we could touch it. And when we do, when we let life run through us, we discover all that is sacred.

I drop all my fears at the shore and slide into the sea, slowly. To exist in my body seems so much easier at sea. The feeling of water on my skin reminds me of a language that both my soul and my body instinctively understand.

We experience life through our body, how many times have you taught me that and how many times have I forgotten.

The density of the sea sustains me, its rhythm impels me to swim, to detach myself from the ground. I move across the water as in an act of liberation, no matter how troubling things might seem I can swim through them, ask the ocean to take it all away. I dive, hold my breath and open my eyes to the endlessness of the ocean. There is so much that we do not know. All my life I've been swimming aimlessly underwater searching for answers. I return to the surface, inhale, throw my head back, all my senses fully awake, unable to abandon myself completely, aware of the hand that might drag me to the bottom.

I lay on my towel, sinking into the burning sand of the beach, my body craving for the sun. The hollow sound of the waves clears out all of my thoughts, like a vibration that softly penetrates you, shaking you from the inside, emptying you of all your experiences, expanding your vision and softening your soul. I can see the golden glow of the sun behind my closed eyelids and I feel like I'm pure light. I would stay here forever. Like a lizard in the sun, just happy to be a lizard.

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Deleted userDeleted user

Dear Maite,

What a beautiful piece about visiting the sea and being touched by the elements!  I like the way you move between physical details and using nature as a metaphor for interior experience ("all my life I've been swimming aimlessly underwater searching for answers").  When you surface, literally and figuratively, your body and mind are illuminated ("I can see the golden glow of the sun behind my closed eyelids and I feel like I'm pure light").  Lovely.

Have a wonderful week.  I hope that life is happy for you,

Mark 

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Maite

Thank you for taking me to the ocean, Maine. I really felt that breeze and the sun. I felt the sand between my toes and recognized that moment of standing where the ocean and horizon beyond are visible. I felt the awe and heard the sounds. You transported me away from my present cares and massaged me with your words as the ocean massaged your skin. Your description of swimming through all problems delighted me and I felt the dive into the “endless ocean”. 
Such a soothing and evocative read. Thank you!

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Maite

Dear Mark,

Thank you for your comments, I'm glad you enjoyed my piece.

I hope that life is happy for you too.

Maite

Dear Emma,

Thank you for reading my piece and for your comments. I am very pleased to know that I was able to take you with me to the sea and that for a while you were able to enjoy the endlessness of the Ocean. 

Maite

Thank you so much for the respite of your post, Maite.  I’ve been missing the ocean, and your words captured the heart of being with and in it.  You write quite beautifully.  Thank you.

WOW, Maite! That was quite a sensual read! I thought I was having sex...LOL! You truly gave the experience of being on the beach

via entering and then swimming into waves a feeling akin to surrendering to the delight of physical or sexual pleasure.

I don't think I'll ever approach the ocean or beach again in the same way. Thank you for that! 

 

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Maite

 

Hi Ro,

Thank you for your comment!  I'm happy you enjoyed this piece, there definitely a sense of surrender in simply experiencing life through our senses.

Maite