21 Comments
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Kimberly Carter's avatar

Right story resonates with query I’ve been shifting inside my own self asking — am I asking the right question. Thank you so much for these necessary reflections. I’m so glad to follow your writings.

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Sally Gillespie's avatar

Thank you Kimberly, yes a right story can shift all our questions. Delighted to discover your writings. Such beautiful cross-pollination on Substack, I am discovering

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Jane Herrick's avatar

May we all find our right stories. I feel as if I am starting from scratch in my search, but perhaps that is because I have only just started looking. I have only just begun to understand what grounding myself in community, place and identity means. But it is a start, and your writings here, Sally, will help me along the path. I keep chickens, and I see them coming home to roost every day, to a place of safety and security, in their "nest", the hen house we have built them. They have nest boxes on the side of it, and leave their gifts to us there. In return we give them mixed corn, water, a muck heap to scratch over, deep beds of nettles and docks for them to hide in, a grassy lawn to sunbathe on when it is warm. We give, they give.

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Sally Gillespie's avatar

Reciprocal relations in action, I love this ! Yes we are in communities always but not trained to see them. I think I want to be a chicken on your farm in my next life, sounds deeply relaxing .

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Jane Herrick's avatar

A wonderful first post Sally. It brought all sorts of things up for me. I will read it again and share these things with you. Thank you

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Sally Gillespie's avatar

Thanks so much Jane

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Jane Pike's avatar

Sally, what an incredible piece! I want to read it over and over. There is so much wisdom to absorb. I felt so comforted by the messages you shared (that in turn were shared with you)- thank you. Your words are beautiful xx

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Sally Gillespie's avatar

Thank you so much Jane, I am so glad to hear this is resonating with you, as so much of what you write resonates with me. I feel so grateful for what I have learnt from First Nations teachers. Their wisdom and generosity of sharing is stunning, especially given the ongoing tragic consequences of colonisation that their communities are contending with daily. Right stories comfort and strengthen us.

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Jane Pike's avatar

They really do. I'm been thinking so much about this all day xx

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Brigid Lowry's avatar

A wonderful encouragement. May we all find our right stories. BL

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Sally Gillespie's avatar

Thank you Brigid ! right stories are where we nest and where we take flight from 💚

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Deborah Bonham's avatar

Brilliant !! You took me there to that spot with that breeze, wise words and care! Thankyou. There was so much in it I will read again. Your friend’s questions evocative and the words ‘culture of uncare’ resonated with me - at the bottom of so many of our current problems which don’t get addressed in the way s which could heal. Bless

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Sally Gillespie's avatar

Thanks Deb, you would love this place, has such a deep spiritual presence. Culture if uncare is from c,I set psychologist Sally Weintrobe , nails it!

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Terri Seddon's avatar

Like others, your comments about finding your story, and story as birthright for children, speak to me. I live in Naarm-Melbourne and can see how much we story nomads have to learn from First Nations people. I look forward to other posts

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peter's avatar

Beautifully written and presented Sally. I love how you relate the perspective of those who have disremembered their story. Yes, and when we put our hand up for this, we can start to follow the threads back, ever slowly. I also appreciate how you say that this Land is interested in all the loving relationships we can muster. And isn't it interesting how Physics is coming now with beautiful stories, in wonderful language articulating our being spirit and matter in states, waves, particles and fields

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Sally Gillespie's avatar

Thank you Peter, this is beautiful following "the threads back, ever slowly" This is how it feels, at times tenuous and tentative but always there. And thank you for linking to stories and images of physics , a beautiful enlivening from these times

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Katharine Beckett Winship's avatar

Sally, thank you for your thoughtful piece.

I love your confession of not being native to digital (raising my hand here!).

I am working on Rights of Nature for the Swannanoa and Catawba Rivers in western North Carolina. I appreciate what was said about not being burdened with guilt. Each time I remember that, my work flows more easily.

🌱

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Sally Gillespie's avatar

Hello Katherine so good to hear from you and of your Rights of Nature work - such an important and transformational movement which is happening here in Australia too. Something I learnt from my dreams is that Mother Earth doesn't want our guilt but our love, so much more transformative and sustaining!

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Jenny Dean's avatar

Sally this was so interesting, drawing me right inside the words . So much to think about . I am a third generation colonist in Africa . Loving her wild spaces so deeply and yet I am a transplant , not of the ancient tribes who belong to the land itself . Searching for my story in this, my right place .

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Sally Gillespie's avatar

Thank you Jenny. Yes this has been a life long process for me too, starting in Aotearoa NewZealand as a fourth generation pakeha (white colonist) who felt/feels deeply bonded with the land and seas, and now as adult migrant to Australia. Learning from First Nations elders has helped me so much, recognising through their teachings that we are all called to be loving and responsible custodians for where ever we live, and through this feelings of belonging and relationship can grow

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Sally Gillespie's avatar

Thank you Terri , yes so much to learn from First Nations culture and peoples, starting with right stories which are fundamental to healthy culture and world.

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