
Unstruck Sound
By "Positivity Witch" Jewels
See the show notes for links to access full works from creators. No affiliate links.

Unstruck SoundJun 11, 2023

31—Holding on and Letting Go: lessons from a Centenarian via David Von Drehle
After an unexpected hiatus, Unstruck Sound returns with some personal updates and reflections on another paradox: holding on and letting go—as inspired by an OpEd piece from the Washington Post by David Von Drehle.
- My new album is almost out! If you enjoy folk-like music, check it out at https://kimnema.com
- The article at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/05/22/david-von-drehle-book-excerpt-dr-charlie-white/
- David Von Drehle’s book, The Book of Charlie—Wisdom from the Remarkable American Life of a 109-Year-Old Man—at https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Book-of-Charlie/David-Von-Drehle/9781476773926
What do the concepts of today's episode evoke for you? Let me know at https://unstrucksound.com Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love. Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/yXMIYaNy1q1

Unstruck Sound: 30—What do GPS, Christianity, and traffic have in common, and what can we learn from it?
Join me for an exploration on how GPS and Christianity are related, an exercise from Tristan Gooley’s How to Read Nature, and some influence from an essay from the 90’s sparked by a presidential affair … and how that all leads to the question of what lesson have we yet to learn from traffic?
Perhaps, traffic is a paradox that won’t go away until we really accept it and face it …. because the mapping apps that were supposed to make it better haven’t really done that at all—and I’d posit that they’ve made it worst.
The book: How to Read Nature by Tristan Gooley
- https://www.workman.com/products/how-to-read-nature/
- https://theexperimentpublishing.com/2017/10/learn-how-to-read-nature-with-an-exercise-from-tristan-gooley/ — with exercise and trailer
The essay: Imperial Bedroom by Jonathan Franzen
- https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/1998/10/12/imperial-bedroom
- https://bigthink.com/videos/jonathan-franzen-on-privacy/ — the author discussing his essay
- https://us.macmillan.com/books/9780312422165/howtobealone — the book of essays including “Imperial Bedroom”
What do the concepts of today's episode evoke for you? Let me know at https://unstrucksound.com
Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love. Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/MA9SyHL5hD6

Repost of Episode 1: The Wild Unknown & The Bell and The Blackbird
Join me as we discover what in the world the “Unstruck Sound” is anyway—and how this podcast came to be. Audio slightly adjusted to be more consistent throughout. Originally aired: February 1, 2023.
Welcome to a new series born of an experiment and named after a discovery made in this pilot. Daily poetry, readings, discoveries, affirmations, nuggets, all with the intention of creating little pockets of space in your life where you can be reminded that you are brilliant—that you already contain the wisdom you seek and can access it in the space of the "unstruck sound."
About me: a middlish-life student learning how to better embrace what it means to be human. This series is an exploration and expose of my journey into daily somatic practices to better my ability to BE ... to be a human "BEing". I struggle with meditation—so perhaps this is my wrangling. And yet another imperfect, vulnerable voice here to share that you're not crazy—it's hard to make space and yet so worth it. And, so I figure, 5 minutes is better than none. What do you say? I look forward to spending +5 minutes a day with you, assuming I figure this out.
In this raw and sometimes awkward episode:
1. Kim Krans's "Animal Spirit Cards"—Explore her artwork and "Wild Unknown" decks. She has children's books, too.
2. David Whyte's "The Bell and The Blackbird"—a poem in an eponymous book. While looking for a good link, I found this site which displays it elegantly and includes a link to where you can buy it. Check your local library if you can. (And if you live in Portland, perhaps you can request it, so they'll order it for our collection.)
Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/Y9aW6k8WeJC
What do the concepts of today's episode evoke for you? Let me know at https://unstrucksound.com
Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

28—Reflection: Food as a path to Empathy and Time Travel
Recently, my best friend was sharing her perspective on how food is a path to empathy—and time travel. Join me as I explore how this began to color some of my world views and a practice around food to add (or simply celebrate) a bit more space in a day, building empathetic awareness and flexing gratitude.
ps. In my rush to record and share this before class, I don't think I did her share justice—yet I hope it sparks an expanded view for you nonetheless.
My friend’s blog on food (and more): https://lizzbert.wordpress.com/category/cooking/
Not discussed, but more on this topic:
_Time travel w/food: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2022/10/221005111928.htm
_You are what your Grandparent’s Ate: https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/44492402
Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/5bvvCrMRpw3
Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

27—Reflections on Black Moon, New Moon, and Moon Tide pt2
Some reflections on the black moon this weekend, ahead of Tuesday’s New Moon, another reflection on moon phases including another snippet from Beth Schiller’s essay, Moon Tide—from TapRoots Magazine. Stay hydrated and stay curious. What can you learn in the darkness? What can you let go of to start anew, again?I’d love to hear from you.
Share and subscribe at https://unstrucksound.com
More on what you heard in this episode:
_Moon Tide from Issue no. 6: https://taprootmag.com/products/issue-6-water (bonus: artwork by Nikki McClure)
_Author: Beth Schiller, https://taprootmag.com/blogs/contributors/beth-schiller
_Author’s Farm: The author’s Dandelion Spring Farm, https://dandelionspringfarm.com
Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/P40mGPqiVrO
Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

26—Pausing before taking a Picture, and a Poem about Bees and IG
Join me as we reflect on my first love: photography, and what can happen when we take a moment to see with our eyes and feel with our bodies before we take the picture. Included is a reading from a poem by Tess Taylor [https://www.tess-taylor.com] from the Spring 2018 Issue of Orion Magazine [https://orionmagazine.org] called “On Not Posting the Bees to Instagram”.
Questions for reflection: Where do you notice yourself wanting to take a picture so you can rush on and come back to it later? How often do you come back to it? What happens when you pause next time you feel called to take that picture and ask yourself: what am I trying to capture? where do I feel this desire?
I’d love to hear from you. Share and subscribe at https://unstrucksound.com
Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/9X3ubBzPbRR
Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

25—The Pink Full Moon and Moon Tide
The growing, nearly-full moon caught my attention last night and inspired a mid-week episode. Fresh from the closet, an article from the first year of Taproot, a beautiful magazine you must check out (now on their 55th issue, timely named “Lunar”).
For more on what I read in this episode:
_Moon Tide from Taproot Issue no. 6: https://taprootmag.com/products/issue-6-water (bonus: artwork by Nikki McClure)
_Author: Beth Schiller, https://taprootmag.com/blogs/contributors/beth-schiller
_Author’s Farm: The author’s Dandelion Spring Farm, https://dandelionspringfarm.com
What do you notice in yourself when the full moon comes? Do you prefer stillness or do you crave movement? I’d love to hear from you. Subscribe and share at https://unstrucksound.com
Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/iq3MEXUAXC3
Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

24—The "Easy Trap" and Healing Requires Action
A passage from Carolyn Myss’s “Anatomy of the Spirit” book (more at https://www.myss.com/) and some contemplation on where the experiment of focusing on having “easy” lives has led us. What can we learn by accepting and allowing that life exists on a spectrum—more paradoxes—and how can that help us take action in our own individual and collective healing?
What does this reflection spark for you? Where does craving “easy” impact you in your life? What have you done to build resilience? I’d love to hear from you. Subscribe and share at https://unstrucksound.com
Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/YKeE0kxu3qF
Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

23—An intro to The Music of Life by Hazrat Inayat Khan
Join me as we discover another description of the Unstruck Sound, within Hazrat Inaya Khan’s “Music of Life”—and a reflection on all that which has been known before us, finding our resonating chord, and the wisdom inherent within all of us.
ps. In contrast to the translation provided in the book’s forward, “Fare forth to the West as a musician of the soul and tune the hearts of men to the divine harmony,” an online article (link below) states that Inayat’s dying teacher instructed him: “Fare forth into the world, my child, and harmonize the East and the West with the harmony of thy music. Spread the wisdom of Sufism abroad, for to this end art thou gifted by Allah, the most merciful and compassionate.” — a reminder that despite all that we read being someone's interpretation of their experience, so much can be lost and added or shifted in translation.
How does this resonate with where you are on your path? Let me know at https://unstrucksound.com
Episode Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/baYzSdqNz4u
Brief on Hazrat Inayat Khan:
- They were born in Baroda, India on July 5, 1882
- Their early life included music and awards for singing; their maternal grandfather was a Hindustani classical musician and educator known as “the Beethoven of India.”
- In 1903, they published a Hindustani collection of ±75 songs as Professor 'Ināyat Khān Raḥmāt Khān Paṭhān
- They established an order of Sufism in London in 1914, Inayatiyya—and by the time of their death in 1927, centers had been established throughout Europe and North America
And Sufism:
- Sufism, or Islamic mysticism, is found mainly within Sunni Islam but also Shia Islam and characterized by a focus on Islamic spirituality, ritualism, asceticism, and esotericism. Practitioners typically belong to “orders”—congregations formed around a grand “wali” who would be the last in a chain of successive teachers linked back to Muhammad.
- If anybody asks you, “What is Sufism?” … you may answer: “Sufism is the religion of the heart, the religion in which the most important thing is to seek [Source/Spirit/Allah/God/Goddess] in the heart of humanity.”— Hazrat Inayat Khan
- While there are many Sufi schools and lineages, the Sufism of the Inayatiyya is universalist in its acceptance of all people and paths leading to the unfoldment of the light and power latent in the human being. Sufism is an endless path, pursued over a lifetime.
Sources Links:

22—A Reflection on Spring Energy and Poem by Ḥāfeẓ
Join me as I reflect on the slow and fast energy swirls in the shifting from winter into spring and a poem attributed to the 14th century Persian poet, Ḥāfeẓ (nick-named so because he memorized the entire Qur’an).
The Poem— https://livingthepresentmoment.com/the-sacred-dance-for-life-hafiz/
Background on fake poems attributed to Hafez and other Persian poets— https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/6/14/fake-hafez-how-a-supreme-persian-poet-of-love-was-erased
What are you learning in your seasonal transition, whether that’s from winter into spring or summer into fall? Let me know at https://unstrucksound.com
Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/spYyJvW2CoVCredits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

21—A Botony Book and Aromatics as a Somatic Exercise
Join me for an exploration of aromatics as a way to connect with your body and create some pockets of joy in your days and nights. A few snippets from the book “The Spirit of Botany, Aromatic Recipes and Rituals” by Jill McKeever—https://forstrangewomen.com/products/the-spirit-of-botany-preorder
How do you weave aromatics into your day? What are your favorite plants to visit on a walk? Let me know at https://unstrucksound.com
Interested in making tinctures and perfumes? Check out Jill’s recipes and how-tos to get started and enjoy the journey of discovering your own inner wisdom with a new expression.
Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/PpQrkh0CDr3
Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

20—Defining Spirituality, from Dr. Wayne Dyer
I recently found myself sharing how books have a funny way of finding their way into your hands when you’re ready … and collecting dust when you’re not. One such book that sat unread for a while and is now receiving love is Dr Wayne Dyer’s, “There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem.”
Join me as I read his definition of spirituality—and explore how that fits (or doesn’t) into my perceptions based on being raised Catholic and something of a home-study of theologies and divinities over this past year.
How does this definition resonate with you? What has it meant for you? Does this impact your perception? Let me know at https://unstrucksound.com — Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/pqvUNCkyFyj
Links on Dr Wayne Dyer:
- There’s a Spiritual Solution to Every Problem, the book: https://www.powells.com/book/theres-a-spiritual-solution-to-every-problem-9780060929701?partnerid=30290
- 5 Lessons to Live By, youtube: https://youtu.be/dOkNkcZ_THA
- More from the author: https://www.drwaynedyer.com
Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

19—Meditation On Color, from The Anthropology of Turquoise
I took a longer break than anticipated, due to some “eustachian tube dysfunction” which left me sounding funny when I talked and unable to listen without a constant muffling and muting of sound. A conversation with a 5-minute friend in line last night prompted me to think of colors this morning, causing me to hunt down my favorite slow read of the past 6 months: The Anthropology of Turquoise by Ellen Melloy. Join me as we listen to her delectably paint words around colors unlike any other—and start digging into what we think we know about color.
- https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/113090/the-anthropology-of-turquoise-by-ellen-meloy/
- https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Goshawk/overview
How does this change your perception of color? Let me know at https://unstrucksound.com — Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/pqvUNCkyFyj
Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

18—Humans BEing: Being a Verb vs a Noun
Join me in exploring a subtle yet powerful pause in being a verb vs being a noun—and how that can add more aliveness. Links worth clicking:
1] Becoming Kin by Patty Krawec: https://www.broadleafbooks.com/store/product/9781506478258/Becoming-Kin
2] Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer: https://milkweed.org/book/braiding-sweetgrass
3] Passage from Braiding Sweetgrass on “being a verb”: https://www.sciencefriday.com/articles/braiding-sweetgrass-excerpt/
4] Writing class, “Then Somebody Named the Sky” from https://awfulgoodwriters.com — where I first played with “being a verb” which you can see in action at https://jewel.mlnarik.com
What do the concepts of today's episode evoke or open for you? Let me know at https://unstrucksound.com — Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/8FDPkj6gmo5
Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

17—Listening: Seek and Ye Shall Not Find
Have you ever found yourself tired of looking for something, only to find it once you stop looking? Yep—just as I was sitting down to record this, I'd been looking for my airbuds for weeks...only to find them just as I'd finally given up (which, coincidentally, happened in last night's dream as well).
Turns out, this is part of a larger, cosmic context. Join me as we connect some recurring dots, including another snippet from Rick Rubin's "The Creative Act—Tuning In" and explore subtleties of listening as an act more akin to a radio antenna set to receive than a drone out seeking signal.
The book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717356/the-creative-act-by-rick-rubin/
The coaching: https://strozziinstitute.com/
Questions:
- How do you see this happening in your life?
- What are some of the ways that you create space so that what needs to make its way to you, can make its way?
- What do the concepts of today's episode evoke or open for you?
Let me know at https://unstrucksound.com — Transcript: https://share.descript.com/view/qJG1t6xbEAa
Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

16—Breathwork: Release for Over Active Energy
Today’s breathwork practice is modeled after an energetic clearing practice from Eagle Skyfire as shared in her book: Journeying between the Worlds. As described on her website, the book “shares easy-to-understand ancient Native American teachings that show you how to use shamanism to make sacred connections with the natural world, divine beings, and your own soul.”
Learn more at https://eagleskyfire.com/books/
What do the concepts of today's episode evoke for you? Let me know at https://unstrucksound.com
Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

15—Poetry: Take Me With You, Andrea Gibson
I don’t think I could say it better than Random House: “a book small enough to carry with you, with messages big enough to stay with you, from one of the most quotable and influential poets of our time.” Read more and get the book at https://www.penguinrandomhouse.ca/books/558181/take-me-with-you-by-andrea-gibson/9780735219519/excerpt
In today’s reading:
- I’m grateful for having a mind that can be changed
- a poem on Nina Simone, social justice, and love
- You are the best thing that has ever happened to YOU
What do the concepts of today's episode evoke for you? Let me know at https://unstrucksound.com.
Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

14—Power of a Question: when did you first realize you were different?
Shifting to daily-ish posting to reserve space for me to spend with family and trainings. // When did you first realize you were different? Join me as we geek out on the power of a question—and find inspiration within a question for telling our story. Today’s question is from a “Restorative Practices of Wellbeing” book by Natureza Gabriel Kram. For more about the book and the author—
- https://restorativepractices.com/product/restorative-practices-book
- https://www.hearthscience.io/instructors
Also mentioned: Meals on Wheels volunteer options: https://www.mowp.org/volunteer
What do the concepts of today's episode evoke for you? Let me know at https://anchor.fm/unstrucksound — hit the "message" button. Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

13—Breathwork for Self Care
It amazes me that I made it to my 40s and it amazes me even more that I’m still learning how to breathe. Join me as I try a new practice inspired by a weekend at the coast to cultivate self-care and illustrated in “BREATHWORK—a little book of self care” by Nathalia Westmacott-Brown. https://www.powells.com/book/-9781465485052
What do the concepts of today's episode evoke for you? Let me know at https://unstrucksound.com — hit the "message" button. Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

12—Poem: Blessing for Sound, David Whyte
A poetic break, revisiting David Whyte’s “The Bell and The Blackbird” book of poems—with his “Blessing for Sound.” Read more and watch the poem come alive in a collaboration with a filmmaker and composer at https://www.themarginalian.org/2021/10/26/david-whyte-blessings
What do the concepts of today's episode evoke for you? Let me know at https://anchor.fm/unstrucksound — hit the "message" button. Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

11—Awareness: We’re All Creative, from “The Creative Act” by Rick Rubin
We’re just gonna keep riding this wave—from “we’re all artists” to “we’re all poets” to “we’re all creative”—right into famed producer Rick Rubin’s book, “The Creative Act” and his essay on “Awareness.”
How do you feel when you think of yourself as being creative? A fundamental element of being human, creativity is the act of bringing something into the world which didn’t exist before. And the argument posed once again is that we’re all creative and all artists—whether we allow ourselves to see and feel it or not. And as such, we visit yet another reminder of what it’s like when we give ourselves the space to be humans BEing.
The book: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717356/the-creative-act-by-rick-rubin/
What do the concepts of today's episode evoke for you? Let me know at https://anchor.fm/unstrucksound — hit the "message" button. Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.

10—We're all poets and Kiss a tree, from Natalie Goldberg's Wild Mind
More on the theme of “we’re all artists” —Rewind to 1979, when Natalie is working as a poet in residence at an elementary school, and insists that all children are poets. And whether you want to be a writer or not, or are simply looking for a tiny pocket of joy, we wrap with an “assignment”
The book: https://nataliegoldberg.com/books/wild-mind-living-the-writers-life

9—Snippet from an Interview: Cate Blanchett and Hugo Huerta Marin on Sound
What do Mayan lands, a bird, Cate Blanchett, and some polaroids have in common? Mostly, an engaging and provoking photo-and-story book by New York & Mexico City artist Hugo Huerta Marin. Join for a brief blip of an interview with Cate Blanchett and re-imagine going to the theater and how you listen to the world around you.
- The Book: https://prestelpublishing.penguinrandomhouse.de/book/Portrait-of-an-Artist/Hugo-Huerta-Marin/Prestel/e585552.rhd
- About the Book: https://www.radicalartreview.org/post/hugo-huerta-marin-portrait-of-an-artist
- The Echos of a pyramid: https://youtu.be/KTKCk9iLqRc
- History of the Echos: https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/chichen-itza-chirp

8—Finding Inspiration and a Poem: The Negro Speaks of Rivers, by Langston Hughes
Sometimes inspiration simply takes you not looking for it for it to arrive. Thanks Universe. May this inspire you to effort less.
- Langston Hughes, New Yorker article from 2015—https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2015/02/23/sojourner
- Langston Hughes, obit from 1967—https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/books/01/04/22/specials/hughes-obit.html
- The full poem, “The Negro Speaks of Rivers”—https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/44428/the-negro-speaks-of-rivers
What does this story or poem evoke for you? Let me know at https://anchor.fm/unstrucksound — hit the "message" button.
Credits: conduit of photography and music: me.

7—We're all artists: The 5th Agreement, Skepticism, and Listening
Join me as I dig into "being skeptical, but learning to listen"—as the 5th Agreement to follow "The Four Agreements." As synchronicity would have it, I recorded this the morning before starting a four-day workshop that would end up being focused on ... listening. As I would discover in the training, there are many ways to listen—and listening without intent, agenda, or judgment and with an open heart, mind, and connected spirit is hard. Luckily, I went into the training with an extra skip in my step from having enjoyed some extra space. I'm looking forward to revisiting this in the future—and to hearing your perspective and experience.
The book: The Fifth Agreement: A Practical Guide to Self-Mastery (Toltec Wisdom) — by Don Miguel Angel Ruiz MD, author of The Four Agreements, and his son, Jose Luis Ruiz, and Janet Mills.
_On Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Fifth-Agreement-Practical-Self-Mastery-Toltec/dp/1878424610
_Website: https://www.thefouragreements.com/the-fifth-agreement/
_Instagram: @the_four_agreements_official

6—Reading: The Boy, The Mole, The Fox, and The Horse
Join me for an extra short and oh-so-sweet reading from a beautifully hand-drawn and written children’s book about unexpected friendship. The Boy, the Mole, the Fox, and the Horse by Charlie Mackesy.
In researching for links, I discovered this book has also been produced in color and animated into a short film. I can’t wait to watch it, though I still recommend reading it—to yourself or anyone, any age.
_Books: https://www.harpercollins.com/pages/charliemackesy
_Film: https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_boy_the_mole_the_fox_and_the_horse
What does this story evoke for you? Let me know at https://anchor.fm/unstrucksound — hit the "message" button.
Credits: conduit of photography and music: me. Photograph: my kitty (and best friend) Reeces in 2021.

5—Adaptive Intersectional Mindfulness from Love and Rage
Join me as I jinx myself—and get distracted talking about distractions … while connecting (or trying to connect) the stars between harmony, mindfulness, and curiosity. Inspired by the 7 steps to Adaptive Intersectional Mindfulness from “Love and Rage, the path of liberation through anger”, by Lama Rob Owens.
The book: Love and Rage, the path of liberation through anger— https://www.goodreads.com/en/book/show/53133204
The author: Lama Rob Owens— https://www.lamarod.com
The video: musicians describing harmony, including Herbie Hancock and Jacob Collier—https://youtu.be/eRkgK4jfi6M
What does this inquiry evoke for you? Let me know at https://anchor.fm/unstrucksound — hit the "message" button.
Credits: conduit of photography and music: me.

4—Essay & Movement: Music Isn't Always Music & Dance
Today's prompt for space to BE comes from a book, "Speaking and Listening," a collection of poems and writings revolving around questions of narrative, listening, and improvisation and centered around a long unpublished transcript of a talk poem by David Antin. The writing I am reading from is entitled "Not All Music is Music" by François J. Bonnet.
For the full piece, please check out any of the following links—and remember to dance.
- Shelter Press on Bandcamp—purchase option
- les presses du reel—more on the author, additional links, and purchase option
What does this inquiry evoke for you? Let me know at https://anchor.fm/unstrucksound — hit the "message" button.
Credits: photography and music made by me.

3—Inquiry: Bungee Boundaries & Wild Soul Tarot
Post Update: y'all, another uncanny coincidence! After recording and scheduling this post on 2.1, I received Chani's horoscope on 2.2. In the Moon Phase & Sign section (Gibbous/Cancer): Feel it all. Set boundaries as an act of self-love. Nurture your besties and beloveds and know when to protect your energy too.
Today's prompt for space to BE is a tiny spiral into what we can learn about boundaries from bungees—and a brilliant question from Lindsey Mack's Tarot for the Wild Soul on the 4 of Pentacles.
- "Bungee" Boundaries—found this scribbled on a piece of paper with no recollection of where the idea sprang from. Have you heard of this? Do you know who I can credit? At one point, I reference some hand gestures I'm making, but I don't tell you...just that "I'll keep going like this." Just picture me playing cat's cradle with no string, or bringing my hands together and then pulling them apart—beautifully. I could use that snippet for a hand-model application.
- Tarot for the Wild Soul—whether you're already seasoned in tarot or "tarot-curious" you'll enjoy checking out this brilliant site. Get your anchor card. Listen to her Podcast. And then let's chat about it.
What does this inquiry evoke for you? Let me know at https://anchor.fm/unstrucksound — hit the "message" button.
Credits: photography and music made by me.

2—Poem: How Dark the Beginning, by Maggie Smith
Y'all—as soon as I finished recording this episode, I closed the copy of my Poetry magazine, from which I selected this poem, and wouldn't you guess it... her poem and the line I was obsessed with was *the* highlight on the back cover. The universe just loves to pepper us with fairy dust sometimes.
Today's prompt for space to BE is a poem by Maggie Smith. I don't have any affiliate links, but here's where you can catch more of Smith:
- Get her book—Keep Moving: Notes on Loss, Creativity, and Change Hardcover – October 6, 2020
- Read her on Poetry Foundation
- More on Poetry Outloud
What does this poem evoke for you? Let me know at https://anchor.fm/unstrucksound — hit the "message" button.
Credits: photography and music made by me.

1—Welcome: The Wild Unknown & The Bell and The Blackbird
Welcome to a new series born of an experiment and named after a discovery made in this pilot. Daily poetry, readings, discoveries, affirmations, nuggets, all with the intention of creating little pockets of space in your life where you can be reminded that you are brilliant—that you already contain the wisdom you seek and can access it in the space of the "unstruck sound."
About me: a middlish-life student learning how to better embrace what it means to be human. This series is an exploration and expose of my journey into daily somatic practices to better my ability to BE ... to be a human "BEing". I struggle with meditation—so perhaps this is my wrangling. And yet another imperfect, vulnerable voice here to share that you're not crazy—it's hard to make space and yet so worth it. And, so I figure, 5 minutes is better than none. What do you say? I look forward to spending +5 minutes a day with you, assuming I figure this out.
In this raw and sometimes awkward episode:
1. Kim Krans's "Animal Spirit Cards"—Explore her artwork and "Wild Unknown" decks. She has children's books, too.
2. David Whyte's "The Bell and The Blackbird"—a poem in an eponymous book. While looking for a good link, I found this site which displays it elegantly and includes a link to where you can buy it. Check your local library if you can. (And if you live in Portland, perhaps you can request it, so they'll order it for our collection.)
What do the concepts of today's episode evoke for you? Let me know at https://anchor.fm/unstrucksound — hit the "message" button.
Credits: music and photography by me. No affiliate links, just love.