This is really what stream of consciousness writing is all about, isn’t it? Emptiness.
Every time I’ve thought about writing this post today (and in the end I almost forgot to do it–imagine that), the only thing that has come to me has been the Taoist philosophy on emptiness being useful. A room with no space in it isn’t livable. Take things out of it–make space–and the emptiness makes the room useful.
For a long time I’ve endeavored to, once in a while, empty my mind. The largely western idea of the purpose of meditation–to sit and think about something, or to meditate on something–is the opposite of the eastern philosophy. I meditate to empty my mind. To clear out all the thoughts and regrets and worries for the future–and stress. Because once my mind is empty, I can fill it up with new ideas, better solutions, and calmer thoughts.
So how is writing stream of consciousness about emptiness? It’s a form of meditation. It’s the act of emptying our minds onto the page.
Most of you might recognize this photo, for those who don’t it’s the photo that I use as my header image to my blog. I’ve used it ever since I took the picture. However, since that photo and now, my life has change in wonderful ways.
I’ve been gone for quite some time and I apologize for that, life gets in the way of many things when we let it. When I left it was due to a lack of purpose in my writing. I was putting down words but they never really meant anything to me, I didn’t feel like it was the best I could do. Thus I stopped, but it’s different now. The world and myself are different than before, I’m actually happy.
The reason I am happy is a multitude of things, my family, me accepting myself, actually having a decent job. Also realizing that just…
Miles sits at the window. Drew takes the seat beside him.
Drew: Nice afternoon after all that rain we had yesterday.
Miles: Uh huh.
Drew: Makes me think of the age-old question, why did the duck cross the road?
Miles: Shouldn’t that be a chicken?
Drew: It makes more sense that it should be a duck, don’t you think? A duck is a wild animal and more likely to be waiting at the side of a road, rather than a chicken, which would be penned up on a farm.
Miles: (stares at him for a moment) Do you have any toilet paper?
Drew: Hmm … (contemplates the question and nods slowly) I see what you’re saying.
One of these months I’ll actually do this in the middle of the month. But which day is the middle when there are 31 days? Hmmm… Anyway, I’m here with a gentle reminder that there’s still time to link your colouring projects to the original prompt from May 1st, here. The comments in this post are turned off to ensure all pingbacks go to the original post.
Although I keep thinking it’s Saturday, it’s actually Friday. That means it’s time for your Stream of Consciousness Saturday prompt. The reason for my confusion: Alex is home from school. Four day weekend (Monday is Victoria Day here in Canada). Must focus! Here’s your prompt:
Your Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is “empty/hollow.” Use one, use both, entirely up to you. Enjoy!
After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here at this week’s prompt page and check to make sure it’s here in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome Stream of Consciousness post. Anyone can join in!
To make your post more visible, use our new SoCS badge! Just paste it in your Saturday post so people browsing the reader will immediately know your post is stream of consciousness and/or pin it as a widget to your site to show you’re a participant. Wear it with pride!!
1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing, (typos can be fixed) and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.
2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.
3. There will be a prompt every week. I will post the prompt here on my blog on Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The’,” or simply a single word to get your started.
4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.
5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read everyone’s! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later, or go to the previous week, by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find right below the “Like” button on my post.
6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!
7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.
Drew sits at the window. Zoey takes the seat beside him.
Drew:(points out the window) There is a bird in a tree.
Zoey: I’m sorry?
Drew: There is a bird in a tree … Or is the tree simply there for the bird?
Zoey: I think the bird …
Drew:(holds up a finger) You are going to say that because the bird moves and the tree does not, that the bird is the one who must be the subject, the one who provides the action, and the tree is merely awaiting the bird’s arrival. BUT! Does not the tree live longer?
Zoey:(nods slowly) It does …
Drew: So again, I ask, is the bird in the tree or does the tree exist for the bird?
As a tribute to Dan Antion, our outgoing-badge designer and guy who can’t write a one-liner to save his life, my own One-Liner Wednesday is going to go a bit long.
I was sitting on the couch tonight, minding my own business, when Winston started to whine. I looked up and saw him sitting in the middle of the floor looking down at nothing.
“What is it?” I asked him.
He gave me a pained look as if to say, If I could talk, I wouldn’t be sitting here crying.
So I went over to see what he was whining at. There was still nothing.
I asked him again, “What is it?”
And that’s when he pointed to something with his nose. I bent down to get a closer look, and low and behold there was an ant. It was a fair-sized one, and it was still very much alive.
I praised Winston for letting me know we had a bug in the house, and I went to get a tissue to scoop it up and get rid of it.
Why he didn’t just step on it or eat it I have no idea. But he did tell me about it.
Good dog, Winston!
Winston, my pointer-outer/smart dog/scaredy cat.
Cheers to Dan for his lovely badge! We’ll miss it! Thank you, Mr. Antion!
#1linerWeds badge by Dan Antion
If you would like to participate in this prompt, feel free to use the “One-Liner Wednesday” title in your post, and if you do, you can ping back here to help your blog get more exposure. To execute a pingback, just copy the URL in the address bar on this post, and paste it somewhere in the body of your post. Your link will show up in the comments below. Please ensure that the One-Liner Wednesday you’re pinging back to is this week’s! Otherwise, no one will likely see it but me.
NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, like Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.
As with Stream of Consciousness Saturday (SoCS), if you see a pingback from someone else in my comment section, click and have a read. It’s bound to be short and sweet.
Unlike SoCS, this is not a prompt so there’s no need to stick to the same “theme.”
The rules that I’ve made for myself (but don’t always follow) for “One-Liner Wednesday” are:
1. Make it one sentence.
2. Try to make it either funny or inspirational.
3. Use our unique tag #1linerWeds.
4. Add our very cool badge to your post for extra exposure!
lindaghill.com 