Week 90: Emerging from a long winter

My three weeks in Aotearoa/New Zealand was absolutely amazing. There is not day that passes where I don't miss being there. The experience I had was life changing. (No I didn't go for research) I went for myself and yet I couldn't turn off my academic brain completely. My time there made me see the necessary changes and adjustments I need to make to my life in general but especially about my dissertation and area of focus. I realized that I need to focus my writing on listening... as listening is what I am most passionate about.. How does one listen without the ears?  How do places and spaces emerge through acts of listening? What are non-western ways of understanding that which we call "listening"?

One night, instead of sleeping, the group I was with went on a 6 hour barefoot night-walk in the bush and there was a moment where we went into this cave and the pain was almost unbearable. I thought I wouldn't make it but with help I did. Sometimes I can't help but think I'm still in that dark tunnel sprinkled with incandescent green glowworms. 
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Only for a season.