(Photo credit: Hanaa Soliman) My friend was sick. I texted: “Would you like me to bring you some soup?”. The answer came an hour later: “Sure, thank you. But I’m asleep most of the time, so please don’t ring the bell.” That was easy; I had the spare key. Once back from the market […]
Of Soup and Consent Read More »
(Photo credit: Hanaa Soliman) My grandmother sat in the school refectory sipping hot chicory while eyeing the piece of chocolate she was about to give away. Like many of her classmates, she’d decided to slip it into the food donation box. Enter Father Maurice Zundel, Catholic priest and mystic, whom she loved and respected. More
Of God and Chocolate Read More »
(Drawing: The Scream, by Hanaa Soliman, 2019) I was walking home in the early evening. The street was empty and quiet. I had been engaged for months in a deep group inquiry using A.H. Almas’s book “The unfolding now”. As I walked, I was trying to practice what it was like not to “mess” with
Of relaxing when the sirens go off Read More »
https://belongingwithin.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Safety-video-and-sound-belongingwithin.com_.mp4 This is an audio excerpt of a personal sound exploration I recorded a while back around the theme of safety. I’ve realized today that it’ll soon be seven years and seven months since I formally started, after two decades of exploring voice and sound in different contexts, to work with groups and individuals online
What is the sound of seven years passing? Read More »
(Photo credit: Sanu N) I’ve always been fascinated by Kangris, the traditional earthen pots insulated with a layer of wicker that Kashmiris put hot embers into and safely place inside their cloaks to stay warm in the winter! Each one is a work of true craftsmanship, requiring patience, precision and experience. They’re also adorned in
Of Kangris and Hope Read More »
(Painting: Trees in a storm by Klombeck) It was a headachy morning. I woke up restless and overwhelmed. The wind outside mirrored my inner turmoil, frantically shaking the trees into a whooshing frenzy. As I got up, I became increasingly aware of the “too-much-ness” of it all. I tried to push through to get
Of Trees, Chaos and Stillness Read More »
(Medicine, from Latin mederi: to heal, remedy, comfort) A dear friend thanked me recently for the depth of a poem I wrote and shared with him. His kind feedback would’ve normally been very welcome, but for some reason, I was stunned and couldn’t receive the compliment. Then I understood why. Many weeks prior, I was