Satya Robyn's Blog, page 7

The sticky tangled mess of living an ethical life

My current novel is about Jude who, amongst other things, is a taxidermist. I wrote about this on Facebook and someone accused me of being a bad Buddhist for “showing support for the indignity of taxidermy”.

I retorted defensively that my characters aren’t Buddhist, but the comment stayed with me.

It lingered (as these things do) because it does point me towards something in myself that I feel uncomfortable about.

I have always been fascinated by stuffed animals. For a long time I wanted a fox with a bushy tail or a wiry stoat myself. Or maybe one of those new mice wearing top hats or riding a bicycle. The indignity of taxidermy. Hmm.

I am a vegan because I don’t want to contribute to animal suffering. And yet this taxidermy-part of me also exists. I wasn’t vegan for 38 years. We have three cats, and we feed them meat. I have old leather belts and take medicines that are made with animal products. And don’t even get me started on how often I use the car when I don’t need to, or forget to turn the lights off, or…..

We are all doing the best we can. This means that we are inconsistent. We get bees in our bonnets about particular ethical aspirations and we sweep over others entirely. We cause harm wherever we turn, both consciously and unconsciously.

This is okay. It’s better to have ethical aspirations. It’s better to be consistent. But it’s also better to be honest about how foolish we are than it is to pretend we’ve got it all sorted. We can peel back those layers one by one, feeling contrition, and acknowledging the whole sticky, tangled mess.

If we practice a lot, we might even start feeling fond of the mess we are. The mess that others are.

Keep going. The little changes we make do make a difference. We don’t have to become Buddhas all at once. Thank goodness.

If you enjoy these musings, you’ll probably enjoy my book ‘A Year of Questions‘, and the sequel which will be coming out later this year…

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Stuffed fox by Purblind

At the age of 39, I just did something for the first time…

Won the lottery? Rode a horse? Read the financial papers?

Nope. I just did a handstand. A handstand!

Since Christmas I’ve been going to yoga – the first time I’ve done anything in the arena of ‘fitness’ for many many years. I’ve also been walking much more on the Malvern hills, and eating less cake. Some cake – I don’t drink or smoke or do anything else interesting – but less.

These changes are still present four weeks on, which I’m rather surprised about. Of course, things might slip any day, but I have a different kind of confidence this time. I think I’m going to be a slightly-fitter-person from now on.

What makes this time different to all the others? There were lots of others…

A few things. I am turning 40 this year, and sometimes it takes something a bit more dramatic to wake us up. If I don’t get more fit this year, then my huffing-and-puffing up hills will only get worse as my body moves inexorably towards old age.

The change is showing on the surface now, but I have the sense that there has been lots of very slow, underground change which has prepared me for things to be different.

I was very clear about setting an intention in January to be kind to my body this year. This positive focus has worked better for me than deciding to NOT eat the things I like, or force myself to do horrible exercise. I’m surprised to be enjoying the yoga, the walking and the healthy diet.

I’ve been kind to myself and when I catch myself forcing myself too hard, I pull back. I’m prone to rebel when I don’t get what I want, and so the occasional square of chocolate (or three brownies last Wednesday night) are forgiven and allowed and accepted.

I’ve got support. From a yoga class, from my friend who I walk with, from my husband who I share my experiences with and talk things over.

How do these factors apply to you? What changes are ripe in you? Can you start today? This week? Tell me what you’re going to do in the comments…

“The body is shaped, disciplined, honored, and in time, trusted.” ~ Martha Graham 

If you enjoy these musings, you’ll probably enjoy my book ‘A Year of Questions‘, and the sequel which will be coming out later this year…

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Malvern hills bench by SomeDriftwood with thanks.

The bad news & the good news about selling stuff

What are you selling? Who are you trying to persuade to do what?

Healthy food to your children? Ideas to work colleagues? The benefits of a summer holiday in Barbados to your wife? Yourself in job interviews?

I’m selling books, (& mindful writing e-courses, & psychotherapy). Sometimes this weighs heavily on me.

Sometimes I feel like all I ever do is find a million ways of saying ‘look, this is wonderful! buy it!‘. Book launches, networking, setting up tweets, crafting blogs like this one… Sometimes I want to just concentrate on writing the books instead, or drinking earl grey redbush and reading books about taxidermy (research for the work in progress).

This morning, reading another book on marketing, I was prompted to remember the good news about selling stuff.

I sell stuff because I want people to be happy. I want them to read my books and be transformed by them, even just a teensy bit. I want them to fall in love with my characters as much as I do, and to allow them to shed some light on their own lives. Let me say it again – I sell stuff because I want people to be happy.

From this starting point, it all just becomes about getting what you have to sell in front of the right people. The ones who will not just happily swap what you have for their money, but feel that they owe you at the end of the transaction. I also get to pay my mortgage, which the mortgage company is pleased about, and buy other stuff like yoga and chocolate brownie ingredients.

The best examples of selling stuff or buying stuff are where both parties end up feeling warm and squishy. Now, onto the tweets : )

 

Afterwards by Dave Rowley

This poem is part of a virtual gallery to celebrate the launch of my new novel, Afterwards.

Dave Rowley is a writer and artist currently living in Seattle. He is also a contributor at the Whole soul Lab collective (wholesoullab.com)

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“A very satisfying read that I was reluctant to put down from the first page…” ~ Debbie

Afterwards is the new novel from Satya Robyn. After a serious car crash shatters April’s mundane life, she decides to run the London marathon. Will she reach the finishing line? Compelling and illuminating, it reminds us that it is never too late to begin over again.

 

Afterwards by Lori Portka

This illustration is part of a virtual gallery to celebrate the launch of my new novel, Afterwards.

Lori is a full-time artist with a mission is to spread happiness. Her designs appear on greeting cards, prints, calendars, prayer flags and magazines internationally. All of her artwork is made with an open heart and the intention to spread love and healing. You can find her on her website, her etsy shop and facebook.

website

etsy shop

facebook

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“As in all Robyn’s books, the personalities of her characters are so richly drawn that you fully expect to bump into them walking down the street and they live on long after you’ve reached the final page.” ~ Jackie

Afterwards is the new novel from Satya Robyn. After a serious car crash shatters April’s mundane life, she decides to run the London marathon. Will she reach the finishing line? Compelling and illuminating, it reminds us that it is never too late to begin over again.

 

France by Adrian Thompson

This photo is part of a virtual gallery to celebrate the launch of my new novel, Afterwards.

Adrian Thompson is a Teacher and Amateur Photographer based in Birmingham. See more of his work here.

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“Satya cleverly illuminates an esoteric perspective on some very difficult human issues, leaving us with hope for salvation from our dark side. Inspirational.” ~ Adam

Afterwards is the new novel from Satya Robyn. After a serious car crash shatters April’s mundane life, she decides to run the London marathon. Will she reach the finishing line? Compelling and illuminating, it reminds us that it is never too late to begin over again.

Afterwords by Sas Petherick

This photo and poem are part of a virtual gallery to celebrate the launch of my new novel, Afterwards.

Afterwords

There were thousands of moments

spent lost in the wilderness,

Thrashing and forging ahead

in a lonely battle of my own making.

I walked in circles,

ever-decreasing, to the middle

of an accidental labyrinth.

There I stopped and lay down my sword.

I sat in the centre of my life

and surrendered the search.

The grandmothers towered over me

whispering map co-ordinates.

Afterwards, the path led me home.

Sas Petherick writes about life on planet earth. Which means she writes about moments of clarity and bewilderment: the joy and despair of being a practicing human. Which really means she writes about LOVE. Sas is a Certified Coach, trained by Dr. Martha Beck and the Coaches Training Institute and is currently wading through a PhD in Coaching & Mentoring at Oxford Brookes. You can read about her adventures at www.saspetherick.com and she’s on the twits @saspetherick

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“Robyn is an exquisite observer who notices the subtle nuances of everyday life and the human doubts and insecurities we all experience, making Afterwards a book that leaves you feeling deeply satisfied and more observant of the details in your own life.” ~ Jackie

Afterwards is the new novel from Satya Robyn. After a serious car crash shatters April’s mundane life, she decides to run the London marathon. Will she reach the finishing line? Compelling and illuminating, it reminds us that it is never too late to begin over again.

After by Rabbi Rachel Barenblat

This poem is part of a virtual gallery to celebrate the launch of my new novel, Afterwards.

AFTER

After the wrong-footed morning

after the temper tantrum

after my voice curdled and ugly

how long will it take

before he stops shouting no,

tangled in the net of his anger

before I can apologize

promise I’m listening

extricate us both?

The more we struggle

the tighter we’re bound,

diamond mesh cutting deep.

If I can just be still

the twisted knots will loosen

and I can reach for the after

when we’re cuddled again

watching cartoons, his arms

flung careless around my knees.

Rabbi Rachel Barenblat

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Rabbi Rachel Barenblat was ordained by ALEPH: the Alliance for Jewish Renewal in 2011. She holds an MFA from the Bennington Writing Seminars and is author of three book-length collections of poetry: 70 faces: Torah poems (Phoenicia Publishing, 2011), Waiting to Unfold (Phoenicia, 2013), and the forthcoming Open My Lips (Ben Yehuda, 2014), as well as several chapbooks of poetry. A 2012 Rabbis Without Borders Fellow, she participated in a 2009 retreat for Emerging Jewish and Muslim Religious Leaders in 2009, and in 2014 will serve as faculty for that retreat. Since 2003 she has blogged as The Velveteen Rabbi; in 2008, TIME named her blog one of the top 25 sites on the internet. She has been an off-and-on contributor to Zeek since 2005. She serves Congregation Beth Israel, a small Reform-affiliated congregation in western Massachusetts, where she lives with her husband Ethan Zuckerman and their son.

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“Robyn’s calm wisdom shines through the telling of this story of ordinary, everyday people seeking to find a sense of belonging, love and meaning in the modern world.” ~ Debbie 

Afterwards is the new novel from Satya Robyn. After a serious car crash shatters April’s mundane life, she decides to run the London marathon. Will she reach the finishing line? Compelling and illuminating, it reminds us that it is never too late to begin over again.

Afterwards by Anna Clifton

This piece of jewellery is part of a virtual gallery to celebrate the launch of my new novel, Afterwards.

“The pendant was a broken Paua shell that was very sentimental to its owner. She was upset when it broke as it was bought in New Zealand and couldn’t be replaced. She had all of the pieces so I made a silver frame and set all of the broken pieces into it.”

Anna Clifton lives and works in the beautiful Malvern Hills designing and making jewellery using precious metals and recycled materials. See more of her beautiful designs at www.annacliftonjewellery.com.

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“Satya as with all her novels has an amazing ability to capture real thoughts and emotions in the lives of her characters.” ~ Anthea

Afterwards is the new novel from Satya Robyn. After a serious car crash shatters April’s mundane life, she decides to run the London marathon. Will she reach the finishing line? Compelling and illuminating, it reminds us that it is never too late to begin over again.

Boat & key by Genevieve Belgard

This work is part of a virtual gallery to celebrate the launch of my new novel, Afterwards.

Genevieve trained in Theatre Design, then designed sets and costumes for Fringe, Youth and Community shows, as well as short films, in England and New Zealand.

After teaching Art & Design in secondary schools, Genevieve became Head of Department at John Penrose School. She then moved to Herefordshire to start a family.

Throughout her career Genevieve has always put colour washes to paper then drawn what she sees in the clouds of colour -  small quirks of the imagination that bring a smile. The images are usually story related, and it’s up to the voyeur to imagine what has happened, or is going to. These have been exhibited in Oxford, Bath, Malvern, London and Lisbon.

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“The characters are well developed and I enjoyed being submerged in their lives while reading this book.” ~ Evi

Afterwards is the new novel from Satya Robyn. After a serious car crash shatters April’s mundane life, she decides to run the London marathon. Will she reach the finishing line? Compelling and illuminating, it reminds us that it is never too late to begin over again.