The Heart, Caught Off Guard
Hilma af Klint The Swan No.1 (19914-1915)
Welcome gentle souls,
There is a line from a poem by Seamus Heaney, titled Postscript, the very last line and it reminded me of my aunty Maggie.
…and catch the heart off guard and blow it open.
This, to me, evokes such a sudden wind-rushing explosion of a ‘glowing moment’, this is what my aunt Maggie loved to call them.
A ‘glowing moment’ is that individual precise moment when you catch yourself and realise that there is nowhere else you want to be, or anyone else you want to be right at that moment. They are fleeting and can catch you unawares. Those are the best and glowingest ones.
I’ve had them at music concerts where the music just fills your soul so completely. A stunning sunset can do it, or catching the shadows and light through the trees. A warm and special hug from a loved one can definitely do it.
It’s a micro-moment of joy. It is a little flash of magic. It is a totally in-the-moment fleeting experience, where you can feel a sudden surge of connection or gratitude or presence. It can feel quite holy too, an ‘all is well’ appreciation. They are special and they are good to have a few in your memory bank to savour them when you need a moment, when life gets stressful and everything feels like a bit of an overwhelm.
Here are a few lines, which I find so evocative. You can picture those glowing, white-feathered swans on the grey lake, reflecting a grey, blustery sky.
The surface of a slate-grey lake is lit
By the earthed lightening of a flock of swans,
Seamus Heaney, “Postscript,” from The Spirit Level Faber & Faber (1996)
Postscript..
And I chose this picture by Hilma af Klint from my visit to her exhibition at The Tate in August 2023. Hilma was never one to shrink from some spiritual resonance, this painting is called The Swan. It is the first from a series, highlighting dualities. She believed the swan embodied the grandeur of spirit. I love these two visionary creatives evoking their own visions of swans. I had a few glowing moments at her exhibition too. She believed her work came from otherwordly, surreal and mystical realms. I, too, love the idea of a mystical realm, and perhaps that is why her paintings managed to catch my heart off guard.
Until next time,
Blessings,
Stephanie
If you enjoyed this exploration of glowing moments, I’d love for you to come and join me for some yoga practise, breathwork and a little more space to simply be, and maybe some glowing moments along the way.
Soul to Soul Yoga classes every Friday, 10am-11am, at Whiteleaf Yurt, Oxmoor Farm. Great Missenden.
Or join my seasonal soul letters for a monthly note on the season and what is coming up.
May your light shine brightly.