Replenishing the Well

REPLENISHING THE WELL

 

 

How do I know about the world?

By what is within me.

Lao Tzu

 

 

 

 

 

I began writing at age 7 when I began to write poetry. Here’s the first effort:

 

 

 

 

 

WISHES

I wish I were a little dog

And had a little tail,

I’d do tricks and chase sticks

Like in a doggie tale.

Or I wish I were a little pig

And could waddle in mud all the while.

Children walk around me with laughter

And smile.

Or I wish I were a little bird

In the sky so high,

And could fly around all day

And sing my merry song so gay.

Or I wish I were a little fairy,

And so many playmates in which to play,

And sing and dance and prance all day.

Though I wish to be all these things,

I still remain a child,

Carefree and merry.

Admittedly, a humble beginning though I continued to write, becoming a published poet at age 17 and 18.  I began writing in a journal at age 12 and continued this habit until I began writing the first of 8 books from age 50 on.

 

 

 

 

 

    

       Earlier a passion for acting led me to my first career in the theatre in New York where I performed in 55 plays:

Cassandra in The Trojan Women

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then writing 11 produced plays which led to an invitation from Hollywood and writing film and television for a few years in the ‘City of the Angels’.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Leaving Los Angeles 4 years later commenced in a new birth, a new life as I continued to teach writing workshops. In Big Sur, CA at the Esalen Institute, developed 3 workshops which gave birth to my first 3 books. The Way of Story: The Craft & Soul of Writing + 2 others.  About this time, when invited to speak, I would sometimes begin with, “Good evening, my name is Catherine, and I am a recovering workaholic.” Laughter followed which broke the ice yet I knew beyond doubt that what I had said was true.

            After my 8^th book, Remarkable Women (2025), arose some health concerns and for the first time ever, I began to notice that I was, as are all, growing older. This prompted a necessary hiatus from writing. At first there was guilt then a feeling of lost identity. “If I was not a writer then what was I?”

Life is short and Art is long! The day before his death Socrates in his prison asked a musician to teach him an air on the lyre. “What’s the use,” said the man, ‘since you’re about to die?”

Socrates responded, “To know it before I die.”

            It took a while, but eventually, I began to surprisingly enjoy my hiatus. I still led workshops and did psychic readings (my 50^th year as a practicing psychic!) yet had more time to be with friends & family. Cancelled a teaching trip to England, read history, and watched many good films – mostly older films.

Then unexpectedly, a small miracle as I surrendered the need for identity and relaxed, let go, and sank into my Self. I still swam laps 3 x a week and attended to some needed house repairs. After teaching globally for years following 16 years teaching graduate school in NYC and LA, I had no interest in jumping on a plane to Europe or Asia or anywhere at all as I had done. Gradually, I realized that I was ‘replenishing the well’ and it was good.

I was home and felt no need to go anywhere. A new daily mantra emerged, “There is nowhere to go, nothing to do, no one to be.” And it was good.    

 

 

Hiking in Ojai