Settling Storms

So I don't normally share work I've written on Write Nights - that stuff tends to be more visceral and not LinkedInny.

But with storm Eowyn forecast & new world orders and the new Write Nights cohort encouraging me to take my own medicine and share...

Enough preamble

And so it begins -  I can write the build. The steady slow drum beat of thing after thing after thing that leads to the inevitable outcome… the 2 plus 2 that always makes 4

A steady state of predictability….

Yet my mind goes to coming storms and unpredictable things and  sitting on the edge of an energy that might be destructive and cruel… as I feel my way into those words, I recoil.

I don’t want to bring the outside in here tonight.  I want this bubble -of warmth and shelter – to hold. I want to create a place to ride out the storm.

What is the counter narrative strong enough to reverse a hurricane? Am I Canute-like, ever doomed to order back the oncoming onslaught, standing on the brink of an incoming deluge, using words alone in the hope that perhaps, just perhaps we will not drown.

It’s going to take more than words, my girl…

Tonight, I have words.

I can pull on the threads of my webbing of magic and whisper to the storm.

Rage now, but then hush. Settle yourself into light winds and gentle breezes. 

Tomorrow you can roar and reconfigure, you can disrupt and show all of your might. Your power is immense and yes yes, it will leave devastation and wreckage…but you are short lived. You will blow yourself out, all muscle and mass.  You cannot sustain yourself. You cannot be borne. Rage and rumble – upset and reset and cause havoc whereever….

And know you are just a breath. A momentary puff in a world more expansive than you. We will wait you out. We will rebuild after your filthy ravaging.

How are my words doing, I wonder?

Do they hold enough power to contain you – to describe and name you?

Can they hold you in perspective? Debunk your might? Reduce you from a scary thing to a thing that…simply happens. Inevitable and to be feared only if you are caught out.

If we gather - in warm welcoming places, in communities of care and love - and you are not invited to enter these, banished to rage on the outside, does the power shift?

If we live simply and gently, go about our business with calm good intent  and wait you out… will you bugger off?

My mind goes to the coming storm…. And how insignificant its might might be.

About me:

I'm Julie Drybrough - Founder of fuchsia blue ltd. An experienced Organisational Consultant, Executive Coach/ Supervisor, Writer & Speaker.

Pragmatic, forthright and kind, I work with people & organisations to improve conversations, relationships & learning.

If you want to talk to me about coaching, supervision, leadership development or change,  contact fuchsiablueto find out more or book a space to chat.

Join me for Write Nights or Rise & Write Solstice Meditation here: https://www.tickettailor.com/events/fuchsiablue

Find me on bluesky here: https://bsky.app/profile/juliedrybrough.bsky.social