Hello, dears— writing this last note of the year from a swirling vortex of shadow, joy, and the ever illuminated unfolding that is the pendulum of life here in this magical city I worked so hard to arrive in. I’ve been out of pocket recently, which is another way of saying out of alignment, or maybe, seasonally unwell. The opposite of synchronicity is … what? Is it, miscommunications, missed connections, the sensation that time is acting against me? That time is… skipping over me?
Recently, I played the role of “Wonderland poet” in an immersive city-wide production of Alice in Wonderland. My typewriter and I nestled in a booth of a sumptuous speakeasy bar with lots of knick-knacks and we generated poems for guests. It was chaotic and beautiful. A takeaway from the plot is that one way to bring Wonderland back from its dystopian state is to practice curiosity and melt the Red Queen’s heart with poetry. A good lesson for all of us, I think.
Lisbon itself is a holiday wonderland. Literally, there is a holiday fair in Parque Eduardo VII called Wonderland. It boasts a Ferris wheel, a skating rink, glitter disco elves, Santa, and is sponsored by Jogos Santa Casa (the lottery).
There is also the more general wonderland of Lisbon’s commitment to Christmas lights. And, there’s the dazzling and disorienting effect that the seasonal rain has on these lights. Puddles become festive reflecting pools. Here’s a little lights dump. And, if you feel so inclined, I invite you to use any of these photos as writing inspiration. A haiku, a couple of lines… whatever you feel called to do! If you write something, feel free to share it in the comments.
Creative practices, like living & loving, require presence and attention to grow and evolve. That presence asks for a turning inward that is deeply uncomfortable. Sometimes I’d rather not hang out in my own interiority. But, that’s where the language is. That’s where the sensation is. I risk towards what remains beyond my head. An illuminated active lineage— treasures and horrors growing from me in all directions. I am gathering fragments for sensual contact. [[[(come back) and/or (plumb) ]]]
Even when you feel like * iPhone storage full * you can always rearrange things and make room for the magic to come through. Once I admitted I was out of pocket, new pockets opened. Sometimes the best thing we can do during this time of year is to admit, I am not well. This admittance has the capacity to connect us, unburden us, and even politicize us.
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Happy holidays from Magda and me :) May these dark days be sweet, supple, and slow.
Big feels holiday media recommendations:
I wanna get you out of
My hips, my thighs, my hair, my eyes, my late-night cries
^big Venus retrograde and winter solstice energy. Dancing and grieving.
The Princess Switch 3: Romancing the Star
While I recommend you first watch The Princess Switch and The Princess Switched Again, it’s not completely necessary to appreciate the third installment of this franchise. It’s a heist with some subtle kinky undertones. Watch Vanessa Hudgens play three different characters that then impersonate each other. The Parent Trap meets The Princess Diaries meets Ocean’s Eleven.
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My serious and endless love for each of you. Thank you for taking the time out of your week to peek into my world and share in a virtual and asynchronous space. If you would like to continue to support me / send a little holiday love, my Venmo is @duffylala. You can also subscribe to my paid tier for some behind-the-scenes peeks into my process/ unpublished work. See you in 2022!