Some interviews are like little jewels that I’ve somehow uncovered while walking along the beach. Today is one of those as I speak with the poet Kathleen Gallagher. Kathleen has written plays, poems, novels as well as done 7 feature films. In this interview we talk about her childhood, the creative writing process, how she writes, being attentive and in the moment and her recent novel Inangahua Gold. Merry Christmas 2018 to all!
http://www.wickcandle.co.nz
Her most recent novel 'Inangahua Gold' is available and is very much worth picking up - you can order it via the website above.
Finding jewels
Some conversations are like jewels
Found, unexpectedly, on a rocky beach
A West Coast beach full of grey rock
that has been buffeted by wind, rain, waves
and over time perfectly formed
coloured stones into smooth objects of desire.
They are often buried, seldom on the surface.
The secret to find them? Come closer,
for I only whisper this answer.
It is lost in the wind to many.
You need to be attentive and present.
Be in the moment and aware, looking out
Not rushing from this here to another there
to find these jewels you must open your eyes
and really see what is around you.
Breathe deep. Look to the old language.
Aroha. Love.
Wait. Ponder this. Break it down more.
Aro means to notice
Ha means to breathe
So be attentive to each breath.
Be present, seek out peace
The guidance is written there
in the words themselves.
This is the antidote to our
stumbling from person to person
our interactions shallow, casual.
Seldom seeking the deepest questions.
Too busy with the trivial and mundane to ask:
Who are you, what formed you
and how can we help each other, my friend?
Yes, our conversation was all this.
A rare gift given
A jewel
Aroha
I'll go look for more.
"Kathleen Gallagher is a poet, playwright, filmmaker and novelist. She received the New Zealand Playwrights Award in 1993, and the Sonja Davies Peace Award in 2004 for the film Tau Te Mauri Breath Of Peace. She has authored three collections of poetry, 16 plays, six feature films, and one novel. Her films Earth Whisperers Papatuanuku, Water Whisperers Tangaroa and Sky Whisperers Ranginui, have played in cinema and film festivals throughout New Zealand and around the world.
Her most recent work is the novel Earthquakes & Butterflies - Otautahi Christchurch launched in Christchurch on September 2015, on the 5th anniversary of the beginning of the Christchurch earthquakes sequence (2010 - 2012)."
Matt Morris on the Aotearoa SDG Summit Series
Gardens and their hidden histories: Excerpts of the interview with Matt Morris
Conference audio: Responding to COVID-19 – how might we #buildbackbetter?
Practical considerations when winding up an Organisation
Andrey Ivanov on mastering Uncertainty
Lan Pham on our Native Fish, the Environment and Freshwater conservation
Governance by Nature: Excerpts of the interview with Lan Pham
How to Create a Podcast for Impact
Stewardship as a lens for looking at Impact
Who am I without the title? Finding your call: Excerpts of interview with Frances Valintine
Frances Valintine on the power of being Curious
"Helping our children make sense of the world they see": Excerpt of the interview with Richard Black
Richard Black on Mind Health
James Nikitine on our Oceans and founding Blue Cradle
Sprinting for Good: Using Co-design to Collaborate for Social Impact
House Prices!
Jessie Cross on founding The Not So Redundant Club
Chris Coromandel on technology for good and empowering Māori and Pasifika youth
Dear Disillusioned Junior Lawyer, don't give up yet. Here's why.
Esther Whitehead on Neurodiversity
Create your
podcast in
minutes
It is Free
The emPOWERed Half Hour
Social Dallas Podcast
Change Church Podcast
Six Degrees with Kevin Bacon
Nonprofits Are Messy: Lessons in Leadership | Fundraising | Board Development | Communications
Digital Islamic Reminder