ANONYMOUS TOPIC: Failure

In an attempt to duplicate some of what happens in the 'real life' Diving Deeper workshops this is a 'special' assignment.

Because it will require a little more from me, I'm going to ask a little more from you.

1. The topic is “Failure”.

2. Sit with the word “Failure” typed (or handwritten) on your page for a while. Let images and scenes arise from your past and your childhood. Just watch them. Notice which scenes you shy away from, not wanting to write about. Notice which scenes your mind says “oh that will be a good one for people to read”. (discard those ones!).

Just watch your body and your thoughts. Choose a situation from your own life that you feel will be the most difficult or scary to write about. The one you don't want to write about ( you could feel this because it's 'too boring' - it isn't necessarily about fear). But go where the most energy is, the one that keeps pulling at you. The one that makes you sweat…

3. Give yourself 30 minutes to write. Go into the specific scene. Don't hover above it or write 'around' or 'about' it. Just write down what happened. Go slowly, you do not need to finish the story in the half hour. But stop when the time is up.

4. Write down all the details - what you see, hear (dialogue too), smell, think, the sensations in the body, the colours, objects, textures, everything.  Really go into the world that you find yourself in. If you can't think of the 'right' word for something, slow down and visualise the picture more clearly. Or make a word up. Don't let thinking about the scene stop you writing. Thinking is not the same as writing…

5. Do NOT edit anything as you write. Not even typo's. Cover the computer screen if you know you will not be able to stop yourself editing.  Write slowly. Dive as deep into the situation as you can, as if you are there now.

5. When you have finished writing, ONLY change names if they will identify you as the writer.

6. Send what you have written to directly to any of the moderators at their zaadz email, with the words: “ANONYMOUS TOPIC: Failure” in the Title bar.

7. It will be posted in the Responses Assignments board without your name. ( Do not worry if we don't get to posting it immediately).

Okay?

Any questions, ask me.

~ Sandra

Re: ANONYMOUS TOPIC: Failure

Sea brought up the issue of us knowing who posted by a process of deduction if we comment on the work - this was my response:

The truth is, it actually isn't about 'finding out' who the writer is or is not.  And we don't really know, as there are over 300 people here….and we all don't comment. I think it's okay to carry on with 'normal' comments.

The point of this assignment is more to support the writer to not have to say anything at all - not have to 'thank' or explain etc. And even if the reader knows or are sure they know who the writer is, my hope is that the reader maintains disconnection from this - so we 'pretend' we don't know and we treat the work as something we might have picked up at the airport to read. Can we energetically hold a space of integrity and trust and clarity towards the writing, and not involve ourselves in who we think the writer is and what the writing has to do with them?

My groups are very small. 10 - 12 people. The writing is handed in to me and I choose parts to read out loud to everyone else, anonymously. Of course it is often easy to figure out who wrote what, but we absolutely maintain this energetic approach towards the writing - the person who wrote it simply listens and the rest comment, disengaging all thoughts about who the author is. It is the work we are looking at, and it stands by itself. 

This approach has a couple of results: the writer can simply listen, and have all their energy in listening. Of course a big part is actually listening to their work read out in someone elses voice, but the rest is being able to hear feedback and not engage. It's a very powerful experience. It also has the effect of deepening the 'healing' involved if it is personal work about trauma etc. I can talk more about this, but it is a kind of alchemical process - to do with letting go, seeing 'what happened' as being outside of one's identity and yet feeling that the experience is witnessed and so on.

So.. lets carry on commenting with our own names. You can even comment on your own work if you want to make sure no one figures who you are out. Read your work and ask pertinent questions of it.

The main thing is that no energy is taken up in trying to find out who wrote the piece, but rather that it is put on the actual work. Can we do this? I think we can :-)