When compassion in the heart overwhelms my desires

Mother earth can furnish my journey in life,

Sweetened by her unprecedented nurturing,

Joyful are her treasures that support my learning.

Rich are the sounds with which she fills my bowl,

Bright are the colours that she speaks to my soul.

Inspiration from Nature

The natural world is a tremendously stimulating environment for all forms of creative expression. Much of the richness of creative communication inspired by the natural world is spontaneous and thereby unrecorded. Mood, feelings, body language and social interaction are not necessarily presented in a memorable or verbal form. That which is expressed in a verbal form, held as a memory within an unforeseeable future, may serve only the moment by moment experiences, and thereby remain elusive to any form of attainable record.

The creative value presented by Malaguzzi as the ‘100 languages of children’ (Bancroft,2007:14,citingMalaguzzi) presented creative activity as opportunity for reflection, assessment and progressive development. The Reggio Emilia approach to education uses various media in order to create different representational sequences and combinations that record children’s creative activity. The Reggio exhibition expanded the psychology of intellectual development into a kaleidoscope of creativity illustrated through the children’s world of communication - ‘a shining testament to human possibilities’ (Gardener cited in Children in Europe,2004:3). ‘......the capacious and inspiring conception of children - as  active, engaged, exploring young spirits, capable of remaining with questions and themes for many weeks, able to work alongside peers and adults, welcoming the opportunity to express themselves in many languages, to create new ones, and to apprehend and enter into those modes of expression that are fashioned by their age-mates.’ (Gardener cited in Children in Europe,2004:17) Different materials and media are considered important because they engage the children in a personally meaningful context that connects to other meaningful experiences. The creative value presented by Malaguzzi as the ‘100 languages of children’ (Bancroft,2007:14,citingMalaguzzi) appears to integrate the different aspects of human intelligence described and displayed as examples within the context of the ‘100 languaes of children’.

Through a medium inspired by a natural environment the following activities may encourage creativity to expand, stretch and consolidate verbal expression. The activities are presented in an order that progresses from unlanguaged sensory experiences to those that are strongly linked with verbal (spoken or written) communication. Any part of any of activity can be done independently and the activities can be adapted to circumstance, age and ability, time available, individual preference, motivation, talents and interest.

Descriptive words and phrases.

Extending a set of notes

Poetry can be inspired by simply describing an experience in words and phrases. Later the desire to deepen and enrich the recall of the experience can encourage us to transform initial notes into an extended piece of prose. This process is illustrated in the poem below. The brown words are the key words that were extended into poetic prose to produce the final poem as shown.

Sometimes I feel life is a prickly circle,

Which looks so pretty

In its patterns of green.

Until you try to sit down.

Sometimes I want to run free

With variable depths and cool perseverance,

And a persistent return to clarity.

Under the constant surrender of harmonious sounds

From the musical language of eternal movement.

Sometimes I wish I could be as tolerant as the great oak.

With a few broken branches

It remains majestic and awesomely present.

Bold and broad it encompasses the circles of time

Within its earth bound girth.

Some days my defences make me feel spiky all over.

Shielding those hidden sweet soft gifts

Held so tightly, as seeds of abundance,

A protected fertility not easily nurtured.

Sometimes I wonder if like the fallen branches

I am also clawing my way back into the earthy elements;

To be in substance once again,

That of the minerals that heralded my conception.

Sometimes I feel as insignificant as a pebble on the beach.

Knowledgeable, indefinable amongst so many others;

Unique without being special,

As tiny specks in a universal field.

Sometimes like the sloe berries

With a false sense of good fortune, 

I can look abundantly tempting;

While within is only the sourest taste

Sometimes I am a frozen picture of delight,

Thawing as the sun comes out,

Melting into the next moment of creation.

Never again to be seen as I once was,

A picture of beautiful creativity.

Imagery

Creative writing encourages us to use imagery as a communicative art form. Metaphor, Symbolism, Simile, and Allusion provide different ways of communicating an abstract thought or process.

Metaphor– a descriptive word or phrase that is imaginatively rather than literally applicable.

Simile– a descriptive word or phrase that compares a similar physical and/or conceptual concept within one thing with something different.

Allusion – an indirect or subtle reference to a particular descriptive aspect of perception. (Not to be confused with the word illusion meaning not real, entirely imagined.)

Symbolism – the use of a conventional symbol to represent or indirectly express a specific idea, feeling, concept or cognitive understanding.

Our sensory relationship with nature is often associated with our more complex inner aspects of personal experiences. The following poem is used to provide examples of different forms of Imagery:

Gone Beyond

The river now belongs to the fields and the fields currently belong to the river.

Trees decorate the watery plains and the hedges pattern the monotony.

The wilful waters are abandoned into a vast story of rotation.

Released from the resilient contours of a former bed,

Unable to focus on a foreseeable destination.

An excessive disposition now journeys towards an ill-defined freedom.

The power is that of obscurity, an escape from conformity;

Confusion defies logic and eludes preconceived vision

To claim a surreal definition of separation.

Yet it is rebellion that defines this creative inspiration

As liberty within images of isolation.

[The introduction to the book of Revelation presented as Literary Features in the English Standard Version – Study Bible presents the book of Revelation as an inspiring example of apocalyptic creative writing at is best. This last book in the bible is a wondrous example of complex imagery presented within a visionary narrative (story). This writing presents an advanced form of literary skill that surpasses our modern day media skills. Other books in the bible that also present advanced levels of literary interest are Job, Psalms and Proverbs.]

• Sometimes what we see in nature seems to relate to our own feelings and our own disposition or desires.

In Nature I See Me

Like the rose my blossoming is short lived

And my beauty soon to be gone-

Surrendered to a thorny existence

Where deterrents wash over my passions.

And ill winds stiffen my structured form;

Until summer opens my delight

With sweet promises of a royal bouquet.

And fragrant colours command my heart to flower.

Like the wind I rush forth into any situation,

And I’ll be sure to moan and groan

When confined by systems of control.

And certain to wail pitifully

Within constricting structures of resistance.

Yet soon to sing with wondrous phrases

Amongst a creative freedom,

And bring to life with dancing movements

That which has a lifeless printed form.

Sometimes when we are in nature what we see brings us massages: A recent experience of the author is described as follows:- Quiet suddenly I saw a large hare strong and bold he was with his giant ears alert he ran not so quickly around and about in an area easily to be seen from where I was standing. This very unexpected and unusual encounter left a strong impression on my senses and my thoughts came forward to consider the possible message that nature was bringing to me. I conceded that although I like to act like the hare, it may be a time to consider the success of the tortoise who plodded on so happily with his faith that even slow steps could bring him successfully to the finishing line. With this simple philosophy and his conscientious endeavour the tortoise won the race, so maybe I can also find success even when my progress feels extremely slow.

The colourful courting Chaffinch

All day he flies at my window

Competing with his reflection.

Crashing his body in a non-sense battle of supremacy.

So persistent, so beautiful so devoted to his cause.

Sacrificing his own wellbeing for the chance to raise his off-spring

As servants of creation,

Songbirds celebrating natural beauty -

[Giving purest blessings to all…… even the ungodly and dying.]

• In a natural environment find a very special sensory experience that moves your senses, to see and feel something special that stirs your spirit.

• Using a pretend, or a cardboard picture frame,‘take a picture’.

If this is provided by a specific object that can be carried bring it back to your work space and fill yourself with every aspect of your special experience. If it is not right or possible for any reason to bring your special sensory experience back to your work space then fill yourself with every aspect of your special experience that you can. When you feel you have attained your fullest benefit write down three words that best describe the most special qualities that were provided by your special experience. Find a listening partner and describe to him/her why each of your special words was chosen to describe your special sensory experience. Now choose one of your words and add another word to it to make a two word phrase then add another word to make a three word phrase and continue until you feel there are no more words to add. You may have a full sentence of a short phrase. Do the same extending activity, with each of the other two words you have chosen and to finish see if there is a way that the three written descriptions can be joined together into sentences or a short paragraph.

• Person to tree and tree to person conversations

An outdoor project could be to choose a special tree to befriend over the course of a period of time, anything from three days, three weeks three months or even a complete year. This project can embrace a wide spectrum of creative and expressive language activities e.g. tree meditation, tree identification, a tree project, a tree diary, art and crafts and design, e.g. bark rubbings, leaf prints, still drawing. Tree conversations - person to tree, and tree to person are a great inspiration for creative and expressive conversations.

In Honour of the Trees

Standing tall in your strength against time.
In silent unseeing observation,
Of generations growing from child into parenting.
The wind brings an ever moving creativity to your serenity,
Your roots remain secure in the abundance of a future potency,
You greet the ways of our days
But we rarely appreciate the longevity of your life giving presence.
Those unconditional fortunes
Given to a world of little gratitude and faint observations.

What have you seen that we still don’t understand?
What have we done to the natural lands?
Yet still the sun, the moon and the stars
Shine their blessings upon thee
As your leaves float on down the stream
Winter flows under your boughs once again.
As my life weakens with old age
Yours grows with everlasting maturity
Our reunion builds a rainbow across my lifetime,
As again I feel your companionship and my childhood.

[This poem was written when the author returned to a park that she had known as a favourite place, over 30 years earlier, in her childhood. There were several trees that she recognised from her childhood days. ]

And so the trees give up their worldly clothing

Their colourful illustration of living

Falls haphazardly on the ground around them.

They again return to their silent wisdom

Standing in their strength,

Showing us the stillness in the art of living,

And I remember why I admire them so.

The silence still oak embraces the melody of the dawn

As the white dove caresses the morning sky

The swift swallow flirts with the wind

And the fragile butterfly passionately kisses each flower

I celebrate my aloneness as an illusion

That like a curtain can be swept aside

While I gaze through the window of my reality

And surrender into my togetherness with god

The Seasons

Sparkling spring spontaneous and bountiful

Soft summer rich with the milk of mother-earth.

Autumn surrender, gentle and slowing.

Winter stillness standing within the solitude of my heart’s sleeping.

Our daily interaction with nature is dramatically influenced by the changing seasons which have traditionally gained special consideration during early education in school environments and even more personally during free-play outdoor experiences in natural surroundings throughout our lives. The seasons present us with a rhythmic embrace that encourages metaphor and a unification of past present and future. The natural environment presents a rich tapestry of contrast and predictable associations. Our yearly journey through the seasons stimulates inner meditation and nurturing dynamics that are generally beyond our control. Even the cold and dark winters of hibernation give us a time for introspection and quieter regimes.
• A simple yet very effective structure for poetic consideration of the seasons is as follows.
Consider your own most memorable experiences that relate to special seasonal qualities then write three key words that are thereby representative of each season.
Using these three key words, write a short verse or piece of prose on each of the four seasons.
The author’s example is as follows:-
Vibrant; frosty; pure: Cool is the frosty morning,
Vibrant is the air that I breathe,
And with crystal purity a new day is born.

Sweet - singing – daffodils Bright is the swing and the sway of the daffodils display
Today is ours to dance and sing without delay
So sweet are the moments of a fine spring day.

Growth; warmth; fruits. Long are the days for joyful encounters,
Summer fruits cling to the vine for extra time.
Abundance grows under the warm rays of the sun
New life has begun.

Peace; celebration; letting go Released from the hurry and scurry,
Wise are those who celebrate a time for letting go
And breathe out into peaceful reflection

Spring

Now the birds fill the woods with their springtime songs,

While winter commands a cold obedience over nature’s optimism,

And wanders and wails among the silent trees

That stand meditating upon our return.

The children came again for awhile to play and roam among sticks and stones.

They played with the dogs, walked along logs

and watched Tom fall in the bog.

They saw and felt the mist creeping into the valley as they left

Carrying woodland contentment and wearing moments of peace,

Holding something special.

Summer

• May the flowers in your garden grow in abundance -

Sharing their colourful joys

And showering you with their sweet smelling melodies.

• An advanced creative writing activity is one where three or four randomly chosen words are presented to an individual person, or a group who then put them into a piece of creative writing.
In the poem below the five underlined words were selected by others who then presented the words:sky,luminous,existential,instrumental,reminiscent,to be incorporated within a poem. The poem below was written by the author as a solution to this challenge.

The sky was blue
The day was long
The sunshine was luminous and warm;
The trees where bathing in an existentialsolitude
Everything was instrumental to the tomorrow’sdawning
Yet reminiscent of today.

• Some poetry may begin with a selection of descriptive words that express different aspects of a particularly moving experience or topic of interest. These words can then support the creation of a piece of poetry or prose.The poems below continue to explore the rich sensory experiences and comforts offered by the changing seasons.
Spring
Do you
Do you wave at the daffodils with gratitude for their spring filled joy?
Do you playfully dance with the butterfly celebrating summer’s abundant sweetness?
Do you try to catch the autumn leaves as they greet their timely and colourful transition?
Do you sit with winter under the Great Oak, leaning against its peaceful strength?

Summer
Guardians of the Morning Sun and a Night of Peace
As the dawn melts night into day
A warming delight awakens my ears
With carefully sequenced melodies
And crystal sweet tones that awaken the sun.
The dawn celebration floods over my dreams
Wrapped in delicate frames of humility
A nectar of joyous enthusiasm,
Delights the shyness of early morning
With a simple clarity that reframes
My tomorrow as an awakening of today

The day is done, the night has begun
Within tumbling cascades of soft thunderings
Comforting tones from wondrous movement
Call out and embrace the ever awaiting beach.
That majestic presence the voice of the waves
The Mantras of the sea,
Calm my body and still my mind
I surrender to their momentous repetition,
These variations of infinite sooth my soul.
A lullaby that meditates on moonlit
Dissipates my today into the night seas.

Autumn Inspiration
A rain of leaves fills the space between summer and winter
With an animated spectacle of colourful movement.
In solo flight they race one against the other,
Undaunted in their recklessness, up and down spinning around.
Momentary stillness is quickly challenged into activity
As the excitement of further flights are aroused.
Faster flurries are heralded with rustlings of anticipation
Before they wilfully greet the emptiness between the earth and sky,
Which preceding seasons failed to accommodate.
This play space which is rarely entertained
Now becomes a living performance of enthusiasm.
The closing scene of separation and ultimate disappearance
Is camouflaged with a finale of golden glory.
An interval of extravaganza before winter coldly captures summer’s opulence
And again claims a bare stage within the chains of time.
Winter Walking
The morning is heralded by a chilled breeze long before the grey light of dawn.
I hear the cold that has stiffened with its touch, all it has found unprotected.
My feet awaken the crystallized grass into a performance that reminds me of shinny sweet papers.
My eyes become captured by ‘natural art’, ice-surprises moulded by ordinary structures and unique opportunities.
Random droplets gently descend from obscure places with a promise of awakening the frozen from its ridged stillness.
The ground gleefully punches at the feet that dare to stamp upon it. No more is it safe to kick a stick or pick up a brick.
Yet still the sun undauntedly strains to shine its’ warmth into another below zero day.

Deepest Winter
Washing with your clothes on, yes I’m an expert at that.
Obsolete pyjamas forgotten in the draw –
A new bedtime ritual of how many jumpers to be worn.
Calor Gas in sure to freeze to a stop when one desires something hot.
Warm nourishing meals from the wood stove tell a new story
Of lukewarm soup and charcoal black pies still cold in the middle.
Do I have water! Yes, White-water!
Buckets full of it outside my door, It’s called SNOW!

A March Hare in December!
What’s up with you today!?
You’re as scatty as a March Hare
And it’s only just December.
Take care not to miss winter’s wisdom,
For in your intensity I fear some demise.
Walking the cliff edge closes the hand of predictability.
Jumping on ice is sure to break nature’s concentration.
Racing the surging stream is always going to make you the looser.
Come! Share a warm moment,
Come sit by the fire.

Many of our lives are intertwined with the lives of our pet companions and sometimes wild animals living close to our homes. These relationships can bring much joy as well as challenges and grief. Some people consider that creative writing can be helpful when we are proclaiming feelings of gratitude and grief, admiration and appreciation. The following poetry was written by the author as an expression of her own experiences, from the innocent freedoms of her childhood and on into adult life and growing feelings of responsibility.

In Honour of the lovely Arwen
God graced me with a horse so fine,
So gentle even the wind did sigh upon their meeting.
So beautiful everyone paused to embrace her with sweet word and smiles.
So graceful the ground beneath her feet surrendered in peaceful stillness.
So loyal hearted she carried me safely everywhere we travelled together.
So agile she moved in a natural meditation of balance and harmony.
So swift she leaned into the joys of galloping
As she breathed in the speed of her passion
and stepped out the strength of her heart .

So bold no stable could constrain her and no stranger could ride her.
So playful the earth celebrated with rhythmic tunes her dancing and prancing.
So intelligent she could speak in proud exotic movements and acrobatic fun.
So courageous she jumped with fluent grace, high and clear as the morning sun.
God graced me with a spirit horse
Her companionship brought me profound blessings,
Such that my heart still swells with gratitude
For her sweet innocence and beauty,
As my tear-filled eyes swim in remembrance.
Pantha[a dog who lived from the spirit of his soul......]
His happiness is freedom
He doesn’t like the town -crowding strangers make him nervous,
But when he is free,
His flowing graceful movements openly declare
The delicate elegance of the young buck deer.
His refined sensitivity often causes him distress
But with his supreme obedience and loving understanding
Pantha will always be the best.

The natural world offers a rich form of sensory experience that seems to stimulate both a sense of peace and appreciation along with our most creative expressions of gratitude and celebration.
‘…….Can you sing with all the voices of the mountain?
Can you paint with all the colours of the wind?’
(From the theme song to the Walt Disney film – Pocohonta.)