Gathered Notes
December
A warm welcome to December’s Gathered Notes, a collection of art, poetry, book, movie, and music recommendations that have brought beauty into my life recently. I hope these highlights inspire you to find moments of beauty, creativity, and reflection in your own life this season.
Art: Neva, light fog Felix Vallotton, 1913, post-impressionism
Poetry Spotlight:
Excerpt from “Like Mother, Like Daughter”
By Carol Lynn Pearson
Because She is beauty
I must be beautiful.
Because She is God
I must be good.
Because She is everlasting
I will continue tomorrow and the day...
This moving excerpt is from Finding Mother God: Poems to Heal the World by Carol Lynn Pearson. The collection offers deeply restorative poetry that connects us to the Divine Feminine. You can purchase the book here.
To spread the love, I’m giving away a copy! From my subscriber list, I drew a random winner: Naomi.ch************, congratulations! I’ll be reaching out to get your details so I can send it your way.
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Watching, Listening, Reading
Movie Recommendation: Arrival
Summary: Linguist Louise Banks leads a team of investigators as enormous spaceships land around the globe. As nations edge closer to war, she and her team must decipher the aliens’ language to understand their intentions. Starring Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner, and Forest Whitaker (2016).
My Review: ★★★★★
I asked my daughter for a “smart” movie recommendation, and she told me about this one. How did I miss it when it first came out? Arrival is a deeply thought-provoking exploration of language, time, and human connection. If you’re in the mood for something cerebral and emotionally resonant, this is a must-watch.
Listening:
Stehekin – a Spotify playlist I curated during my last solo retreat. If you enjoy artists like Ray LaMontagne, Damien Rice, and Jon Guerra, you’ll love its calming, introspective vibe. Perfect for quiet mornings or reflective evenings.
Reading:
Finished: Literary Criticism from Plato to the Present by M.A.R. Habib. A dense but rewarding read for school.
Just Started: Middlemarch by George Eliot.
Summary: Set in a provincial English town, Middlemarch weaves together the lives of its richly drawn characters: Dorothea Brooke, a young idealist trapped in an ill-suited marriage; Dr. Lydgate, whose medical ambitions collide with personal challenges; and the enigmatic Bulstrode, hiding a dark past. Hailed by Virginia Woolf as "one of the few English novels written for adult people," it’s already living up to its reputation as a masterpiece.
Quote of the Month
“As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.”
– Marianne Williamson
Writing Life
I worked extra hard during the first part of December to finish my school assignments early, which has freed up time to rest and savor the holidays with my family. It’s a relief to have space for creativity and connection after such a full season.
Your Turn
What kind of art, music, or literature has brought beauty into your life lately? I’d love to hear your recommendations—reply to this email and share what’s been inspiring you!
Wishing you a peaceful and joy-filled Christmas season,
Dawn
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May the peace of the Lord Christ go with you: wherever he may send you; may he guide you through the wilderness: protect you through the storm; may he bring you home rejoicing: at the wonders he has shown you: may he bring you home rejoicing: once again into our doors.
I love the painting you selected. It makes the drear of winter twilight look beautiful.
This week I found a book of paintings of the life of Christ by Rembrandt. "The Visitation" drew me. I reread the story of Mary and Elizabeth bonding over their miraculous pregnancies and it came to life for me in a new way.
I also listened to Joan Baez' cover of Last Night I had the Strangest Dream, which I hadn't heard it since I was a kid. So beautiful!
I’m currently reading A Crooked Number by Nathan Jorgenson. It’s a novel about a Minnesota boy in dental school - and much more. It’s long, almost 500 pages, but an easy read and the author keeps your attention with the details of this young man’s life. Good for curling up in the winter. I also write poetry and especially like writing about artists and their works. Escher, Monet, Mondrian etc.