Hello Dear Reader,
It’s the New Year, and here in my New England town we have a fresh dusting of snow on the ground, making the whole world look like a blank page.
Speaking of the blank page, I’ve got a thinking and writing prompt for you, and it includes an invitation contemplate big questions as you listen to inspiring music and write.
But first:
Start the year connecting to dreams and what matters most
I am honored and excited to join with the Shift Network to offer a program on the power of dreams and writing to help us imagine and co-create a better story for our precious planet and all who inhabit it. Please join me for the upcoming free introductory event on Thurs. Jan. 8, 8:30 p.m. ET (5:30 p.m. Pacific; 6:30 Mountain, 7:30 Central). RSVP to join, even if that time doesn’t work for you. Everyone who signs up will get the complete recording.
And also:
There’s still time to celebrate what was wonderful in 2025 (in spite of everything!)
It’s not too late to participate in my annual Year-in-Review list-making ritual! It’s good to complete this by New Years Day—but you have plenty of time. The Chinese New Year is still weeks away!
And now, here’s today’s prompt, which was inspired by 3 things that all have 1 thing in common. Here’s what happened:
🎉 Thing 1. What I did that night.
On New Year’s Eve Eve, my husband and I attended a performance of Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos at the historic Academy of Music in Northampton.1
🎉 Thing 2: The next morning’s dream
The music was stunning, and in the morning I woke from a dream in which one of my writing teachers and mentors appeared, asking me how well I was listening to my thoughts in my writing process. This is the teacher who trained me in Proprioceptive Writing, where we develop our ability to listen with curiosity to our thoughts while writing. To help with this endeavor, the Proprioceptive method employs Baroque music (including Bach) to put the mind in a relaxed and alert state.2
🎉 Thing 3: The poem that popped into my inbox that morning.
With that dream still swimming around in my brain, I opened my inbox to find the poem “Facing East (Ars Poetica)” by Carlina Duan which you can read here.
About this poem, the author writes,
“In this ars poetica, I imagine the poem as a kind of listening body—porous to the world again.” —Carlina Duan
In the span of one evening’s experience, one night of dreaming, and one morning’s reflection, the theme of listening (including the joy of listening to music, the art and skill of listening to one’s thoughts, and the poem itself as an alive and listening presence) tripled itself!
Which inspired me to contemplate what my Ars Poetica might be.
What, for me, is the aim of writing poetry?
What do I believe in when it comes to writing?
How do I want my writing to serve others?
Johann Sebastian Bach knew the answers to those questions for himself:
“The aim and final reason of all music should be none else but the glory of God and refreshing the soul. Where this is not observed there will be no music, but only a devilish hubbub.”
― Johann Sebastian Bach
Bach’s answer surely is not one size fits all:
“Not all musicians believe in God, but they all believe in Johann Sebastian Bach”
― Mauricio Kagel
The turning of the year is the perfect time to reflect on why you do what you do, whether it’s making music, making poems or stories, making art, or anything else you spend your time doing. Here’s an invitation to dive into these questions, while listening to some inspiring music, pen in hand:
Listen to Bach’s Brandenburg Concertos here ⤵️
2. As you listen, contemplate what you love and what you believe about your art—or any aspect of your life.
Then, inspired by Carlina Duan’s poem, and using imagery metaphor, and sensory descriptions, write about it!
If you feel inspired, share a bit about what you learned or what you wrote with us.
For more writing invitations and community discussion, join the chat:
That’s all for now. Until we meet again, may you dream write, and be well,
PS: I have two new events coming up: I’ll be offering workshops on dreaming and more.
If you enjoyed this newsletter, I think you’ll also enjoy my other online publication: The Life of H: Sarah, Reimagined.
When you become a paid subscriber to either of my newsletters, you’ll have the opportunity to receive the benefits of a paid subscription to the 2nd newsletter at no additional cost.
Tzivia Gover, Certified Dreamwork Professional
Author of Dreaming on the Page, IBPA Benjamin Franklin Award™ Gold Winner, and Foreword Indies Finalist
Links: https://linktr.ee/tziviadreams11
Web: www.thirdhousemoon.com
https://aomtheatre.com/
