John O'Donohue's friendship and his extraordinarily distinctive voice continue to echo through my life, in very close ways, both personal and professional. Though I do not quote his work due to strangulating tendencies of the foundation that oversees his work, the memory of our many private conversations and the insightful arrivals we attained together through the years, both in companionable affection and collegiate discussion, return to me again and again. DW
You both interacted with each other in the most tender way and your conversations very much echoed each other's deeply compassionate ways in the world. His words and sweet Presence live on in you. You don't need to quote his work, because you embody it. One twenty minute conversation with you both almost 30 years ago transformed my life. The echoes from the words you've both spoken and written continue to bring dry bones alive and will for eternity. Words carry the power to enliven and enlighten. John's healing Presence is echoed in your voice and words🩷🙏.
Thank you, David. Somehow John’s work found me in the early months after my wife’s death. In particular, his book “Beauty: The Invisible Embrace” was profoundly soothing and revelatory as I moved through such overwhelming absence. His lyrical passages became transformative and served as a road map across a most mysterious and imaginal journey with my wife. I sat with this book reading each passage slowly by no choice of my own. Inevitably my breath would be taken away and I would become the pilgrim of my tears that gave way to such clarity and incite. One or two passages, a page at most —building a miraculous bridge back to my beloved. In some ways I am jealous. I would have loved to have been the invisible party listening to one of your conversations with John.
This writing is amazingly true, and over the years has come to being in my life in such a way that it happens daily in my interactions with others, be they in my presence or in a phone call or text or email or television. At times, I find myself playing a mind game for amusement. I ask for something that is possible and then wait and watch and see it happen. And then their are times when I least expect the echo and find it reminds me that it is something I had thought about earlier in the day or week. Sometimes the echo returns to me in the same words I had used when speaking. I recognized it as a rare occurrence when I was younger, but in my 77th year it is no longer rare. I remain amazed, and I cherish the "insightful arrivals" (as David put it) as they come. Thank you for Echo!
I've read this essay several times and each time it lands a little differently. Today I am reflecting on how echo and kamma/karma are related. Is karma, then, an echo in our lives compelling us to hear what we may not have been aware of first time through.
Always touched by your images and reflections. Thank you...
Your work continues to be a lesson in vulnerability for me, showing me where it can be strengthening instead of compromising. Looking at this picture makes me think vulnerability is acting like a structure that builds capacity for the echo or reverberation in relationship.
Echo is beautiful, soothing and promoting reflection on our lives as we age and continually reflect when realizing patterns from pain that when seen in an Echo can be turned into a healing balm. It first caught my eye because I was raised in a wondrous place called Echo Lake that still holds the many memories of the passing time that revealed recently my lack of self love in my consistently over trying of pleasing others for their goals and aspirations at the exclusion of my own. And realized whoa, why am I feeling I'm missing losing myself for all the trials and tribulations I've learned and struggled through?
David, your many beautiful works over the years have always given thought for nourishing and introspective ways toward more wholeness and awakenings for which I continue to be most grateful.
I too am 77, with following David's beautiful touching and helpful poetry in person and CD's guiding and helping through the years, for which I am truly grateful!
John O'Donohue's friendship and his extraordinarily distinctive voice continue to echo through my life, in very close ways, both personal and professional. Though I do not quote his work due to strangulating tendencies of the foundation that oversees his work, the memory of our many private conversations and the insightful arrivals we attained together through the years, both in companionable affection and collegiate discussion, return to me again and again. DW
You both interacted with each other in the most tender way and your conversations very much echoed each other's deeply compassionate ways in the world. His words and sweet Presence live on in you. You don't need to quote his work, because you embody it. One twenty minute conversation with you both almost 30 years ago transformed my life. The echoes from the words you've both spoken and written continue to bring dry bones alive and will for eternity. Words carry the power to enliven and enlighten. John's healing Presence is echoed in your voice and words🩷🙏.
Thank you, David. Somehow John’s work found me in the early months after my wife’s death. In particular, his book “Beauty: The Invisible Embrace” was profoundly soothing and revelatory as I moved through such overwhelming absence. His lyrical passages became transformative and served as a road map across a most mysterious and imaginal journey with my wife. I sat with this book reading each passage slowly by no choice of my own. Inevitably my breath would be taken away and I would become the pilgrim of my tears that gave way to such clarity and incite. One or two passages, a page at most —building a miraculous bridge back to my beloved. In some ways I am jealous. I would have loved to have been the invisible party listening to one of your conversations with John.
Thank you. The presence of echo as much more than reverberated sound has given me pause.
It seems to embody Einstein’s recently-proven unified field theory, as well as cymatics.
The way you conveyed echo’s expansive, nourishing qualities brings to memory writing’s I penned April 19, 1982. Allow me to share here:
The Exchange
My life is not contained in me;
It grows within then outwardly.
I marvel that each breath of air
That once is mine goes who knows where.
The wind takes it from my lips and then
Flies to the clouds to moisten them.
It rains, I meet some distant friends I'll never meet, yet we shake hands.
For my dewdrips rain most gently on hands of friends, strangers to me.
I have opened doors and closed them and other hands have done the same.
Is not the lingering of my touch
now someone else’s, though not felt much?
Or when my image is beheld by eyes who mean to keep it jelled?
I am contained in all of life And all of life in me.
Alive!
I sorrow when my breath does miss the hearts of those who need its kiss.
For every breath I let escape I must take another in to live
and I am glad in the exchange.
~
May we experience peace in the in-between space between this breath and the next.
~Kare Parker
This writing is amazingly true, and over the years has come to being in my life in such a way that it happens daily in my interactions with others, be they in my presence or in a phone call or text or email or television. At times, I find myself playing a mind game for amusement. I ask for something that is possible and then wait and watch and see it happen. And then their are times when I least expect the echo and find it reminds me that it is something I had thought about earlier in the day or week. Sometimes the echo returns to me in the same words I had used when speaking. I recognized it as a rare occurrence when I was younger, but in my 77th year it is no longer rare. I remain amazed, and I cherish the "insightful arrivals" (as David put it) as they come. Thank you for Echo!
This picture made me tear up. And these words, most welcome today in my heart.
I've read this essay several times and each time it lands a little differently. Today I am reflecting on how echo and kamma/karma are related. Is karma, then, an echo in our lives compelling us to hear what we may not have been aware of first time through.
Always touched by your images and reflections. Thank you...
Your work continues to be a lesson in vulnerability for me, showing me where it can be strengthening instead of compromising. Looking at this picture makes me think vulnerability is acting like a structure that builds capacity for the echo or reverberation in relationship.
I appreciate you Mr. Whyte, as always. Many blessings and happy trails, Geraldine
Echo is beautiful, soothing and promoting reflection on our lives as we age and continually reflect when realizing patterns from pain that when seen in an Echo can be turned into a healing balm. It first caught my eye because I was raised in a wondrous place called Echo Lake that still holds the many memories of the passing time that revealed recently my lack of self love in my consistently over trying of pleasing others for their goals and aspirations at the exclusion of my own. And realized whoa, why am I feeling I'm missing losing myself for all the trials and tribulations I've learned and struggled through?
David, your many beautiful works over the years have always given thought for nourishing and introspective ways toward more wholeness and awakenings for which I continue to be most grateful.
Many thanks again, now for this "Echo."
❤️🦋🌈🌲🌺
I too am 77, with following David's beautiful touching and helpful poetry in person and CD's guiding and helping through the years, for which I am truly grateful!
Wishing you Peace and a happy life!