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Melissa West's avatar

May your book proposals and your lusciously fertile life and gardens be deeply blessed! Just headed out to spend the day "working" (ha!) in my almost 1/4 acre urban garden, reclaimed from weedy compacted grass 21 years ago. Because of cedar, bigleaf maple, hawthorne, and Doug Fir, no sunshine penetrates, so we have a magical woodland garden, replete with magical critters: hawk, eagle, coons, possum, coyote, rabbit, butterflies, insects, and overflow of little beautiful birds. Praise beauty, praise life, praise my healthy enough body to participate in the plenitude of All That Is....

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Erin Geesaman Rabke's avatar

Thank you for reading, Melissa!

Your woodland garden sounds absolutely magical.

and yes - echoing you in all the praise!!!

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Margo Stebbing's avatar

Just the balm I needed today with my morning tea. This regenerative path forward (a mantra that seems to have taken residence in my soul) with all the relatives of plant, insect, glorious birds, the glory hallelujah of spring/summer fecundity faithfully recorded by you and passing this beauty and life on to us.

Yesterday we walked barefoot on the sand along a longish shoreline in Hilo Bay, then got to see my youngest granddaughter's first Hula Ho'ike (performance). Wish I could send you the video.

The green fuse, the deep breath, the resonance of kinship, the beloved touch of your writing. Thank you with love.

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Erin Geesaman Rabke's avatar

I'll carry "this regenerative path forward..." thank you for sharing that. I love hearing about your beach walk and Hula viewing. Feel free to send me the video! I'd love to see it. :) My email is eringeesamanrabke@gmail.com. Also wow, that second to last sentence - thank you. Carrying those words too. Much love, friend.

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Cathryn Collis's avatar

Thank you, Erin. As one who purposely walks past your garden most days, simply for the chaotic beauty, and hope it inspires, I so loved reading about the heart and peri-menopausal dementia that fuels it all. Sending so much love, Cathryn

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Erin Geesaman Rabke's avatar

Oh I love that. And thanks for making me laugh! I also treasure my Cathryn sightings from the garden. xoxoxo

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Allison Ottley's avatar

Hi friend. I love your descriptions and how I can feel, smell, taste and experience all of it in your use of words. So looking forward to being the steward of your chaos garden for a minute or two! Our yard has a long way to go to become that, but absolutely can’t wait to tear up the grass and the driveway. Someday…

Also, Women Embodied is just beyond a gift. For me, this is by far the deepest group I have been a part of and I, too, am in awe. Of every single one of us! What we have held, created, witnessed, what you have facilitated and do every day is nothing short of miraculous.

A thousand thank yous. For all of it. Every morsel. Every atom.

a.

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Erin Geesaman Rabke's avatar

First, thank you for reading. Second, yay for the long game of tearing up grass and chaos gardening all the beauty! I'm so excited for what will unfold at your new place. Third, Thank you for being our home and allthelittlelivethings steward soon!! I'm grateful beyond words. Fourth, thank you for your gorgeous words about WE. Feels like that to me too. I'm so grateful for all you bring. And friend, a thousand thank yous to you too. For all of it. Love you.

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Chris Faith's avatar

So beautiful to read and to see all that is alive and flourishing in your little spot. Thank you, dear friend!

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Erin Geesaman Rabke's avatar

I was thinking of you today!! And all the life and beauty you steward. How are you, dear friend!? I'm sending big hugs your way. xoxoxo

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Maya Spector's avatar

Erin, this is so beautiful! It’s healing just to read about your fabulous garden. And what’s in your thoughts. I’m grateful you’re keeping the Substack going. I feel the same - great to have a place I can post the fresh poems, even if they aren’t edited to perfection.

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Erin Geesaman Rabke's avatar

Oh thank you so much, Maya.

And now I'm wondering, how am I not receiving your poem posts?!! I'm subscribed... and would love to be reading your poems. I'll look into it. Thanks for reading. xoxoxo

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