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Seán Pádraig O'Donoghue's avatar

Two years ago on the Winter Solstice, I was feeling very alone. It was getting dark and the snow was starting to fall. I had just a little bit of money and I decided to use it to by some apples to leave for the herd of deer that often congregated around the statue of the Lady across from a small church at the edge of the woods -- a place I often went for contemplation. Often, when I left apples there, I would see a few does begin to arrive just as I left to eat the apples. That day, they came right away, coming close enough for me to see their breath in the cold, and they brought their fawns. Then, a magnificent stag emerged from the wood. He stood across from me. I bowed to him and he bowed in return. Three times we repeated it. We stood and watched each other for nearly half an hour. I bowed again and went home, hope and gratitude renewed in my heart.

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Kerri ní Dochartaigh's avatar

This is one of the most beautiful and affecting things I’ve ever read 🙌🤍

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Jane V Adams's avatar

My glimmer happened yesterday. A fox. A dog fox, with a coat the colour of autumn. He crossed in front of me, then lolloped across the field before sitting to watch me, his brush laid out in front like an over-plump feather duster. Perfect.

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Kerri ní Dochartaigh's avatar

Foxes 🦊❤️

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Ali's avatar

I am interested in participating in Glimmers on the 28th! How do we sign up?

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Kerri ní Dochartaigh's avatar

Hi! That would be gorgeous. Please email me : inchwhooperswan@gmail.com

so I can send the booking info x

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Nicola's avatar

Hi Kerri when is the next glimmers ?

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Kerri ní Dochartaigh's avatar

Hi, I haven’t planned another one just yet but will be one in January for sure x

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Nicola's avatar

Great thank you

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Ali Isaac's avatar

A glimmer in a time of darkness, walking my daily 5k during lockdown, as I crossed the little bridge over the River Blackwater, a heron rose ponderously into the air, so close I could have reached out and touched her. She circled around, long legs trailing, and landed two fields away, further along the river. When I looked down into the water, there were black-spotted trout sunning themselves in the warm shallows.💕

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Kerri ní Dochartaigh's avatar

Oh this is so beautiful 💓💓 HERONS

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Ali Isaac's avatar

These are the small things we hold onto in moments of darkness, aren't they? For me, also, the blossoming of fragrant yellow gorse in midwinter, the hug of my little disabled girl, the stars on a clear autumn night, the flicker of candlelight... so many things we might take for granted in normal circumstances, but which now take on new meaning and new power. 💕

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Clary Delano's avatar

Kerri, your words mean the world to me. I'm a struggling freelance writer or I'd have upgraded to a paid subscription here many months ago. How I would love to support you. Your glimmers sessions sound just beautiful. As for my own wee glimmer, the half-moon presented herself to me last week, square in the center of my window in a gap between the church opposite and a neighboring building. I live in a city and often miss seeing her as much as I'd like. I sat there shifting on my bed to follow her as long as I could before she disappeared again. x

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Kerri ní Dochartaigh's avatar

Clary could you please email me your email address? To inchwhooperswan@gmail.com

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Lynn Curry's avatar

Glimmers this weekend include gently falling beech leaves among rays of sunshine 🍂 and a glimpse of the full moon, hidden but not completely, behind the parting clouds. My heart is happy. ♡

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Seán Pádraig O'Donoghue's avatar

I am so deeply honored. I hoped so much that my words would capture and pass on some of the blessing of that encounter. Your own writing is so very beautiful, and it makes me very happy to be able to offer a bit of beauty in return.

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Roaringgirl55's avatar

I'd love to join the glimmers session...how?

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Kerri ní Dochartaigh's avatar

Hi! That would be gorgeous. Please email me : inchwhooperswan@gmail.com

so I can send the booking info x

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Occupation's avatar

Hi Kerri, I'm interested in joining with the Glimmers tomorrow. Let me know how I pay/join. This idea really resonates with me and is exactly what I was trying to articulate with a friend this weekend when we encountered a little octopus on the beach

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Kerri ní Dochartaigh's avatar

Oh an octopus! Amazing!

Hi! That would be gorgeous if you joined us. Please email me : inchwhooperswan@gmail.com

so I can send the booking info x

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Angela's avatar

I am filled with joy when the snow geese descend to winter at Fossil Lake. That’s my winter glimmer.

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Kerri ní Dochartaigh's avatar

Beautiful!!! They are magic. Have you read The Snowgoose?

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Angela's avatar

No, I haven’t yet, but thank you very much for that suggestion.

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Susi Bancroft's avatar

Glimmers was such a beautiful, enriching and transformative session - magical! I loved every second

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Kerri ní Dochartaigh's avatar

oh this is so beautiful, thanks a million x x

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Susi Bancroft's avatar

Welcome to use the words of it helps publicise - I am looking forward to a follow up sometime!!! Love and hugs

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Róisín Foley's avatar

Kerrí your substacks resonate with me so much, for so many reasons. Congratulations on your 1 year. Such great reads. Thank you!

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Kerri ní Dochartaigh's avatar

Your beautiful presence here is a pure gift xxx

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Amy's avatar

Definitely interested in participating on 28th (all the spaces had already gone when I tried on the previous 2 occasions Kerri!) Is there a process for signing up? Thanks 🤍🤍

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Kerri ní Dochartaigh's avatar

Amy I would love to have you. That would be gorgeous. Please email me : inchwhooperswan@gmail.com

so I can send the booking info x

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