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Kate Bown's avatar

Thinking of you Gillian ❤️

Your letter is luminous and full of love and joy for the world, and I admire your strength to share your writing and images with us at this difficult time of deep grief for your beloved sister.

I am coming along for the next installment with you. Thank you.

My glimmer today — my pet cockatoo trixie on my shoulder while I washed up the breakfast dishes, her feathered head tucked under my chin. It’s a sweet bond we have and I cherish it.

(inspired by your mention of your friendship with your dog).

Take care, and yes to more living and aliveness and creating

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

So glad to keep journeying with you Kate! Thank you for calling my post luminous, that is a glimmer. Trixie is such a super name for a cockatoo - that made me smile. So glad for your friendship. xoxo

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Kate Bown's avatar

Me too x

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Kate's avatar

Gosh it’s good to have you and your musings back.

I am sorry to hear about your sister’s death, so much grief.

I admire your ability to hibernate and give yourself the gift of time and space.

I look forward to what comes next.

Cheers Kate.

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Thank you Kate, thanks also for the support over resting and pausing - I agree we need to encourage each other to do that more. Looking forward to continuing to journey with you. xo

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Susan Harley's avatar

Wow, Gillian this article is your best ever, so open , clear and inspiring. You have covered everything we need to know about living beautifully now. Thank you 🙏🏻

I know I am going to return and re read as this is so rich and thought provoking …you are showing how grief can be creative and deepen the joy 💖

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Thank you Susan, patience and quiet reveal things don’t they!? Thank you for your company and support on this journey :)

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Susan Harley's avatar

They do , dear Gillian and it is my pleasure to know you and how you are serving the world with your talents , shine on 💎

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Sara Foster's avatar

This is beautiful Gillian. We love fairy wrens in our family too. I'm so sorry to hear about your sister, sending so much love. xx

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Thank you Sara, so glad you have fairy wrens in your life too! I love sharing this journey with you - some much needed internet magic :)

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Sara Foster's avatar

Absolutely - and likewise. Looking forward to lots more sharing xx

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Betje's avatar

Oh darling, I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m so grateful for you, your wisdom and the work you do. ‘Create more than you consume’ stuck with me this time. I’m going to try to practice that. Thank you 💕

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Thank you Betje - practice is all we can do! I shall be practicing alongside you. Grateful for your company on this journey too!

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Sally Avison's avatar

Oops- thank you for your wonderful being & lil beans beautiful paintings- a whole bunch of glimmers- like a beautiful bouquet 💐🙏❤️☮️

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

What a delightful description - thank you!

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Sally Avison's avatar

Ah Gillian, I was thinking of you this morning & acknowledging you hibernating too & now here you are back where you belong sharing your loving heart & hope for the world.

Grief is an extraordinarily beautiful healing & teaching process that as you’re seeing already allows us glimmers of clarity & perspective

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

I love your comment that grief is a healing and teaching process, I don’t think it often gets that sort of description, but you are right! Thank you for popping in to say hi and welcome me back, I look forward to continuing to journey with you xo.

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100% HUMAN's avatar

Dearest Gillian & Li'l Bean. Welcome back. You have been missed. But what gifts you bring from your darkness. Condolences and courage to you. x

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Thank you my friend, amazing to think that I have been missed - here I have been wondering what is the point of it all? Very glad to be sharing this journey with you. xo

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cracklepoet nat's avatar

Thanks for you

So so sorry for the loss of your sister and yet still her presence

Powerful post … one of my glimmers so far today (reading with our Currawong bird clan … lil beefier than wrens x)

Sending all the love

Ps love the line ‘create more than consume’ 🙂

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Thank you Nat, so glad to be a glimmer in your day. Thank goodness for our avian friends eh?

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Ian Haycroft's avatar

Welcome back Gillian. You and that L'ile Bean are so wise...really I mean it. Blessings to you and to your sister much loved. It is good to see you back in this Substack neighbourhood. 💜

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Thank you for the blessings and friendship Ian. It is lovely to be back. When I feel like a hot mess I shall remind myself - well Ian thinks I am wise :)

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Ian Haycroft's avatar

🙏🏼

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Michelle's avatar

Wonderful summary of the gifts you have shared with me since you began posting. Now a beautiful collection of powerful wisdom. Thank you, and take care with that dance of grief and gift.

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Thank you Michelle, thank you for being here!

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Paulette Bodeman's avatar

I'm so sorry to hear about the loss of your sister.

Thank you for sharing and returning - that is a glimmer to be sure.

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Thank you Paulette, I’m always glad to be a glimmer! Thank you for your friendship and support across the seas :)

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Alia Parker's avatar

Oh Gillian, condolences on the loss of your dear sister. My thoughts are with you and your grief.

Thank you for a lovely post. My glimmer so far this morning is seeing you back here with such lovely thoughts and illustrations.

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Thank you Alia for your friendship and support, it is lovely to be back with you too.

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suansita k.'s avatar

A lovely reflection and lovely illustrations, Gillian🥰 Thank you.

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Thank you suansita :)

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Dianne Masri's avatar

Dear Gillian sorry to hear of the loss of your sister. Sending you much love. My glimmer is reading your words above so full of strength and wisdom. Thank you

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Thank you for letting me know Dianne, I’m so glad to have been a glimmer in your day :)

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Camilla Sanderson's avatar

I'm so sorry to hear of your unexpectedly losing a sister. I cannot even imagine. Sending you much compassion and loving kindness.

I love your answers - in an age of grief and upheaval, choose creation, reciprocity, simplicity, and slowness—earn hope through daily practice, and keep locating glimmers of aliveness. It's exquisitely beautiful and luminous and thank you for sharing your medicine in the world✨🌟💖🙏🕊

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Gillian & Li'l Bean's avatar

Thank you Camilla, it is lovely to hear that my writing/drawing touched you. I am glad we are sharing this journey together :)

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