Rose-infused reflections and light-inspired magic for midsummer creativity…

a glimpse into our midsummer creative gathering in the (virtual) rose garden.

Hello, we are

Lyndsay Kaldor

and

Lauren Barber

- the creators of Holding Stories. Here you can expect to receive offerings that focus on community, creativity, ceremony & storytelling, shared through the lens of intentional PR, soulful branding & sacred space. We believe in soft, sustainable strategy that is lovingly guided by the seasons & rhythms of our inner & outer worlds. Please subscribe to walk this path with us.

“I was born
In a soft summer
Rain
I am most
In-season
When the sun is
High
And warm
When the day is
Long”.

—Emory Hall, Summer Bones.

Last Saturday under the stillness of the solstice sky and the fullness of the rose moon, we gathered in the (virtual) rose garden, to both tend our creative hearts and to take a much-needed pause in midsummer.

Midsummer is a rich and beautiful time, filled with abundance but it is also a pause. It inhabits a space between the previous growth seasons, but before the harvest begins. It is a time to settle in, bask in the light and to simply be.

Our time together was filled with flower-inspired meditation, light-filled creative contemplations, rose-infused writing prompts and plenty of time set aside for dreaming up the weeks and months ahead.

It was a privilege to gather with the beautiful creative souls who joined us, and to absorb learnings from the wisdom of the light (and shadow) of the sun and the soft (yet fiercely protective) rose at this threshold and turning point of the year.

Today we are sharing some glimpses into the magic that unfolded during our time together, accompanied by prompts inspired by summer light and rose medicine…

Setting the space

We invite you to take a few moments to create a quiet and intentional space — gather your notebook, make a soothing drink (we suggest rose tea or cacao if you have some), light a candle and perhaps bring something of the season into your space. (We gathered roses and strawberries to honour this time of year but anything you feel called to will be perfect).

We have created a playlist to immerse you in the expansive energy of midsummer. You may like it to accompany you alongside the prompts and contemplations below. Otherwise, simply listen as you move about your day or — if you feel called — invite your body to guide you into any movement that is stirred by the music. 

Are you feeling the fullness of the bloom or the quiet of the midsummer pause?

On light

We are at the zenith of sunlight at this time of year in the northern hemisphere, it both illuminates everything and casts the darkest shadows.

This season invites us into wholeness, of light and shade, to meld the contrasts within and around us. There, we can find our fullness which is neither one thing or another but the integration of every precious thing held tightly in each one of our cells.

What is being illuminated in your creative heart right now?

Are you being drawn to bask in the light of summer, or are you seeking out the shadows and the edges?

On growth and the fruits of our labour

We thank the light for all of the growth it has allowed to flourish, remembering the quiet soul whispers in the dark of winter that have been spoken into the fullness of summer,

“and somewhere

in this cold night

of wind and stars

the first whispered

opening of

those hidden

and invisible springs

that uncoil

in the still summer air

each yet

to be imagined

rose”.

—David Whyte, from The Winter of Listening.

This still point in the year after much of the foundations of growth have been put in place, but before the harvest, is a good time to contemplate and celebrate what fruits have ripened in the time since the winter solstice…

What can you celebrate that has come to fruition?

On wild rose medicine

The year’s natural pause calls us to simply be with ourselves in the rose garden, allowing the medicine of the wild rose to find us.

Species or wild roses have evolved and adapted through history to survive in unique environments; and even when they are bred, they have been known to revert back to their natural state over a decade, which speaks of their resilience and commitment to Self.

We have included an excerpt from our wild rose visualisation below,

In deep, deep trust you walk onwards and as you do so you find yourself transported into a wild and unkempt garden. At first glance it looks overgrown, but as you settle into this space you realise that as far as your eyes can see there are lush overspilling bushes dotted with thousands of shades of soft and bright pinks, creams, ivories, whites… this place is truly abundant, brimming and blooming with life, despite it’s unkempt appearance it is clearly thriving…

The wild rose has claimed her space here, she threads her way through bushes and plants and bursts forwards in an unapologetic way.

As you wander down the path, taking in the full body sensory experience of this wild rose garden you see that each flower, each petal, each thorn and each branch tells a story. 

The many thousands of stories that this garden holds is a mirror for you, a representation of the many, many stories that make up the entirety of you. 

Can you take a moment to appreciate the many threads and layers that make up the tapestry of you. Beautiful. Unique. Wild and Wonderful You?

We encourage you to take some time to sink into the full experience of the medicine of the wild rose via a Yoga Nidra journey with full audio below…

On the energetic essence of the rose

Before being cultivated for gardens, the rose was revered for its medicinal and energetic properties. The rose represents wholeness, reflecting the fullness of the light at this moment. 

Over time, the rose has come to take on the sometimes conflicting meanings of passion and nurture; outward blooming and a hidden sense of secrecy; purity and fertility; love and war; life and death; pleasure and pain; soft and sharp; openness and boundaries or protection.

Perhaps they are not contradictory at all but instead an expression of our full humanity, all part of the rich tapestry of life. We love this quote that speaks to the soulful experience when in the presence of the rose…

“Come out here where the roses have opened.

Let soul and world meet.”

— Rumi, 13th century Sufi poet.

Where does the world meet your soul?

When do you feel whole?

How can you soften?

Where do you need to protect your boundaries?

An oracle card for summer creativity.

We pulled a collective oracle card from The Rose oracle by Rebecca Campbell during our gathering and one for each individual participant as a gentle guide inwards and towards the stories ahead.

We have pulled a card for you now which, of course, feels exactly right for where we are now…

The Sun from The Rose oracle by Rebecca Campbell.

We invite you to take some time to sit with The Sun card and see where it leads you. Perhaps you would like to immerse yourself in a heartstorm to enshrine play and joy in your creativity in this next chapter of summer before we move into the harvesting seasons…

What makes you feel most alive?

How can you protect your aliveness over the next few months?

How can you weave joy into everyday life?

What did play look like for you as a child? Can you bring any elements of this feeling back into your summer days?

Which aspects of your creativity need to be reinvigorated with a sense of joy and playfulness?

What would ‘success’ feel like in your body looking ahead to harvest time? Where do you want to place your energy?

We hope this glimpse into our midsummer gathering in the rose garden feels both nourishing and expansive as we rest in the fertile void of the midsummer pause, and call joy and play into our creativity for the days ahead.

**Save the Date**

We would love to invite you to our online co-working studio space — to touch base and to carve out some time to nurture our golden summer stories as we reach the first harvest at the beginning of August.

Date: Saturday 3rd August 2024

Time: 9.30-11am BST

Location: Holding Stories studio via the wonders of Zoom

More details to follow soon…

As always, we welcome your insights, thoughts and feedback — do let us know what landed for you and if there are any suggestions you would like to make for future Holding Stories offerings.

With much love,

Lauren & Lyndsay

Some kind words from those who joined us at the summer gathering…

“Thank you for crafting such a brilliant idea”

“a lot of thought went into putting it together. I look forward to participating again!”

a “gentle creative cocoon” with “playful, inspiring, nurturing energy”