St Georges Cabin Raft Island
06.54
St. George’s Cabin, Raft Island.
A night of warm sleeping, toasty snuggled in sleeping bag with two large blankets enveloping bed, bag & Englishman; accompanied throughout the night by the sound of pouring rain, now early-morning rain.
Morning Sitting at 07.15.
09.42 Breakfast at 08.00. Just after 08.30 I was aware of a presence joining us; not quite the same experience that I know as Silence, more an acceptingness by the Team of its members, and which held the team, and was held by the Team. That’s the best form of words I can offer right now.
A personal meeting at 09.00.
Meeting in the Chapel with the TTA Performance Team at 10.00.
Wetness…
11.13 The TTA Performance Team addressed holding the pattern of Eye Of The Needle in the mind’s eye as a single Present Moment; and strengthening the sense of personal presence while playing, and while holding the pattern.
Then, circulating notes around the circle with the sense of the presence of life circulating within the limbs.
House of Guitars at 11.45.
12.56 Instructions to the House of Guitars:
When ready, begin. This was swiftly brought to an end.
When ready, please begin, again.
A duet was called.
A second duet was called, the duettists joined by the whole Circle.
Then…
Rain.
Sunshine.
More Rain.
Blue Skies.
Three sub-groups within the Circle attempted accents in 5, 7 & 11. Standing in the centre, a sound emerged that was intentional, delicate, with attention, and which I found appealing; although few of the accents that landed were in accordance with those given.
Then, two Whizz groups with physical displacements through 360 degrees.
A question was asked: how do you hold the pattern? Offered from the Circle: counting the number of times the leader has begun. Visual display in the mind’s eye is also useful, it was suggested.
For these particular whizz sequences, 3 from each of the two groups & four of the whole Circle, giving 10 patterns, I also use my fingers. Bringing the attention inside the little finger of the left hand for one, the third left finger for two, and so on through the 10 digits. This counting approach involves the body, in addition to the mind: there is a resonance in the sense of the presence of life within the fingers. So, with both this & holding a mental pattern, there is a more substantial way of maintaining the count: the mind & the body are both involved.
The Circle comprised 35 guitars.
15.43 One solo & one group performance/s at lunchtime. Various good comments were presented & an outline of the afternoon’s work agreed. Onto the washing up detail.
Blue skies I…
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The way to St. George…
Tea at 16.00.
Meeting with the SSG at 18.00.
20.56 Dinner was late, served at 19.45. The SSG meeting kept going.
House of Guitars at 21.30.
22.29 When ready, please begin.
Duet: joined by full Circle.
Duet: joined by full Circle.
Same duet, joined by Full Circle.
Fast.
Slow.
Hot.
Cold.
36 guitars.
The temperature rose today, for some time. It is cold again.
The dark I…
II...
III...
