Grandmother Story

I’ve been doing a lot of editing recently. Too much maybe. It feels as though it’s time to get my novel out in the world but parts of it are still not right. So I edit. But when is it time to say, “this is good enough?”

Yesterday I lay down to meditate. I held a question in my mind. One question:

‘What do I need to know about my book?’

As I settled my imagination took me on a journey.

I found myself in the woods, travelling to a cottage belonging to the archetype of story - Grandmother Story.

Her home was rich as a fairy tale grandmothers home should be: full of blankets, knitted things, tea pots, soft couches you could sink into, windows with perfect views to the snowy forest, the smell of baking. It was exactly the kind of place you’d settle into to spend hours listening to every imaginable wonder inspiring story.

Grandmother Story is the originator of every story that ever was and ever will be.

It was a brief dream meeting her. One I’d like to remember.

Over lunch I told my daughter about Grandmother Story. Together we crafted a new story, about Nina (my daughter) getting lost in the forest and meeting Grandmother Story who gives her the power to make her own stories. Nina then imagined creating stories to make a map to find her way out of the forest.

I’ve found meditating with a question gives me surprising and beautiful answers. Far more colourful and inspiring than the kind of answers I get when I am thinking ‘hard’. There was more to the meditation - but grandmother story was my favourite character:)

Next time you are wondering what to do try meditating with a question.