Mapping the Way Home

Mapping the Way Home: the Sufis and the Three Stages of Spiritual Awakening Food, body image and self-acceptance have run like a royal road right through my life.  Food is and was my safety, my comfort and my security, my north star through a difficult childhood adoption spent in fear of abandonment and fear of…

Reading Matters “I Am” by Michelle Scally-Clarke

(In which the author and me explore some painful family memories, talk about adoption, feel empowered by dual heritage and learn to sing our song) This was a tough read for me. No point pretending: where lives intersect there can be a curious pain. But don’t let my experience challenge you, above all, I loved…

Reading Matters “How to Stay Married”

(In which the writer explores a black gloom with Jilly Cooper, gets stuck with Milo (from the Phantom Tollbooth) in the doldrums, talks with Rhona Cameron about adoption, consults Walt Whitman and finally decides to make her peace) Black Glooms Black Glooms Jilly Cooper calls them. I have been stuck in once of these since…

Adoption Story

Yesterday I found out from a complete stranger that my birth father’s name placed my paternal heritage as 100% Kashmiri. I am standing in my office at work watching the clouds scud by in the rain and wind – talking on the telephone to a complete stranger and I let my guard down. Knowledge is…