24 Comments
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Tami DeLand's avatar

LOVE “there is no ending. No beginning. There is only shapeshifting.”

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Wendy Edwards's avatar

Cheryl - you have the most AMAZING and wonderful friends!! So, I was loving Lidia's words but then I went and watched her TED talk. And now I am sitting here with baby tears in my eyes feeling so damned happy. Failures as portals - brilliant. I LOVE your mind Lidia!! I'll buy the vodka - you just show up OK? See you soon (I sincerely hope).

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Heidi Across America's avatar

Transformation as micro-intensities. I live and love this. It's a powerful thing to have a creature find you as witness of its death, to recognize and be changed by its beauty and all that it is.

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Phaedra Branom's avatar

Such a delightful read. Lidia, yes. When reading your words I find myself letting go, leaning in, and feeling a soft passive embrace that feels a lot like acceptance. Yes, like water. Yes, belonging. Yes. Thank you.

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Sonia Voldseth's avatar

In such an awful time for the world, this felt so nourishing and wise. I especially loved the seal interlude/learning. Gorgeous, and thank you!

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Christine Ahh's avatar

I recently learned about Lidia's work and just started "Reading the Waves." 🌊 Gorgeous! I sing for water daily (humans are mostly water). Living on the Salish Sea, I swim in her saltwaters, now without a wetsuit (singing loud takes my mind off the cold), and commune with the seals who swim closer as I sing. I got to study with Ursula K. Le Guin for a week, she's now the dragonfly on my writing table. I feel like I'm meeting my Siren Soul Sister. Thank you for existing! 🥰

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Steven W. Krull's avatar

Very inspirational. Thanks for sharing!

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Mulled Whine Musings's avatar

“As naiads. Ever the woman attracted to water, this detail captured my attention. The rest of the day and night. Their adult lives are shorter than their larval lives, and their shapeshifting into winged creatures marks their ending.

The dragonfly on my desk never moved again. “

This REAlly made me want to cry. It’s nice to read writing that actually make you FEEL things. I will be adding Lidia’s book to my toRead list.

I stare at bodies of water often, at the ripples, to be more exact. But I’ve never thought of talking out loud to them. I usually just take big sighs to let off some pent up pressure. I will try talking to it next time, “reading the waves” indeed 🩵🍃

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Andrea's avatar

I recently learned of Substack. I just read the piece about Lidia and loved it. She feels like a kindred spirit. I am also a novice in the field of writing. so I signed up to follow you. Thank you for this beautiful piece!

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Andrea's avatar

The picture that popped up isn’t me!!!

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Karen Goldfarb's avatar

how glorious! tku for turning me onto this wonderful writer💕💕💕

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Anne LeMieux's avatar

I needed this so much today!!! Thank you for sharing.

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Sherryn Adair's avatar

I so loved seeing you, Lidia, and Pam in 2019 at Revolution Hall in PDX for Pam's -- what was it? happy hour? -- where you lounged, camped and just brought all the love to everyone who was present. A great memory!

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Linda Summersea's avatar

Cheryl + Lidia = joy and comprehension on so many levels. It's amazing what a fellow writer can reveal within the trust of another writer. Love you both. Cheers!

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Lara's avatar

Dear Cheryl and Lidia, thank you for your bravery. I leaned hard into the Misfits Ted talk. Thank you for that!

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Simone Senisin's avatar

Wonderful, thank you 🙏

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Gary Douglas Smith's avatar

I cannot tell you how much I look forward to Lidia's new book!

Speaking of which, Cheryl, any news on your next book?! :)

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