Welcome to my writing grove!
What is Faye’s Wing?
a serialised memoir published on Wednesdays. Best read sequentially at first. Later, stand-alone scenes may be read according to what interests you. Scroll down for the growing table of contents;
a quantum memoir: if reality is malleable, can we rewrite it together?
interactive, arborescent storytelling: as the story branches out, subscribers are invited to shape the narrative structure through their questions and comments, shapeshifting life into a brighter reality.
a collaborative creative adventure: I hope the story will inspire new creations. Get in touch to contribute unreleased music, images, words...
the wing of the house in which Marguerite lives on solitary yoga retreat in Ireland. It is named after a character in the story;
a writing grove: the online home of a physical space, Marguerite’s creative arbour in Ireland, where I hold space for musical residencies.
In short, Faye’s Wing is about creative companionship, merry dreamers and kindred artists producing a new kind of storytelling.
What is Faye’s Wing about?
The story chronicles a woman’s quest for spiritual sovereignty as she releases fixed identities and grapples with fears both personal and cultural.
Pushing against an unconventional yoga path, Marguerite reclaims her personal sovereignty through the healing kinship of music when she meets love and attunes to nature. Her story suggests that being true to ourselves through inner stillness cultivates seeds of personal fulfilment. For Marguerite, this involves developing her creativity and supporting musicians to embrace a freer, kaleidoscopic self.
Set against the backdrop of a global pandemic, Faye’s Wing takes readers on a journey from Bristol to Biarritz to the wilds of the Irish coast. In the nourishing safety of her fairytale woods, Marguerite immerses herself in the natural cycle of growth and decay, and undergoes her own death and rebirth, mirroring that of the primeval forest. She emerges from this self-imposed silence with the resources to tell her story, and to hold a space for others to develop their inner poetry.
Music by Efterklang, a multi-talented Danish band which oozes contagious cheer, will mark important milestones along the way.
I hope you will join me as Marguerite finds her way back to light-hearted, creative spiritual sovereignty, and that you find yours too.
Seasons & scenes
Every Wednesday, we will follow Marguerite from Winter in Bristol, Spring and Summer in Biarritz, to a fresh cycle of seasons, when she reaches Ireland and begins her solitary retreat.
From that point, scenes featuring more intimate insights into my former Shakta Tantra path will continue on a bi-monthly rhythm. In a spirit of inquisitive mindfulness, many of them will be reserved to donating subscribers.
Additional material, such as interviews and scenes with exclusive artwork or music, will be posted to donating subscribers on Saturdays, who will also be able to access the chat to shape the narrative structure when this goes live.
Season 1 - Bristol: Winter prelude
Prologue: “Uden Ansigt,” Efterklang - We meet the Teacher as Marguerite makes a Goddess-inspired collage listening to Efterklang.
A Kālī ritual - A glimpse of Marguerite's nightly devotions and their importance for embodiment.
On creative living as a path to fruition - A conversation with Marguerite's Tantric Teacher dampens her writing aspirations as she remembers her time at the Festival.
“Tour Eiffel,” Bryce Dessner with Kronos Quartet - Marguerite’s backstory via a musical travelogue.
Adam - The Teacher introduces the notion of spiritual consorting and we meet a potential candidate.
Efterklang, the Barbican - We experience Marguerite’s ecstatic relationship to music as a new virus threatens.
“Ill Wind,” Radiohead - Blasted by the virus, Marguerite plots a narrow escape from Bristol.
Season 2 - Biarritz: Spring to Autumn Sonata
“Blowing Lungs Like Bubbles,” Efterklang - Seeking refuge from Covid, Marguerite arrives in Biarritz after a harrowing trip.
“The Song that Gives the Key to Perfection,” David Sylvian, Shree Ma - Marguerite reflects on life and Goddess practices in lockdown Biarritz.
“Little Kids,” Kings of Convenience - Marguerite thinks about the French life she could have had and on the secrecy of her path.
“Fortune Presents Gifts Not According to the Book,” Dead Can Dance - Marguerite is presented with an unexpected opportunity to move to the wilds of Ireland.
“Supertanker,” Efterklang - Marguerite debates with the Teacher about living on solitary retreat in Ireland.
Intermezzo - A full cherry moon inspires present-day Marguerite to reflect on her choices.
Upachāla - Marguerite commits to her retreat in Ireland. An unexpected invitation from the Teacher triggers friction and ruminations on faith.
“Bloodless,’ Andrew Bird - Conversations with the Teacher about Covid, praying, and the politics of spirituality.
Leaving Biarritz: "Midnight in Harlem," Tedeschi Trucks Band - On the cusp of her Irish adventure, Marguerite makes one last stop in Paris and hears from Adam.
Season 3 - Irish Seasonal Dances
A toe in the water - Marguerite discovers her new home in Ireland and its eccentric owners.
Why this? Why now? Why here?
I was a committed yogini, practising Kashmir Shaivism, Vedanta, and Shakta Tantra for thirty years; but all the while wondered if creativity might also be a path to inner fruition. I explored this hunch by curating art residencies and concerts, and by interviewing artistic luminaries. Dots were connected during the pandemic, when I moved to an ancient Irish woodland for an extended yoga retreat.
Lunar mantras withered into birdsong and silence.
Crisp sunlight dispersed smoke and shadows. Vows to fierce deities were surrendered.
Between lockdowns, music returned, connections were rekindled.
Tilled by decades of spiritual yearning, my heart was ready to welcome a loving partnership, preparing the ground for creative fellowship.
Quitting formal yoga practices, I took leave of my teacher and began holding space for musical gatherings and residencies in our natural sanctuary.
Now I tend this writing grove, watching seeds unfurl, writing Faye’s Wing, a crack at a quantum memoir.
What you will receive
I will post new scenes on Wednesdays until Marguerite starts her retreat, at the start of Season 3. This will take us to the edge of the forest, where we will pause for conversation. After a deep collective breath, we will step into the sanctum of the woods for Marguerite’s retreat. From here, in a spirit of inquisitive mindfulness around more intimate topics, most scenes will be reserved to subscribing readers and will continue on a bi-monthly rhythm.
Seasons One and Two will mostly be available to all without a subscription.
Free subscribers will access weekly sequential instalments from Faye’s Wing’s until Marguerite starts her retreat.
If you would like to donate artwork, music, or something other than a monetary subscription, please get in touch to see if we can work out a bartering solution.
Collaborative storytelling, including words, sounds, and visuals from guest artists specially created for Faye’s Wing, will only be available to donating subscribers. The writing grove community will also be offered opportunities to shape the narrative arc and to ask questions.
Donating subscribers will:
access all seasons of Faye’s Wing and confidential scenes. New scenes will be posted on Wednesdays and scenes with exclusive artwork on special Saturdays;
enjoy creative companionship by joining the dedicated chat;
access guest music and artwork, for a multimedia reading experience;
be invited to shape the narrative arc;
receive occasional interviews about creative life as a path to fruition.
*expect occasional tweaks and rejigging*
When the story ends, I will edit everything into an eBook for donating subscribers and follow up on interest from agents.
Welcome, welcome.
I have wanted to tell stories this way for a very long time and can’t wait to play in this writing grove with you.