Scenes will be published on Wednesdays and are best read sequentially, but may be approached as stand-alones. Scroll down for a full breakdown.
Music by Efterklang, a multi-talented Danish band which oozes contagious cheer, will mark important milestones along the way.
The story chronicles a woman’s quest for spiritual sovereignty and fixed identities as she grapples with cultural taboos and global fear.
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.
Please join me for interactive arborescent narration: as it branches out, you will be invited to shape the story; the more guests contribute, the more collaborative it will become.
Scenes
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
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 multimedia writing grove, watching seeds unfurl, writing Faye’s Wing, and embarking on a quantum novel.
A Writing Grove
My hope is for this space to become an online manifestation of Marguerite’s creative arbour in Ireland. Alongside you, merry dreamers and kindred artists, it will provide an arborescent home for serialised, multimedia storytelling. Together, we will shapeshift a brighter reality through interactive writing.
What you will receive
I will post new scenes on Wednesdays until Season One is complete. 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.
Season One will mostly be available to all without a subscription. 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.
I will offer occasional interviews about approaches to creative life as a path to fruition.
Free subscribers will access Faye’s Wing’s early scenes and interviews with creatives.
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.
Donating subscribers will:
read Faye’s Wing in full, receiving a new scene every Wednesday and exclusive scenes on special Saturdays;
access guest artwork and music, for a multimedia reading experience;
be invited to dialogue and shape the narrative arc.
*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 such a long time and can’t wait to share this writing grove with you.