Summary

Marla Bishop invites readers to experience the exhilarating and introspective journey of wintertime swimming in the Irish Sea and London's open-air waters, drawing inspiration from Xavier Van Holde's words in IdeaStream #30.

Abstract

The website content presents a poetic and personal reflection on the experience of winter swimming by Marla Bishop, a London-based writer and relationship coach. The piece is a call to embrace the fortitude required for such a bracing activity, emphasizing the tangible and serene nature of the experience that transcends mere imagination. Inspired by her own swims in the Irish Sea and London's open-air ponds and pools, Bishop's poem paints a picture of a profound and esoteric journey that demands courage and a non-superficial approach to life. The article also credits Xavier Van Holde for providing the inspirational words that sparked the creation of this poem within IdeaStream #30.

Opinions

The author expresses that wintertime swimming is a profound and not widely understood experience, suitable for those with a certain depth of character and resilience.
The activity of swimming in cold, open waters during winter is portrayed as a transformative and meditative practice, akin to being under hypnosis in an esoteric space.
The poem suggests that the experience is not for those who are capricious or naive, implying that it requires a mature and introspective mindset.
The author acknowledges the influence of Xavier Van Holde's words from IdeaStream #30, indicating a sense of community and shared inspiration among writers and thinkers.
The content reflects a personal connection to the subject matter, with the author drawing from her own experiences to convey the poem's message.
The inclusion of a copyright notice and a link to the author's other works indicates a pride in originality and a desire to share more of her writings with interested readers.

Come, Swim With Me in Open Waters in The Wintertime

*The author braves the Irish Sea on Christmas Day 2019: photo taken by family member*

Have you the fortitude to gallivant within these waters,

Not of my imagination but tangible and serene?

Ken you drift, like one under hypnosis, in this esoteric space?

It’s not for the capricious nor for the jejeune of heart

This poem was inspired by my wintertime swims in the Irish Sea and open-air ponds and pools of London. Thanks to Xavier Van Holde for the inspirational words in IdeaStream #30

Write a poem! Here’s the words…

Ideastream #30

Imagination:- the faculty or action of forming new ideas, or images or concepts of external objects not present to the senses.

Serene:- calm, peaceful, and untroubled; tranquil.

Tangible:- perceptible by touch.

Ken: one's range of knowledge or understanding.

Hypnosis:- the induction of a state of consciousness in which a person apparently loses the power of voluntary action and is highly responsive to suggestion or direction.

Gallivant:- go around from one place to another in the pursuit of pleasure or entertainment.

Esoteric:- intended for or likely to be understood by only a small number of people with a specialized knowledge or interest.

Capricious:- given to sudden and unaccountable changes of mood or behaviour.

Fortitude:- courage in pain or adversity.

Jejeune:- naive, simplistic, and superficial.

Ideastream №30

Dreamers in an Open Space

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Marla Bishop is a writer and relationship coach specialising in helping others live a life they love. She lives in London UK with her husband and youngest two children. You can read more of her writings here: Lilith