IN RESONANCE WITH THE EARTH
We are pleased to introduce new materials for this section of our journal. We see poiesis as providing the basis for human beings' creative responses to the world of nature. The arts in particular offer forms that crystallize these responses in ways that touch and move us. "In Resonance with the Earth" contains poetry, artworks, photography and essays relevant to this theme. In this issue of the journal, this section includes poetry, photographs, and artworks by Merve Kurt and Judith Greer Essex.
SOLSTICE
Judith Greer Essex
Ph.D. LMFT, ADTR, REAT. She is a professor at the European Graduate School in Saas Fee, Switzerland and founding director of The Expressive Arts Institute in San Diego. Judith teaches community art-making to facilitate large groups of people to cooperate and create together. In addition to community art, her special interests include embodiment, improvisation, women’s issues, and androgogy. She has led development workshops and consulting for Sharp Hospital Coronado, Toyota University, Mercy Hospital palliative care team, GSDBA Chamber of Commerce San Diego, Alliant University, and San Diego Repertory Theater, among others.
A time for the sun to stop, and me too. A time to listen in and out. Every year, I take that day to see the sun rise and set. I read my journals from the year that ended, reflecting on what occurred; the things I chose, and what chose me. My Illuminated Journal group wrote about the gifts of darkness, of stillness, of going within. The earth shows us the way: be quiet, take care of your body, mind, heart, and soul. Take care of your web of relations: people, animals, trees, and plants that create your relational environment. I pruned my roses and planted some bulbs - as I do every year, letting them revitalize in the soil.
This year on the solstice, the sun wore a halo! Did you see that? A ring of rainbow that I could only see parts of surrounded the blazing star at quite a distance. And the sun himself was not a circle in the sky. He was a radiant splash of brilliant light - no distinct edges - like a sunburst. As I was driving, I expected to see people looking up and pointing to the rare phenomenon. I was gobsmacked - I had never seen anything like this in San Diego. But, no. Nope. All my fellow citizens were attending to the screen or else the groceries. I had the urge to stop and shout, “Look up!” Instead, I took my own advice.
I wish for you a time-out to rest and reflect. I encourage you to write what needs to be written: tell yourself the truth. Move with it, put colors down, write a short poem - like a haiku. You're the only you that ever was or will be. Your life is important. Pay attention to it.
Write about whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year; the best memory or the worst. Collect your life. If you aren’t using a journal as your portable therapist, companion, witness - why not?
Haiku:
Solstice
The sun stopped. Have I?
Slow. Stop. Reflect. Change my path.
Now go forth. Begin.
Winter Night
The close and holy dark
Fills my home and heart.
Bringing peace on Earth?
Presents
My longing - presence
This time, anytime. Enter
Come now, Mystery.
Suggested citation note
Essex, J.G. (2026). Solstice. Ecopoiesis: Eco-Human Theory and Practice, 7 (1). [open access internet journal]. – URL: http://ecopoiesis.ru (d/m/y)