Calabash
May 28, 2007 by Marguerite Orane
Filed under Be Present
Calabash is a literary festival held in Calabash Bay, Treasure Beach on the southern coast of Jamaica. Treasure Beach is aptly named – it is a sleepy, peaceful little village surrounded by the most industrious people in Jamaica and the most magnificent scenery. Blue sea, raised bluffs, the rolling Pedro Plains dotted with majestic lignum vitae trees and the backdrop of the mountains – all conspire to make this a most beautiful setting.
This year was my second time at Calabash. As I reflected on the experience, I wondered why I have fallen in love with this very special event. What occurred to me is that the reading of prose and poetry is the backdrop to what’s really important in my life.
I found that for the entire weekend, as had happened last year, I was simply present to every moment. I was present to the joy I felt in seeing my 14 year old daughter Victoria, after hearing one hour of reading, get totally excited about literature. I was present to the joy of connecting with Toby-Kay, whom I have known from her birth, and who has blossomed into a wonderful, talented young woman.
I was present to the joy of my brother and I searching for two cups of coffee, lovingly provided by Miss Emmy in the kitchen at Jakes, and enjoying it together – even as we “missed” the best reading of the day. Fair exchange in my estimation.
I was present to the joy of walking on a bluff and marvelling at the beauty of fossils of shells thousands of years old, and the magic of a universe that placed them there for me to view on that day, 15 feet above sea level.
I was present to the brunch we enjoyed at Diner’s Delight, and the vibrant discussion with people we had just met. I was present to Angus, who quickly gave up on trying to sell me calabash wine cups, and instead engaged me in a conversation about life. I was present to all the wonderful people I have met along the way, who were present at Calabash, and with whom I connected – for a moment, the only moment.
And it occurred to me that this thing of being in the moment is a doable, ecstatic thing. It takes your life to a totally different level. It enhances relationships, and makes every interaction a connection, a reminder of our oneness. There are no regrets in the moment – when the moment is over, one simply exists in the next moment. When I left Calabash, there were no regrets for poets and performers I had not seen, for things I had not done, for people I had not spoken with; there were no regrets for anything. There was total gratitude for the moment, for the experience, for the connections.
The question for us all is how do we remain present, in the moment. We must first know that this moment is the only moment there is. As you read this, there is nothing else in the world, except you reading my words. But you also know that this moment that I am writing the words is also the only moment. They are not two moments – only one.
For me, getting and staying in the moment is to get quiet, to breathe, and to gently allow all my attention and focus on what’s happening NOW. Thoughts of the past and future are simply that – thoughts – that we may choose to let go of. There is little thinking in the moment. There is simply being. And that being is joy.
What also helps is to recognise the indicators of being out of the moment. Our emotional state tells us everything. I felt such love and joy the entire weekend. That only comes when I am present. There is no joy in the past – it does not exist and is not real. There is no joy in the future – it does not exist and is not real. Negative emotions, feelings of fear, unrest, unease and dis-ease in our body tell us that we are living in the past or future which are unreal states. Breathing, and noticing our breathing, brings us right back to our present, our core. For breathing is life. And living in the moment is life.
The beauty of the moment is that it is forever. Forever is now. My memories of Calabash are real. My memories are not in the past, but very much present in the moment of joy and love, in the experience of Calabash, as if it were real, and happening right now – which it is.
read your last 3 blogs, you are blessed with these wonderful experiences and approach to life!
Thanks Ulla. My experiences are no better or worse than anyone else’s – I am just developing a different way of looking at them!
Blessings
Marguerite
Very beautiful my friend.
This is akin to what a yoga instructor who I never met in person said on a TV class he was conducting. It is so simple yet very deep. If each of us stopped to appreciate each MOMENT in life, the world would be a better place.
There is beauty in every breath. But before you can even think about the breath, you have to consciously find an intangible thing called quiet to appreciate the inhale and the exhale. That each movement of the lung is a moment is indeed a miracle… something we do involuntarily (?), take for granted (?). We all need to let go of the past and cherish each moment. That is why I decided to stop and share my thoughts on this with you and also to thank you for making me pause in this moment.
Peace.
Glendon
Marguerite, last year I was at Calabash for the first time. I’m still to make the second. But I’m with you totally on the experience. In that place and in those moments I could just be.
And oh, the lignum vitae on the plains! For the first time I appreciated the lignum vitae as truly ours… our national tree, not just the flower. I was telling every second person.
The last thing … I spend a lot of time in those other places; not enough in the moment.
ew
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Hi Marguerite,
You really made my day this morning. For some reason, I was drawn to read some of your musings early today and doing so completely cleared my mind. I’m usually the type of person that goes to sleep instantly, almost upon contact with the pillow (people have long envied me for this). But last night I could not sleep at all. I have a challenging situation I need to face up to (soon) and gathering up the courage to deal with it has been distracting to no end.
Since I couldn’t get to sleep I decided to go on line and catch up with a little email, etc…and there was one from you re your recent musings. I read a bunch of them. I don’t recall right now which ones did the trick but a few of your comments just seemed to zero right in to the crux of the issue…and it was like a parting of the clouds for me. Suddenly I had understanding and clarity on the issue at hand and I’ve been at peace with the situation and what I need to do ever since. You helped me accomplish in a few moments what I have been struggling to achieve on my own for the past several weeks now.
So, thanks Marguerite, for spreading your wisdom around and keep the musings going! I, for one, genuinely appreciate them.
John
I was there and thru your words I felt I was there agin. You words dripped into an ocean of reality like raindrops to the sea. I actually had a bad moment while there, it was the treatment of ameture poets by the organizers, left a bad taste in my mouth. But after reading this blog, I have moved on to my next moment with no regrets. Thanks for sharing.
Sometimes, even in the present, there are bad moments – or rather, moments that we label “bad”. The key is to make sure they are just a moment and that they do not last longer than that – a moment. THe other thing of course is to watch our labelling. When we label, we judge, usually based on our past experiences and knowledge, or our future expectations. Being present means no labels, no judgements.
Blessings to you for sharing.
Hi Marguerite,
I am an avid reader and fan of your musings. This particular one reminds me of how I feel when I am doing and focused completely on something I love – it actually becomes a meditation. For me, meditation is remaining totally in the moment. Not always easy to do.
Thanks for your lovely wise words.
Shelagh