Recalculating, Recalibrating

A New Poem, A Long Way Up, 20% Subscriber Sale, New Shows & Workshops, One Inch Photos

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

This is a poem I wrote this week as we all recalculate the way forward and recalibrate our systems. Please feel free to share if you have folks in your life who are also recalculating and recalibrating. They are all welcome in The Gathering of Spirits Circle.

Recalculating, Recalibrating

I had an early GPS unit I called Jane.
She had a BBC British accent,
She sounded book savvy and tapped in,
She sounded like she knew
What was going on in the bigger picture,
And how it was intimately connected 
To all the smaller roads.

When I missed a turn,
Or got turned around,
She would politely call out from within
Her electronic box set up on the dashboard,

“Recalculating” 
“Recalibrating” 

I appreciated her calm 
And generally genteel attitude. 
It always felt like encouragement.
“Honey, there is nothing to fear
These things are going to happen,
And eventually we are going to get there—
Just a little later than you planned.” 

“Recalculating”
“Recalibrating”

“Honey, it’s alright
To pull out a paper map 
If you need to, 
Because sometimes 
You just have to place your finger 
Directly on the name of the place 
You most want to go.
Sometimes you need to pull over the car
And get out of the mindless stream of traffic,
Check the side mirrors and get a bead on True North,
Or Due West, 
Or Back East 
Or Basically South.
It’s alright to consider your options
While the your overworked engine 
Hisses and ticks and cools a little.”

“Recalculating”
“Recalibrating”

Jane only actually knew
What she was programmed to know
But I appreciated her manner of dealing
With the mistake, mishap or unexpected. 
This is when we pay attention,
In those vulnerable moments when we missed the exit
Or misjudged timing,
Or lose our bearings.

This is unknown territory
But not without direction. 

There are still on-ramps and off-ramps
Intersections and U-turns,
There are still landmarks 
Even when there are no signs

There is still reliable inner guidance
And there is still a way. 

“Recalculating”
“Recalibrating”

By Carrie Newcomer
Nov 9, 2024

Question

What did this poem bring up for you? Are you recalculating and/or recalibrating? What do these words mean for you in this moment?

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A Long Way Up

“Endings are just a place to start..and so we start again.

We’re going to climb this ladder rung by rung. We’re going count our blessings one by one. It’s gonna take a little grace and luck, ‘cause baby it’s a long way up.”

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Annual November 20% off for all new paid Subscribers

Thank you to everyone who is so generously supporting my work here at The Gathering of Spirits. A deep bow of humble gratitude.

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Tour and Workshop Schedule

Gary Walters and I will be traveling to WI, IN, OH and IA in the upcoming weeks. I hope to see you there. For more information and how to get tickets visit www.carrienewcomer.com/tour

Note: My workshops in LaCrosse WI and Glendale OH is full but there is a waiting list. But There are still tickets available at the Glendale OH and Lacrosse WI Concerts.

One Inch Photos