Let The Wolf In

In a world where we are often too busy to write or where procrastination leads the way, Wolf at The Door offered a welcome retreat with like-minded others to get together and let their imaginations flow.  Led by Vishvantara and Dharmavadana, names I instantly couldn’t remember, I wasn’t sure what to expect arriving at the West London Buddhist Centre for the first time. But I was pleasantly surprised at the calm oasis I found in the heart of London, and there was no pressure to become a Buddhist either. 

The people that joined me at Wolf at The Door were there simply because of a love of writing and stillness. Some were Buddhist and very involved in “the community”, they had relatives that were ordained or were seeking ordination themselves.  Some had been to Wolf at The Door before and attended an online version offered during the lockdown, and others like me were complete newbies.  What was clear, was a mutual respect evident in our conversations and when being invited to share our work. 

Writing throughout the day was guided by prompts and we were given time to explore our thoughts. I had no idea that my wolf at the door would lead me to writing about the persistence of my soul through portraiture, a deflated decorator unable to escape systemic racism, and an argument between two sisters set in the iron age suitable for a Jeremy Kyle episode.   Listening to others share, it was clear that their imagination had led them in unexpected directions too, and at times it was surprising that despite being taken on different paths through the forest of minds, our thoughts could share similarities, even themes.

And so, after a  successful weekend of thinking and writing, I would encourage you to let the wolf in! Instead of something to fear, dedicating time to our imagination could be the best way to discover something new.