The Book of Us

CHAPTER ONE: The Winter Gathering

Learning to Read What Grows in the Dark

On a cold Saturday evening in July, a group of strangers and friends gathered around soup, songs, stories, conversation and creativity to ask a surprisingly simple question:

What if winter isn't empty?

Together we explored the hidden work of seasons that rarely announce themselves. We listened to music, heard stories, made art, met new people and left with more questions than answers—which, perhaps, is exactly what good gatherings are meant to do.

This chapter gathers together some of the moments, memories and traces left behind.

It is still unfolding.

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In Pictures

A small collection of photographs from the evening.

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Hidden Roots

One of the final invitations of the evening was to contribute to our collective artwork.

People wrote words, phrases and quiet reflections about the hidden growth happening in their own lives. Individually they were small. Together they became something none of us could have made alone.

photograph coming soon

Over the coming weeks I'll add close-up photographs so we can linger with some of the beautiful thoughts people left behind.

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From The Book of Us

Some of my favourite moments from every Gathering won't happen on the stage.

They'll happen in conversations over soup, in the pages of notebooks, In art and making, and in the things people choose to share before they head home (and afterwards).

I'll keep adding excerpts here as they're transcribed.

"I feel safe enough to come to this alone."

"I came because I like creative things. I left thinking much more about people than art. I think that's what I'll remember."

"I nearly didn't come because I would've been coming on my own. I'm really glad I ignored that little voice. It didn't take long before someone started talking to me, and by the end of the night I didn't feel like I was just attending something."

"The choir was beautiful, but my favourite part was afterwards, standing around with a talking to people I'd never met before."

"It felt gentle. We don't have enough spaces that feel gentle."

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This Chapter Is Still Growing

Like every Gathering, this chapter isn't finished when everyone goes home.

Over the coming weeks I'll keep adding photographs, reflections, guest book excerpts, artwork and the small moments that continue to emerge.

If you captured a photograph, made something, or have a reflection you'd like to share, I'd love for you to help us keep writing The Book of Us.

Because every Gathering belongs not to the person who hosts it, but to everyone who helped make it what it became.