Turning Towards Life - a Thirdspace podcast 410: The Singing Bird
Aug 17, 2025
36:04
How do we attend to the something in each of us that longs to break free through the cracks of our self-image? A conversation about discovering that sacred uniqueness within ourselves and others in the everyday mundane acts of living, loving, working and being genuinely present with one another.
This week’s conversation is hosted, as always, by Lizzie Winn and Justin Wise of Thirdspace.
Episode Overview
00:00 Introduction to Turning Towards Life
02:50 The Singing Bird: A Poetic Exploration
06:03 Longing and Creativity: Uncovering the Singing Bird
08:57 The Unique Expression of Each Of Us
12:00 Navigating Self-Criticism and Inquiry
14:50 Vulnerability and Authenticity in Relationships
18:07 Embracing the Messiness of Life
21:08 The Complexity of Human Experience
23:56 The Interconnectedness of Our Stories
26:50 The Importance of Community and Conversation
30:02 Conclusion and Looking Ahead
Here’s our source for this week:
The Singing Bird
The singing bird
I have a hundred ways
Of keeping the singing bird
Pushed down,
Hidden,
Anaesthetised,
Comfort-numb,
Silenced.
But I have learned
How easily she
Can break free
And Sing Anyway.
She sneaks out
Through the cracks
That get made
By laughter
And poetry
And art
And honesty
And dancing
And sunshine.
I wonder if you know
The ways you keep the singing bird
Quiet?
And if you know how to forget yourself
So that she can sneak out
And remind you of the song
You’ve always wanted to sing.
Hollie Holden
Photo by Lukáš Kadava on Unsplash
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Join Us Live in 2025
Turning Towards Life Live Season 1, from 17 September 2025
Our Turning Towards Life live programme of community, learning and reflection runs in six month seasons from September. It's going to be in person on Zoom once a month. We're very excited about it. A chance to expand beyond the bounds of a podcast into forming a community of learning and practice. You can find out more and join us here.
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About Turning Towards Life
Turning Towards Life, a week-by-week conversation inviting us deeply into our lives, is a live 30 minute conversation hosted by Justin Wise and Lizzie Winn of Thirdspace. Find us on FaceBook to join in the lively conversation on this episode. You can find videos of every episode, and more about the project on the Turning Towards Life website, and you can also watch and listen on Instagram, YouTube, and as a podcast on Apple, Amazon Music and Spotify.
Join Our Weekly Mailing: www.turningtowards.life/subscribe
Support Us: www.buymeacoffee.com/turningtowardslife
Keywords
singing bird, creative expression, authentic presence, vulnerability sharing, sacred uniqueness, forget yourself, honest presence, creative practice, inner critic, right sizing, vast universe, cultural expectations, sacred something, judgement softening, unfolding process, kerfuffle acceptance, contactful being, depth confidence, whoness discovery, messy glory, genuine presence, practical spirituality, learning process, turning towards life, creative longing, existential wondering
People Mentioned
Hollie Holden (author of this week's source)
This week’s conversation is hosted, as always, by Lizzie Winn and Justin Wise of Thirdspace.
Episode Overview
00:00 Introduction to Turning Towards Life
02:50 The Singing Bird: A Poetic Exploration
06:03 Longing and Creativity: Uncovering the Singing Bird
08:57 The Unique Expression of Each Of Us
12:00 Navigating Self-Criticism and Inquiry
14:50 Vulnerability and Authenticity in Relationships
18:07 Embracing the Messiness of Life
21:08 The Complexity of Human Experience
23:56 The Interconnectedness of Our Stories
26:50 The Importance of Community and Conversation
30:02 Conclusion and Looking Ahead
Here’s our source for this week:
The Singing Bird
The singing bird
I have a hundred ways
Of keeping the singing bird
Pushed down,
Hidden,
Anaesthetised,
Comfort-numb,
Silenced.
But I have learned
How easily she
Can break free
And Sing Anyway.
She sneaks out
Through the cracks
That get made
By laughter
And poetry
And art
And honesty
And dancing
And sunshine.
I wonder if you know
The ways you keep the singing bird
Quiet?
And if you know how to forget yourself
So that she can sneak out
And remind you of the song
You’ve always wanted to sing.
Hollie Holden
Photo by Lukáš Kadava on Unsplash
----
Join Us Live in 2025
Turning Towards Life Live Season 1, from 17 September 2025
Our Turning Towards Life live programme of community, learning and reflection runs in six month seasons from September. It's going to be in person on Zoom once a month. We're very excited about it. A chance to expand beyond the bounds of a podcast into forming a community of learning and practice. You can find out more and join us here.
----
About Turning Towards Life
Turning Towards Life, a week-by-week conversation inviting us deeply into our lives, is a live 30 minute conversation hosted by Justin Wise and Lizzie Winn of Thirdspace. Find us on FaceBook to join in the lively conversation on this episode. You can find videos of every episode, and more about the project on the Turning Towards Life website, and you can also watch and listen on Instagram, YouTube, and as a podcast on Apple, Amazon Music and Spotify.
Join Our Weekly Mailing: www.turningtowards.life/subscribe
Support Us: www.buymeacoffee.com/turningtowardslife
Keywords
singing bird, creative expression, authentic presence, vulnerability sharing, sacred uniqueness, forget yourself, honest presence, creative practice, inner critic, right sizing, vast universe, cultural expectations, sacred something, judgement softening, unfolding process, kerfuffle acceptance, contactful being, depth confidence, whoness discovery, messy glory, genuine presence, practical spirituality, learning process, turning towards life, creative longing, existential wondering
People Mentioned
Hollie Holden (author of this week's source)