REMARKABLE WOMEN: OVERCOMING THE CHALLENGES OF BEING A HEARING IMPAIRED RADIO PRODUCER

It's been so interesting producing my own Radio Series as a hearing impaired person. I learnt a lot on the last series, when I spent too long trying to do things in the way a hearing person might, which took an awful amount of ear energy, ear energy that I just don't have anymore - so for this series, I have tried something different, to explore whether or not it is possible to be more kind to my disability needs, and still make great radio for the listener.

The series is called Remarkable Women & launches on International Women's Day 8th March at 7pm with Oystermouth Radio. It feels really important to launch on this day because I have been bestowed a very great honour indeed, by the  Women's Equality Network, who have made me an honorary member of the Top 100 Women Pioneers in Wales for my work in the Arts, Health & Innovation. I can't quite believe it. This is an all time list & so, I'm in great company - there are suffragettes, politicians, sports women and ... me! 

In light of this, it feels like the right time to create a Radio Series that celebrates all Remarkable Women and I am very grateful to Oystermouth Radio & Welsh Connections for giving me the opportunity to take it to the airwaves.

Anyway, I digress, the first thing, was to invite women guests to talk open and freely about their amazing life. I made a video to give help & guidance, so that I would only need to talk to folk the once ... some of the women I invited, struggled with this free format and wanted me to interview them in the traditional way - I am a firm believer that the right women accepted the challenge to try something new and the results are nothing short of astounding. Now, after receiving the interviews in my inbox, I am building the shows around the guests, rather than vice versa. This has meant trusting wholly in my guests and allowing the series to be shaped by itself. That makes me smile inside. It's been a huge part of my journey, letting go of things and accepting what is, and this feels like part of that process.

The quality of some of the interviews from a technical point of view, is not great, but the life stories are so inspiring, & that's what really matters. It has made me realise that we so seldom get the chance just to listen to each other for 20 minutes - to hear in great depth about each others lives is such a joy.

Then last week, I decided it would be a good idea to extend the platform, & include unpublished music or songs written by women musicians ... so  I have a call out for that at the moment too ... feel free to get in touch if you'd like to submit your own unpublished track.

If everything goes to plan, I should have 6 women guests and 4 - 6 women musicians joining me ... 

So far my Interview Guests are: -

Fiona Winter from Energy Moves & The Summer House Studio.

Dr Anne Lister, Historian, Songwriter & Storyteller.

Catherine Fookes, Director of the Women's Equality Network.

Abbie Jebbers, Singer/ Songwriter & Holistic Therapist.

Esyllt George, Drama Therapist 

Cheryl Bass, Director of I AM WOMAN.

Music so far, from, Ann Lister, Abbie Jebbers, Kate Strudwick & Lowri Evans.

And off course, I will be talking about my life, too, in bite size chunks - and no doubt chanting.

What I have learnt so far,  is that there is always a way to overcome our challenges, as long as we listen to ourselves & trust each other, our desires are possible, even if we can not hear like we used to. 

Namaste, Dear Ones.

Full details available at www.cherylbeer.com

Stepping into My Power & The Laws of Attraction

As you may have read in my earlier blogs, to create a nurturing work environment for my hearing conditions, I have taken an old shop in the small rural town of Llandysul near my weaver's cottage in West Wales and am in the process of converting it into my studio. 

I've been there 2 months now. When I took the shop I didn't really know what I would be doing there, I just knew that I had to find a new way of working that nurtured my hearing needs. I have let the space and the community within which I am based and off course, the Universe in her infinite wisdom, inform me as to how Quiet Space will 'be'. 

By doing this I have found myself getting up to all sorts of capers that I might never have thought of had I worked in my usual way, before my hearing loss, which was to have a great BIG plan.

Having no plan, other than to create a nurturing environment, has worked a treat as 2 months on I feel ready to step into my power. In short, I now know the seed of what I am and what Quiet Space is, and am ready to grow it like a beautiful rambling rose, that twists and turns as time ticks by.

By creating a nurturing environment for myself that is easily accessible and on the main street, by offering the things that are nurturing me, I am attracting the people that would like the same nuturing &/or advice and guidance with regard to Holisitic Arts, that is the combination of Creativity and it's therapeutic benefits with the Holisitic Therapies, such as Essential oils, Reiki, Guided Meditation and Mantra.

Through this process, I have learnt two of the most valuable lessons of my entire life: the first is a lesson in trust. I think perhaps I previously made big plans in an attempt to have some sort of perceived control over my life but waking up without my hearing, replaced by constant tinnitus and hyperacusis has really shown me that I can plan all I like, but control is a figment of the human imagination.

I have spent the last 10 months focusing totally on creating a nurturing and healing environment that made me feel as though life was a joyous place to be, rather than a prison. And now, I can step into my full power and offer these learnings to others through my Holistic Arts Consultancy at Quiet Space Studio because people who want this, are walking through my door. 

And here in lie the 2nd lesson: Attraction. Simply by being, I am attracting folk who also want, need, wish to 'be' in the same way as me. I hope that makes sense. I didn't really understand the laws of attraction before, but I can see it clearly now. I haven't even got a sign above my door and yet folk are attracted to come and talk to me about alternative ways to live with their health needs because they can see through the shop window, that's what I am doing.

Here is another small example of Attraction. I put a unit in my Studio window with small boxes to rent out to other crafters and artists on a peppercorn rent to help with my bills. I didn't advertise it. The empty boxes themselves attracted people who came and asked me if they could have a box. Now, the old me, would have made a poster and put a whole advertising campaign together to attract folk to rent the boxes but the empty boxes themselves did all the work. That's a real insight, isn't it. It's made me think about where else in my life I put things in place that do not need to be there.

Anyway, to cut a long story short, I have designed a new poster today that I have shared at the top of this post. I feel it represents me fully stepping into being an Holisitic Arts Consultant at Quiet Space Studio. In my next post I will tell you all about the painting I have used in the poster. I'm not much of a painter, but this angel came to me in a very special way indeed ...

Not all days are fluffy

Yesterday was my first day of having the time to write at Quiet Space. I have been so busy unpacking, meeting local folk and friends visiting that I haven't really had time to be still. 

I had taken all my poems in with me to edit and reading them back was difficult. The enormity of my journey these past 9 months consumed me all at once. It was as if grief were a chiffon scarf hovering above my head, the wind had stopped and now it slowly enveloped me. I felt my heavy heart falling down into my boots. 

Tears started to sting my eyes but I realised that the open 'warts and all' nature of my studio would leave the whole high street in clear view of these emotions and that didn't feel comfortable. But I didn't stop the feelings, I didn't 'pull myself together' I gave them space to breathe.

I felt it was important to write about my feelings on facebook and to blog about them as part of my healing pathway because not all days are fluffy and brightly coloured. Some days are heavier and I want to be honest about it.

Having said that, out of the mist a deeper connection to self has occurred. It is ok to have blue days ...  and I have woken up this morning with a new creative clarity forming. Gentle, healing, loving baby steps. All is well.

Hearing Stories

Earlier this week, I had a visit from Rosemary Jones at Quiet Space Studio & Gallery. She is with Pentrecwrt WI. She called in to say 'hello' and had seen my sign on the door regarding my hearing.

We had a lovely chat about her life as a hearing impaired person. Rosemary explained what it was like when she first went deaf at 6 years old and as she told me her story, I had an idea.

I asked Rosemary if she would kindly allow me to record her story to start a new multi media project which will be based at my Quiet Space website. 

'Hearing Stories'  will explore the life experiences of people who live with hearing loss; how it happened, how they felt, how they came to terms with it and what their life is like now, giving a voice to our hidden disability.

Rosemary has her first hearing aid from her childhood and she had planned to bring it in today for me to photograph it but she couldn't find it. She told me that was will pray to St.Anthony who apparently is the patron Saint of Lost Causes and can help to find things. I have every faith that it will turn up before next Tuesday when Rosemary is coming back to do the interview.

Isn't is amazing how the Universe is bringing me exactly the right people. 

Mastering the Art of Thresholds

 One of the interesting things about being at Quiet Space Studio & Gallery is that folk tend to peer in the window, see me, we smile, then they come to the door but they do not come in.

I literally have to stand up from my chair and verbally invite them to step into the studio. Once in, they do not wander around, nor read any of the poems that I have installed on the wall. It's almost as if they feel they are imposing.

My friend Prue reminded me of the importance of thresholds. So, I have begun a series of what are essentially drama and iconography experiments to see if there is a change to the way people access the space.

All of this is great R&D for my first exhibition for the release of my Anthology The Beauty of Decay at the end of the Summer.

In response to this, I have installed a mobile of feathers and parts of the poem Earth Angel Tinnitus, alongside the poem in the floating frame on the wall. In the frame above the poem, some more floating feathers. 

I will sit with this for a while and see how folk respond when they come in. 

I have also ordered some prints of a photo shoot that I did with a pair of angel wings. The feathers are from these wings. However, I would like to give the viewer space to think, rather than say 'Look! Look here's a picture of an angel!' 

I am hoping the mobile will draw them over to the poem, they will read the poem fragments on the mobile and as a result go the poem on the wall.

Twice today I have offered to do a reading of the poem to visitors. This has worked really well. 

It was quiet a big thing for me. I have not been able to 'peform' nor even do a reading comfortably in the 9 months without hearing or hearing aid because I can not hear my voice and consequently, I lose a sense of rhythm ... I can't focus on the piece because I am focussed on the ricidulously loud sounds in my head, which block out my voice. But with the hearing aid, I can hear myself over the tinnitus. It is absolutely wonderful. I can hear every word that I am saying and so, doing a reading is absolutely possible again, even enjoyable.

I have started thinking of new ways to disrupt the space.

This evening Jeff came over and we moved all the furniture round but I didn't like it. I suppose it is a toss up between having the space in  a position that suits me as a studio when I am working and then wanting to change it to make it an exhibition space that engages others to come in. I think this maybe the only option when the time comes to launch the exhibition. But I will keep on experimenting. After all, that's the fun of it.

Work as Nurture: Quiet Space Studio & Gallery

The more my tinnitus and hyperacusis have taken a grip of my life, the more and more isolated I have felt myself becoming and so I made the decision to be my own Arts Consultant in a cunning plan to find solutions.

I have been an Arts Consultant working the field of Health and Well Being for 30 years and yet oddly, I seemed to have forgotten this incredible resource of self in my own healing process.

So, I thought long and hard about what I would advise and support someone with my needs.

The first thing was to write down everything I can still do, rather than that which I can't do anymore.

For instance, instead of saying 'I can't drive very far anymore.' I asked myself .. 'How far can you drive comfortably?' and the answer to this is ... to the village and back.

Right then, I need to be based in the village. Most importantly, I need to be in control of the sound environment within which I am based and my place of work tailored around my needs for meditation, creativity and aromatherapy. 

Mmm ... I know, a Tinnitus & Hyperacusis friendly Studio and Gallery within which to create a healing environment for myself and potentially down the line, for others.

Very quickly after I had set my intentions, a beautiful little shop that I have often lusted after as a studio/gallery came on the market for rent in the village. The Universe had heard me and agreed that the time is now. I can work here to write and publish books. I can make things and paint, sell quirky pre-loved things that I have love collecting, start a Grandma's Sewing cupboard for vintage needlework accessories, display and sell my beautiful beads from around the world. I can exhibit my work but most of all ... I can simply 'be'. I feel so excited to be taking this step back into the world instead of retreating into my shell.

You can read about the ongoing journey at www.quietspace.weebly.com though I will leave more personal indepth blogging here, my Quiet Space Blog shows the daily challenges and joys of setting up a Studio and Gallery in a village. I would love for you to pop over and see how it's all going.

If you are struggling with a change in your health needs I know first hand how frightening it can be. I offer one to one Creative Business Advice through my Consultancy Small Talk Your Big Ideas . For more details or to book a session, feel free to get in touch.

Is the Solution Coming?

It was a heavy night. The air was thick. Poor Maisy was flat out on the bed, almost unable to move she was so hot. I had just managed to doze off when I felt a bright light cut through my bedroom and the rumble of thunder seemingly cracking through the ceiling.

The lightening had a direct stargate through my window,  bouncing against my head as I lay upon the pillow. Perhaps, in so doing, it charged up my brain because when I woke up in the morning, I was fully wired.

I had discussed a problem with a friend the day before regarding a new online business venture I am working on. As she and I meandered along the river through the woods, we decided that the best way to solve the problem, was to set an intention for a solution. So, that's what I did. Right there, with the river and the trees, I decided to stop worrying about the problem and trust that a solution was coming.

And after a night of lightening infusion, I awoke with the whole solution fully formed, as if it had been downloaded. I ran to my computer and tried out my theory and yes, it worked.

Still filled to the brim with fully formed ideas, I found myself at my writing table overlooking the view, and without me realising, my pen was in my hand. I let go of all thought and allowed pure expression to flow through the ink as an extension of my veins. Poems came tumbling onto the paper as if they had been queuing up all night and were keen to lay still upon the paper.

Then I thought I best get dressed because I felt well enough to get on with my day and what a day it was (see last blog).

And so now, I am wondering about how I have previously lived my life. As a younger woman I was so urgent , pressing and pushing and thinking that I could force answers into being, when in actual fact, the answers are already fully formed, right here inside me, wrapped up lovingly in the questions. The solution is not coming. The solution is already here. In this thought I realised, that since my hearing disability, I have felt as though my life were shrinking, but for sure, by the same token, it is also getting deeper.

Rain Scribble : An Artistic Collaboration with Mother Nature

Being in my shed is a lovely escape from the world. Today it was raining and I was a bit worried that the noise on the shed roof might be disturbing for my hyperacusis, which is a sound intolerance to certain frequencies in my tinnitus.

Anyway, the rain did not disturb it, on the contrary, it was actually very soothing and soon took me away from what I was doing, to wonder how best to artistically engage with Mother Nature.

I had to be quick because the rain might stop. Such is the way here ... showers/ on and off, sunshine/ on and off, as if someone were playing around with rain and sunshine switches.

So I grabbed my water colour pencils and started scribbling quickly and then hanging the water colour scribble in the rain to see what happened.

Then something very interesting occurred ...

I found that I really enjoyed scribbling ... just like when I was little in primary school and someone handed me a box of chubby crayons ... 

There was something very relaxing and fun about it and off course the excitement of wondering what the rain would do to the water colour pencil.

Then I brought the Rain Scribbles into the shed to dry ...

This blue one is my favourite and the next shower we have, I am going to dash back to the shed and write a poem in response to the rain, which I will then incoporate into the rain scribble.

And then I had to stop and smile at myself, joyous at what fun I was having.

(The term 'Rain Scribble' was suggested to me by my dear friend & fellow creative, Miranda Betts, after I had told folks on facebook about scribbling in the rain. Thanks Miranda)

SPECIAL NOTICE FOR THOSE WHO ARE DEAF OR HEARING IMPAIRED

Access to The Dragon Tree

In the absence of funding to make The Dragon Tree fully accessible to those with disabilities, the following considerations have been made for those who are deaf or hearing impaired.

To help with access to the lyrical contect of the live performance, Rachel Stelmach from Disability Arts Cymru will kindly be attending the Launch of The Dragon Tree at NBGW on 26th January and also at St.David's on February 16th.

She is preparing a text screen so that the lyrics will come up as they are being sung.

Sadly you will not be able to see my link speak between songs nor hear the story line of the film.

However, there is a book that accompanies the film and I would like to offer those who are deaf the opportunity to borrow copies of this on the day to acquaint themselves with the story line, should they wish.

In addition, I can reserve seats for you close to the sound, if this is helpful for your needs.

Please let me know in advance by emailing cherylbeermusic@gmail.com