hi and welcome to Hiatus.

are you in search? in need? do you ever feel unsure or lost? I do too.

my name is b and i’m inviting you to take a step out – out of this moment – out of your day – out of your entire body – take a hiatus.

Hiatus is a mindfulness and poetry podcast offering thoughtful breaks in your day. new soundscapes, poetry, and guided meditations every episode. and i invite you to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

personally, i think it is quite easy to get caught up in the chaos of the world, your life, your day. i’m making Hiatus as a way to help us findd ourselves in that chaos…together.

i consider each episode an invitation to come back to that centred place – for you, for me, fo us. i hope you’ll join me in taking a hiatus.

as i mentioned, you can subscribe by clicking here.

if you are already a listener, thank you. please help me spread the word by getting others to subscribe by sharing a link to hiatuspodcast.com on social media and giving Hiatus a 5 star rating in Apple Podcasts.

sound and words by b Wrauley

music by Poddington Bear

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How do we become the people we are? Listen to this reflection about the influence of others.

i am a container
filled by
the influence of others
and my own choices
i am humble
before the wisdom
from those
i have chosen
to keep
in
my memory

Sound and words by b Wrauley (background sounds recorded at the 2018 Women’s March in Toronto)

Music by Chris Zabriske

Cover photo by Jake Hinds

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A meditative poem about what the author discovered on their odyssey to the top of Nova Scotia.

in the Summer
of 2015
we headed to the top
of Nova Scotia
after sleeping
on the side of roads
we wound our way
past rocks
that could slice
through tires flesh
to deflate their souls

we uncovered hidden economies
at the end of electric stations
and a drained lake

we made friends
before departing
and accepting
timeless isolation

somewhere in the deep woods
after unexpected rivers
and feet sunk
in wet soil
i collapsed
and only thoughts
of your faith in me
picked me up

eventually we found a path
right before giving up
and you led
to our mossy camp
for the night

the next day
we reached the top
and i tried
to hide my anxiety
of the return
long enough
to drink
our butter
coffee breakfast

i still wake up
after nightmares
about the fear
i felt in those woods

anxiously
i recall it all
to write
this poem

and hope
the nightmares
will subside

Sound and words by b Wrauley

Music by Galdson

Cover photo by Andrea Wrobel

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An ode to moments of falling in love while two lovers walk through the wilderness.

come walk around with me

in the night sky

like we did when we met.

our thoughts echoed by

our footsteps

our thoughts carved

by the things we see.

the nature and the lights

they overtake our memories

and we can’t help but think

of deeper feelings

we dare not speak.

Sound and words by b Wrauley

Music by Poddington Bear

Cover photo by Tyson Dudley

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Is there a calling inside you can’t deny? What opportunity are you are waiting for to answer?

i hear footsteps

in my heart beat

and they won’t

stop.

i hear fantasy

in my dreams

that go

on.

it’s an endless wave

and i’m all

wrapped

up.

it’s amazing

what i choose to see

and you can

see

too.

come on this journey

with me

– or go

alone

either way

the train

is leaving

and i think

you’ll

want

to

go.

Sound and words by b Wrauley

Music by Broke For Free

Cover photo by Jack Antsey

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Explore the relaxing and enticing feeling of paper on your finger tips in this ode to writing’s canvas.

i love the texture

of paper

(at least the right hand)

beneath my fingers

– beautiful

with its soft fibres

and gentle sounds

invitations

for a world of play

i indulge

for time lost

and unmeasured

Sound and words by b Wrauley

Cover photo by Kira auf der Heide

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How do the places we visit transform us? Listen to a poem reflecting on the impact of an island during an artist’s retreat.

so long

my beautiful love

your welcoming body

in it I made art

you invited me

let me play

take my time to get acquainted

then reflect

you patiently waited

while I discovered

allowing me a private solitude

enough to dismantle barriers

to myself

and shed layers

i hid from so many

i will leave you

but not before

preparing you for others

you will transform

and so will i

i will never forget you

for you are more feeling

than space

and space

is what started this all

if i could stay longer

and simply exist

in the time-frozen sanctity you bring

but that is undeserving of us

and disrespectful of the power

we give each other

you were a cocoon

to my chrysalis

and I will breathe final breaths

inside your lung

– and I will breathe silent deaths

to be transformed

Sound and words by b Wrauley

Music by Poddington Bear

Cover photo by Brian Cauley

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Go on a journey in this guided meditation that will take you to a special place of tranquility and peace.

today

i want to try something different

with you

i want us

to go on a journey

together

this will be your journey

and I will be your guide

i want you to start by focusing on your breathing

focus on breathing in

and out

feel how the breath comes in to your body

feel how the breath leaves your body

breathing

if you choose

you can now close your eyes

i want you to picture a place

where you feel comfortable

and safe

this place could be someplace you’ve been

or someplace you want to go

or you can imagine someplace new

i want you to picture yourself there

i want you to feel yourself there.

how does this place sound?

listen to the sounds.

how does this place smell?

take a deep breath through your nose.

let the smells of this place fill your nose.

how does it feel on your skin?

reach out.

feel this place on your face,

your arms

your hands

your whole body

feel your feet

wiggle your toes

i want you to look around in

the space

of this special place.

look out far and wide

and now I want you to start moving through this space

up ahead you see something

you can’t quite tell what it is

but you know it is something special

go to this thing

when you get there

you see that you are right

this is a very special thing

in fact

it is one of the most special things to you

gently examine your discovery

if you wish,

you can pick it up

you can touch it

you can smell it

taste it

you can hold it close to your heart

and feel how special it is

spend some time with that feeling

once you have spent some time

with your special discovery

i want you to put it back

i want you to leave it there for others

so they can have a special discovery too.

just like you

up ahead there is a door

do you see it?

i want you to walk to the door

when you get there

before you go through the door

i want you to think back to a moment ago

and your discovery

and your feelings

remember how you felt

remember that you have let others find that feeling too

that is a special thing

now turn

to the door

and go through that door

when you walk through

the door

you will come back to where you started

before we went to that special place.

you will come back to the sounds of where you are

you will come back to the smells of where you are

you will come back to your body

and the feelings of where you are

you are back

and you are special

and you know that everyone else is just as special as you

and that is something to cherish.

Sounds, words, and music by b Wrauley

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