- Gail Calwell Courageous Conversations
True radical self The ability to manage care is difficult difficult conversations and challenging. and tolerate awkwardness is a skill that we should It is about nurturing develop, so that we can our soul, and having the live authentic lives. courage to take those steps that will lead to Most of us are not the change that we there yet. We struggle need to thrive. with change and we fear the pain that we Everyone benefits when might cause. we speak our truth. It is harder to accept that Start with baby steps, our truths may result select something small, in discomfort to others. take a deep breath, We must always be kind speak your truth. and choose our battles, and words, carefully.
- Siobhan O’Neill
Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne & Newtownabbey Women’s Aid 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath 028 2563 2136 Come.
You are loved. Sit and rest in the presence of these words and this art. You are welcome. May they find their way to where you need them most.
Into your heart, for courage. You are seen. Into your soul, for hope. Into your head, for wisdom. Into your body, for peace.
Like dandelion seeds, may these words and this art take root and grow. May they challenge and strengthen us from within.
We invite you to be the breeze that carries them further, to others who may need to hear them too.
For we share the same air, we are each other’s burdens and dreams.
Let us all breathe.
Armagh & Down Women’s Aid 028 3025 0765 or 028 3839 7979 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com Belfast & Lisburn Women’s Aid 0284 Corners 9066 Festival 6049 Belfast | Soothing Breath When you’re as scared as you’ve ever been. Sip slowly at the breath.
Though your eyes flare, your heart - Philip McCrea shatters and the knot in your stomach grips tighter than life.
into fear into Let the Breath seep tortoise like
Breathing Breathing into veins and arteries to calm the haring of the blood.
Find the breath and find it again. And breathe slower, Breathe deeper.
Find space where there is none.
In this place you can let the shadows dance and the world do what it will.
- Mary O’Rawe
Causeway Women’s Aid 028 7035 6573 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath And a time comes When your time comes, when fear can’t stay immense
And takes a chair, like everybody else. Black - Kieron
A time comes when you conjure strength Like water out of air. A thing you didn’t even know was there.
A time comes when you find a voice
A Time Comes A Time You find to be your own: You raise it, like a sail, And head for home.
A time comes when you know The bites have been healed around your tongue: A time comes when you know A time will come.
- Damian O’Gorman
Fermanagh Women’s Aid 028 6632 8898 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath - Philip McCrea
Sometimes your mind plays tricks on you. It can tell you you’re no good, that it is all hopeless. But remember this; You are loved, and important and you bring to this world things no one else can. So hold on.
- Charlie Mackesy
Foyle Women’s Aid 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com 028 7141 6800 Changing places, Different faces, Heart scared, Feels strange. Changing faces, Different places, - Philip McCrea Heart races, Feels right.
The next chapter starts now. This is my next chapter. I accept all that has happened, This was not the story I imagined. It is destiny. It is reality. It is part of me, This is not the story that ended me. but does not define me. It is history. It is over, fear no longer grips me. This is the story I lived through and am living. I believe in magic. It is possibility. It is not fantasy. This is my story, I imagine... I am my story and live my dreams. The Next Chapter The Next It is being written. It is dignity. I am me. I survived. Free to be, I have faith, Free to do, I have hope, Free to dream. I have love. My next chapter is serendipity. So, I am. Be you. Just be.
- Heather Palmer
Mid-Ulster Women’s Aid 028 8676 9300 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com A dreamy piece to draw in the viewer. Abstracting elements of the sunset, almost moments in time where hue, intensity and movement evolve.
A softer palette allows the sensory experience to take hold.
- Geralyn Mulqueen
North Down & Ards Women’s Aid 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath 028 9127 3196 - Philip McCrea At times I inhale and believe It matters the most when I hold The weight of the world’s expectations Deep in the lungs of my soul Deeper beyond all desire Leaning on laughter and smiles Free like the breath of the kestrel Carefully careless and wild Breathe Posture shifts its position Scented loses its smell But stillness provokes expectation And silence is more than I tell Resting from all of my striving Meeting with God on my knees Rising to face my ambitions Reminded that I should just breathe
- Philip Robinson
Omagh Women’s Aid 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com 028 8224 1414 look at you. I have chosen a piece entitled “Resilience” still standing that I feel is fitting for inclusion in the digital after being booklet ‘Soothing Breath‘ and which will accompany
knocked down - Philip McCrea the 4 Corners Festival event, and thrown out. about domestic abuse look at you. ‘breath knocked out of you’. still growing I hope that anyone who is affected by domestic abuse
Resilience after being reads and sees the art in it picked and plucked and finds the courage to and prodded out of make a call that will lead to them getting the support your home and help they need. look at you. Wishing you every still dancing success for the festival. and singing after being - Naomi Long defeated and disassembled. look at you, love. still here and hopeful after it all.
- Alex Elle
Women’s Aid Federation 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com 028 9024 9041 Let us ‘Be still’ and take hope from scripture and the beautiful poetry of the Authorised King James Version:
It is of the Lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new EVERY morning: great is thy faithfulness.
Lamentations 3v22 & 23
Always remember that every day is a NEW day.
- Arlene Foster
Free 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 Take a deep breath. Gather the strength you have within you.
You may not realise it's there; but it is. It may seem hard; it can seem like - Oonagh Linden there is no light at the end of the tunnel. But there is always hope.
There is a strength inside all of us. I have seen it many times in so many different people. But it is the same strength. It is the same striving for truth, for something better.
No matter the challenges we face, no matter the obstacles placed in our way; that strength can see us through. And it all starts with a deep breath.
- Michelle O’Neill
National Domestic Abuse Live Chat www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath - Jim Deeds 4 Corners Festival Belfast Breath |Soothing The Sparkle of Life Along withourvoices.Along even strangled. constricted, suffocated, Too often ourbreath is through each ofus. breathes She And inand is excluded. Life isBoth/And. Nothing knowswisdom. She that femininedepths ofthe Creativity, knows the each ofus,thatDivine That Life Force within Holy Spirit isfeminine. saysBible actually the God ismale.Butthe We’ve always beentold Breath ofLife. For very isthe She Let HolySpirit the fill you. sparkle ofLife withinyou. Slowly, deeply. Feel the Breathe out. in,and from you to others. from SpiritGiving overflows Fill you, Life- sothat the refilland you. may return to you again lettingand go, sothatit Embracing out. In and Embrace your HolyBreath. season by season. bybodies, month month, Wehearts. live itinour We experience itinour As women we know this. re-birth. receiving.and Life, death, cyclean endless ofgiving Truth asyou breathe in…. withLoveup again and Universe The out. fills you Loveand asyou breathe You voice speaks Truth You. You are too. Divine Feel Life HerDivine in So breathe deepnow. - Talisker MacLeod 028 9024 1929 Men’s Project Advisory Belfast Prayers from the Corrymeela Community Amen compassion.and with grace faith and may control ourselves left inourcontrol, we breath, sothatwithlittle accompany ourcoming a patient thought begin ournext encounter, May agracious word our kindness. will belike, ground usin whatlife imagine and worldof the around us struggle to make sense social distance –aswe fortimeline return, asafe what we know donot –a we come to terms with too deepfor words: as hearsand sighsthatare whirlwind,out ofthe speaksGod who from Amen mercies we see. May we share new the Have ushumitby heart. Give usthatsong. morning by morning. tomorrow’ thatwe find today bright and for hope promise: ‘strength the for for faithfulness the you come, we are grateful for more unknown to prepareand ourselves As we continue to pace lose asenseoftime. so quickly, thatwe can so much hashappened God ofwelcomed pause: God ofcaughtbreath, Amen your presence. ourselvesfind again, in thinkingwithout we can tomoments come, sothat train and moment usfor we take, usinthis hold centring the and breaths techniques we practice, now. May soothing the other, justfor isnot right we support offerthe each show to ourselves, and kindness sothe And we learning to hold. our bodiesare actively our tissues,something our lives willlive onin this biggestevent of God ofspiritual embrace: God ofhumantouch, Amen task athand. the steady approach minds that we with mightthen to your unhurried pace so our breath, settle and in move atall,may we catch to barrel hardly on,and seemsboth time When moment’s giftofrest. you a acceptand from tasks, we canfail to stop days cleared ofscheduled Even inlockdown, even on catch upwithourselves. whims, we can’t quite our reactions our and ouractions, thoughts, move sofast inour exhalation: we can pause, Godofacalming God ofawelcomed Amen breath ofnew life. peace renewal; and a May of itbeamoment results we fear. mistakes we’ve or made unencumbered by May itbeamoment learning unlearning. and compassion, and hope by May itbemarked by ourselves for and others. patienceand for grace;and withkindness filled with reassurance nowin beamoment may we’re thismoment God ofthisnext breath: God ofeach breath, 028 7116 00011 028 7116 Men’s Project Advisory Foyle 1800 341 900 Dublin Women’s Aid Amen world way another to love. of God,we to canstart show the womenand image inthe made sothattogether asmen friends husbands, brothers, fathers and Holy Spirit to change usinto better better waythe to We bemen. ask We askfor forgiveness seeking a absolute purity, assisters. treat you withrespect and have failed sometimes to women. We thatwe admit waythe we have treated As we men are for sorry - Pete Greig 4 Corners Festival Belfast Breath |Soothing
- Naomi Cahill Stop. Breathe. Believe. This is not the way it should be. It doesn’t have to be this way. Breathe This is not love. You are worth so much more. You deserve better. You matter. Take a deep breath, you can and will do this.
- Nichola Mallon
Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline Freephone 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath 0808 802 14144 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath grounding calming. and beauty. Itisinspiring, individual and uniqueness our personal development, symbol for itself. Itrepresents groupone canclaim this religions cultures. and No symbol thattranscends for centuries as auniversal Tree ofLife hasbeenregarded illustrate Tree the ofLife. The glasswindowsstained to commissioned to designthree Leadlines Studiowas David EslerArtist from throughout centre. the artworktheir iscelebrated itself. building the Much of and service designofthe the intrinsically involved bothin of sexual were assault recently. Victims survivors and past inthe ormorewhether been sexually assaulted woman and men, have who to children, young people, services and range ofsupport Referral Centre provides a RowanThe Sexual Assault 0800 3894424 RowanThe Sexual Referral Assault Centre Ireland (SARC) for Northern and unyielding.and vulnerable, earth hard the eagle. grounded The bird is flightofthe the plight and glass windows the depict sexual stained- abuse.The childhood recovery from was to helpful inmy me own whichcapturing imagery the has portrayed my story treethe oflife, artist the In hisinterpretation of process. ofthe at any part catch breath their orstep out overwhelmed to need and feel trapped, anxiousor gardenthe they should has immediate access to Each every and room outside space was provided. that anaccessible private requestthe victims ofthe examination suites. Itwas at gardensthe three ofthe togentle softlighting stark forensic corridor but onlybringnot life to the Rowan,In the windows these Isaiah 40:29-31 illustrating my story. Daviddesigner Esler for Thanks to and artist the supported, free. and strong, isstunning, and above garden the ofplenty mature eagle soars high Having found the its wings, raise itselfinflight. desire to begins flyand to a new senseoffreedom, flightless bird develops a grow upwards, the sprouts. As branches the treethe strengthens and roots the and grow deep, However, isathand help 4 Corners Festival Belfast Breath |Soothing - DrOlive Buckley
- David Esler Hope hides in the darkest places, Waiting for courage to light our way. Faith drives out fear to reclaim those spaces, And we emerge, scarred but strengthened, To face a new day.
- Nicola Brady
Victim Support 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com 028 90 244 039 You Begin Beloved Rose breath hums its A wind sweeps through scarlet melody around the dry grass, his breath the stone cottage. It bristling through barley draws us out of safe stubble. In listening, we confinement into the notice that the wind blows spacious garden. She wherever he pleases and drapes us in her ruby we are trained in the art of coat, and we are rinsed paying attention. Standing with a cool, refreshing in the spacious place, whiteness: a graduation Ruach knits together the toward greater light. scars left by anger and our bodies come home with Honeysuckle pours out a redeemed story. her evensong, and the open gates bid us to Love offends our minds cross the threshold to and we become fearless. home. She stretches Our hearts prophesy herself across the wooden and the light erases the beams, fully sacrificed and shadow’s shame. wholly surrendered. She teaches us the posture We are moved by of forgiveness and the invisible breath and led vulnerability of beauty. just beyond ourselves.
- Claire Hamilton
Rowan Freephone 0800 389 4424 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath Beginning to breathe Involves a certain conscious effort To teach the muscles how to heave; To teach the lungs how to convert. We persevere Once we learn, we forget Exhale The effort once expended, And the benefit of making that effort. We begin to breathe unconsciously. We relax Bad habits evolve. to Breathe to Beginning Beginning We breathe shallow, quick breaths, Missing the whole picture; The fullness of the air about us. We sleep Only a shocking failure to breathe; A moment without any air, Can remind us of how we need it, And what effort we must take. We awake Then we learn again; We rebuild the muscles to heave, And the conversion begins In the chest; in ourselves. We rebreathe As we do We humbly recall That time with no breath. And know that others still have no breath. We mourn Those who suffered will us From beyond laboured breathing: "Breathe in memory of me. Breathe now with humility, love and grace". Rowan Website We commit - Jim Deeds www.therowan.net/Rowan Believe, Baruch, Release, Rachamim, Enlighten, El Shaddai, Adjust, Adonai, Radford Edith - Grace Thank, Tikvah, Heal, Haskalah, Elohim.
- Katy Radford
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline 0800 999 5428 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath Breathe. Have you noticed how After the Flood, God Be breathed. closely connected God’s sends ruach, the waters Courage breath is to all existence? recede and life begins Do you ever hold your All is breathed by God. afresh (Gen 8:1). breath? I do. In times of anxiety or stress, I stop Again and again in When you feel swamped, breathing. Scripture, we find the when change seems Hebrew ruach and Greek impossible, can you Often unthinkingly, it pneuma - translated breathe the healing
Breathe Breathe becomes my way of breath, wind, spirit - used creativity of God who asserting control, albeit in connection with God. makes all things new? not at all effective. In the beginning, the The Risen Jesus ‘breathes Breathing deeply and ruach of God hovers and on’ the terrified disciples, with awareness is the creation happens locked in their upper better strategy! (Gen 1:2). room, gifting them ‘peace’ and new courage In a time of pandemic, The movement of God’s (John 20:22). when our breath breath draws something symbolises danger, when from nothingness, light When fear imprisons a virus tiny yet deadly is from darkness, order you, when nothing eases carried in this very fact from chaos. your anxiety, can you of our lives, how can we breathe the peace and breathe freely, let alone When life seems dark encouragement of God? peacefully? and chaotic, when you have no hope and no Breathe. Where is God in this? peace, can you breathe Be breathed by God. As COVID-19 filled the peace and love of successive months of God who breathed you 2020, I pondered the topic into being and declares of breath in my prayer. all creation ‘good’? - Eileen O’Connell
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Website
- Philip McCrea 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.galop.org.uk/domesticabuse You are not alone
I AM your Refuge Ever present. Walking His hand in mine to I AM your Stronghold with us in every moment Shepherd me through I AM your Hope of every season of the soul. every valley, ravine or shadowed place. I AM your Song I painted these particular His heart and His I AM your Hiding Place words because in intentions are always I AM your Protector the times of shaking, good – these, I can trust. I AM your Shelter transition, uncertainty I AM your Covering and depth. This is who And the little birdie is I AM your Deliverer my Heavenly Father has there, almost as though I AM your Peace shown Himself to be for she flew in straight from me over and over. Matthew 6v26 to He is the 'I AM' God. declare from her place Constant. Faithful. of knowing, 'God will Ever-showing me He has take care of you.’ Exodus 3:14 a Strong-Hold of me and my circumstances, even In sharing my work, when I cannot see it. it’s my prayer that God would bless it for His glory and the words and images would bring encouragement wherever they are seen.
- Karen Lindsay
SignHealth - Domestic Abuse Service Site www.signhealth.org.uk 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath You were born with potential.
You were born with - Donal Dunn goodness and trust. You were born with ideals and dreams. You were born with greatness. You were born with wings. You are not meant for crawling, so don't. You have wings. Learn to use them and fly.
- Rumi
NSPCC 0808 800 5000 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath I can hear your voice carried on the wind. The wild flow, The voice of the father calling me home. passion, light and fire, But my feet are weary and I don’t know the way. calling me to a place I’ve always held Will you run to me, Father, carry me away? tucked out of sight on the edges of my heart. Lead me to the place The song has ebbed and flowed where my heart can be free. through the years, Lead me to the place never fully welcoming me home. where I can simply be But now, And rest here beside you in this still place, Breathing you deep, as chaos coils, and let the love of my Father, the song has risen again, carry me. ruining every other pursuit. Not working, but striving, All joys pale in its light, not desperate to please, so I press onward, Just resting into rest. and being so simply me. Into eternity and the wild, wild flow Nervously, toe first. Then, ever so gently, weight is pressed down. Breath held. Tired feet fit well-worn paths. One step follows another. Journeys begin. Unsteady but unwavering. Leaning heavily on a shoulder vibrant with love. Leading faithfully forward. - Owen Crane
ChildLine 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath 0800 1111 But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted; - Helen Ritchie You’ve got to learn you consider their grief to leave the table and take it in hand.
when love’s no The victims commit longer being served. themselves to you; You are the helper of the fatherless. - Nina Simone - Psalm 10:14
The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge In the darkest hour in times of trouble. the soul is replenished Those who know your and given strength to name trust in you. For you, O Lord, do not abandon continue and endure. those who search for you. - Heart Warrior Chosa - Psalm 9:9-10
Antrim, Ballymena, Carrickfergus, Larne & Newtownabbey Women’s Aid 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com 028 2563 2136 It is hard to breathe freely I’m in admiration of the resilience and courage and deeply when your head is shown by victims and downcast and low, when your survivors of domestic abuse. shoulders are weighed down Their courage inspires me to do and your body dispirited. everything possible to ensure that our legislation is as good Be kind to yourself. as it can be, and provides the greatest level of support possible for all victims and survivors. Gently lift up your head and let your shoulders go back. One important development is that we should have legislation in place this year Breathe deeply. creating for the first time a You can do this. specific offence of domestic abuse in Northern Ireland. You are worth it. We are your representatives. We are listening, responding God is the glory and and acting to make life better lifter up of heads. for those who have suffered, and for future generations. We won’t stand by and just allow - Alan Lorimer this legislation to disappear.
This is more than politics. This is saving lives.
There is much reason for hope.
- Rachel Woods
Armagh & Down Women’s Aid 028 3025 0765 or 028 3839 7979 www.4cornersfestival.com You tried. You seek counselling You are enough. The harder you tried They refuse to engage Because you’re made for More The harder it became Or attend, to apportion blame You are enough To keep the peace And claim clean hands. Because your Maker To keep things together Delights in you To provide the place When you spoke to your pastor Sings over you a lullaby A safe home for the kids He said you had to make it work. And sets the captives free Where their parents You promised for richer To run And carers For poorer And fly
Enough Were honoured and loved For better In Eternal Love Where they felt safe For worse In a world of nurture And you’ve tried. …and still you love, and hope And respect But your pastor confuses That one day they will change. And kindness. control for love. They will, Compliance is not Christ. but not while you stay still What happened to that dream? That covenant is killing to feed their fragile fears and fiercest fury. Slowly crumpling under pressure The child of God. Again. Fly. To avoid conflict To appease anger God knows you’ve tried Eternal Love You took the blame God knows you’ve loved. insists Because there’s two sides to everything And God knows when your love the best for Little Ones You took the guilt Has been, not love, but fear who run towards Life. Because they said it was yours Not grace but guilt Be wee. When you were upset God knows Now flee. they said you were unbalanced - Though you don’t yet - Be free. When you asked hard questions that you were made for more. And see They said you were controlling The long, hard path from misery. When you tried to make ends meet My Refuge and My Strength They said it wasn’t your business In thee I hide, to thee I flee When you wanted to make decisions together O, let me see Thy Face. You were, they said, too needy. And know the bruises there Needing a hug and someone to listen Received to set us free. You got cold commands. Needing intimacy You were violated. - Cheryl Meban
Belfast & Lisburn Women’s Aid 028 9066 6049 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. No matter what happens, When you go through rivers of or how bad it seems today, difficulty, you will not drown.
life does go on, and it will When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not Breathe be better tomorrow. be burned up; the flames will Fractures not consume you. - Maya Angelou Are they structural - Isaiah 43:2-3a these lines that are appearing? Even rocks break into shards and slivers
Even the Grand Canyon There was darkness and there was void. began with a hairline crack A voice said - “let there be...” and it was good. A breath came - the breath of life... and an unrelenting river. He breathed... into women & men (ruach) - Lynda Hewitt loved His breath brought life, abundant life,
You are are You Life to the full and life eternal... Breath in this life - breath in this healing - Be rescued O, daughters and sons. You are loved ...
- Alastair F. Roy Causeway Women’s Aid 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath 028 7035 6573 Shame, my long time companion, How could He know? Cloaks me, It was but glancing brush, Wraps me round, invisible But yet He knows To passing stangers. Not worth And asks to meet the one A glance in the crowd, just instinctive So bold to dare to touch.
Side stepping to avoid the taint In fear I fall, dirt view - Oonagh Linden Of unclean outcast, stooped down, Still my destiny, but no, Down, my ever view, dust laden ground. My first uplifted vista, His face, that sees, and in the seeing Freedom Then sandalled feet of hope Strips me naked of my cloak of shame, Come into view, with flowing hem And sets me free to dance again. Of simple robe and I dare not The woman who touched the Even now look up, and yet I know. hem of Jesus cloak. And it is such a knowing, That merely a touch mandates Freedom from long term suffering. Then, still invisible to slip away; No interruption of lives caught up - Priscilla Reid In more important occupations.
Fermanagh Women’s Aid 028 6632 8898 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath Inhale - Philip McCrea
Mid-Ulster Women’s Aid 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com 028 8676 9300 Remembering that hard and They waited for me to take a difficult time in my life brings Breath. Sometimes they showed Pause deep pain and great sadness. me care - with a tear, or holding my hand or even an embrace. How did it happen?
- Philip McCrea Why did it happen? Slowly I became aware that my life Why me? could be different - maybe better. So many unanswered questions. HOPE began slowly to form in my All my needs But let me move my thoughts mind. That was followed by me from all that pain and confusion making a determined effort to Lord you supply. to remember the people who make changes, so that life would understood, not everything, be better. Sometimes I even prayed You breathe life into me. but some of the stuff that I was and thanked God for sending experiencing. good people to help me. I grew You care about my brokenness. in confidence as I made changes They encouraged me to talk about for good - my life was sweeter. I my feelings, my situation, my fears, still have the memories but I have You bind up my wounds. my sense of hopelessness. learned to put them into a box in my mind, knowing that I can’t - Peter Quigley They listened. block them out, but I don’t need to remember them every day. They gave me time to dig deeper and deeper into the well of pain Little by little I am breathing more and hurt and disappointment. deeply, becoming more calm - becoming happy.
- Beryl Quigley
North Down & Ards Women’s Aid 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath 028 9127 3196 - Philip McCrea
Omagh Women’s Aid 028 8224 1414 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com For God, who said, So often we only see Light is always present “Let light shine out of light and dark as because God himself, the darkness,” made his opposing forces. source of light, is always light shine in our hearts. present. Light shines and darkness is banished. We see him fully in the 2 Corinthians 4:6 person of Jesus who is Darkness descends and the light and hope of swallows up the light. the world. We can be Always against each other confident in the dark and in many ways represent because of the light good and evil. Scripture present to us. reveals that God made light to shine out of darkness. To go even further though, this light wants to The original text consume us and be a part suggests light is pulled of us. Present to us, but through darkness. This also present in us. gives me hope. There is always an That even in my darkest invitation for us to become hour, light is present with children of the light when me and has the ability to we choose to walk with work its way through this God, follow Jesus and empty black void, in the through the help of Holy same way as God created Spirit be lights ourselves in the world. a dark world.
The Psalmist reveals a Lean in. See the light. deeper truth about our Live the radiant life creator: even the darkness you are called to live. will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light - Jill Boyd to you. (Psalm 139:12)
Women’s Aid Federation 028 9024 9041 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com Rest in my arms my darling, Rest in my arms my love. Rest
Let me care for you, ease your heart, - Philip McCrea set you free my beautiful dove.
For I have more than you’ve ever imagined.
My heart for you, it overflows. Lie in my arms oh my darling. And let me carry you on the road.
To your place - you can never imagine. A place I have built just for you.
Look for my lead and follow to a place where all your dreams come true.
- Lynn Bourgeois
Free 24-Hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline 0808 2000 247 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com Breath in, be Breathe out, love Breathe Beloved
National Domestic Abuse Live Chat
- Philip McCrea 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com www.nationaldahelpline.org.uk The LORD merely spoke, Rise up, rise up, and the heavens were created. He breathed the My child, Word, and all the stars Darling one, Rise were born. Rise up. Psalm 33 vs 6 And let your spirit soar.
As a singer there’s no greater Higher and higher importance than breathing On the thermals of my love correctly. Every word and phrase of a lyric rests on And the Holy Spirit’s power. the breath of the singer. If Rise higher still the breathing is correct, the sound will be glorious. Just With Eagles’ wings outstretched. as God breathed and filled Enjoy it. the heavens with stars, we breathe and release His song. Flying free In heavenly realms with me
- Marie Lacey - Yvonne Adams
Men’s Advisory Project Belfast 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com 028 9024 1929 I made it to the sea today To watch the swifts and shallows swoop and soar over craggy rocks Beyond the shore The tide ran fast to the pull of the sun rippling out and away Calm Past the fray exposing rock and headland along the way. I floated Cool water lapping over my body My eyes watching the sky pale as it moved towards its deep indigo twilight Sprinkled with silver starlight. The salty water familiar and fresh, New rebirth, Purity comes from the sea Washing away grime from my day. Could I stay here Floating free Soothed by the tides and lunar pulls Ebbing and flowing without having to move.
- Nicky Cahill Men’s Advisory Project Foyle 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com 028 7116 00011 Safe Harbour - Philip McCrea
Jesus Wept - John 11:35
Dublin Women’s Aid 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com 1800 341 900 It is one of the greatest to scripture have resulted in I’m so very sorry for what sadnesses for me that far too people, usually women or often I have found distortions children, seeing their suffering you’re going through. of Christian faith compounding, as God’s will. There are no rules for this... if not being, a basis of abusive
relationships: whether it Without comprehensively - Philip McCrea You can only muddle through be in the inappropriate knowing the mind of God, I can the best you can. So just hold disciplining of children or the say categorically here that such subordination of women. suffering is NOT the will of God. on tight and keep breathing, in and out. And know I have even known women re- If victims of abuse can only enter relationships with abusive avoid that abuse, physical or that when you’re ready, husbands because of their faith psychological, by leaving that I’m here waiting... You don’t and their understanding of relationship they should do so. the permanence of marriage, have to go through this alone. invariably with disastrous results. Faith communities should I cannot believe that this is the support them in that and in - Emma Horner will of a loving God. naming such abuse as evil. Only when abuse is properly Marriage and family life should recognised is there any be about mutual support and possibility of the redemption building one another up, and of the abuser. if it is not, then it is potentially damaging not only to those But our primary concern being abused, but can ripple should always be for the victim out to affect other people and and the vulnerable. indeed other generations. That should both inform our It’s not only inappropriate practice and help us to critique theologies of marriage that the theologies that have contribute to this. Those who underpinned bad practice. espouse and promulgate certain doctrines of redemptive suffering that owe nothing - David Campton
Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline Freephone 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com 0808 802 1414 0800 3894424 RowanThe Sexual Referral Assault Centre Ireland (SARC)for Northern
Thought you canto find that safe place. I encourage you, friend,do whatever We never honour Godwhen we empower abuse. You are not honouring Godby staying init. Run. Get out ofthat home, that relationship. as you canandas soonas you can. Run: Run with all your heart, runas fast no covenant obligation to stay with them. I want you to know you are under If you are with aperson who is beating you up, to get out ofthat relationship. You needto do whatever ittakes God’s heartiswith you. I want you to know my heartiswith you. If you are experiencing domestic violence, - AlanScott 4 Corners Festival Belfast Breath |Soothing Prayer and trauma,and don’t and have experiencing isolation, fear rightthose now are who of homes the and hearts Enter right now the come. habitation. Come OGod come. Come outofyour holy orphan.the Come OGod Strengthen widow the and Defend defenceless. the compassion mercy. and Arise ohLord arise in youdishonour flee. scattered. Let who those Let your be enemies awaken your might. We askGodyou would awakened. of your strength would be plead we and pray arm the our own SoGodwe home. trauma unsafe ofbeing in terror the And the and isolation. the imagine Father we cannot We pray for today. those We pray for today. those We pray for today. those freedom. and hope until ourcity experiences We willgive ourselves rest no turn inthisarea. We to long tide seethe survivors. and victims a difference lives inthe of cityin the are who making partners institutions and even greater grace to those Lord Ipray you would give violence.of domestic many survivors and victims could come to so freedom aftermath days ofthese that Father Ipray inthe moment. the at home intheir heart refuge. Manifest your safetyGod betheir and a safe place. - AlanScott www.4cornersfestival.com Hold to the pattern
- Philip McCrea of healthy words. - 2 Timothy 1:13
Rowan Freephone 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com 0800 389 4424 I’m grown up now… But they did… but I’m still afraid of the dark… And in the dark I see them… I pretend that I’m not… Black on black… But then adults are good at pretending… Ready to engulf me… Children play ‘let’s pretend’ To snuff out the light of my life… but they’re only practicing But before I drown in the darkness, for the serious pretending I have learned to look for the light… that goes on in adulthood… And it is always there… Pretending that we’re happy… Somewhere… Faith Pretending that we’re confident… at the flick of a switch Pretending that we like each other… or by opening a door, Pretending that we like ourselves… or peering into the night sky, I pretend that I’m not afraid of the dark… to see a star… But I am… A small speck shining I’m afraid of what hides in the shadows… across the almost infinite reaches of space… Murderers and maniacs and monsters… A light that began its journey And memories… millions of years before I was born… Memories of things I’ve done and not done… before my fears began… Memories of things done to me… Echo of a light created by God’s word Dark things… to banish the darkness… That I pretend never happened… The dawning of the day…
- David Campton
Victim Support
028 90 244 039 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath - Philip McCrea I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I'm not enough Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know You say I am loved when I can't feel a thing You say I am strong when I think I am weak Breathe And you say I am held when I am falling short And when I don't belong, oh You say I am Yours And I believe Oh, I believe What You say of me I believe. - Lauren Daigle
Rowan Freephone 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com 4 Corners Festival 0800Belfast | Soothing389 4424 Breath Beloved - Philip McCrea
Rowan Website www.therowan.net/Rowan 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com Because I’ve been around so Marie had to leave school as arrival of the child, everything treatment at the hands of the the little baby’s feet with the lit in a small way and she got long and met so many high soon as the law would allow and except her husband. man who once declared his cigarette. He kept beating me another flat. But sometimes achieving, famous people, go out to work. It often happens undying love for her. and invited his friends to do the hand of fate is indefensibly many of whom were so-called that someone who missed By the time they were two years the same.” cruel. celebrities, I’m often asked: out on personal affection will married he had lost all interest “One night he and two of his who was the most impressive become overly attached to the in her and, as she put it, it was mates came home at three in Marie’s screams were Her flat was broken into and person you’ve met? first person who shows them “just the time when I needed the morning. He ordered me piercing and luckily for her she was attacked again, this kindness, real or imagined. him most because I was out of bed but because I was disturbed three men who time by three robbers, even I don’t even have to think for a pregnant again”. pregnant I was slow getting lived in nearby flats. though she had nothing in second. The person I’m going So, at 18 she met a Dublin boy up. He dragged me out of the the house to give them. These to introduce to you now left an who was six years older and She pleaded with him to stay bed and after he had given They came in and rescued her people assaulted Marie. They indelible impression on me. gave her the special attention in with her, even one night me a few punches in the back, and held the husband and his beat her, kicked her, and left she craved. In the early days a week. But he wouldn’t. He he made me cook food for friends until the Gardai arrived her hysterical. It began in December 1977 in he was the perfect boyfriend went out every night drinking him and his friends. There was and arrested them. By now tragic circumstances. I wrote with charm, good looks, and, as with the boys and furthermore, very little in the house but I the little child was screaming One of them even stabbed an article, based on a true story, far as Marie was concerned, a drank every penny he earned. gave them everything that in agony from the burns on her in the back and she had outlining what happened to a deep love for her. She was not was there. As soon as I gave her foot. That little baby was to get nineteen stitches in the young mother and her children. from Dublin but he came down There were many nights when him the coffee, he lifted the in hospital for fifteen weeks wound. That night she was I began: to visit her hometown almost Marie sat at home, sick and mug and poured it over my because of the abuse her taken to hospital and the baby every weekend. pregnant and without a slice of head and face. husband and his friends had was induced. “There are times as a priest bread in the house. inflicted on her. Luckily the when my faith in God is put Travelling didn’t suit either of “He said I had brought him husband was sent to prison. And this was the bit to the test. This is especially them so Marie moved to Dublin. “We had rows every night bad luck because he had lost that broke my heart. true when little babies have She fell for his charm and wit because he’d come home twenty pounds on a horse that At that time Marie had come to suffer.” and powers of persuasion and footless drunk at four or five in day. There I was, pregnant and to me in Mount Argus looking The little baby’s legs were after she came to Dublin, he the morning.’’ He frequently trying to look after a young for help. She knew me from fractured because of the And then I took the readers soon persuaded her that in brought all his drinking pals child without a penny in the the Sunday World and had numerous beatings Marie through, from memory, a few the big city two could live as with him and then would drag flat, and he was gambling travelled quite a distance had received during the meetings I’d had with a girl I cheaply as one. In those days it Marie and the baby out of bed twenty pounds on a horse. across the city. I gave her pregnancy – especially from called Marie, which wasn’t her was not the norm for couples to so that he and his drunken whatever money I had, which her husband – the father of real name. live together so soon. pals could sleep off their “Then he said to his mates wasn’t a lot, to keep her going their baby. drunkenness before heading that he was going to show through her pregnancy and Marie’s life story went from Marie got pregnant which out again. them what he thought of his arranged for the St. Vincent de Out of all the personalities I’ve bad to worse. As I remember didn’t go down well with her wife and child. He pulled me Paul Society to help her. met – and I’ve met everyone I it, she was one of ten children family, either. He was good to Obviously she had no family across the room by my hair wanted to except Elvis Presley - whose mother died giving her during that pregnancy, but of her own to turn to, but and tied me to a chair and She came back to me again birth to the youngest of those soon the bachelor life was more his mother took her in. He began beating me. He took when she was eight months Marie impressed me most. children. Her father did a fine attractive than life with Marie. inveigled her away from there the stockings from the little pregnant. On that occasion job rearing the children, but Marie made all the excuses that with the usual promise that baby’s foot and lit a cigarette she had been put out of her - Brian D’Arcy money was scarce and there women usually do, blaming he would mend his ways. It and after every drag of the flat by the landlord because wasn’t much time for normal bad company, her own inability was then that Marie really cigarette, he and his mates she couldn’t pay the rent. family love and attention. to be an attractive person, the suffered horrendous thought it was funny to touch Again I was able to help her
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Helpline 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com 0800 999 5428 This my story. My past, its pain, is not the Maybe I will never know the Battered, bloody and All I can say is I did. Until There is help. definition of who I am. Just answers. No matter how bruised, suffocated in shame. I didn’t. I had crumb of There is healing. Hope. like yours isn’t either. You much the questions rankle. courage – that wouldn’t let There is hope. are you, not who they tell I wanted to believe them me sweep it away. you you are. It could have been my when they told me they were H O P E spell it out – disbelief that what was sorry, and it would never And then just like that I There are people who remember it. And lastly, well I want you happening to me, was happen again. After all they knew, I could not stay. will support you. Say it softly. to know, I am just like you. actually happening. were my lover, my partner, Declare it loud or under A regular person. Doing all Actually, happening to my spouse, my co-parent to So I left. That’s all that You are not alone. your breath. Hope those normal things each me. Or the thought ‘I am our children. I loved them. matters, that I left, and I of us do. an educated woman; I am am alive. And I want you to Walk towards the That’s what I want you strong enough to love this At the same time, they know you can leave to. light my friend, walk to know. There is hope, What changed? Well, that’s person back to wholeness.’ were my jailor, my keeper, towards the light. and there is healing for a good question. Another My belief that it was my and my executioner. And That tiny crumb of courage, you. The abundance of one I’m often asked is ‘why job to rescue. it did happen. And it did the teeny weeny little speck Walk towards the light amazing grace. did you stay, you’re an happen. And it did happen was my mustard seed of and let your crumb of educated woman?’ Before I left. When I again and again. hope. Look for your crumb courage will grow. Write the word Hope stayed. I do know I was of courage because you somewhere you will see Those are questions I ask downright petrified. A cycle of lies, and denial, have it too. it and breathe it in, the myself too. For a while Cloaked in humiliation, ghosting and gaslighting. hope that today won’t they crashed like the sawed in guilt and The toxic ingredients The desire for life to live is As told to Nicky Cahill for always be, and tomorrow symbols in a marching squashed under the of manipulation and nestled so deeply within the 4 Corners Festival by a has new mercies. That a band round and round weight of condemnation. control. Their clouds of lies each of us. It is immensely survivor of domestic abuse new day will come. and round until, I thought swarmed me like a thicket powerful. Hold onto the I would die in the din. Holding my breath, of flies. Their piercing light of your desire to live, I also want you to know thinking if I can only be poison left me mystified. no matter how softly it - we don’t have to hide However, I’ve learned not to better, do better, then flickers inside of you, there is our hurts under our live in that space of coulda, everything will be better. So, you know I can’t a light in the darkness and hallelujahs – or pretend shoulda, woulda. It isn’t Yet it never was, and we answer your question. the darkness, has not and to perfection that healthy for me. Nor for you. can’t breathe in forever. I don’t know if I ever will. cannot overcome it. everything is ok.
National LGBT+ Domestic Abuse Website www.galop.org.uk/domesticabuse 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com Women’s Aid Men’s Advisory Project Women’s Aid groups 24 Hour Free Phone Rowan Freephone If you think a child is in (Outside N Ireland) 0800 389 4424 immediate danger, dial Antrim, Ballymena, Belfast Domestic and Sexual 999 or contact your local Carrickfergus, Larne & 028 9024 1929 Dublin Women’s Aid Violence Helpline or visit authority social care Newtownabbey 1800 341 900 0808 802 1414 www.therowan. department, or the NSPCC. 028 2563 2136 Foyle net/Rowan 028 7116 00011 Freephone and operates The 24 Hour Domestic and If you’re worried about a Armagh & Down from 10am - 10pm, every Sexual Violence Helpline is child, even if you’re unsure, 028 3025 0765 or day except Christmas day. available 24 hours, seven days National LGBT+ you can speak to the NSPCC 028 3839 7979 Freephone 24-Hour a week to all women and Domestic Abuse Helpline about your concerns. National Domestic men affected by domestic 0800 999 5428 Belfast & Lisburn Abuse Helpline Scotland’s Domestic violence and sexual violence. Whether you want to report 028 9066 6049 Abuse and Forced Website child abuse and neglect Phone Marriage Helpline www.galop.org.uk/ or aren’t sure what to do, Causeway 0808 2000 247 0800 027 1234 The Rowan Sexual Assault domesticabuse/ they are here to listen, offer 028 7035 6573 or visit Referral Centre (SARC) for advice and support and www.nationalda Email Northern Ireland Provides support for can take the next steps if a Fermanagh helpline.org.uk [email protected] 0800 389 4424 lesbian, gay, bisexual child’s in danger. Telephone 028 6632 8898 and transgender people lines are open Monday to Live chat Monday - Friday, Offers information and Free from all landlines only. experiencing domestic Friday 8am - 10pm and 9am Foyle 3 - 10pm. Just because support to anyone violence. - 6pm at the weekend. You 028 7141 6800 something is hard to experiencing domestic can contact us online 24 explain, doesn’t mean abuse or forced marriage. Victim Support hours a day, 365 days a year. Mid-Ulster it doesn’t exist. If you’re 24 hour service. 028 90 244 039 SignHealth - 028 8676 9300 scared of your partner Domestic Abuse Service NSPCC our Freephone 24-hour Helps people affected 0808 800 5000 North Down & Ards National Domestic Abuse Wales Domestic by crime. It offers a free Website 028 9127 3196 Helpline is here to listen. Abuse Helpline and confidential service, www.signhealth.org.uk 0808 801 0800 whether or not a crime ChildLine Omagh #YouAreNotAlone has been reported and Provides a specialist 0800 1111 028 8224 1414 Bilingual information regardless of how long ago domestic abuse service to signposting service, to help the event took place. help Deaf people find safety Free and confidential Women’s Aid Federation and guide people with and security. You can find 24-hour helpline. 028 9024 9041 experience of domestic abuse out how to contact them on or sexual violence, who are in their website. need of information or access to support services. Freephone.
4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com Free travel on bus or rail is available if you have refuge or emergency accommodation through Women’s Aid Northern Ireland or the Northern Ireland Housing Executive. - Philip McCrea To get access, contact a local Women’s Aid organisation, the Northern Ireland Housing Executive or the 24hr Domestic and Sexual Abuse Helpline.
SignHealth - Domestic Abuse Service Site 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com www.signhealth.org.uk I found I could say things Soothing Breath with ourselves the space to ‘I’ll hold my breath. We stand with you. We are sensitive to the with color and shapes its thoughtful artwork, explore feelings and And, just deal with it. You are not alone. needs of all victims and that I couldn't say any photography and words has emotions without restrictions In the morning it survivors. Domestic abuse other way - things I been creatively designed to or judgement, by making will be better.’ 4 Corners Festival have and coercive control are craft a space for solace. marks on a surface. partnered with a number critical issues that we do had no words for. of agencies to add our voice not take lightly. The PSNI revealed over 32,000 Those who look through the There are no rules because to the importance of raising instances of domestic abuse book offered the opportunity Art Therapy focuses on awareness of domestic Therefore, we have spent - Georgia O'Keeffe in the last year alone, the to be held in a place of the process of making art abuse in our communities. time in the preparation highest since records began. belonging and beauty. rather than end product Throughout Belfast and for this event and booklet Where they are believed which makes it accessible to across these islands’. talking with victims and Women, men and children and are reminded of their everyone. You do not need to survivors themselves, and to across the country are intrinsic worth as themselves, be “good” at art to take part. We want to support and help professional agencies and petrified, holding their and who they are as a You come as you are into a bring healing to those who experts who support them. breaths because of the person. That they are already safe space. There are many have been harmed in this impact enough and are loved. healing benefits to this form callous and cruel way. Many of these people of domestic violence, of therapy they can be unique have contributed to abuse and coercive control. Within my own practice as an to each individual. Domestic and family the creation of this artist and art psychotherapist, violence really happens in all empowering and beautiful The 4 Corners Festival hope for nearly 25 years, I have seen May the artwork in Soothing communities. Sadly, victims booklet – Soothing Breath. and prayer is to put all victims the art therapy process bring Breath be a source of solace and perpetrators of domestic and survivors first and to let calm; offer a meditative place and succour, positivity, joy abuse are present in every Those who need them know : where people can release and and beauty in its readers local congregation and faith signposting to specialist find freedom from difficult lives. I hope it will allow community. support can find details of We believe you. thoughts and emotions. It humanity to remember their organisations who will be What happened to is especially supportive and innate creativity which is an Part of caring for others means able to offer them the help you was evil. a salve to those who have adventure of remembering taking notice of people’s and support they need. suffered from the horrors of the truth of who we all are: private pain - and asking We don’t have answers, we domestic abuse. whole, healthy and wise. And, them how you can help. It is - Heather Palmer can although help you find above all, may it inspire those also bearing witness bearing them. With expert support Art Therapy creates space who need it to reach out for witness to the impact of their you can and will find a way in which we can express support, so they may begin experiences, and the significant through, to a better tomorrow. ourselves freely using art their own healing process. consequences these have in all materials. Letting go of our parts of their lives. inner critics and giving - Oonagh Linden
NSPCC 0808 800 5000 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com There are moments in life, from domestic abuse to Bringing together the where life seems to fall away. hold on against the voices captivating creativity in this Where the deadlines and the telling them to let go is quite booklet has been a privilege. day’s to-do lists disappear something. I catch my breath The kindness of the artists, under the motion of the news as I consider their bravery. The poets, writers and contributors
- Donal Dunn we hear. courage they show when they who freely shared their work is utter the word so audacious a beautiful thing. I am deeply So it was this Spring before and difficult to say above all grateful to each and every one lockdown, when a call from a others - help. of them. close friend shook the ground I stood on. Leaning into the wall There aren’t easy answers. We And I would like to thank for support, silent tears pouring can’t back away from the evil the 4 Corners Festival for down my cheeks, I heard her people have suffered. Hide catching my vision and telling me she was leaving behind trite words and plentiful giving me the opportunity her husband because of his platitudes. As much as every to curate these pages, which domestic abuse in all its forms part of us wants to fix or rescue, can be freely shared, given towards her. to magic away the harm and to those suffering, struggling the pain, we don’t have that or surviving, who need an I hadn’t known – no one had. power. What we can offer is invitation to hope offered in the As she has journeyed back to presence, to sit with them in art and words of this booklet. herself, I have had the deepest quiet closeness and solidarity. honour to walk alongside her. It is my hope that you will We can speak the language find spaciousness in these She, like so many other of hope. A language forged pages. A soft solace where you women, men, children and in creativity. can linger and know your life LGBTQI people have had so matters, that you are beautiful much stolen through the evils Where art and words give and beloved. of domestic abuse. Domestic courage to one who suffers, abuse, like so many other speaking deep into their May the art and the words forms of abuse, strips away a soul. Telling them, they are bring you comfort and hope, a person’s very identity. believed, what happened soothing breath, and encourage to them was not their fault, you on your journey to the For so many of us this year has they aren’t to blame and that freedom you were born for. held unquestionable darkness. there is freedom. There is The resilience and courage of hope, and things don’t always - Nicky Cahill, those suffering have to be this way. Editor
ChildLine 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com 0800 1111 Alan Lorimer - is a Cheryl Meban - is poet, Geralyn Mulqueen RSA - Lynda Hewitt - is a creative of Churches, based in Belfast Sr Eileen O’Connell OP - is psychologist and Minister minister in the Presbyterian is an Irish artist, writer, copywriter and poet based a Sister at St Catherine's in the Methodist Church Church in Ireland and psychotherapist, lawyer and in Ballymena Olive Buckley OBE - is a family Dominican Convent, Belfast in Ireland, based in chaplain at Ulster University, human rights activist, based GP and forensic medical Newtownabbey based in Belfast in County Down Lynn Bourgeosis - is a doctor at the Rowan Regional Talisker MacLeod - is an landscape architect, based Sexual Assault Referral Centre, Anglican vicar and writer, Alan Scott - is an author and Claire Hamilton - is a Grace Edith Radford - is on the Causeway Coast based in County Antrim based in Oxfordshire pastor of Anaheim Vineyard, musician, singer songwriter, a practicing visual artist, based in California teacher, Enneagram coach, based in Belfast Marie Lacey - is a singer, Oonagh Linden - is an artist, The Corrymeela Community - is and counsellor, based in songwriter and the director of and art psychotherapist, people of all ages and Christian Alastair Roy - is a director of County Down Heather Palmer - is an HR the Belfast Community Gospel specialising in child and adult traditions who, individually and Cleansing Stream Ireland, and organisational design Choir, based in Belfast mental health, based in Bangor together, are committed to based in Belfast Damian O’Gorman - is consultant, based in Belfast the healing of social, religious an award-winning poet, Mary O’Rawe - is a poet, Owen Crane - is a poet and and political divisions that Alex Elle - is an author Helen Ritchie is an artist, filmmaker and playwright, human rights lawyer, and pastor, based in Belfast exist in Northern Ireland and and self- care advocate, based in Ballyholme based in Wales yoga teacher based in Belfast throughout the world. It is Contributors Contributors based in USA Pete Greig - is an author, based in Ballycastle and Belfast. David Campton - is a poet, Jill Boyd - is a member of Michelle O’Neill - is the Sinn pastor and the instigator of Anna Burcombe - is an the Christian Fellowship author, Methodist Minister Féin Leas Uachtarán (Vice the 24-7 Prayer movement, Yvonne Adams - is an artist artist, based in Belfast Church, Belfast, teaching and Superintendent of President) and Deputy First he is based in England and retired social worker, Belfast Central Mission, team and the co-ordinator Minister in the NI Executive, Arlene Foster - is the Philip McCrea - is a based in Annalong based in Belfast of MOPS and women’s Bible based in County Tyrone leader of the DUP and First studies, based in Belfast photographer and minister Minister of the Northern David Esler - is an artist who Naomi Cahill - is an artist from in the Presbyterian Church in All art, photography, words Ireland Executive, based in has worked as a stained Jim Deeds - is a wood Belfast, based in London Ireland, based in Belfast and images in this booklet have County Fermanagh glass artist for over 40 years, craftsman facilitator, writer Naomi Long - is leader of the Philip Robinson - is a musician, been shared pro bono by our based in Dunadry and a poet, based in Belfast Beryl and Peter Quigley - Alliance Party and Justice songwriter, author and poet, contributors, and thoughtfully are motivators, mentors Donal Dunn - is a wildlife Karen Lindsay - is a mixed Minister in the Northern IreIand based in Manchester brought together in this and community activists, photographer and member media artist and the the Executive, based in Belfast soothing design by Catherine Priscilla Reid - is a poet and they have been married for of the Victims and Survivors founder of Rara Makes, based O’Neill. Everyone who has Nichola Mallon - is the SDLP pastor, based in Belfast 25 years, based in Belfast Forum, based in Derry on the Causeway Coast contributed hopes that those Deputy Leader & Minister who engage with these pages Brian D’Arcy - is a priest, Katy Radford MBE - is a Rachel Woods - is the Green Emma Horner - is an artist for Infrastructure in the will be encouraged and where writer and broadcaster, social anthropologist and Party MLA for North Down, and the creator of Leopard Northern Ireland Executive appropriate reach out to get the based in Crossgar Jewish cultural artivist, based in Holywood Print Cards, based in Belfast help and support they deserve. based in Belfast Nicky Cahill - is a writer, poet Siobhan O’Neill - is the Mental Charlie Mackesy - is an Gail Calwell - is an artist and broadcaster, based in Belfast Health Champion for Northern You are welcome to freely artist and author, based and art psychotherapist, Kieron Black - is an artist, Ireland and a professor at share Soothing Breath with in England based in Belfast author and cartoonist, Nicola Brady - is the General Ulster University anyone you feel it might help. based in Killough Secretary for the Irish Council The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you;
The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.
- Numbers 6:24-26
Domestic and Sexual Violence Helpline Freephone 4 Corners Festival Belfast | Soothing Breath www.4cornersfestival.com 0808 802 1414 discussion, and more.discussion, and prayer,music, storytelling, We celebrate ourcity through new friends. perspectives, new ideas, and where they willencounter new citythe into and new places ownout oftheir ‘corners’ of todesigned entice people It consists ofinnovative events peace prosperity and ofall. citythe to transform itfor the across to inspire peoplefrom 4CornersThe Festival seeks www.4cornersfestival.com For more details- hope introublinghope times. Help usbreathe out care, more. and breath, racism, abuse,creation health, prayer embodied and us in our explorations of mental So take adeepbreath join and pandemic. the respond to challenges the of creativity resilience and aswe intohope ourcity, fostering tap into thatspirit breathe and In our2021 Festival, we seekto ‘spirit’ source –the oflife. Ruach means ‘breath’ or Breathe: Hebrew The word
- Anna Burcombe