Thomas Wolfe tells us we can’t go home again, but we must. So Sting found out when the “songs stopped coming.” In a recent TED Talk (linked below ) he tells the story of how he lost his muse and found it again in his home town of Wallsend in the North East of England. It is a profound telling of life in the “shadow of the shipyard,” of the men of the town walking down to the sea in the morning and back up the hill in the evening, an ever present ship looming between houses lining narrow streets. The yard was “noisy, dangerous and toxic,” but he returned to try to understand his ‘folk,” to honor the community he came from. The songs he has written are integral to his first musical, “The Last Ship,” premiering in Chicago this June 10- July 13. I hope you enjoy Sting’s talk and performance as much as I did. We all have to take this same archetypal spiritual journey in some form in order to become whole. I’ll meet you along the road.
Photo Credit: N04/5794537953/”>detroiturbex.com via photopin cc
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tyne-23866406
Spirituality Without Borders: Reflections on Spiritual Practice 
I remember visiting Newcastle with my then boyfriend and you’d walk along to see at the end of the streets the great big hulks of ships being built. It was so odd to look down a street and see a ship at the end! I stayed in touch with my boyfriend, even after we broke up (amicably) and he told me he was devastated to return to Newcastle and see the empty shipyards. Such a sad sight. If you ever get the chance, look out for Boys from the Blackstuff, decades ago but a powerful indictment of the causes of poverty and unemployment.
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I will look it up. Thanks Mo.
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Thank you for the great photo and blog. The Last Ship album is my favourite album, and I have been a fan for many years. I would so love to see the show and although I cannot I am thrilled for those who are able to get there.
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Me too Maggie. I respect very much what Sting has done with his life.
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An outstanding site and many wonderful thought out post. Ann
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Thank you, Ann, and thanks for stopping by.
On Wed, Jun 4, 2014 at 11:41 AM, Spirituality Without Borders: Reflections
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Have a wonderful evening. Ann
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