Ravings from the Lucid Fringe

Here’s the final installment of this, my longest series so far, documenting my travels from Spain to Ireland, across ‘Atlantica’, the five countries of western Europe that are collectively a little larger than South Africa, my home.To run the whole thing from the beginning, go to:Episode 50: Summer Hailstorms & SwallowsThenEpisode 51: Mudejar Magic & FlamencoEpisode 53: Portugalicia PilgrimsEpisode 55: From Basque Country to ParisEpisode 57: Invading from NormandyEpisode 59: Tales from AlbionEpisode 61: A Patchwork of Irish SurprisesAs ever, the original articles can also be read at my Substack. And perhaps soon in print! In between, you can find a range of recorded delights from my meditations on Life Dimensions. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

An omnibus gathering of two pieces sharing the Irish, August leg of my travels last northern summer, taking me from the west coast of Kerry, to counties Tipperary, Cork, Limerick and Clare, as well as the Aran islands and finally a brief taste of Galway town. The articles are all at the Substack, or previous audio versions are on the podcast. Enjoy! Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Another opportunity to explore on the podcast the series of trajectories we humans have available to us, as we journey through as embodied spirits. You can find all the previous episodes here on the podcast, and the original articles here on the Substack. And Happy autumn equinox! (You can find my reflections from last year about this time, “Brown Trust”, elsewhere on this podcast too). Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Audio version of two Substack articles from this series. An overview of my time in Norfolk, in its county town of Norwich (where I was born); with friends and family in the south of England; and finally ‘escaping’ for a while by landing on the other big island in the British archipelago, Ireland. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Continuing my philosophical-spiritual embodied look at the dimensions in which we should travel in life - along the third trajectory, this time going external, towards the boundary, which may allow us further than we think. The written versions of all these ‘Life Dimensions’ meditations are on the Substack, the audio versions here on the podcast.Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Continuing the journey I spent this past July, through northern France and to ancient places in the south of the island across the way. Some of which involved family gatherings, but in between we managed to take in lots of things with fresh eyes. All previous episodes can be found on the podcast, or in written version on the Substack. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

A series capturing in pithier form (hopefully) the thoughts I expressed in my travel series on Central Europe and Mexico. You can find the original words to these poems in the Thickly Mulched Words section of the website. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Another omnibus edition, dealing with my cultural journey with my daughter Zorya, this time from La Rioja in Spain, via the Basque lands, to Avignon in southern France and finally on to Paris in July. Containing “Basques and Clowns” and “Paris in July”, the two articles from my Substack page. Happy New Year!Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

A third axis for travelling on this journey of life: beginning deep inside. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Herewith the third omnibus audio edition of our adventures, this time with my daughter Zorya joining me in Portugal and northern Spain. The original articles can of course be read at the website, or subscribe to get them regularly sent to you! And the previous podcast articles are here (part 1) and here (part 2). Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Another episode looking at the dimensions of life, and in particular the ‘horizontal’ motion, forwards or backwards. What power lies at our backs in what we’ve left behind? Following on from Unwrapping the Present, released mid-year. All pieces are available in written form at the Ravings from the Lucid Fringe website, and in your e-mail if you’re so inclined. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Audio omnibus version of ‘Flamenco Improvising’ and ‘Mudejar Magic & Cigarettes’ which can be read on the Substack as usual. And part 2 of a multi-part audio series, about my adventures in western Europe in the summer of 2025. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Fifty episodes of the podcast! And this is the longest one yet, coming in at just over 50 minutes. An omnibus edition of the first two articles from my ‘expedition’ to Western Europe, beginning at the beginning, in Madrid and then on to southern Spain. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

So, for episode 7x7 it feels appropriate to delve a little more into the mystery. These poems haven’t been published before, though some have been performed. Neither have they been recorded. They can be read in the Thickly Mulched Words section of the Substack. Titles are as follows:Wymondham“Bonnyrigg”, Cape Town, 2005Returning is ArchaeologicalHeidelberg at Decade’s EndProdigal PrecipitationSliding in BristolMarina da GamaThe Last Perfect Page of SorrorSonnetA Feisty Forest-Born FermentFrog MountainScarborough AutumnTranskei ThreadsRavings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Another equinox, another southern season. And it’s Michaelmas, on the day I release this. Following on from Brown Trust and Solstice Summer Swells, in the back catalogue. Spring musings and waftings. Blessings on your new cycle! And don’t forget, there are a host of these to look through in print form first, over at the Substack page. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

This is an omnibus version of two articles that appeared in the ‘Homes’ series on the Substack over the last couple of months. It’s good to be back in Muizies after my time away: hopefully you enjoy this trip down memory lane. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

My latest piece on the dimensions of life, this time carrying on traversing the direction from behind to in front - via a pause right in the middle, here and now. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Ja, ek weet, I’m not the only person writing about the iconic sacred gathering-festival-anarchic debauched party that is Afrikaburn. Nor is it the first time I’ve written about it. But I did participate in its creation for the first time in a decade so that means a little reflection on it is perhaps easier. Following on from many previous examples of ‘Homes’ and perhaps more to come!Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Another set of journeys around our wonderful country, South Africa. Before I head off to more ‘civilised’ places. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Moving horizontal… the time plane that lies in front of us. A meditation on vision. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Fairly regularly, I am sharing audio versions of what I put on the Substack. Usually I don't announce this to the mailing list, but from time to time I do, and having realized recently how many people secretly like a bit of poetry now and then, this feels like a good one to mention. [I've noticed recently that it's possible to reduce the Substack emails you get, if you'd rather check things out via the app, so if you feel overwhelmed by the frequency of my audio/text offerings landing in your inbox (or indeed somebody else's!) but still interested in looking me up from time to time… that's always an option :) ]So, this week on the Ravings from the Lucid Fringe Podcast (which you can also check on your podcast apps), some more performance poetry from about a decade ago, which all had their moment but didn't make it onto my most recent CD collection. They are now available in written form in the ‘Thickly Mulched Words’ section of the Substack where you can also find a little more about each one. The pieces are as follows:Sisters and Brothers, We Come to Dance Our Loving Freedom TunesA Jozi FollyPraise Singing for a PlanetProudly Shaking DownMarch Against Monsanto (and Bayer these days!)A Royal ProclamationWho Are We?Stuck Record Trekkers Needing Healing Through Their ForcefieldsDesert Island Dance, Centuries After CrusoeArch of TimeEnjoy :) Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Concluding the ‘vertical’ directions, following on from my episodes on body and mind (34 & 37). A deep meditation on the heart. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

This is the final instalment in a series on masculine archetypes. If you want to hear the previous ones, they are in episodes 22, 24, 28, 30, 33, and 35. (Covering the Wild Man, the Fool/Trickster, the Lover, the Warrior, the King and the Magician). And all available in their original text form on the Substack. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Another marking moment in the solar year has just passed, and so here are some southern reflections on its meaning and possibilities. Autumn is arriving here in the Cape, and the weather is turning, as is the world. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

I split this in two as written articles on the Substack site, but you can hear the whole reflection here on the podcast. Previous ‘Homes’ have included the Karoo, the dancefloor, and the garden… within a South African context (my bigger home!)Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Of course, once the mind gets going on the topic of itself, there’s always the chance it will find multiple passageways to explore. So this one’s a little more extended than most! Following on from the previous Life Dimension exploration, Gods on Earth which looked at Bodies. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

This piece combines the poem I wrote and performed at the Summer Solstice Gathering this week at the Well-being Sanctuary on the Garden Route; and my most recent article/meditation from the Substack. You can find the words for the poem, Givealot Delivery Notes, in the Thickly Mulched Words section of the Substack website. Enjoy!Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Another installment in this series looking at masculine archetypes. Check out previous episodes on the Wild Man, the Fool, the Lover, the Warrior, and the King! Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

A first enquiry into perhaps the most fundamental aspect of our lives here - the body itself. Our cosmic vehicle. Sit back (or get up and dance) and enjoy the ride! Transhumanists eat your heart out, as it were; a body-directed journey for the mind. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

As released last week on my Substack. An enquiry into leadership, particularly from a richer perspective of masculinity, and with a little southern African perspective as well as further north. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

A trip into the Cape spring, into ecopoetic memories, into connecting a little more with the green.Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Something of an extended play episode this week covering a journey through dance, and through places that have become home, thanks to movement. With gratitude for all those teachers and modalities that have guided me over the years to my body-home. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

I’ve returned to recording after a little hiatus, at least enough to catch up with recent articles from my Substack! This one looks at the Warrior, as I continue to explore the archetypes as generators of valuable felt metaphor in our lives, particularly as men. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

I was called to write this many years ago. At this point I’m enjoying sharing my articles freely, and much of my poetry. My stories and fiction are a little more precious to me, and some of them are behind a paywall along with some ancient blog pieces, you can find them in the Archive or the Thickly Mulched Words tab of my substack site. Not the audio versions, however, which I’m happy to be putting out here for the first time! Of course, you can upgrade to paid if you’re really curious for the written version…Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

As released in an article form today. Continuing the series, with a little love-glue.Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

A series of more recent poetry, performed often in recent years but not released in audio form on any platform. These were all released last year on my Substack in written form for the first time, you can read the words here. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

A new series - returning to the beginnings. Coming Home. As in this week’s Substack article, while I travel once more into the invisible lands.Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Originally published here as an article at my Substack. Some thoughts and recollections on a major learning curve in my life!Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Obviously there’s something a little Foolish about the title to this whole podcast and newsletter. Fools go on rambles, as much as they go on journeys. Paradoxes start to abound once one deals with fools - beware! As the trickster would not remember to say.Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

This piece was originally released as an article on my blog back in 2016. (My maths is off in the recording :) ) You can find it here in the articles archive. Having looked at aspects of the masculine last time, this was originally a playful little look at polarity that caused more controversy in the comments than I was expecting! I still think it’s a good, playful look at things, and makes some serious points, including the same Rilke quotation I used last week... So I figured it’s worth a revisit, and this is the first time it’s appeared in an audio format. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

As released earlier today on my Substack in written form: Wild MenA deeper look at Iron John and his ilk. And how vital he is for modern men. With gratitude to Robert Bly’s work. Also on Spotify etc!Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Another poetic interlude! Before returning next week to an audio version of my newest Substack article, watch this space. These poems have been in print for many years but not recorded, unlike much of my later work.Poems spoken here are:* Tick Tock Tick - a little gentle slamming* Flying on the Lucid Fringe - my edgy flight piece (see episode 14 for more details!)* Cybernoise - written before I even gave in to owning a cellphone* Together Tastes - yum* Magic at Play (in the RSA) - a wild little ditty written in 2007 believe it or not* Chinese Whispers in Southern Italy - a cheeky little something* Michael’s Time - what the southern spring equinox says to me in the Cape* Beyond the Longest Day - the same, but for the summer solstice!* and (as I actually forgot to include it in Episode 15 despite listing it there)… Sausage Dogs and Well-Intentioned Wounds (1980) - one of my childhood memory poems.If you’re interested in the original book I do have a few copies available still, feel free to contact me! You can find other recordings from that book on Episode 7 of the podcast, or at simricyarrow.bandcamp.com - (if you look for Lucid Fringe EP that has some). Otherwise, more recorded poems are of course in the pipeline somewhere down the line! Or catch me live at a venue near you soon :)Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

And so we return to the beginning, perhaps… as the elements cycle around. This week’s article, in podcast format, completing this particular series of ramblings around Southern African life through the lens of six ancient elements.Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Being another episode originally published as an article in late 2023. Quite a contrast to last week! And the series concludes next week with a last trip through the elements, before moving on to pastures new.Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

A brand new piece, released as an article too, as I extend this series further into that least common element. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Revisiting this article in audio format. Returning to my series on the more-than-four elements, which I’m going to extend in coming weeks. Remember, please let me know if you have ideas for other topics I could meander around in future episodes! Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thank you for reading Ravings from the Lucid Fringe. This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

A combination of my two final Mexican articles: Soul Food and Soul Footsteps, and Big Apples in the CDMX. There are four episodes in total about Mexico - see episodes 5,6 and 12 for the previous chapters! All are available as articles too at the substack page. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thank you for reading Ravings from the Lucid Fringe. This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Most of these reflective pieces appeared in my 2009 book, Flying on the Lucid Fringe, a few hard copies of which are still available from me if you want to ask! I set myself the task of looking at a year in my childhood each time. The titles of the pieces are as follows:* New Catton 1977* Government Milk and Bigger Things 1978* Seven (‘neath the Severn) 1979* Sausage Dogs and Well-intentioned Wounds 1980* Boyhood’s Heart 1981* Double Figures 1982* Superheroes are Always at War 1983* Private Uniformity 1984* Teenage Status Symbols in Shifting Sand 1985* Uncertain Certainty 1986* Sharpening my Chrysalid Wings 1987* Recipe For A New Era 1988Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

The second in this series looks at air (and ether). Original article here! Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thank you for reading Ravings from the Lucid Fringe. This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe

Audio version of another series I began with articles last year, you can read the original here. Ravings from the Lucid Fringe is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.Thank you for reading Ravings from the Lucid Fringe. This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Ravings from the Lucid Fringe at lucidfringe.substack.com/subscribe