For today’s prompt, take the phrase “The Art of (blank),” replace the blank with a word or phrase, make the new phrase the title of your poem, and then, write your poem. Possible titles include: “The Art of Writing,” “The Art of Painting,” “The Art of Showing Up to Parties Fashionably Late,” and/or “The Art of Being Awesome.” — Robert Lee Brewer, Writer’s Digest
The art of holding space
What even is it, holding space?
[Of course the internet knows.
The first article I looked at had the best definition:
”when you hold space, you are creating
a container for the other person’s emotions
to come up,
be seen without the interference of your own
and be released.“*]
The art is in creating
the metaphorical container
beautiful and functional.
It is a gift,
without obligation.
It says,
”This is for you,
and you may fill it with whatever you wish
or leave it empty.
I’m here,
but for you, not myself.”
Holding space,
you resist the desire
to relieve,
to fix,
to solve,
to advise.
Rather,
simply hear,
reflect,
validate.
The art of holding space
is, in some ways, just
the art of showing up,
stepping in,
saying, by being present,
”your suffering doesn’t scare me;
I am with you.”
* Connor Beaton, “WTF Is Holding Space. (A Man’s Guide)”