David Whyte, Poet — Spacious Ease, Irish Koans, Writing in Delirium, and Revelations from a Yak Manger (#781)

“Poetry is not some abstracted art. It’s how human beings speak when they’re trying to create language against which there are no defenses.”
— David Whyte

David Whyte (davidwhyte.com) is the author of twelve books of poetry and five books of prose, including his latest, Consolations II, which further explores what David calls “the conversational nature of reality.”

David holds a degree in marine zoology and has traveled extensively, including living and working as a naturalist guide in the Galapagos Islands and leading anthropological and natural-history expeditions in the Andes, Amazon, and Himalayas. He is the recipient of two honorary degrees: from Neumann University in Pennsylvania and Royal Roads University in Victoria, British Columbia.

David grew up with a strong, imaginative influence from his Irish mother among the hills and valleys of his father’s Yorkshire and now makes his home in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.
He has also hosted a live online series, Three Sundays, every other month since 2020.

Please enjoy!

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Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, Podcast Addict, Pocket Casts, Castbox, YouTube Music, Amazon Music, Audible, or on your favorite podcast platform. Watch the interview on YouTube.

The transcript of this episode can be found here. Transcripts of all episodes can be found here.

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#781: David Whyte, Poet — Spacious Ease, Irish Koans, Writing in Delirium, and Revelations from a Yak Manger

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Want to hear another episode with a poet? Listen to my conversation with award-winning writer Mary Karr, in which we discuss curiosity and presence as a solution to fear, the role spirituality plays in maintaining her sobriety as a former atheist, coping with and expressing the aftermath of trauma, what she wished she’d known about therapy when she was younger, and much more.

What was your favorite quote or lesson from this episode? Please let me know in the comments.

SELECTED LINKS FROM THE EPISODE

Connect with David Whyte:

SHOW NOTES

[00:06:25] Connecting with Henry Shukman.
[00:10:32] Low times in the High Himalayas and a yak manger awakening.
[00:15:17] The place from where David writes good poetry.
[00:17:22] Invitational speech.
[00:21:55] Catching up with the curve of one’s transformation.
[00:27:58] A revolutionary moment reflecting on parameters and regret.
[00:37:41] “Everything Is Waiting for You.”
[00:40:54] The secret code to life and the agreed insanity of so-called adults.
[00:46:47] Being found by the world in greater and greater ways.
[00:48:52] Asking beautiful questions.
[00:58:13] “Tan-y-Garth.”
[01:02:09] Memorizing poetry.
[01:08:28] “Zen.”
[01:22:55] Courage.
[01:24:15] How living in a trailer on the side of a Welsh mountain helped David develop as a writer.
[01:31:14] Irish koans, French doors, and Tibetan bells.
[01:38:30] Poetry as consolation.
[01:42:03] The best place to hold a poem.
[01:43:07] “Time.”
[02:00:01] Writing and reading good poetry.
[02:04:52] Parting thoughts.

MORE DAVID WHYTE QUOTES FROM THE INTERVIEW

“Poetry is not some abstracted art. It’s how human beings speak when they’re trying to create language against which there are no defenses. This has to be heard and it has to be heard in the spirit in which it is being conveyed, and the language has to be invitational to that particular person.”
— David Whyte

“Poetry is the secret code to staying alive, to staying present, to staying visionary.”
— David Whyte

“All of us spend so much time trying to find a path where we won’t have our heart broken. And really, the only way you can find a path where your heart won’t break is by not caring.”
— David Whyte

“You are really only courageous about what you’re heartfelt about.”
— David Whyte

“Time is not slipping through our fingers. It is we who are slipping through the fingers of time.”
— David Whyte

“Every conversation, as its foundation, has an invitation in it. When the invitation stops, the conversation really stops.”
— David Whyte

“Poetry’s been such a good friend to me. I’ve gone through seven years of grieving in seven months because poetry has allowed me to take each step along the way, in such a powerful, invitational way.”
— David Whyte

“The beautiful thing about a horizon is that it’s got something over it, that’s the definition, and that what’s over it is the unknown that’s inviting you. “
— David Whyte

“Sometimes your life breaks down and you hit present reality with such velocity that you break apart on impact. And this is a time honored way of transformation, but it’s very hard on us to go through it that way. There’s another way of doing it, which is to stay up with the edge of your own seasonal maturation, and that occurs below this invisible line inside you.”
— David Whyte

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Nancy H.

1 year ago

Thank you, Tim and David, for sharing a wonderful conversion. Poetry blooms from the heart and Soul, taking us to those very places – touching tender, forgotten or abandoned places in the heart that ache for awakening, stirring the Soul to rest, to move, to speak, to live (again). Thank you, David, for your beautiful work that always escorts me right back to my heart. Thank you Tim for sharing your very thoughtful questions, your curiosity, your reflections, and your infectious laughter. You put a lot of work into your interviews and they are a great gift to all. I enjoy them very much.
May we all trust in and be guided by our heart, and honour the whispers of our Soul. May we be guided, but not diminished by our regrets and may any regrets be few. For me, this will mean taking more risks like saying the first hello to someone amazing.
Gracias, gracias!

Pascal Ibiza

Wonderful episode, Tim & David. Thanks a lot!

Werner Vorster

Hi Tim. Regarding your 12/6 5-Bullet Friday newsletter – Can you please share where you are going for the LICUS treatments? Thanks.

Judy P

I am a long time listener and just wanted to thank you for this episode. It is a gift and am grateful to be exposed to this kind of thinking and philosophy. (((Tim))).

Jack H

I’m not a “poetry guy” but, David’s reading of his “Regret” submission gave me chills for a few reasons. Thanks to you both for sharing this conversation, definitely provides some intense, thought provoking content!