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Anne Whitaker

My Blog Circle:

Born and raised in the storm-tossed stark beauty of the Scottish Western Isles where my love for nature, sky and seascapes first arose. Driven always by restless curiosity about why we are here, and what we have to do to feel there is a point to it all. Diverse work record, mostly vocational but not without its forays into interesting byways, eg the British Merchant Navy whose honourable discharge papers I hold, as well as a university Arts degree, and post-graduate qualifications in education, social work and psychological astrology. A long background in adult education teaching, social work, counselling, and the supervision of students and fellow counsellors. Have written all my life, with numerous articles, essays and journalistic pieces in print over the years. Published author since 2009. From 2008, have run the popular web Magazine "Writing from the Twelfth House" by Anne Whitaker Its aim is to support, encourage, inspire and entertain open-minded people who, like me, are exhilarated and amazed by the beauty, mystery and complexity of the worlds we human beings inhabit - and for those writers and readers who share my preoccupation with questions of meaning, pattern and purpose. Having taken a break from April to September 2011, I have just begun a new series of posts on this blog. Check it out! I would be happy to hear from you, either via comments left on the blog, or by email: info@anne-whitaker.com
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my VN interview

How did you get to where you are now?
If I ever get through reading and editing the nineteen motley handwritten exercise books and journals sitting gathering dust and moths in that old disused filing cabinet in the end cupboard, I may stand a chance of finding out! But in essence – by following my wayward restless spirit wherever it led, and trusting that it knew the way when I didn't. The great thing about having survived thus far and looking back over several decades, is that one sees now what was not at all obvious then: that there is a pattern to one's life, and that the mistakes, heartaches and failures along the road have been as important as the loves, gifts, joys and serendipities in making us the unique beings we turn out to be.
How do you see yourself differently now than you did 10 years ago?
Ten years ago I was a successfully self-employed busy and driven career woman, on the threshold of menopause. Then, in 2001, a year-long family crisis resulted at the end of that year in my total burn-out. My career ended, of necessity. It took until 2008 to recover – a long and at times very frightening seven years, but a wonderful opportunity to rest, to retreat, to read widely and deeply, to finish one book (published in 2009) and write another, get on the Web, find new communities. I found out who truly loved and sustained me, and fully faced the reality for the first time that behind our carefully crafted personae, we are all vulnerable. Being humbled by my own frailty has been one of the most formative experiences of my life. It has taught me the value of Being – eg sitting in the local Botanic Gardens, watching the trees reflecting the seasons – as well as doing, doing, doing......now that I am fully well and energetic again, I will always be respectful of that part which needs rest, retreat and spiritual nourishment in order to be in balance.
Where do you see yourself in 10 years?
Digging out those nineteen dog-eared journals and writing the autobiography I vowed I'd never write. Hopefully, still driving my long-suffering husband Ian (30 years thus far, and every day a miracle!) nuts. And buying a new racing bicycle for getting around since walking everywhere will probably have worn out my knee joints by then!

a postcard to my younger self

Never mind, it could have been worse!

my role models

My formidable grandmother Isabella Whitaker, the only woman anyone had ever heard of in those days (pre World War One ) to make the main speech at her own wedding. She was the first female Town Councillor in the small Scottish island town in which I grew up, raised her own three children as well as the two left orphaned by her sister's death, ran a baby clothing shop and a boarding house, and always had great style if very little money. She was also quite an environmentalist. There still stands a tree in my home town which has a wall curving round it. Granny fought the local town council who wanted to chop the tree down to make way for the wall. She won! Also – I belong to an Episcopalian community where there are some wonderful older friends whose dignity, grace and persistent humour in the face of the inevitable physical decline which aging brings us all, is a constant source of inspiration to me. I hope I can retain their kind of faith, spirit, courage and good humour as I get older.

my posts

Festive Kiss – with a Twist!

Posted in Anne Whitaker, home & garden, Our Blog Circle, travel on December 23, 2011
I captured this arresting, quirky Festive image in my home city of Glasgow, Scotland, whilst strolling along by the River Kelvin through the tunnel under Queen Margaret Drive bridge.read more »

The gift of honest feedback….

Posted in Anne Whitaker, family & relationships, Our Blog Circle, work & money on November 18, 2011
In recent times, constructive criticism seems to have morphed into something altogether much less forthright, much more timid, much more inclined to dish out indiscriminate praise and affirmation regardless of performance. Is this helpful to young people's education and development?read more »

Girly sayings….

Posted in Another Slice of Life, Our Blog Circle on November 01, 2011
This series of witty gems, created for women in general but I think especially appealing to those of us of a certain age, arrived in my Inbox courtesy of my friend Anne J, with a request to pass the list on to five other women.read more »

“Soul is about your friends”: an encounter with writer and therapist Thomas Moore

Posted in Anne Whitaker, Our Blog Circle on October 10, 2011
I found meeting Thomas refreshing and cheering – found him humorous, laid back, wearing his erudition lightly. His very informal “lecture”, very much open to audience participation, was timeous in its theme: the importance of healing the whole person, rather than simply treating the body, within the health care system.read more »

The left field delivers!…Diary of an Education Junkie, Part Two

Posted in Anne Whitaker, books & entertainment, other topics, spirituality, work & money on October 03, 2011
I will always need space to withdraw, to dream – being “squeezed” by too many demands not only does not suit my nature, but also led to my energy burnout in 2001. A most unsettling bolt from the left field two weeks ago, throwing me right off the intended study path, has brought an outcome suiting mread more »

my comments

Response to: Girly sayings....

Comment posted on November 2, 2011 at 2:48 pm:
"Yes, some of them made me laugh out loud, which is why I thought I'd share them. The last one is one of my favourites too...." (read comment)

Response to: The left field delivers!...Diary of an Education Junkie, Part Two

Comment posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:39 pm:
"I worked for thirty-two years before a menopausal collapse, triggered by the necessity to respond to a family member's severe prolonged mental health crisis and their move back with us. I then took seven long hard years regaining sufficient energy to..." (read comment)

Response to: The left field delivers!...Diary of an Education Junkie, Part Two

Comment posted on October 21, 2011 at 3:33 pm:
"Hi Fran so pleased to have been able to inspire you! I think you just have to follow wherever your inclination ( and finances!) can take you and trust that no experience is wasted, even if you move on to something else. Good luck with the classes...." (read comment)

Response to: I read, therefore I am

Comment posted on October 10, 2011 at 3:31 pm:
"Hi Sharon and Happy Daze i came out as a reading addict a very long time ago! Reading in post-career life is one of my greatest and most cherished pleasures. An inspiring novel recently read - " The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd. We have j..." (read comment)

Response to: Diary of an Education Junkie: Part One

Comment posted on September 14, 2011 at 7:17 am:
"Thanks so much, kanmko. I went to the induction meeting yesterday and discovered that out of a class of about 20, the vast majority of students were in their 20s! I was the only representative of the 35 + age group! So I'm afraid that the age spread ..." (read comment)