“Ando, an amazingly talented and active writer, a woman who spent many years living as a lay Zen forest monk, in deep retreat from the world.
Ando's poems are about silence, stillness, the research of inner peace, and human relationship with nature.
Her works show that a journey of self-discovery can be described with just a few words at a time: and the result can be beautiful and intimate poetry.”
— Naviar Records. Publisher of music based on haiku and renku (a short form of renga)
Ando. Spending five years living quietly in the forest, I learnt the Zen of forest, mountain and river, studied the poetry of the wind.
I'm passionate about poetry, particularly Zen and Ch'an poetry, haiku, monoku, renku, free verse and fragments. A poet, I'm currently editing and designing the first of a series of collections of my own poetry. A longer term project is a haiku memoir I am writing of my forest years, The Forest. A series of poetry prints and broadsides is also in the pipeline.
I'm writing a small number of courses, to share the process of haiku, contemplative poetry and writing, and Zen and Ch'an approaches.
Work has begun on a poetry podcast. You can listen to the early cuts on Patreon.
My haiku and renku have been published internationally in collections, and I'm looking forward to developing further collaborations and partnerships, and a poetry community.
Please consider supporting my writing, publishing and podcasting work. You can do this by becoming a patron, making a donation, or working with me.
Interviews.
Silence in the Forest: Encountering Silence 2019
Clouds and Water: Pure Land Poetry. 2018
Truth to Power Show: Points to moon. 2018
A Room of My Own: On how I write. 2017
Art of Breathing: Creative insight. 2017
Naviar Records: Spotlight. 2016
Jan Stewart: Quiet interview. 2015
My Morning Routine: Daily routine. 2014