“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).
Welcome, I’m Andō, a poet, writer, contemplative, and silence facilitator. I occasionally make music.
Listen to Silentium, my podcast.
My offerings include: courses, retreats, mentoring and more on poetry, writing, silence and the contemplative life.
Support my work through patronage, donations, and studying with me.
The best way to begin to get to know me is to listen to a conversation of silence and words, on the Encountering Silence podcast.
From 2013 I spent five years living quietly in the forest, I learnt the Zen of forest, mountain and river, and studied the poetry of the wind.
I'm passionate about poetry, particularly Zen and Ch'an poetry, haiku, monoku, renku, free verse and fragments.
I'm founding a small press, Silentium Press, and am currently editing and designing the first of a series of collections of my own poetry. Later, a journal of the poetry of my students. A longer term project is a haiku memoir I’m writing of my forest years, The Forest. A series of poetry prints and broadsides is also in the pipeline.
I'm writing a number of courses, to share the process of contemplative poetry and writing, and the silent practices of a range of faiths. This is my heart’s work.
My poetry and writing has been published internationally in a number of collections and journals.
Please consider supporting my writing, publishing and podcasting work. You can do this by becoming a patron, making a donation, or working with me.
Any questions, please feel free to get in touch.
Interviews.
Silence is Not Phenomenal: Spark My Muse 2019
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