Musings & Movement

A free monthly mind and body connection to help inspire art and create care for the writer.

Register HERE
Sign Up for Musings & Movement Monthly Newsletter

October 2026 Notes

We Shall Winnow

Gayle shared this term, winnow, in conversation when I told her that, along with radical self-care as part of my healing, I found myself sorting. I separated items into three piles: still valuable, no longer nourishing, uncertain. Not quite KonMari. Not Swedish Death Cleaning. Instead, my own process, as all decluttering should be individually curated.

Gayle, too, in her own winnow-status. Her reasons different than mine. And we wondered how many others are finding themselves in this space.

For October, we offer the opportunity to winnow as one, winnow together, winnow.

~

The Movement

Breathing Winnow

The Movement: Winnow Breathwork

Image Credit: Sia Zhang

Winnow = same root from the word “wind.”

Early versions of winnow, wheat from chaft (nourishing from what coud go).

Tossing the grain to the air, wind removing the chaft, the grain falling to the ground to grow.

We can treat the act of winnowing through our breath.

Try this with Haiku breath:

  1. The Haiku form is all about winnowing down to just a few syllables.
  2. Breathe in for five.
  3. Hold your breath for seven.
  4. Exhale for five.
  5. Fill our body with wind and world.
  6. Hold the world.
  7. Release the world.

~

The Musings

Haiku

Explore: Alan Pelaez Lopez’s poem “Zapotec Crossers (or, Haiku I Write Post-PTSD Nightmares)

Writing Prompt: Writing Haiku is an attempt to reach the beautiful kernel. Often regarding nature (though it need not).

Exploring Lopez’s poem, you can use dreams as a starting place for your Haiku.

Find a big experience and see if you can winnow the event down to a few syllables.

Image Credit: Hester Qiang

For the remaining workshop notes, download the full content below.

~

Next Class

We Will Be Offering a Special In-Person/On-Line Class in Chicago TBA

Monday, November 2nd, 2026 at 10 am PST / 11 am MST / 12 pm CST / 1 pm EST.

Register for the next Musings & Movement

Fitness is not just in the body. It is in the mind. In the heart.

Whatever your challenge, Musings & Movements may offer tools that open peace and help you continue to grow your writing practice.

With much love, Gayle & Rebecca

Disclaimer: As with any fitness program, please use common sense when joining us. To avoid injury, check with your doctor before beginning this or any fitness program. Musings & Movement will not be responsible or liable for any injury sustained as a result of participating in these workshops, courses, series, or classes, including recordings, videos, or information shared. This includes emails, videos, and text.

Downloadable Workshop Notes

Musings & Movment – October 2026Download

©Musings & Movements, All Rights Reserved, 2026, Gayle Brandeis & Rebecca Evans