Years ago, when I first began this Substack, I regularly included excerpts from the many letters, emails and long-form voice messages I send to friends, and with permission, from our correspondences. It’s been a while and as it’s Easter Week and I am taking time off with my loved one, here is a piece, originally a voice-letter, to a dear friend from the middle of an ongoing conversation about the Eastern Christian saints, who when I read about them, sounded so much like the Taoist saints. Animals co-existing companionably with sages. Bears keeping hermits warm. Today it brought to mind one of my local saints, St Cuthbert of Lindisfarne, and the otters who breathed on his feet to warm them, after his long nights praying whilst stood up to his waist in the cold North Sea.

Happy Easter to those of you who celebrate it. And blessed spring to all, including all the creatures, especially the worms.

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The full version of this podcast with footnotes, links, images and full transcript was first published on Substack on 9th April 2026. Click the button to access it.

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