Hadeesa Ramjee was born and works in Birmingham, England. She is a writer who was working on her first novel at La Muse.
Having recently decided to leave her Islamic faith, she has also just begun working on building a more constructive and tolerant discourse on the issues surrounding religion, identity, and mental health, particularly within eastern cultures. This is something she is doing through research, essays and creative writing pieces. She says it is an area that is very much lacking and she hopes that this work will raise awareness, in particular to help those people on similar personal journeys to her.
1) How Do You Know You Are a Writer?
I grew up with my nose constantly in a book. It was the thing I was known for by everyone who knew me, along with the embarrassing accidents that are caused when you have your head down when it really should be up. Like when you’re walking down the street, or trying to eat hot soup. I think it was natural then that I would pick up a pen and write myself. It became a way that I would work through my emotions, regardless of whether they were good or bad. Each time I put pen to paper it became my own private therapy session. There is just something so addictive about spinning words together and creating new worlds and new people, opening a blank page and drawing out the mysteries. Because it was such an integral, personal and natural part of my life, I didn’t really see myself as a Writer. I think there is a difference between knowing that you write, and knowing you are a Writer. I didn’t really share my work with many people, but there was one friend in particular who was allowed a key into my collection. The day she phoned me up and told me she felt like reading something of mine and enquired if I had written anything new, that was the day I knew I was a Writer.
2) What is Creativity to You? What is your Creative Process?
‘And those who were seen dancing were thought to be insane by those who could not hear the music.’
This quote from Nietzsche is one of my absolute favourites, and is what comes to mind when I think of this question and when I think of Creativity. My Creative Process is through writing, but growing up, doing something creative like writing or drawing was always seen as a waste of time. It was just the culture I grew up in, and I had subconsciously internalised the belief that creative pursuits could never be something that could become a career or what I could spend most of my time on. It was that very Creativity that allowed me to break through the barriers, which introduced me to whole new ways of life and living. Suddenly Creativity was my little secret in my world that tried to stifle it. It was the quiet and calming companion that guided me through until I found the other people who shared this secret. Now, Creativity has become an old friend for me, and when I’m faced with situations that call for conformity or question my decisions, it peeps through and gives me the quiet, confident nod I need. And that’s all I need to carry on dancing.
3) What is Inspiration or Inspirational to you? How do you live an Inspired Life?
People. Always people. I have been lucky enough to experience some amazing experiences within Nature, alone and surrounded by the raw power it possesses. And truth be told I am more comfortable standing in a thunderstorm or looking out at the mountains than surrounded by a group of people. But the most Inspirational moments I can think of have come through the stories of people, be it reading or hearing about their lives, or picking up a book that they have written and being captivated by their words. I’ve always noticed that I am more inclined to write when I’ve read or heard something particularly beautiful. When I do, the words are easier to flow. There is a particular video on YouTube that I watch; it’s a compilation of videos taken from CCTV cameras around the world. In it there are numerous instances of unplanned and impulsive acts where human beings have come together to help each other, help perfect strangers, often putting themselves at risk. Where they have pushed vans stuck on the train tracks, where they have scaled walls to save those people who felt they could do nothing but jump, where they have lifted burning cars with their bare hands to save those trapped underneath. Whenever I feel disillusioned at people and the beauty they are capable of, I watch this one video and it moves me to tears each time, reminding me of how much Inspiration can come from the people around us.
4. How did you know you needed to come on a retreat? OR: What made you come to a Writers retreat?
When I booked onto the retreat I was at a very big turning point in my life. I genuinely thought I was closing a chapter and moving onto something completely new. I had quit my job not even a week before I arrived and wanted to commit to a life where I could spend most of it creating. I knew I had a writing piece that I was close to first draft and my gut told me that a retreat was what I needed to not only finish it, but also to have the space to create new ideas and explore possibilities. If there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s to always trust your gut. So I did, and I could not have been more thankful!
5. Can you give us one word to describe your retreat?
Wild!
6. What’s been your eureka/transformative Muse moment?
I think it was the last or second last time I climbed to the top of Le Roc and sat out looking at the sunset. I remember thinking about leaving in a few days and wondering why I wasn’t feeling more scared about this whole chasm of the unknown ahead of me, of what I was going to do when I got back. Normally such uncertainty would leave me petrified. But I remember a sense of calm wash over me. In that moment I knew, with a confidence I didn’t know I had, that a path would appear. There was a strong reaffirming of the fact there is nothing, literally nothing that you cannot do if you put your heart to it, even though it may scare you more than anything. Your mind really can be your own worst enemy, and is a bigger obstacle than any other person could ever be. Spending six weeks in the French mountains with nothing but your mind is a great way to learn that lesson! I was also introduced to Florence Shinn at La Muse and since then I’ve recited certain affirmations numerous times a day. I can’t help but say it really has done wonders, and this is coming from someone who was honestly quite sceptical! It gave new meaning to Bukowski’s words: ‘Life’s as kind as you let it be.’
7. What was the one thing you didn’t pack that you wish you had?
My parrot!