Margi Gibb

Publishers Synopsis

Prepare to be swept away by a story that is intimate, true, and utterly compelling. Margi Gibb's much-loved father dies and, with her immediate family largely gone, her life is changed irrevocably. Immersing herself more deeply in art and music, she travels to America to study the sacred art of the mandala, exploring the wisdom traditions of Indigenous Indian peoples in the process. Then after a serendipitous encounter back in Australia she travels to Dharamsala to care for children in an after school program at a Tibetan women's handicraft cooperative. Her underlying passion is to initiate guitar lessons for Tibetan refugees. What follows is unexpected. Margi's developing bonds with two very different Tibetan men, Tenzin and Yonten, change her life in complex and enduring ways. Eventually she journeys to Tibet. Kissed by a Deer is a book about East and West. It is a passionate quest for the personal and intellectual truth that only comes through lived experience.

'Kissed by a Deer tells of one woman's search for meaning and for life's deeper truths. Margi Gibb isn't afraid to bare her soul on her journey through India, Ladakh and Tibet. Along the way she introduces us to Tibetans discovering a new life in exile and disillusioned Westerners finding refuge in the East. Nothing is straightforward. Yet Gibb remains open, her words honest, her story heartfelt. This is a book that reminds us to live life one breath at a time.' Claire Scobie, author of Last Seen in Lhasa

The inspiration behind Kissed by a Deer

I've lived a back-to-front life, like a Heyokha, the sacred clowns, the contrarians of the Lakota people of North and South Dakota. The Heyokha lived unconventionally compared to those around them. They dare to ask questions that nobody wanted answers to. Kissed by a Deer is a response to asking such a question - 'How did I get here?' For me, 'here' was the stage of life that psychologist Carl Jung called the mid-life transition.

I was 50 years of age at the time I was inspired to write Kissed by a Deer, without a family or a job and I didn't own any property. This was a peculiar position to be in, yet I felt strangely invigorated. I knew things were okay, and I began to reflect on how I had got to that point in my life.

I'd lived a creative life since the age of 19. In the early '80s I studied creative writing, began painting mandalas and learned how to play guitar. By the early '90s I was working as a singer/songwriter, and by the turn of the century I was undertaking a masters in education and writing a thesis on the application of the mandala in the 21st century. It was all very inspiring and unconventional.

Another factor that added to my back-to-front life was my family of origin. My parents were born in the Greatest Generation (1901-1924) and I was born at the end of the baby boomer generation, the youngest - by 11 years - of four children and the only one born in Australia; the rest of my family had migrated from Scotland in the 1940s. My mother and both my sisters died while I was in my 30s. My father was 84 years old at the time my second sister passed away, and the role of caring for him fell to me. He lived in Mansfield, in the Victorian High Country - just over two hours' drive from Melbourne - and I would travel home to see him most weekends. It was a very back-to-front time for me; I was playing a role in life that my friends wouldn't come to until their late 50s. While I was saying goodbye to my family they were busy creating new ones.

I didn't mind; I wanted to spend as much time with my father as I could. During the day my father loved to play lawn bowls. I would drive to an alpine park at base of the mountains and write songs. In the evenings my father would doze in his chair in front of the television, and I would sit in the kitchen, playing guitar and refining my songs. This worked well for us.

By the time my father passed away I'd written over 150 songs. I don't know why, but after he died I stopped writing songs; somehow he took the music with him.

My father died two weeks before Christmas. From then on, come December each year, I would go overseas. I travelled to Sri Lanka, the Maldives, Borneo, America, Costa Rica, and eventually I found myself living in India. I was on a quest. I didn't know that then - I had to write Kissed by a Deer to find that out.

I'd always dreamed of escaping the daily grind of the West and living a more spiritually enriched life in the East, so when a friend told me about the possibility of living in Dharamsala, a town in the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, and working as a volunteer for a couple of months, I decided to contact the volunteer agency she'd told me about. Six weeks later I arrived in Upper Dharamsala, more commonly called McLeod Ganj.

Nestled on the ridges in the foothills of the Himalayas, among forests of cedar and pine, McLeod Ganj is home to an amazing diversity of inhabitants: Indians, Kashmiri traders, Tibetan refugees, stoned Israelis, monks, nuns, spiritual seekers and teachers, Western Buddhists, yogis, English teachers, artists, astrologers, healers, beggars, madmen, travellers, monkeys and dogs. I was totally in my element and just one of many seekers and visionaries visiting or living there.

I loved being a part of the community and I happily settled into a weekly routine of practising yoga, taking art lessons with a thangka artist, teaching English to Tibetan women weavers, running a music program in which I taught vocals and guitar, and hosting the open mic night at one of the local cafés.

Every week I met someone new and interesting: a French filmmaker, an American artist who lived in the valley, world musicians and - most extraordinary of all - I met Tenzin Palmo. Raised in London, she was one of the first Western women to be ordained as a Tibetan Buddhist nun. As part of her practice she lived in a cave in the Himalayas for 12 years.

As remarkable as these people were, they didn't have the same impact on my life as did two young Tibetan men: Yonten and Tenzin. Both were refugees living in exile and both touched my life in different ways - Tenzin with his mysticism and intrigue, and Yonten with his simple, honest, open heart. It was my relationship with them that eventually led me to travel to Tibet, where I attended a nomad wedding, rode a horse across the plains in Amdo (one of the three traditional regions of Tibet), observed a shaman body piercing festival, visited ancient monasteries, caught the train across the Tibetan Plateau to Lhasa, stood in awe outside the Potala Palace, and witnessed firsthand the oppression of the Tibetan people.

Kissed by a Deer is not so much an answer to the question How did I get here? as an attempt to make sense of the search. Originally I was planning to write a collection of short stories. My intention was overturned three months into the writing process when I found myself writing a full-length book. It was as though I was no longer in control of the creative process but rather the creative process was in control of me.

The title of the book came from an experience in Costa Rica, where a deer actually kissed me after I had undertaken a power animal mandala workshop in California. The mythology associated with deer in different cultures and religions is threaded throughout the book, which is written on four levels: mythological, political, relational and the personal.

I am grateful to have lived the story in Kissed by a Deer; my hope is that readers will, with me, wonder at the mysterious experience of being alive.

What people are saying

OTHER WRITERS

'Kissed by a Deer tells of one woman's search for meaning and for life's deeper truths... Gibb remains open, her words honest, her story heartfelt. This is a book that reminds us to live life one breath at a time.'

- Claire Scobie, author Last Seen in Lhasa and The Pagoda Tree

'Kissed by a Deer: A Tibetan Odyssey is a passionate song of love, a lyrical testimony to living with humanity, humility, and hope... Margi’s memoir is a rare gift of imagination, intellect, and spirit, composed in words that have been shaped with a lifelong care for the efficacy of language to evoke transformative possibilities for living well on the earth'.

- Carl Leggo, author Sailing in a Concrete Boat

'a travel memoir as beautifully written and as accessible a Davidson's Tracks. The interplay between inward and outward journeys, the boldness of the artist and humility of the traveller are all beautifully handled'.

- Sue Smith author Discovering Buddha and Buddhist Voices in Schools

'A sumptuous read... Just wanted to let you know how much I've enjoyed reading 'Kissed by a Deer'... Your ability to convey the spirit of the Tibetan people enabled me to visualise the circumstances you found yourself in... You undoubtedly have the talent to let a reader know exactly what you think of people without looking excessively judgemental. Simply reporting the way people behave - which is what you were doing there - carries its own powerful message'.

- Ken Haley, author Emails from the Edge

REVIEWS

... in engagingly simple language, Margi Gibb explores the highly complex nexus between West and East... Her tale draws you in, is full of grounded, astute observations and unlikely conjunctions.

The Age - Non-fiction reviews: Forsyth saga stranger than fiction

...each page turn leads the reader into starkly different places; some pages could be from 'a manual for life', some could be from a women's fiction novel, and some could be from the most introspective entries of a journal.

The Northsider - Arts and Lifestyle

WHAT THE READERS SAY

What a read!!!

Is it possible to fall in love with a book? LOVED IT!! An amazing story, beautifully told, with an Australian humour that had me smirking! I defy anybody to come into contact with Tibetans and not be touched by their sincerity, warmth and compassion - and be outraged by the injustices they have suffered (and continue to suffer). A very engaging and enjoyable read. Hopefully it leaves you wanting to know more about Tibet and her people. Margie, you are one hell of a writer. - Fiona Mckenzie

A book with heart - loved it!!!

Kissed by a Deer is an odyssey of spirit, passion and love. When the death of her father catapults Margi into a quest for meaning. Traveling to Dharamsala, Ladakh, China and Tibet, her story masterfully intertwines the natural and socio-political landscapes with her burgeoning spiritual awakening and search for real love. Kissed by a Deer is a book with heart - of healing, compassion, and love. Whether you love travel biography, or the memoir/self-development genre of Eat, Pray, Love and Wild, you will love Kissed by a Deer as much as I did. - Christina Davidson

As pure as a hillside gong

This is a remarkable odyssey. Its clarity and resonance reminds me of a gong on a hillside purely sounded and unwavering. The writing has swiftness, precision and economy; it's like an arrow crisply parting the morning air and sailing straight to the centre of its intentions. The next best thing to being there is letting the author take you there - the place you have never set foot in, but know as intimately as the hammer blow of your own heart. I put new strings on my guitar after reading 'Kissed by a Deer'. This was a day for turning pages and striking chords. Every sound was as pure as that eternal gong. Thanks for this amazing literary gift. - Dr Jeffrey Zerbst

I could not bear for it to end - absolutely riveting...

Quite simply, I spent a weekend away and read this book without putting it down. I felt as though I was in Tibet with the author reliving her experiences. It really made me think about my own life as well. What an interesting life this person leads... and what skill she has as an Author. That is a rare gift. Brilliant read. - Elizabeth Moll

Five Stars

Feel like I've been on a journey & transported to another world. Glued to the page. Brilliant book: an East meets west memoir journey within - but more. I highly recommend it!! I felt like I'd woken up on the plains of Tibet. A brilliant read. A true journey! - Alex Zendara

Touché

Thanks Margi for a great read! Thank you for sharing such a great journey, I am very fussy about what I read and began your book not really knowing what to expect. I loved it, it was warm, knowledgeable and interesting. For the likes of me with no experience in the cultures your journey took you on, I was 'enlightened' I can only recommend it highly as an enjoyable read, TOUCHE. - Kris Blake

A truly wonderful and thought-provoking read

I picked up 'Kissed by a Deer' and was immediately drawn into Margi's beautiful, soulful world. Such was the grace of the writing; many times I felt that I was walking alongside Margi and the many personalities she met throughout her odyssey. A truly wonderful and thought-provoking read. I highly recommend this novel to anyone with an adventurous spirit and a love of the fully lived life. - Megan Carlton

How wonderful it was to be taken to Tibet and to...

Loving the book and can't put it down. I am relating to so much of it in many ways. Margi's descriptive writing had me travelling right beside her! I felt that I had travelled the roads and experienced the relationships that were hers. How wonderful it was to be taken to Tibet and to meet its people. Although it was through the authors writing I felt that I was there as well. A beautifully written story about the love of a country and its people. I didn't want it to end! - Ric Pollard

I love this book!!

I love this book!!! Why? It's not just another travel book. It is not just a search for self, meaning and truth. It is a book that describes a scene and totally draws you in so that you are a part of that scene. You can smell, feel, see, as if you were there. So eloquently described. This is a book that draws you in - you can't put it down. Read it!!! - Deen Le Coz.

Loving it

I'm loving it, loving your writing style and feeling happy and relaxed as a result

Finished reading this today and I was touched in many ways. I felt that my understanding of the oppression of the Tibetan people was strengthened, my knowledge of the countryside improved but most importantly Margi helped me to consider my own fears through a book that is beautifully crafted. A credit to you - Margi Gibb. - Caroline Clarke

Where to buy

The Northsider - Book Review

Good Reading - Book Review

In Their Own Write

femail.com.au - Interview

Leader Community ePaper

Toorak Times

Other Publications

The Call to Individuation : Spirituality and Creative Practice

Reflections on Learning, Life and Work Completing Doctoral Studies in Mid and Later Life and Career. Maureen Ryan (Ed.)