Live Slowly

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Michael Leunig is an Australian Cartoonist and Writer. I was introduced to his work in the most beautiful ways over the last week. His art hangs on each wall at the retreat center, The Big House, which housed and hosted us for The Circle Way Practicum. His poems were used by participants to host some of our process together. His books populated shelves of the main room. I got really excited about Michael Leunig.

Yesterday I memorized one of his poems, included in the book above, When I Talk To You, which I’m now carrying with me.

God help us to live slowly.
To move simply.
To look softly.
To allow emptiness.
To let the heart create for us.

I love having these words as memory from Australia, and as guide as I adapt to return.

 

Contribute, Learn, Gain

Last week, through The Circle Way Practicum Australia, this intention statement (in orange) came to me through an exercise for all participants. The exercise involves reflection. And presence. And dialogue. And circle. And then writing, one statement.

I love the way that a deeper and nuanced awareness shows up as we humans turn to one another.

This year: “I intend to contribute, learn, and gain the vibration of community, the energetic memory, sustained and amplified by the practice and presence of circle.”

Last year: “My deeper yes is to practice and encourage consciousness, attention, simplicity, and kindness through and with The Circle Way for the betterment of human endeavor.”

I love the way that circle reminds me of what I am up to. From the heart. In the heart.

The Big House

I am grateful to work in places like this, called The Big House, in the Noosa Hinterland in Queensland.

It is beautiful on the inside and on the outside.

Just as it is with the people that gathered for The Circle Way.

Just as it is with cohosts Amanda Fenton, and Penny Hamilton.

Circle organizes us. It creates pattern. It reveals the beauty that already is. And inspires it’s expression in work and life.

I learn this over and over again.

I’m grateful for that.