Month: January 2023

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Courage & Toleration

It is the 1800s German Philosopher and Poet, Friedrich Nietzsche, that I know to have spoken, “No artist tolerates reality.”

Indeed.

For, it seems to me, artistry challenges the edges or reality. It has the energy to expand, even if momentary. It has the invitation to shift lens through which to see and question reality. It invites the medium of feeling, a knowing through other means not restricted to cognition. Artistry, from someone else or from ourselves, invites wonder, so as to be in a life more fully.

Indeed.

Recently I wrote, in the form of poetry, an artistry that helps me to wonder.

It
takes
courage

to 
live
a life 

listening
to life
calling
and
inviting.

So here’s to the not forgotten courage, the surrender, and the artistry of living lives as we do, in jobs as we do, in communities as we do, and in moments of listening to artistry nudging our perceptions, and toleration, of what is the real that we give ourselves to.

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The Eyes of Trees

From A Recent Walk, Lindon, Utah

It’s a regular walk for me. And a rain-fed stream. And this tree that has me thinking owls. With delight.

I am grateful
for people doing their good in the world.

I am grateful
for people with passion.

I am grateful 
for people with play.

I am grateful
for people exploring and leading with their being.

This life, my life, calls
for a wonderful intersectionality
and the eyes of trees that see it all.

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Circles — From Founder Voices

First, to clarify, I know that Ann and Christina would nuance the use of the word “Founder” as it pertains to them and Circle. I’ve heard them speak many times of how circle “found them” through their efforts to improve the bodies of education that they each participated in thirty years ago — environmental education, and journal writing.

Second, I love them for their deep wisdom, gained with practice, and teaching, and inviting others in, like me, to learn, practice, and evolve this beautiful form of turning to one another.

I referenced this video in previous blog, the one with Christina Baldwin and Ann Linnea talking about Circle with Healing Circles Global Co-founder, Diana Lindsay. It’s 84 minutes long. It’s the one where Christina shares, “If language were the human body, story would be the spinal chord.”

I want to bring a bit more attention to this video. These “grey hairs” as they are referenced at one point in the recording, are the foundation for circle practice that I began learning 20+ years ago.

In this video, Ann and Christina, speak some of the key aspects of The Circle Way — it’s the components wheel essences of practices, principles, host, guardian, agreements, energetics, check-ins and check-outs. You don’t get to synthesize and get to such essence and clarity without some lived life. It’s really beautiful to hear their voices again.

I’m forever grateful to these two. As mentors, colleagues, and as dear, dear friends — that have shaped so much of the work I get to do with groups, teams, communities.

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Wholeheartedness

I’m not a person committed to one particular deck of inspiration cards, nor divining from them with absoluteness. I am a person committed to learning. To loving. To feeling. To following intuition.

The above deck is, however, a set of cards I find myself returning to often. I find them beautiful. Simple. Centering. I don’t personally know Leela Kirloskar, based in Bangalore, India, who was kind to send me a couple decks when I shared my appreciation with her. It was my friend Quanita Roberson that put me on to Leela and her cards (thx Quanita).

The card I drew today — Wholeheartedness. I smiled. I’ve drawn this card before. I receive it as both reminder, and as a gift.

Leela’s words on the card — “An infinite love of life, extending joyous consciousness and generous expression, like flowers in full bloom.” Yup, there’s some potent guidance in that.

My words in my heart — learn, love, feel. Celebrate. Intuit. Through welcome of the infinite. Through practicing joy and consciousness. Through being.

I know that it applies everywhere.

A bow.

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Gifts of Circle - Question Cardsasd
Gifts of Circle is 30 short essays divided into 4 sections: 1) Circle's Bigger Purpose, 2) Circle's Practice, 3) Circle's First Requirements, and 4) Circle's Possibility for Men. From the Introduction: "Circle is what I turn to in the most comprehensive stories I know -- the stories of human beings trying to be kind and aware together, trying to make a difference in varied causes for which we need to go well together. Circle is also what I turn to in the most immediate needs that live right in front of me and in front of most of us -- sharing dreams and difficulties, exploring conflicts and coherences. Circle is what I turn to. Circle is what turns us to each other."

Question Cards is an accompanying tool to Gifts of Circle. Each card (34) offers a quote from the corresponding chapter in the book, followed by sample questions to grow your Circle hosting skills and to create connection, courage, and compassionate action among groups you host in Circle.

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In My Nature is a collection of 10 poems. From A Note of Beginning: "This collection of poems arises from the many conversations I've been having about nature. Nature as guide. Nature as wild. Nature as organized. I remain a human being that so appreciates a curious nature in people. That so appreciates questions that pick fruit from inner being, that gather insights and intuitions to a basket, and then brings the to table to be enjoyed and shared over the next week."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in In My Nature. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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Most Mornings is a collection of 37 poems. I loved writing them. From the introduction: "This collection of poems comes from some of my sense-making that so often happens in the morning, nurtured by overnight sleep. The poems sample practices. They sample learnings. They sample insights and discoveries. They sample dilemmas and concerns."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in Most Mornings. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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