Author: Tenneson Woolf

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Small Pleasures

Thx to my friend Jeremy who shared this poem recently. The words of the poet, James Crews move me. This living juxtaposed with cruelty and kindness, with “bonfire of fears” and “scent of peonies” — well, this is the discipline of the open heart, isn’t it. And the invitation. And the insistence.

And Jeremy, well, it’s good to have soul brothers. That share the fire and share the bouquet.

Enjoy.

Small Pleasures
James Crews

Some nights, the ache in your chest
for all that’s wrong in your life,
for all the cruelty of this world,
will wake you with its crackling
bonfire of fears. But other nights,
you will fall asleep to the scent
of peonies left breathing in a vase
on the dresser, that bouquet of burst-
open hearts the last thing you see
before closing your eyes. You live, 
as we all do, between the extremes, 
learning to lean in the direction 
of whatever small pleasures you can 
gather from your own backyard.

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Bold Things

Reflecting on a recent Becoming & Belonging offering (Flow Group), my friend Nadia reflects on the eight of us together and what was shared (thx Nadia).

“These are bold things, indeed.
To show up and share.
To listen and be touched.
To connect and weave together.
These are brave, wild, learning things.
Each time again.”

Yes. Bold, through the simple.

Jump in as inspired for B & B. For one offering or for several. We are getting to the heart of it, “brave, wild, learning heart.”

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Just Ride — Slow & Steady

Yesterday’s bike ride — a treat to myself. West toward Bacchus highway (it’s 2 miles). Then south toward Rio Tinto Mine (another 1.5 miles). Most of this is slow climb. PS: I’m slow and steady on a bike; not at all speedy and sprinty. Then a slight coast down to the mouth of Butterfield Canyon (.5 miles). Then west again, and up until I’m ready to stop (2 miles). More slow and steady. There’s no finish line. Just the enjoying.

Looks like the pictures above. All on a paved road. Total climb is about 1,000 feet. An hour to get there. What joy. Breath. And enough challenge to be a challenge.

A pause to take in the creek and the mountainside. Eat the banana and orange that I brought. Sip some water.

The return is pretty easy peasy. 30 minutes. Mostly a coast. Saw a Wild Turkey. I’m reminded.

Be still.
In heart.
In belly.
Just ride.
Just move.
So much flows from there.

I listened to Ian McGilchrist and Mark Vernon a bit (thx Marshall). They talk William Blake.

“We have imagination. True.
Imagination also has us.
What if the world weren’t harsh and random,
but rather kind and patterned?”

So. Yah. Riding. Moving. Imagination having me. Pretty good to carry into the patterned day.

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Say Yes, Say No — In Times of Trouble

I wrote this poem at a time of life, a time of trouble, when I was exploring a few important decisions. And a few nuances of boundaries. And the steps forward that went with a few lettings go.

For inspiration.

Say Yes, Say No

There are moments in our lives
when we are invited
to say a real yes.

It’s not the casual yes,
nor the flippant yes,
nor the sarcastic yes,
nor the inattentive yes.

A real yes
can change everything.
A real yes
can establish a new direction marking the difference that was “then” and what is “now.”

There are moments in our lives
when we are invited
to say a real no.

It’s not the casual no,
nor the dismissive no,
nor the distracted no,
nor the avoidant no.

A real no
can change everything.
A real no
can set new direction of a claimed life.

It isn’t every yes and no
that begins a great journey.
But some yes’ and no’s
reset the heartbeat of life.

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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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