Category: General Learning

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Poetry That Explores Meaning

At this time of year, in the northern hemisphere where I live, the darkness of the night lengthens. We approach the winter solstice. Many traditions honor the depth of the darkness, a time to go inner, to rest, to clarify, to let go, to live by the simple light of candle, to be quiet.

This time of year often turns me to poetry. My own. And poems written by others (Marge Piercy has been moving my heart lately). This time of year often moves me to explore meaning.

So, some words below. A poem. I love experimenting with the shape of poems. With repeated structure. With brevity.

Thx for reading.

I write
so that I can dwell
on what is moving
within me and around me.

I ask questions
anticipating
aliveness and newness
that nudge me and us to the dance floor.

I listen
so regularly brought
to shared tears and laughter
by the stories we whisper to each other.

I celebrate
a life
abundant
with gifts.

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The Heart of Practice; The Practice of the Heart

I dig the clarity in these words below, inviting so generously, to the heart of it. They are from Toke and a few others organizing a gathering for next May.

I’m glad for such fellow travelers finding our way to the heart and hearth of it all.

Organizing and offering to host a spacious learning field
A dojo to practice, to experience 
and to find clarity beyond words 

To be in the harmony and connectivity with our nature – alone and together. 
We call it The Heart of Practice and the Practice of the Heart

As we hold space, not to do, but to practice 
to invite ourselves home
to the uncarved center 
where breath and being dance.

Three days to be, to strengthen, to open the heart
so that our presence becomes the offering,
and the heart – my practice
in service of Life
in all directions.

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To Create Art, You Must Be Alive

Good one here from author Brianna Wiest. Thx to my friend Hailey for sharing it.

So much to relate to in this. Creating. Being alive. I quite like the invitation to be alive with “anything.” I written quite a few poems that come from a desire to follow what is alive in the inner — fears, joys, angers, discoveries.

Here’s to it, to the many of us leaning in. In the big, giant ways and the small, tiny ways. Alive.

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The Space Between The Letters

It’s rather good to learn with friends. It’s one of the most basic narratives of my life. Just learn. Just follow the joy of learning. Inner. Outer. With people. Solo. Connect things. Try things. Stop calling them things.

I just came from a call (Coffee over Zoom = Zoffee). With a wise man that I’ve know over 10-15 years. But in the frequency of a call once every 18 months or so — I think we’ve only been together twice in same physical space. There is a resonance between us. A similar desire for learning. For feeling. For listening.

Today my friend offered me this reflection and encouragement (diagram above). I scribbled while he talked, because that’s what I do.

“Learn to welcome the space between the letters. And between the words. And between the sentences. Learn to look for what isn’t and can’t be in the words, in the articulation.”

Dandy.

My friend also added, “I don’t try so much to facilitate these days. But I do try to catalyze.”

Yup, this feels wise. And so much of what I’m learning to lean to. And to surrender to. In life. In family. In hosting work. As I wrote above, “holding space to help people be ready (more ready) for that catalyzing.”

It’s rather good to learn the spaces between, to become trusting and fluent with the spaces between. It’s rather good to learn with friends.

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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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