Practice For Peace — An Inviting Narrative of Purpose

I’m glad for this little book, recently gifted to me. It’s a fine collection of quotes, phrases, images, and principles that fits nicely in my pocket. It’s pre-loved, by a person I admire for his ways in the world. And before him, by another younger man that I have deep respect for. It’s the kind of book that I’m enjoying reading, meditating upon, and randomly opening to a page.

“Instructors can impart only a fraction of the teaching.
It is through your own devoted practice
that the mysteries of the Art of Peace
are brought to life.”

I know the relationship that I have when I’m teaching — of trying to offer an important learned and practiced essence, then hoping or challenging people to stay with their learning. I also know the relationship that I have when I’m learning — of welcoming principle, then to try and practice in many circumstances.

I’m glad for a week’s worth of community and learning that has me seeing through a lens of “practicing for peace.” It’s conversations round a fire. It’s paddles in a canoe. It’s circled up time together as a whole group. It’s walks with one or two following aliveness of learning together. It’s a glass of wine in the evening to be quiet and full in heart of words not needing to be spoken. It’s remembering old stories.

I’m glad for a narrative that can hold many other narratives. Of purpose — peaceful co-existence with self, with other, and with circumstance. A narrative of practice — being and doing. A narrative of invitation — that recognizes consciousness yearned for in all era’s of time.

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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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