Sacred Practice

A couple of weeks ago, my friend and colleague Katharine Weinmann posted a blog on Spinning the Sacred Feminine. The whole thing is a good read. I love Katharine’s heart and brain and weaving spirit in it.

Included in Katharine’s post was a list of eight qualities of sacred feminine (sourced from Christine Valters Paintner).

  • following intuition
  • attending to synchronicity
  • listening deeply to the natural world
  • surrendering striving
  • trusting the wisdom of underworld of shadow
  • honouring vulnerability as strength
  • embracing slowness and spaciousness
  • valuing being over doing

This list has been staying with me ever since in an excited way. Yes, as unique qualities of feminine. But more so, as outstanding practices for anyone, and in particular, for the men that I know and cherish. Each of those qualities are great invitations I feel for wise living. Many of these articulate most trusted bonds of practice that I feel with them.

So, what’s that about? Not totally sure. Might be that the times are calling for the reclaiming of the sacred / healthy feminine (after decades of overplayed toxic masculine). Or that there is feminine that is wrapped in masculine and vice versa. Or that words, fantastic as they are to sort categories, also fail (beware the patterned use of the binary).

I love the clarity and the invitation of those qualities. I love it that I know men deeply committed to such practices, sometimes in very deliberate norm-breaking ways. I love it that so many men that I know are finding wisdom together and contributing with soul through such practices.

So, this post today, isn’t an intent to over-sort or over-categorize. Nor to slip to man-splaining nor to prematurely rename a category. For me, it is to celebrate such powerful clarity. And to express gratitude and relief for welcoming this kind of living in these kind of days.

5 Replies to “Sacred Practice”

  1. AND … the sacred anything … sacred feminine, sacred masculine, sacred being in a world that needs to come alongside qualities that invite all into the depth of who we can be together.

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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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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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