Words That Haunt Me

And by haunt, I mean in a good way. Words that linger with me. Words that sync with heartbeat. Words that buoy and lift spirit.

Gunilla Norris wrote in her book, Inviting Silence, some of those words. I’ve included them in this blog before.

“Throughout the years I have found that beneath whatever we might think our discontent is, we very much need three things: an awareness of our inner longing…the courage to act on behalf of that longing…and a sense of community to support and maintain our interior journey.”

In working with groups, there is so much that can be entered and encountered with Norris’ simple words, converted to three simple questions for interaction.

  1. What do you long for? As in, feel compelled toward. And in, ache for. As in, can’t deny. As in, feel called toward. As in, sings to you. As in, beckons for your creativity. As in, brings you forward with joy and authenticity. As in, animates your very being.
  2. How are you doing with your courage these days? As in, are you staying true to what you know and are. As in, are you following the longing of your heart. As in, are you taking steps in your doing or being that honors and tends such longing?
  3. Who is your community that supports your journey? As in, your team. Or, your family. Or, your new friends. Or, your cohort. As in, witnesses your journey. As in, listens. As in, nudges with questions. As in, surprises you with a basket of muffins to sustain you. As in, reminds you aren’t alone.

And then enjoy. The next 30 minutes. Or the morning engaging each other in these questions. Or the day. And the woven thread of nuanced attention to such simple questions that invoke an encountering of self, other, circumstance.

This is the kind of work, and journey, that I love. That haunts.

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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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