The Real Work It may be that when we no longer know what to do
we have come to our real work, and that when we no longer know which way to go
we have come to our real journey. The mind that is not baffled is not employed. The impeded stream is the one that sings. Wyndell Berry On rubbish pick up day Bring everything you own and think you are Down to Trust-in–the-One avenue. When you get to the curb, Your real fortune will meet you Unveiled in your own face. The head of doubt has two ears, The heart... Continue reading

“We are all glorified motion sensors. Some things only become visible to us when they undergo change. We take for granted all the constant, fixed things, and eventually stop paying any attention to them. At the same time we observe and obsess over small, fast-moving, ephemeral things of little value. The trick to rediscovering constants is to stop and focus on the greater panorama around us. While everything else flits abut, the important things remain in place. Their stillness appears as reverse motion to our perspective, as relativity resets our motion sensors. It reboots us, allowing us once again to... Continue reading

The Summer Day - Mary Oliver Who made the world? Who made the swan, and the black bear? Who made the grasshopper? This grasshopper, I mean- the one who has flung herself out of the grass, the one who is eating sugar out of my hand, who is moving her jaws back and forth instead of up and down- who is gazing around with her enormous and complicated eyes. Now she lifts her pale forearms and thoroughly washes her face. Now she snaps her wings open, and floats away. I don't know exactly what a prayer is. I do know... Continue reading

Poem: From the Double Trouble Collection Holding Places All streams flow to the sea because it is lower than they are. Humility gives it its power. —Lao-Tzu Between the stream’s source, hidden in the thick woods, bubbling up from dark underground wells and the sea with its moon coaxed tides and vast anonymity into which all streams flow there are sabbath ponds: sweet, safe, calm holding places where all kinds of life finds refuge. May the waters of our life, streaming from an unnamed Source, find refuge in earth’s ponds where we know we are loved and accepted and can... Continue reading

Two Poems: Today by Billy Collins If ever there were a spring day so perfect, so uplifted by a warm intermittent breeze that it made you want to throw open all the windows in the house and unlatch the door to the canary's cage, indeed, rip the little door from its jamb, a day when the cool brick paths and the garden bursting with peonies seemed so etched in sunlight that you felt like taking a hammer to the glass paperweight on the living room end table, releasing the inhabitants from their snow-covered cottage so they could walk out, holding... Continue reading

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Solstice Poem Be still Soften into the darkness Stars will begin to appear Remember Remember magic Remember the brightness that pierces the dark Remember your vision Breath into it Receive the grace of your Own Inner Self. (Author ?) Confession in the Shadows From time to time it is a grace-full thing to pause along the path to turn from the light and look behind to the shadow lands. As I kneel on the path and turn in the direction from whence I came I am silenced by the shadows. They seem to stretch from the horizon. Not darkness yet... Continue reading

Thank you, dear friends for the rich conversation of our call. The Four Fold Path I mentioned is shown below: Four-Fold Way: Principles To Guide A Learning Community Summarized by Michael Welp, Ph.D., www.equalvoice.com Angeles Arrien is a cultural anthropologist who has studied the common ways indigenous cultures throughout the world support creative expression, health, and adaptation to change. She has developed four major principles that integrate ancient cultural wisdoms into contemporary life. These principles provide clarity for thriving in today’s complex world of constant change. 1. Show up, or choose to be present. Being present allows us to access... Continue reading

What a wonderful conversation! Click Here to view the pdf version of today's design. Download AoCA5 Cohort Call Nov182010 FINAL And this from Deborah: When the work of my hands praises God beyond my natural skill, and when what I am is what I ought to be – whenever the impossible gift arrives for me – it is God. It is evidence of his love. It is his mercy so great, that those around me are astonished to find me in such a blessed condition after all. Let no one call the gift by some earthly name. Though it is... Continue reading

What are our collective intents? Maintain a safe and supportive container as a group and continue our relationship together Grow in our authority as conveners in our own lives and worlds Serve to advance the art of convening practice and support Heartland as they evolve, including the creation the Graduate Guild. Continue reading

The Art of Convening: Authentic Engagement in Meetings, Gatherings, and Conversations November Monthly Cohort Call Dear Convening Pioneers, Margaret, Terry, and I have been stoking our virtual campfire in preparation for our November cohort call. We will gather Thursday, November 18 for two hours from 9 to 11 CT (7 to 9 PT/8 to 10 MT and 10 to 12 EST). Please refer to our blog for the call-in number and pin codes: http://heartlandcircle.blogs.com/aoc_5/ . You are Invited To bring your inner and outer courage together And come to our sacred campfire To create a Field of Resonance That we... Continue reading

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KNOWING A SONG BY HEART There is a song Your heart knows An ancient melody Easily forgotten Which you can hear When you are still Your true freedom is The sounding board Which gives resonance Echoing the vibrations Now audible notes That seem strangely familiar As you begin to move Once again on the path With a new lightness in your step And a whistling tune on your lips Continue reading

Body awareness exercise As we make a transition into the next part of our time together let’s begin by shifting our attention to our bodies. So first, just notice, if you can, the chair supporting your legs and your pelvic floor. Now notice your feet resting on the floor. Can you feel the floor, solid under your feet? If not, press gently into the floor with your feet to sense the support found there. Now notice the back of the chair pressing against your spine. Notice how the chair supports your back. If for some reason you cannot feel the... Continue reading