Dear and Wise Friends,
Some folks at my online birthday gathering requested an open Wisdom Circle. (Apologies for the delay - this took a lot more work than I imagined!)
Anyway, I wanted to make it available to you, too…and to anyone you know desiring more or deeper connection, support, wisdom or community. (I realize many are severely challenged, struggling and hurting right now. I'd love this to be a soft space for them to land and find comfort, support and strength. Please forward this to anyone who you think might be interested and benefit. :)
I agree with what someone said at my BD gathering: One thing that's needed right now is more Wisdom. A truth that's borne out in the work I've done is that humans simply think better, and that deeper Wisdom arises from each of us, when we're listened to in the right way….
To answer the call for wisdom, and serve those seeking a reliable source of authentic connection/support/community, we'll meet following the time-tested, wisdom tradition of the Native American Council ritual (slightly modified for online: eg, we pass a "virtual talking stick" to enable non-interrupted sharing).
Also known as a "Wisdom Circle," this tradition is a safe and sacred way of gathering for heart-based speaking and listening. It's a warm, caring and judgment-free space for deep truth telling…in which to experience a cumulative kinship and belonging that deepens over time (a powerful antidote to fear and isolation).
A Wisdom Circle is also a place to birth our visions, celebrate our triumphs, and to release and heal pent-up and unresolved emotions. We laugh and grieve together...while encountering, exploring and sharing our deeper thoughts, feelings and wisdom, with respect to what's currently transpiring in ourselves, our lives, and our world.
However, one never needs to speak unless they so choose: Anyone is fully welcome, and a full participant in this community, even if they're nourished solely by giving others the gift of their compassionate attention.
"Each and every one of us had ancestors who sat around a fire together…drumming, singing, dancing, sharing their experience and telling stories, praying to the spirit of the sacred place on Earth that they knew as "Home." In those circles people spoke from the heart, and listened from the heart…they found solutions to their problems, they laughed and they played, celebrated and grieved together…. The memory of this time is in your body, in your bones, in your belly. It is your deep, timeless connection to the circle. It is your heritage." ~ Wisdom Circles: A Guide to Self Discovery and Community Building in Small Groups
WISDOM CIRCLE SPECIFICS:
Time: Sunday, May 17, 2020 06:30-8:30 PM PST/PDT (Pacific Time, US and Canada)
** If you're seriously interested and this time doesn't work for you, please let me know what times would.
Requests:
- To RSVP "yes", please click on the Meeting link below to register for the Zoom event now. This will give me and idea of how many are coming and help me plan. Then, on the "Meeting Registration Approved" page that pops up, click on the link where it says, "Please click this URL to join"...to test your connection and resolve any issues you might have getting on in advance. (You may want to also click on the "Add to calendar" link on the Registration Approved page or below.)
- Please come to the gathering at 6:30 sharp, or even a couple minutes early. Doing so and following the above step will allow us to start promptly and ensure everyone gets an adequate amount of time to share what they need to. (As we'll be opening a sacred/ritual space and co-creating a safe & confidential container, this is not a "drop in whenever" kind of event. :-)
- This opening circle is offered free of charge. Should you wish to express appreciation, or give reciprocity dana for the many hours of time/energy that went to study indigenous and modern versions of this tradition, this circle's creation and facilitation, carefully-worded messages and documentation, Zoom fees, etc., you can do so here (Deeply appreciated!)
Optional Items:
- A non-alcoholic drink (no food, please)
- Notepad/journal (to capture valuable insights, commitments, etc)
- Sacred items for virtual altar
- Meditation cushion (we usually spend a bit of time in silence together)
- Timer with audible chime (we'll need a volunteer to be our Time Keeper)
Password-Protected Zoom Meeting:
Meeting ID: 898 3719 1281 / Password: 722473
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