How does it make sense to be in the world?

This is the question that imbues my days with what often feels like restlessness and anxiety. I struggle with angst and fear and downright despair. I search for hope and possibilities and signs of awakening. I find myself cocking an ear, listening, or gazing out the window, scanning the horizon. I want to sit, a lot, on the ground or amongst trees. I pay attention to my dreams. I have no patience for the status quo. I have an urge to wander, both inwardly and outwardly....  I know what I am experiencing is that in-between place of "what was" and "what is becoming." While it can feel overwhelming or frightening at times, I'm learning to relax into it and listen to what it has to teach me.

I believe this is one of the necessary skills of our time - to hold that sacred space of pure presence to what is unfolding in our universe. Not in a passive, wait-and-see way. For me it's relational and co-creative. What evolutionary forces are at work? What is wanting to be born? How can I help? What can I contribute? How does it make sense to be? What is "out there" beyond the narrow confines of our sadly myopic worldview?

Duane Elgin wrote a wonderful book called "The Living Universe" which he describes in the video that follows. He starts with a fundamental premise that I share - that the Universe is a living system and embodying ourselves in that system makes all the difference in how we see, and behave in, our world. Let's begin here.

WelcomeTo the Latest Evolution of BeingChange ...

... reflecting some simple shifts in focus and intention.

First, BeingChange will foremost be a container for my personal story of navigating the Great Turning. I will share my experiences, hopes, fears, dreams - as well as resources and ways to engage in your own way. I strongly believe in the power of story and I'm passionate about exploring the possibilities for a transition into a future with a regenerated Earth and whole human beings. This is what I live and breathe. I've learned much along the way and it is my hope that my attempts to “be the change” will support you on your own journey of
healing,  transformation, and conscious evolution.

This shift  also honors my need to find and express my own voice - as a person, as a writer, and as a spiritual activist. I don't see my role as "teacher" but as facilitator and co-creator. Which brings me to the next shift...

Second, there will be much more emphasis in BeingChange as a community, with every effort made to build a thriving following with much sharing of stories, resources, and support. Bear with me as I continue to learn the technology to accomplish this in cyberspace and as I continue developing circles, courses, events, and other ways to get involved - both in real life and through this site. AND please do go here (and scroll down to the bottom) to see how you can join our community right now!

While the nature of story is organic and not to be forced into boxes, I'm committed to posting at least once a week, so I hope you'll visit often. I look forward to journeying with you.

Big Bodacious BeingChange Dream

photo by Vera Kratochvil

COME ON IN!

Imagine: a dedicated physical space for BeingChange that has a room for gatherings, events, and circles, and a room for a studio, allowing you to go seamlessly from imagining, evoking, and envisioning to reflection and expression in a variety of genres: drawing, collaging, dancing, writing, for example. Imagine this Center as a hub, in an easily accessible downtown Ithaca area, where you can meet people who are hungry to live their most essential, fiercely compassionate and creative callings on behalf of our planet and all beings. Imagine a safe, beautiful, nurturing, inspiring space where you can explore what's deepest in your heart and what's foremost on your mind. Imagine empowering your Self and others to discover your unique, creative voice and your path of “right action” in the world.

Imagine a rich and diverse menu of offerings: art, story, events, circles, ceremony and ritual, workshops, guests, lunchtime gatherings, book studies, music and dance, drumming...support, encouragement, fun, community, adventure, spirit, challenge, activism, playfulness....

I can imagine all this and more, can you? Want to help make this possible?

Please, please post your ideas here.

It’s Hard To Know the “World May End”

You’ve succeeded this long in hoping, and

you’re not stupid or selfish or imagine

you’ll be one of the chosen few.

You’re not holding out for a miracle of

divine or human intervention, a grand

fix from a savior, scientist, senator, or CEO.

You’re courageous in your efforts to stay

awake, to engage, even to dream, though days go by and

you wonder what for; is it

not already too late?

Your heart is no fool; each beat a wondering

why why, why why, why would we

come to this?  This is not who we are.

We have forgotten who we are.

Yet you must know that your knowing, and

my knowing too, and their knowing, and theirs

will perhaps open a Way.  Make that Way

the new wondering of your heart.

Phebe Allen Gustafson

We Can't Think Our Way Out Of This

The next four BeingChange circles will be a series exploring Margaret Wheatley's “Eight Fearless Questions." To begin to truly honor the intention of gathering art and stories for the BeingChange work, I've asked that participants take some time to reflect on these questions and create a response that they can share in the form of a journal entry, a story, a collage, a poem, or whatever they like.

I've been working on my own project to share in the form of a collage - a medium I've always wanted to seriously play with. Half the fun is cutting out all the pictures. I find it a practice in meditation. But the real joy in it, for me, is to see what emerges. It's much like my poetry; the end result is often more than the sum of whatever "parts" I contribute. It can be mysterious and magical.


This is a very important dimension of the BeingChange work - getting out of our heads and making room for the Source, the Great Mystery, the God Consciousness, or whatever you want to call it, to flow through us - to speak, to create, to evolve through us. When I look at my finished collage I wonder, wow, where did that come from? What is it saying to me? What does it touch in the depth of my being, my knowing? How does it open me up to new perspectives, possibilities?


This is what I want to bring forth, and empower in others to do the same, whenever I can. I have a great quote, source unknown, that streams across my computer screen: "We can't think our way out of this. Navigating in a global crisis is a spiritual adventure." I'm always exploring ways to get out of my own head and step into the adventure AND in our thinking-dominant culture it's not always easy. I'd love to hear your stories of when you've experienced the connection with the Flow - or as Agnes Pilgrim, one of the 13 Indigenous Grandmothers said (and I paraphrase) - when you've made that 18 inch pilgrimage from your head to your heart.

If you'd like to take part in this series, wherever you are, go to www.beingchange.org to see how.

The Thing I Gotta Do: The "How?"

The thought of taking a "walk-about" this spring is daunting in many ways. For example: Where am I going to get the money? How will I travel? Will anyone want to meet with me, put me up, gather their friends for a circle? Will I really have the courage to do this?

I've begun to keep what I'm calling my "pilgrimage catalog." In it I have a page for everyone I want to visit, with their contact information and information about who they are and what they do. It keeps me inspired and motivated and excited. It makes it more real. For example, here is one possibility:

Joyce Kendall

Joyce Kendall is Founder of Earth Heart Farm, a sanctuary for spiritual teachings where people can come together in community to learn, share and support each other in our spiritual walk. She is a Certified Yoga Instructor, Registered Polarity Practitioner, and Practicing Herbalist. She was inducted as an Andean Yachak Shaman after years of study with Ecuadorian Yachaks. During her studies, Joyce formed a deep bond with the indigenous people of Ecuador, learning their many traditions. She has observed how visiting with and learning directly from indigenous cultures has changed many peoples’ abilities to see themselves as part of a new vision. To this end she formed Earth Heart Expeditions, offering shamanic journeys to visit with the elders in South America. These trips are designed to encourage deep healing, personal transformation and an awakening of spirit consciousness.

How wonderful it would be to sit with this woman, and perhaps her friends, sharing stories, experiences, wisdom, and visions. And did I mention that I already have thirty pages of these extraordinary, ordinary people - as I like to call them?

If you know anyone you think I should meet, or if you have stories of when you decided to reach for a dream with all the trials and triumphs, please share them.

P.S. Well, I didn't answer the "how" but I got a good start in naming what I'm up against!

Jody Kessler

Last night we had a lovely circle where we did music, ritual, and sharing around letting go of the old and embracing the new. Guest facilitated by musician and interfaith minister Jody Kessler, we shared appreciations, released limitations, and gave voice to ways we can move forward in the coming year towards our greatest potential and service.

"I'm going to make dreams come true," I heard my Self say as I chose a stone from the altar to keep as a reminder of my intention. As I write, I have it in my pocket, and I take it out from time to time to look at its beauty and feel its smoothness. I think about "the thing I need to do" that I talked about in the previous post, and I hold those thoughts like I hold that precious stone. Like that stone, they have weight and substance, texture and beauty.

And what do I feel I need to release in order to move forward?
...fear, limiting beliefs, addictive behaviors, self-doubt, ingrained habits, and more...
If only they could disappear as effortlessly in real life as they did having been written on dissolve-able paper and tossed in a bowl of water.

But if it is true, as Bill Plotkin and others have observed, that we live in a culture dominated by adolescent habits and desires, then the enduring societal changes we so desperately need won’t happen until we individually and collectively evolve into an engaged, authentic adulthood. Follow the link to see his excellent book on what such an evolution would require.

I certainly can begin by leaving some of my sillier human foibles behind! It's ALL a part of this amazing journey, one day at a time. Still, there's the "how" to do the thing I need to do. Stay tuned.

Walking My Talk

I have something I need to do. It's not clear to me what, why, when, with who, or how, but it's something I need to do. I figure I can flesh it out here, start putting it into words, and see what emerges. So far it goes something like this:

I need to get out on the road. There are people I want to meet and places I want to see. There are challenges I need to face and experiences I sense are waiting for me. I need to do circles and gather art and stories. I want to visit wild places and commune with people who are awake and awakening. This much I know.

Well, so maybe I'm clear on the "what."

I need to do this because my heart and soul demand it and my fears and self-imposed limitations will no longer fly. It's both a quest and a pilgrimage. In many ways it's a rite of passage. It's a way of seeking to do service in and for the world - for my beloved Pachamama. It's a journey into the discovery of the possibilities and processes of The Great Turning."

Good start on the "why."

I hope to do a test run in April (when.) I already have quite a list of destinations in and around the state of New York (who.)

Well, well, well, look what's emerging! Stay tuned for the "HOW!

The Best Year of Your Life

Debbie Ford

"The Best Year of Your Life" is a remarkable book by Debbie Ford and one of the best I've read on how to bring forth your fullest Self with intention, courage, integrity, creativity, and commitment.  I'm going to be working the process of this book over the year (and beyond) and I imagine many posts will reflect that. I'd like to share a few quotes to give you a taste of what it's about.

"The best year of your life depends not on some outside accomplishment but on allowing the greatest expression of yourself to be unveiled. (It's) about becoming the person you always wanted to be. It's about embracing a vision of yourself at your best and developing the qualities that will take you there.

"We each must make a commitment to chip away at our self-imposed limitations and take the time to discover the ways we have hidden our talents and covered up our deepest desires.

"It's time to break through the illusion that the best year of your life exists somewhere out there, in the future....
It's not about getting all the things you think you need to be happy...what it does require is for you to develop those parts of yourself that are yearning to be expressed...it's about living each day grounded in reality, with passion and excitement for life.

She goes on to give a thorough blueprint for bringing all this about, not pulling any punches about the courage, honesty, focus, and persistence that will be required. This book is important to me because it too much of my life energy gets diffused through procrastination, lack of discipline, negative self-talk, limited beliefs, and many other things. It's time to truly step into my power and "be the greatest expression of (myself), knowing there is no finer contribution (I) can make to this world than fulfilling (my) highest potential."

I'm excited about the possibilities this endeavor might bring about; I feel like a kid in a candy store wondering what I might discover, learn, let go of, be challenged by, shift , create, accomplish! Let the journey begin. Join me. Leave comments!