BeingChange: Not Just For Women

You may have noticed, if you've been visiting this blog, that I've recently dropped the word "women" from "Women Weaving the Great Turning Through Circles, Art, & Story." While there will continue to be women-only circles and events, and special emphasis on empowering women's vision and voice, it truly didn't make any sense to exclude the invaluable contributions of weaving men. So, men of heart and soul, and spirit; men who love our Mother Earth and who care about the future generations: Welcome! I look forward to hearing your stories.

The Great Turning as a Hero's Journey

In the film about these transition times entitled “What a Way to Go,” Derrick Jensen tells the following story. During times of war, the native dog soldiers of the southwest would plant a stake, called a picket pin, in the battlefield and tie themselves to it. They were making a visual and visceral statement that they were taking a stand, that retreat was not an option, and that they would give their all – even in the face of death.

The film also explores how, even as we are awakening to the challenge of our global situation, there are powerful forces attempting to lull us back to sleep.

In the book “Sacred Demise,” by Carolyn Baker, Peter Senge says: “The power of creative tension results from seeing clearly where we want to be, our vision, and telling the truth about where we are, our current reality.” I would add the tension of staying awake – even in the face of death, both real and metaphorical.

All of this adds up to what I see as a spectrum, a very loopy, non-linear spectrum. On one end we are asleep or being lulled back to sleep. On the other end we are consciously and courageously planting our picket pins by confronting fears and limitations, by taking stands, and by envisioning possibilities.

The creative tensions are our thresholds. Which way are we going to choose in any day, in any moment, in any situation?

Our navigation of this spectrum, of these tensions, is what I have compared to the archetypal “hero’s journey.” The hero’s journey is a perfect template for what the initiation of transition and of transformation requires of us. We hear a call and we either refuse the call – go back to sleep - or step over that threshold into the dark mucky-muck of the unknown and search for that Grail, planting our picket pins over and over along the way, and bringing back what we learn as a gift to our people.

What lulls you back to sleep? Where are you along the spectrum of the hero’s journey in the context of the Great Turning? What is calling you? What picket pin would represent your next best response to that call? What would the Grail look like? Who will you meet along the way?

If you have a story, song, poem, or what have you, that speaks to these questions, please send them to me. I may post them to the BeingChange web site and they may become a part of the future anthology.

BeingChange - Some challenges and possibilites

BeingChange circles are really twofold: having circles and collecting stories about our experiences of being in transition and our visions for the future. These stories can be expressed in any artistic genre: poetry, essays, songs, dance, photography, and the like. So, the stories are the end, the goal, and the circles are the means. One of the outcomes will be a book - an anthology of our work together. The challenge is how to record the stories generated within the circle while, at the same time, maintaining the safety and spiritual grounding of the circle.

My answer is to be explicit. I'm looking for people who are passionate about wanting to help create a better world, who have something to say about the condition of our planet and the future for all beings, and who have the courage to stretch beyond their comfort zones. I'm looking for people who are excited about being part of a collection of powerful voices, and about being the change we wish to see in the world. While every effort will be made to co-create a safe and spiritually grounded space, these circles will be recorded AND stories will never be shared without permission and can remain anonymous if requested.

Are you one of these people? Would you like to contribute in some way? There will be options for wherever you are. Please email me, leave comments, suggestions, become part of the BeingChange network!