Lack and Enoughness and What's up in January!
Join us for our six week INCLUSIVITY lunch and learn series.
Thursdays starting January 16th. It’s a deal. Check it out and Register HERE
Or come to our free library event January 25th at the Eastside Library details HERE. Exploring a question on compassion.
And A few Saturdays ago. On a sunny November afternoon. Casey and I, along with 12 other humans, got together for our four hour retreat--
Money: Self and World, Stoke Your Woke style.
It was a cold day. Central Oregon Blue Sky. And we couldn’t get the heat to work for the first half. Brrr.
We sat in a circle, with down coats on, or wrapped in colorful blankets, in a wooden floored, quiet space.
The picture window overlooked a grassy knoll and then the street.
We could hear the sounds of cars driving by, voices occasionally seeping in.
The wind pressing against the glass panes.
And the room was lit with soft lamps.
We had a pear shaped candle and a small flowering rose plant at the center of our circle.
Points of light and life.
We were a mixed group of friends and strangers.
Moments away from becoming better known to each other.
The topic of money is another one that is often off the table in our culture.
Like religion and politics.
Unless for bragging rights.
It’s uncomfortable. Confusing. Activating.
Sshh it’s a secret.
How much you have or don’t.
To begin the retreat I read a favorite passage from John O'Donohue's Anam Cara. To remind each of us of our commonality as souls in human bodies. To remember we can inhabit more parts of ourselves.
And then we dove in.
Equity in time. Listening only. Speak for and from yourself. Wonder. Confidentiality.
Wrote. Contemplated. Reflected. Considered.
Lack and how it lives in each of us.
We spoke. Mostly listened. To ourselves and each other.
To see our individual part and for some, how it affects the collective.
There was laughter. And tears.
There were aha's. And confusion. And frustration.
Unpacking and rearranging.
To tug on the lack thread and wonder if it’s woven our world into an unhelpful corner.
Enoughness perhaps the toe that can give us a gentle or not so gentle nudge out.
To unravel money and lack. Woe Nellie. This takes more than four hours. Let’s be real about that. We dipped our toes.
My toes touched on a number of layers for me to explore.
One was the recognition that for most of my life, other than 6-8 years, I have been in partnership or in a family situation where I wasn’t taking care of myself alone. In a culture that values individualism and independence I haven't gone it alone.
And how perhaps living a life where a big part of my identity and work has been unpaid, invisible, undervalued work (child-rearing, emotional and spiritual labor, housework, relationship building and caring, holding someone’s hand, listening etc)] lack has been more connected to self-confidence, self-worth, and the ticker tape of not being enough.
The second is.
In the shared economy I’ve lived in I have had enough.
Food on the table and in the cupboards.
Heat. Clothing. Leisure. Pleasure.
A roof over my head. Or the stars by choice.
More than many and less than some.
Facts and lack.
Or conditioning and lack.
Or what?
And what is truly enough and what would everyone having enough look like?
And what if everyone wanted that-- enoughness for all?
And how about not accumulating “more” but a continual flow of the currency of giving and receiving and offering and asking, and sharing and taking and stillness?
I came away with
Anyhoo. A rich afternoon. An opening of a can of worms!
Lack lives and breathes in our culture and it has an influence. For some of us the impact is more visible.
To reweave it. To unwind its hold, is to commit to more than myself.
To understand in my bones that until everyone has enough, in truth, none of us do.
To ramble down that pathway of wondering. What if?
Being wed to lack is a merger in the direction of decline.
Enoughness for all is the direction of love. Kindness. Care. Equity. Mutuality. We.
And that we each have a part to play on the stage of enoughness. To be a new community of carers and sharers. Beyond what is here.
Thoughts from attendees----about Money: Self and World----
“I am in LOVE! Thank you. What a profound experience for me. I feel human again!!! I so love hearing the kindness, wisdom and tenderness of other human beings who are my neighbors and friends.”- Participant
“The guidelines were safe, structured and enlightening. It brought a small part of our community together and allowed us to share our common bonds. Such a breath of fresh air considering the climate in this country.” -D.S.
“Two important things happened for me during the workshop. 1) I actually sat down to think about some important questions, which I rarely motivate myself to do alone. 2) My thinking was expanded by hearing others’ thoughts, along with realizing how many of us share the same urgency to de-couple money from the justice part - seeing that all of us have access to basic needs. Money is not a good way to measure or reward people for their intrinsic worth”-Participant
“The facilitation was perfect for this conversation. The participation of Carol and Casey helped me feel comfortable in the group. I trusted because there was no difference or layer between us. They walk the talk. The guidelines were clear and helped us get through a lot of work. There was “enough” for everyone.” -Participant
“Their style felt spacious and organic, natural and free, just what is needed to encourage authentic sharing. They created a container for going deep and connecting. A springboard for growth and creative thinking.” - Burl Smith
“The questions were stimulating, brought me to new understandings of myself, and especially appreciated the synergy of hearing/sharing with others.These two are stellar!” -C.E.
“The guidelines are broad and open enough for exploration of thoughts and feelings even if unconventional. I appreciated the calmness and respect and equality of time, for all.” - T. Nelson
“We” encompasses “Me”.
Me does not encompass We.
Stronger together.
Join us. For something. Or pass our work on to a friend, or colleague, or family member.
Thank you,
Carol
P,S. back by popular demand in February Money: Self and World- take 2! check out details HERE