An urgent task for our time: Imagining “Earthdream Mystery Schools” to guide us in recovering our lost intimacy with physical and psycho-spiritual Gaian landscapes.
Utterly spot on and delightfully inspiring. What a piece of writing to wake up to! Before the heat of my day in central Victoria Australia I will go out and see what the land has to say this morning. You have encouraged me and I hope my energies can go towards encouraging others, particularly the children, to listen to what Country (everything we are) is saying and singing and calling to us....
Hi Jennifer, I'd love to connect. I speak to Joanna Macy, Thomas Berry, cultural trauma narratives (such as the one of 'to conquer' that needs to be transformed to the one of 'to care') and resonate so much with what you write here. Bill Plotkin just finished a full series of muses about inscendence. I have one published article on this myself (researchgate). It's everything! You can find me not too far away doing this - "Understanding the imaginative forays of artists and writers as forms of" inscendence and Guidance, especially now, after all that we have been through most recently. https://goo.gl/maps/2Yfgre2y7dMKr19m7, Bayfield, ON
Hi Kaytlyn, thanks for your comment, I am glad to know another kindred spirit! Plotkin's series on inscendence was based on his essay in this small but potent anthology, edited by Ervin Laszlo and Allan Combs: https://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Berry-Dreamer-Earth-Environmentalism/dp/1594773955/. Several of the essays in that collection, including the one by Geneen Marie Haugen, are really excellent. Yes, WE NEED THIS WISDOM NOW! It's our turn to rise to the challenge of transforming our world for the better. Let's do it!
I describe my work as 'eco-poetic practices for dwelling in deep time'. They are inspired by a number of sources including chapter 15 of The Dream of The Earth. I am awaiting possible publication of an essay on my own shamanistic awakening in the ways you describe. My background is in education, spirituality and the arts.
Having some difficulties with a new platform here—I am writing to say how much I love this and need/ want to reread several times. Pulling some one thing— “Cheering children’s innate ability to “make believe,” and reawakening dormant faculties of imagination in people of all ages;“ AND it is not the most significant thing to me reading here, but—I’m from a Montessori background; safe to say a “holistic” method, generally speaking. However, problems arise for me when some Montessorians steer away from “make believe.” Loving the new word for me—inscendence. And I do love saying to myself and others, “Trust your instincts more.” Thank you.
Thanks so much for these thoughts, Sheryl! Yes, both Maria Montessori and Rudolf Steiner were going in the right direction, for sure--Steiner quite open about how his inspiration came from "shamanic," psych-spiritual sources. We need to bring the best of their ideas with us into the brave new world of the 21st century, and also reach back to earlier, pre-Christian indigenous traditions of education as initiation. And to invent our own new approaches, based on, as you say, trusting our instincts. As Thomas Berry always reassured us, the universe is wiser than we are, and she is not about to get it wrong.
Utterly spot on and delightfully inspiring. What a piece of writing to wake up to! Before the heat of my day in central Victoria Australia I will go out and see what the land has to say this morning. You have encouraged me and I hope my energies can go towards encouraging others, particularly the children, to listen to what Country (everything we are) is saying and singing and calling to us....
Yes, Cath! That is exactly what we humans are here for, don't you think? Cheering you on!!
Hi Jennifer, I'd love to connect. I speak to Joanna Macy, Thomas Berry, cultural trauma narratives (such as the one of 'to conquer' that needs to be transformed to the one of 'to care') and resonate so much with what you write here. Bill Plotkin just finished a full series of muses about inscendence. I have one published article on this myself (researchgate). It's everything! You can find me not too far away doing this - "Understanding the imaginative forays of artists and writers as forms of" inscendence and Guidance, especially now, after all that we have been through most recently. https://goo.gl/maps/2Yfgre2y7dMKr19m7, Bayfield, ON
Hi Kaytlyn, thanks for your comment, I am glad to know another kindred spirit! Plotkin's series on inscendence was based on his essay in this small but potent anthology, edited by Ervin Laszlo and Allan Combs: https://www.amazon.com/Thomas-Berry-Dreamer-Earth-Environmentalism/dp/1594773955/. Several of the essays in that collection, including the one by Geneen Marie Haugen, are really excellent. Yes, WE NEED THIS WISDOM NOW! It's our turn to rise to the challenge of transforming our world for the better. Let's do it!
I describe my work as 'eco-poetic practices for dwelling in deep time'. They are inspired by a number of sources including chapter 15 of The Dream of The Earth. I am awaiting possible publication of an essay on my own shamanistic awakening in the ways you describe. My background is in education, spirituality and the arts.
I’d love to read your essay!
Having some difficulties with a new platform here—I am writing to say how much I love this and need/ want to reread several times. Pulling some one thing— “Cheering children’s innate ability to “make believe,” and reawakening dormant faculties of imagination in people of all ages;“ AND it is not the most significant thing to me reading here, but—I’m from a Montessori background; safe to say a “holistic” method, generally speaking. However, problems arise for me when some Montessorians steer away from “make believe.” Loving the new word for me—inscendence. And I do love saying to myself and others, “Trust your instincts more.” Thank you.
Thanks so much for these thoughts, Sheryl! Yes, both Maria Montessori and Rudolf Steiner were going in the right direction, for sure--Steiner quite open about how his inspiration came from "shamanic," psych-spiritual sources. We need to bring the best of their ideas with us into the brave new world of the 21st century, and also reach back to earlier, pre-Christian indigenous traditions of education as initiation. And to invent our own new approaches, based on, as you say, trusting our instincts. As Thomas Berry always reassured us, the universe is wiser than we are, and she is not about to get it wrong.
Not complaining…just explaining. I am only now seeing your response, Jennifer. Thank you.