Human to Human • Tenneson Woolf

April 30, 2019

Dwelling

Last week I walked through the grounds of a venue that I’ll be using for a workshop and retreat that centers on The Circle Way. The workshop and retreat will be November 2019. It will be in Cincinnati. I’ll be cohosting with my colleague and friend, Quanita Roberson.

On the grounds, located within an urban area, exists this retreat center. It struck me as having a nice mix of tended — there is deliberateness in the way the grounds and facilities are tended — and of a slight wildness and not performedness. I like it when places feel real for real people. Not perfectly polished.

These flowers caught my attention. It was slightly breezy that day. The weight of the flowers with the wind caused the branch to dance ever so slightly. Enough for me to stop and take this picture. I wanted to dwell.

I continue to learn about the dwelling that is both inner and outer. There are rooms within us that are meant to be paused in. That are meant to be waited in. That are meant to be resolved in a timing more than minutes rushed in a day. There are moments together, increasingly, like what happens when in circle, that we are meant to be as a group. Prolonged. Tended, yet with a bit of wild.

All of this gave rise to this poem below. Because something in me longs to dwell more. Just like I did with these dancing flowers. Last week.

Dwelling

There are many rooms
in this dwelling.

There is sun here.
There is a balcony
with lots of plants and flowers,
and even a few empty pots.

There is space here
unlocked for my dwelling.

April 29, 2019

To The Edge

Last week I stepped into my yard to take a few pictures of flowering trees. There’s the flowering Cherry, now loaded with white blossoms and covering significant view. There’s the tulips still holding themselves steady, though the day time heat is nudging them to a completed blossoming season. There’s grass greened in the unstressedness of spring.

When I was moving myself to get better pictures, mostly looking up to the skies and mountain background, I almost stepped on this snail. I was about to, but shifted my foot last second to avoid crushing it. I’m glad.

Some of the meaning for me in this pictures is about long journey. I can’t help but think about this snail — Where is it heading? Why? Does it have a destination? Is it just out for a thing?

I don’t know what this snail has before it. I enjoyed, and found friendship, for a moment, thinking of big journey. Yup, I have some of that too.

Recently, I wrote this little bit of poem, thinking of many of us that are in learning and journey.

I Continue To Learn

I continue to learn
that it is important to seek not just patterns,
but also,
what is below them.

I continue to learn
that it is important to live not just with safety,
but also,
with willingness to go to the edge.

April 24, 2019

Fire & Water at Hope Springs Institute

Yesterday I visited Hope Springs Institute, the physical home venue, and hearth, for what will be Fire & Water, A Leadership Journey and Rite of Passage. I often think of place as participant. Yesterday in seeing the Studio, Spirit House, Farm House, and ample grounds on which to wander — I got very excited. This is a place to hold community in well fed, well nourished, well spaced, and well convened ways. See below for a few more pictures of Hope Springs, near Peebles, Ohio.

Fire & Water starts this October. Applications begin here.

Fire & Water,

convened by Quanita Roberson and Tenneson Woolf, is a 16-month leadership cohort program that includes three 4-day residential retreats (October 2019; April 2020; November 2020 — Hope Springs Institute, Peebles, Ohio), a designated virtual learning platform, and structured ongoing coaching. It is a cohort program to cultivate wise leaders and community — not just busy leaders and commotion — through a proven participative leadership platform that relies on gaining tools and experience found in shared learning, building community, rites of passage, and applied practice.

Fire & Water,

is groundbreaking and innovative work that grows from our 25 years of experience. For Quanita and me, it comes from a growing awareness and concern that few people experience the conditions for the wisened leadership that is needed for our times. Many are so often responding to crisis. Fire & Water is an effort to grow and create more of what we know is working, but has been sorely missing in leadership development. Yes, we anticipate participants to come out better equipped with tools, and community. But further, we intend a transformative environment in which all will gain more ability to go further with skill-set and heart-set for times such as these.

April 23, 2019

Stay Simple With That

There has always been something that I like about stacked wood. I suppose it is the fire-keeper in me. I suppose it is some sense of abundant preparedness. For warmth. For safety. For cooking. I suppose there is something in the simplicity. Chop wood, carry water.

There has aways been something that I like about workin with groups. I suppose it is a simplicity that underlays all of the complexity. I suppose it is a few simple values. Or a few simple truths that change how these groups are together. I suppose I seek the simplicity there also.

Thinking of all of this, I wrote this little poem last week. Seeking the simple. Like stacked wood.

Stay Simple With That

Focus on learning.
Welcome inspired learning spaces.

Focus on layers.
Welcome many to show up.

Focus on story.
Welcome questions.

Stay simple with that.