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Category: Tenneson Woolf Poetry

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Just One

New beginnings is a common theme for my poetry, for my writing. I suppose it speaks to the courage I’ve had to muster in a few circumstances of life when much has been lost. I suppose it speaks to the encouragements I’ve offered to others doing similarly. And then there is the regular complexity of life and profession, that requires the imagination and conviction of experiments here and there, that bring life, learning, and new beginning.

There is a flowering that has often felt so important to me to remember — that longing that I have, and that so many of us have, to come fully into the garden presence, indeed, to become the garden with and among others. The Allium above offers its purple being, standing tall, greeting neighbors, and glistening in morning sun. From that a few words below to encourage the opening and flowering heart.



Just one step.
Just one next step.
It doesn’t matter so much, which step.
Start again.

Just one person.
Just one next person.
It doesn’t matter so much, who.
Just open.

Be in the Now.
Be in your heart.
Be in loveliness.
And unfold to the world calling and celebrating you.

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Waking Vow

Waking Vow
Tenneson Woolf

It is just after 6:00 in the morning.
Birds are chirping vibrantly, as they do.
The sky is a matte blue, not yet kissed by the direct rays of sun 
asdthat will soon reach over the Wasatch Mountains. 
Lawn and garden sprinklers cycle through programmed schedules.

All of it brings a freshness.
A new day, a commitment.
A naturalness, an ongoingness.
asdA reliability.
All things that I’ve struggled to feel over the last many months.

It seems true to me that most of us 
seek the aliveness of a new morning, 
that calls us into fresh being. 
asdThat wakes us to what wants to be lived fully.
That invokes our vow of a next flowering step.

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What A Heart Continues to Learn

My heart continues to learn that simple things are often potent things.
With slightest of my attention, I remember.
That the beauty of blossom invites flowering from within and with others.
That the persistence of rhubarb calls forth an irrepressible bigness..
That the coffee with a tinge of chocolate can swirl surprising delight.

My heart continues to learn that joy and love are radical and astounding gifts and practices.
With slightest of my openness, I remember.
That human beings everywhere enjoy play.
That human beings everywhere wish kindness in things small and large.
That even in the fights of our times, there is blessing that cherishes our company.



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The Next Step

Yup, that’s attractive way of living for me, perhaps for many of us. Thx Rumi, 13th century Persian Poet. Thx Michael Meade for posting and guiding as you do. There is something inherent, I believe in most, that seeks both the simple steps, and the ways that simple steps grow to practiced ways of being and to organic ways of planning. There is something inherent, I believe in many, that wishes to cultivate such clarity, courage, and love of way-forming.

With that in mind, these words from my fingers to keyboard this morning. Sometimes in my poetry, I get strong urge to write lines with one word. I suppose such lines are like simple steps way-walking.

For inspiration.

Just 
the 
next 
step, 
please.

There are many of us, right,
that
long
to be filled,
and emptied,
by
the 
now.

There are many of us, right,
that
long
to welcome,
and enjoy,
such 
potent
life.

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Gifts of Circle - Question Cardsasd
Gifts of Circle is 30 short essays divided into 4 sections: 1) Circle's Bigger Purpose, 2) Circle's Practice, 3) Circle's First Requirements, and 4) Circle's Possibility for Men. From the Introduction: "Circle is what I turn to in the most comprehensive stories I know -- the stories of human beings trying to be kind and aware together, trying to make a difference in varied causes for which we need to go well together. Circle is also what I turn to in the most immediate needs that live right in front of me and in front of most of us -- sharing dreams and difficulties, exploring conflicts and coherences. Circle is what I turn to. Circle is what turns us to each other."

Question Cards is an accompanying tool to Gifts of Circle. Each card (34) offers a quote from the corresponding chapter in the book, followed by sample questions to grow your Circle hosting skills and to create connection, courage, and compassionate action among groups you host in Circle.

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In My Nature is a collection of 10 poems. From A Note of Beginning: "This collection of poems arises from the many conversations I've been having about nature. Nature as guide. Nature as wild. Nature as organized. I remain a human being that so appreciates a curious nature in people. That so appreciates questions that pick fruit from inner being, that gather insights and intuitions to a basket, and then brings the to table to be enjoyed and shared over the next week."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in In My Nature. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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Most Mornings is a collection of 37 poems. I loved writing them. From the introduction: "This collection of poems comes from some of my sense-making that so often happens in the morning, nurtured by overnight sleep. The poems sample practices. They sample learnings. They sample insights and discoveries. They sample dilemmas and concerns."

This set of Note Cards (8 cards + envelopes)  quotes a few favorite passages from poems in Most Mornings. I offer them as inspiration. And leave room for you to write personal notes.

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