Human to Human

Glad to have my friends at NewStories hosting this Book Release Conversation on February 28, 2025, 9:00 – 10:00 am PT.

All of the details are here, including link to registration.

No charge. Come to learn. And to meet others who appreciate Circle. I’ll tell a few stories about Gifts of Circle (released December 2024). I’ll share some learning. We’ll invite you to jump in.

NewStories‘ work is so much about bringing new life to new narratives and practices that create regenerative future.

Circle is one of the ways that helps us do that. As I’ve named in the subtitle of this book, Connection, Courage, Compassionate Action are the gifts. They are the intentions of Circle. They are the outcomes too.

I’m glad to have written this book. I’m glad to have it writing me. Read it (and it’s accompanying Question Cards) if you can before the 28th. Or just register and show up.

I’m glad for NewStories colleagues like Ally and elders like Bob. Together we keep finding ways.

On Saturday I met with three close-in men for Flow Group. Together we explored our respective next layers of purpose in our lives and jobs. We used Flow Game and Circle to give us just the right amount of format and context to go deep. So sweet, men in story, curiosity, laughter, and tears together.

One of the men spoke of 13th Century Persian Poet Rumi’s oft-quoted passage:

“Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing,
there is a field. 
I’ll meet you there.
When the soul lies down in that grass,
the world is too full to talk about.
Ideas, language, even the phrase ‘each other’
doesn’t make any sense.”

Sweet again. We need these places, don’t we. Where we dissolve and discover.

At the end of the call, I shared an important principle that helps brings me, brings people, to the deep inner work — I’m calling my series that does this, Becoming & Belonging. “Not only to we live life, but life lives us. Not only to we look for clues, but clues look for us.”

Join an upcoming Flow Group in February or March? For the sweetness in the field.

I’ve been creating a few new learning programs. They’ve been creating me. It’s my desire to get to the core of things, to the heart of things. And to create practice and community with that. A few holes in the plan; it will unfold. But it’s time to raise the curtain and go. I keep having this hunger. I keep seeing it in others.

At this phase of my life, I recognize the need to get to the core of things. Beneath facilitation that points to learning and accomplishment lives hunger for more fulfilling life and story. Lives hunger for becoming and belonging. Becoming more of who we are really meant to be, whatever our circumstance. Belonging to life and community in shared passion and awareness. Most of my work these days grows from this core. Most of my heart lives in invitation to explore and practice together. Most of my hope lays in helping people everywhere get to the deeper journey and to the more life-giving contribution.

Flow Group is ready to go.
1. Flow Group is a monthly small group (typically 5-6 participants), 90-minute online (Zoom) hosted experience of The Flow Game. Each participant comes with an overarching intent or question to explore. The group reflects together on question prompts from the game. We harvest insight and intuition, clarity, and connection.

Wander School is ready to go too.
2. Wander School is a monthly 90-minute online facilitated format, held mostly in Circle, and guided by questions that invite your attention on what has your attention. It is group and personal learning. It is skilled attentiveness to intuitive wisdom. It is creativity in connection. Wander School grows from this belief — “If something has your attention (in life, work, family), it likely has some medicine for you. For your inner state, for your outer conditions. For you now, or for you in your longer arc.” That medicine helps grow who you are and how you respond with depth. 

Registration is here. And links to more info.

From my heart to yours.

This book, The Exquisite Risk by Mark Nepo, has meant a lot to me going back to when it was written in 2006. Nepo’s words are compelling. His images. His stories.

And, isn’t it true that authenticity remains at the core of going with wisdom and kindness together. In relationships. In teams. In governments. In personal and communal maturation.

I’m a person that loves to scribble notes in the margin of my books. I found this book yesterday on my shelves — haven’t visited it for a while. I loved seeing a few passages important then and now.

“To my dear friends who have stayed in the conversation —
together, we somehow see into the center.”

“We cannot change the world by a new plan, project, or idea.
We cannot even change other people by our convictions, stories, advice and proposals,
but we can offer space where people are encouraged
to disarm themselves, lay aside their occupations and preoccupations
and listen with attention and care to the voices speaking in their own center.”
Henri Nouwen

“If I dare to hear you,
I will feel you like the sun
and grow in your direction.”