"We are calling a circle
and invite you to join with us. We yearn for a
safe space within which
to be authentic, trusting, caring, and open to
change. We are searching
for a way of life that embraces wisdom and
compassion as its core
principles. By "wisdom" we mean deep insight
into the interdependence
of all phenomena, into the ways we are
connected and how the
strength of each one of us is vital to the whole.
By "compassion" we mean
the deep feeling that comes
when we recognize our soul's reflection in
another person,
when that other person's pain
or joy becomes our own.
We know that the place
to begin is within our own hearts and minds.
We want to share our
efforts in self-discovery, social activism, and
spiritual inquiry in the
company of kindred spirits. We recognize the
advantages inherent in
the way the entire ecosystem organizes itself:
with an emphasis on interdependence,
diversity, and the well-being of
future generations.
To integrate these values into our daily lives, we
need the strength and
support of a larger community.
So we invite you to come
sit with us in a circle, meeting heart to
heart, learning from each
other's life experiences and honoring the
values that sustain our
lives. This is a place for deep truth-telling,
for practicing a way of
relating to each other that can become the norm
for all our relationships.
This is also a place for recognizing our own
unique talents and abilities.
We will pass the talking stick and take
turns speaking to our
basic inquiry: How can we continue to survive,
hope, dream, and carry
on during this time of global tumult?
Can you
listen from the heart,
expressing your truth as best you know it?
And
will you choose your words
carefully, with sensitivity to their impact?
Can you express gratitude to those who bear witness to your words?
Will you sit in silence
and wait for deeper thoughts and feelings to rise?
Can you give voice to
this new form of community pressing to be born?"¹
If so, please accept my invitation...
I have cried alone for the earth.
I have cried alone for humanity.
I have cried alone for my brothers
and sisters.
I have cried alone for myself.
And, I have cried alone for the grief
in my heart
around the paradox
of the pervasive Loneliness in this Overcrowded
world...
and the perceived separateness and fears
which keep us apart from
our planet,
our humanity,
our brothers and sisters,
and ourselves.
Now, I cry out publicly for a solution.
Will you help me define it?
- Rich
Raffals, 9/16/98
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