This week’s section is p108 to the end of chapter six (p115)
Here Joanna talks about the power of emergence that come from ‘power with’:
1. The power of our inner strength
2. The power arising from co-operation with others
3. The subtle power of small steps leading to a large impact
4. The energising power of an inspiring vision
She sees these emergences of power as not always being predictable and contribute to not needing to know the outcome. As we say in Zen, the action itself is enough, if it comes with good intention, and we let the outcome take care of itself. We let the power flow through us rather than having an egoic ownership of it, and shift our thinking from one of ‘I’ to a more collective ‘we’ as we work together with others towards a shared vision of the future.
Joanna says that the three ways we can open to ‘power with’ are
1. To hear a call to action and answer it
2. To understand power as a verb
3. Drawing on the strengths of others
This leads to three suggestions for exercises. If you wish, use one of these (or more if you would like) as an exploration for this week:
1. A letter from Gaia
The Australian rain forest activist John Seed suggests an exercise called ‘a letter from Gaia’ in which we imagine the earth talking to us and telling us what she needs. If you prefer just to use ‘the earth’ or ‘mother earth’ rather than Gaia, feel free to do that.
2. Open sentences that empower
Use these sentences for self-reflection:
“I empower myself by…”
“What empowers me is…”
3. Identify your own strengths or the strengths of others
Write about strengths you have found in yourself as you do this work. As Joanna says, this is not a self-centered exercise but rather a way of helping others see the same strengths within themselves. Also, think about strengths you see in others which helps you to continue this work.
I would like to say that something that empowers me is this group and you all coming here each week to respond to prompts and share your ideas and answers. Having that gives me strength to continue.
Deep bows for your practice
Kokuu
-sattoday-
Here Joanna talks about the power of emergence that come from ‘power with’:
1. The power of our inner strength
2. The power arising from co-operation with others
3. The subtle power of small steps leading to a large impact
4. The energising power of an inspiring vision
She sees these emergences of power as not always being predictable and contribute to not needing to know the outcome. As we say in Zen, the action itself is enough, if it comes with good intention, and we let the outcome take care of itself. We let the power flow through us rather than having an egoic ownership of it, and shift our thinking from one of ‘I’ to a more collective ‘we’ as we work together with others towards a shared vision of the future.
Joanna says that the three ways we can open to ‘power with’ are
1. To hear a call to action and answer it
2. To understand power as a verb
3. Drawing on the strengths of others
This leads to three suggestions for exercises. If you wish, use one of these (or more if you would like) as an exploration for this week:
1. A letter from Gaia
The Australian rain forest activist John Seed suggests an exercise called ‘a letter from Gaia’ in which we imagine the earth talking to us and telling us what she needs. If you prefer just to use ‘the earth’ or ‘mother earth’ rather than Gaia, feel free to do that.
2. Open sentences that empower
Use these sentences for self-reflection:
“I empower myself by…”
“What empowers me is…”
3. Identify your own strengths or the strengths of others
Write about strengths you have found in yourself as you do this work. As Joanna says, this is not a self-centered exercise but rather a way of helping others see the same strengths within themselves. Also, think about strengths you see in others which helps you to continue this work.
I would like to say that something that empowers me is this group and you all coming here each week to respond to prompts and share your ideas and answers. Having that gives me strength to continue.
Deep bows for your practice
Kokuu
-sattoday-
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