Music Playlist for September 2010
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Keeping it Simple and Easy
by Justine Willis Toms
Recently I attended
a circle of conveners of
the Millionth Circle in
Ashland, Oregon. As is our custom,
we began by calling in spirit
followed with a round of check-ins. One
of the themes that came up again and
again was, "I want whatever it is that I do to
be simple and easy."
I came to that circle feeling rather smashed by
a tidal wave of both good and bad news. My head
was full of many wide-ranging issues about which I
care deeply—whales beaching themselves because of
sonar testing, clean campaign financing, legislation to
help end the war in Iraq, and even finding a way to help
raise funds for a skateboard park that would benefit our
local teenagers. The words "simple and easy" did not
seem to surround those issues spinning in my head.
Even now as I think of these concerns it feels
like hard and complex work. I’m
tempted to say, "I’m just one
person. What can I
do?" As I think
back to the "simple
and easy" theme of
our circle, I begin to breathe easier
knowing I am not alone in my quest to keep
myself fresh and healthy while continuing to participate
in the public dialogue and action. What keeps it
simple and easy for me is knowing I am one member
of a big circle of brilliant women who keep
themselves informed and who care about what
kind of future we will leave for our children
and grandchildren.
Beyond the Millionth Circle, I’m
blessed to be part of several other
circles. Some meet face-to-face on
a regular basis and others meet
"virtually," on-line
in private email circles.
A few meet both ways.
Some are made up of women
only, and some include both men
and women. What I love about all
these circles is the balance: Each
member is committed to contributing in a
meaningful way to support the life on our
planet. And each member knows the only way
to keep pressing on is to keep her life in
balance. So we spend part of our
time educating ourselves and
part of our time in
celebration of
the wondrous
lives we are
living. We remind each
other to nurture ourselves, to
laugh at ourselves, and to listen deeply
to one another. If there is any semblance of
sanity in my life at all, it is due in large part to my
circles, my friends of the heart.
For more information about how to start and maintain a
circle I suggest you go to MillionthCircle.org. There you
will find guidelines and principles common to circle
gatherings. There is an archive of newsletters with articles
and writings about circling, plus a list of
resources. You may also sign up to receive their quarterly
newsletter.
I wish you the blessing of a circle of hearts to
join with you in the spirit of education, action,
and celebration.
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