Merry Christmas! If you are looking for something to get you through the dark days of winter, my good friends Diane, Ruth, and I have a gift for you.
A few weeks ago, I wrote about Brené Brown’s book Braving the Wilderness and begged you all to read it as an antidote to the raging culture wars swirling around us now.
What Brown describes is hard to do. I am not sure I am getting anywhere with it myself but it eased my mind a sliver to know that there is a path to follow–even if it is a path in the wilderness.
At the same time I was listening to Brown, those two closest and wisest friends and I were plotting to offer a class to you all. (When you need something desperately and you are a teacher or a leader, you find a way to teach or lead it.)
It is really about giving yourself the messages you need to hear by slowing down and making a book.
Not writing a book.
Making a book from cardboard, tape, glue and pictures.
I connect this SoulBook project to Braving the Wilderness since you will need to show yourself great love in order to face the unknown. Here is the metta loving kindness prayer of the Buddhists:
In this practice, the person praying starts with herself and then extends that out to those nearest, ending with the greater world. In other versions, the practicioner begins with himself, moves to those he loves, holds up those he feels neutral about, prays for his enemies, and then ends with ‘all beings everywhere.’
It is my great hope that by taking the time to look at what matters most to us, we can make a change in ourselves that will shine out on the rest of the world. Perhaps we can even be a little like a hobbit.
So here is the class. If you are local, I would love to see you join us. If not, you may want to use the materials here to lead your own class.
Karrie
