SoFla Community - Exploring Our Differences
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John Dennison
Jul 18, 2008, 5:20:32 PM7/18/08
to New World Network
Hi, gang.
This is a report on our efforts exploring how we might build community here in South Florida. For those of you not here, a couple of months ago Laura and I started inviting some friends to join us over dinner at a local Italian eatery to talk about the possibilities of community.
Last night was our third month, and I can say each gathering has been a wonderful opportunity to connect with people we like and get to know them better.
South Florida is one of those cross-roads communities where north meets south and east meets west. Here varying ages and races and cultures from around the globe mingle. Why should our gatherings be any different?
Anyway, we're an eclectic bunch, but we not only have fun -- we really get into meaty issues on building community, and the obstacles we all face every day.
Last night we intended to talk about the difficulties we experience communicating when mainstream meets metaphysical. Even when we're all coming from a place of love and acceptance, sometimes it's HARD to find a common vocabulary, much less common ground.
One of our group is a professor at a local university, and talked about how we sometimes find it hard to embrace people we don't know, and that it helped here to sit back and listen for things she can relate to or like.
Somehow we got into everyone sharing experiences about the masks we wear to protect ourselves from others. The example brought up involved young people using MySpace or similar social networks, where some people created false identities to protect themselves. I asked if those who did expected their list of "friends" to be doing the same.
Then we also recognized that the bulk of the younger generation doesn't share our concerns for privacy, putting out so much of their personal information, pictures, and the like that they can be fair game to every crazy that lurks in cyberspace. So perhaps the "mask" impediment is just an excuse some of us use that will fade with time.
Then we really got rolling.
One of our black members talked about what it was like to sit on a bus as a teenager and have a woman grab her purse in fear he'd steal it. Or how much it hurt when he'd walk down the street and have whites recoil in fear, even without so much as a threatening look.
Others talked about their fear of gang-bangers or strangers on dark streets who looked like thugs that were up to no good. And for a while we thought perhaps that was just another manifestation of how we can fear people who are different than we are.
But as the discussion continued, we all agreed that that there is an energy about someone who means to do you harm. You can feel it, and just know their intent if you're aware of it. And though it remained unsaid, there is probably also an energy about someone who only wants to do you good that can be felt, assuming we're sensitive to it.
While that protective warning isn't there when a stranger comes into our midst, still too often our barriers are up and we find it hard to interact, or even shrink from them in fear. It's hard to set aside the experiences of a lifetime, much less keep their scars from influencing how we react to others.
There was more. A whole lot more. But you get the gist. As we went along, we all grew a little closer and accepted each other a little more. And as we did, explored more and more of the things that we all use to keep ourselves separate and apart from others.
These are the beginnings of community. People of diverse backgrounds coming together for no other reason than to take a chance and explore what might be possible through conversation with others.
It was a beautiful thing, and I am grateful to all who attended.
Oh, one more thing. I left my cell at home and missed the messages the rest would be late. Laura and I were sitting around for about 20 minutes after our designated starting time, thinking we were going to be the only ones there. Lo and behold, they came. We moved, pulled some tables together, and sat down to talk.
And a funny thing happened.
Just after the last person arrived, a song came over the loudspeaker. It was "Over the Rainbow," by that Hawaiian singer whose name I forget. I remember smiling to myself and making a mental note as it did.
Apparently Laura did too. Because when we spoke of it this morning, we remembered how it was played as people left Tim Russert's funeral, and as they did a beautiful double rainbow appeared overhead.
Then I told her the story of the ancient Cree prophecy, in one form or another shared by cultures around the globe, about Warriors of the Rainbow who were to come and save our world from destruction. You can read it at http://peaceoptions.com/rainbow-warriors.
I knew last night when I heard it that when we come together with each other, we are over the rainbow. Community is simply connecting with others. It is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
You can explore the possibilities of building community, too, and how to overcome the things that now keep you apart. Why not start a dinner in your area. Invite your friends. Post your stories. And send us notice of when and where. We'll post it at PeaceOptions so that others who visit can join in, assuming you're open to that.
Anyway, my friend. This is getting quite long, so let me close with one final thought.
We are the Warriors of the Rainbow. The future is in our hands. None of us can do it alone. But to do it together has to start somewhere.
Why not come together? Right now? Over thee?
Please do.
john
--
John Dennison
- Legal & Business Counseling
- Conflict Management Strategies
- New World Planning & Development
*************************************************
1580 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, Suite 130
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33323
Fax: 954.337.2300
Tel: 954.343-7111
This is a report on our efforts exploring how we might build community here in South Florida. For those of you not here, a couple of months ago Laura and I started inviting some friends to join us over dinner at a local Italian eatery to talk about the possibilities of community.
Last night was our third month, and I can say each gathering has been a wonderful opportunity to connect with people we like and get to know them better.
South Florida is one of those cross-roads communities where north meets south and east meets west. Here varying ages and races and cultures from around the globe mingle. Why should our gatherings be any different?
Anyway, we're an eclectic bunch, but we not only have fun -- we really get into meaty issues on building community, and the obstacles we all face every day.
Last night we intended to talk about the difficulties we experience communicating when mainstream meets metaphysical. Even when we're all coming from a place of love and acceptance, sometimes it's HARD to find a common vocabulary, much less common ground.
One of our group is a professor at a local university, and talked about how we sometimes find it hard to embrace people we don't know, and that it helped here to sit back and listen for things she can relate to or like.
Somehow we got into everyone sharing experiences about the masks we wear to protect ourselves from others. The example brought up involved young people using MySpace or similar social networks, where some people created false identities to protect themselves. I asked if those who did expected their list of "friends" to be doing the same.
Then we also recognized that the bulk of the younger generation doesn't share our concerns for privacy, putting out so much of their personal information, pictures, and the like that they can be fair game to every crazy that lurks in cyberspace. So perhaps the "mask" impediment is just an excuse some of us use that will fade with time.
Then we really got rolling.
One of our black members talked about what it was like to sit on a bus as a teenager and have a woman grab her purse in fear he'd steal it. Or how much it hurt when he'd walk down the street and have whites recoil in fear, even without so much as a threatening look.
Others talked about their fear of gang-bangers or strangers on dark streets who looked like thugs that were up to no good. And for a while we thought perhaps that was just another manifestation of how we can fear people who are different than we are.
But as the discussion continued, we all agreed that that there is an energy about someone who means to do you harm. You can feel it, and just know their intent if you're aware of it. And though it remained unsaid, there is probably also an energy about someone who only wants to do you good that can be felt, assuming we're sensitive to it.
While that protective warning isn't there when a stranger comes into our midst, still too often our barriers are up and we find it hard to interact, or even shrink from them in fear. It's hard to set aside the experiences of a lifetime, much less keep their scars from influencing how we react to others.
There was more. A whole lot more. But you get the gist. As we went along, we all grew a little closer and accepted each other a little more. And as we did, explored more and more of the things that we all use to keep ourselves separate and apart from others.
These are the beginnings of community. People of diverse backgrounds coming together for no other reason than to take a chance and explore what might be possible through conversation with others.
It was a beautiful thing, and I am grateful to all who attended.
Oh, one more thing. I left my cell at home and missed the messages the rest would be late. Laura and I were sitting around for about 20 minutes after our designated starting time, thinking we were going to be the only ones there. Lo and behold, they came. We moved, pulled some tables together, and sat down to talk.
And a funny thing happened.
Just after the last person arrived, a song came over the loudspeaker. It was "Over the Rainbow," by that Hawaiian singer whose name I forget. I remember smiling to myself and making a mental note as it did.
Apparently Laura did too. Because when we spoke of it this morning, we remembered how it was played as people left Tim Russert's funeral, and as they did a beautiful double rainbow appeared overhead.
Then I told her the story of the ancient Cree prophecy, in one form or another shared by cultures around the globe, about Warriors of the Rainbow who were to come and save our world from destruction. You can read it at http://peaceoptions.com/rainbow-warriors.
I knew last night when I heard it that when we come together with each other, we are over the rainbow. Community is simply connecting with others. It is the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow.
You can explore the possibilities of building community, too, and how to overcome the things that now keep you apart. Why not start a dinner in your area. Invite your friends. Post your stories. And send us notice of when and where. We'll post it at PeaceOptions so that others who visit can join in, assuming you're open to that.
Anyway, my friend. This is getting quite long, so let me close with one final thought.
We are the Warriors of the Rainbow. The future is in our hands. None of us can do it alone. But to do it together has to start somewhere.
Why not come together? Right now? Over thee?
Please do.
john
--
John Dennison
- Legal & Business Counseling
- Conflict Management Strategies
- New World Planning & Development
*************************************************
1580 Sawgrass Corporate Parkway, Suite 130
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33323
Fax: 954.337.2300
Tel: 954.343-7111
Paige Cheong
Jul 18, 2008, 6:31:12 PM7/18/08
to new-worl...@googlegroups.com
| The part that struck me was about the masks. We have a healers circle here and spend a lot of time going around the circle making "introductions". That is say people tell what they do, what their labels are. Some people are Reiki healers, some are theta healers, DNA specialists, etc. I am always very uncomfortable when the circle comes around to me. WHAT DO I DO? WHO AM I? HOW DO I DESCRIBE MYSELF? I usually say something very vague. At one meeting, I said I was dropping my robes and revealing myself as a lightworker and nothing more and got a huge round of applause. APPLAUSE? for what? I invited everyone else to do the same, but the circle continued with job status, certificates and labels. LET ME JUST SAY THIS NOW. Until all labels are dropped, no work will get done. This is work that needs to be done graciously and in harmony with the universe. If we all listen quietly to the goddess mother, she will tell us what our gifts are and what to use them for. Some of us will work together and some of us will work alone and quietly watch the outcome. In the end, it does not matter how you were trained, taught or certified. What matters is that you follow your intuition without doubt and work with integrity. We a fear based society. You see it everyday in the news. I had some visitors awhile back who wanted to talk to me about their magazine. They said that there was some great stuff in this mag about keeping your children safe. I simply replied that my child was safe and always protected and that this family does not live in fear. They left and never came back. Interesting how the most fearful are afraid of the lightworkers. Every day we are learning. Anyway, Blah, Blah, Blah :) Blessings Paige www.divineradiance-tejas.blogspot.com www.divineradiance.net --- On Fri, 7/18/08, John Dennison <jo...@whisperzone.org> wrote: |
Darryls
Jul 18, 2008, 6:55:38 PM7/18/08
to new-worl...@googlegroups.com
John,
Congratulations on your efforts to make a difference. I have enjoyed your correspondence and while you speak of building community in S Fl, I feel the energy here in Phoenix, AZ and it is already beginning to help in my own shift.
I think it is important to get to know one another, as each one knows himself (i.e. labels and all). It is good to have reference points. I do not believe we all have to be healed perfectly to offer benefit. In fact, the healing occurs as we give and receive what we can, where we are.
I enjoyed the material from the website you sent the link for. The Messages were profound and mirror things I have been experiencing in my own life. Particularly, I have found a new sense of emergence occurring within myself as a result of my recent 3 week solo retreat. The energies have been powerful, yet quiet and it has been difficult to even discuss at this time. However, the materials spoke directly to just that experience that we would need to go through in order to be able to kick it up to the next notch, so to speak.
I look forward to sharing with one and all more in the near future.
God Bless,
Darryl Schoenstadt
From:
new-worl...@googlegroups.com [mailto:new-worl...@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of John Dennison
Sent: Friday, July 18, 2008 2:21
PM
To: New World Network
Subject: [New
World Network] SoFla Community - Exploring Our Differences
Hi, gang.
mich...@igc.org
Jul 20, 2008, 1:06:33 PM7/20/08
to new-worl...@googlegroups.com
John and Paige and Divine Family,
I was heartened by each of your stories. Warriors of the Rainbow strikes me as an apt metaphor, even as I, personally, might feel some discomfiture with Warrior anything; either on-planet or off-.
The latter probably stems from my having been a warrior during countless lifetimes. It's funny; I've begun, in earnest, to really dig into my shadow side. It also hales from having done overt peace and ecological activism in one guise or another for most of this lifetime.
On related matters, a parallel life recently presented itself for healing in which someone representing "me" within a was a tyrant. He was abusive and brutally exploited women as chattel. He used them as sexual slaves and was, ultimately, murdered for his unexplained, deeply seated rage.
The story was brought to my attention by two of my dearest friends in this lifetime, with whom I had shared that particular lifetime. They had killed me in self-defense.
For "my" part, I had serious clearing to do, and honoring of having deeply tasted of the darkness as well as the light. I'm taking stock of the former in the service of the latter. . .
Any of us who too tenatiously cling to the light suffer the prospect of potentially distorting all of our lessons. If I refuse to honor all of the shadow lives that I've also lived, then, as Jung pointed out some time ago, they will likely return as projections upon others. Projections compound the shallowness of masks and end up as prejudice. Or worse.
God of the Quintessential Universe oversees the light and the dark. There is, from my eyes, no duality. But there is universal free will and choice. And we've got to be capable of learning from all of our cumulative lives and choosing one over the other.
I choose to be a Warrior of the Rainbow, a Lightweaver; or as Paige prefers the term, a Lightworker, but I can only do so by exploring all of my various incarnations and the karmic debts accrued, and their lessons. One of my daily prayers is as follows: "The greatest gift one can accept is teaching oneself the responsibility for total forgiveness and gratitude."
Jettisoning masks seems a function of honoring the cumulative whole that we've been during countless lifetimes; this one included. And that process is decisively helped by doing what you are doing John, by gathering the tribe for moving through what no longer serves.
Bless you and Laura for those efforts. It is time I/we called for a gathering on this coast for similar ends.
Blessings to one and all,
Michael
-----Original Message-----
>From: Paige Cheong <cheo...@yahoo.com>
>Sent: Jul 18, 2008 3:31 PM
>To: new-worl...@googlegroups.com
>Subject: [New World Network] Re: SoFla Community - Exploring Our Differences
>
>The part that struck me was about the masks. We have a healers circle here and spend a lot of time going around the circle making "introductions". That is say people tell what they do, what their labels are. Some people are Reiki healers, some are theta healers, DNA specialists, etc.
>
>I am always very uncomfortable when the circle comes around to me. WHAT DO I DO?
>WHO AM I? HOW DO I DESCRIBE MYSELF? I usually say something very vague.
>
>At one meeting, I said I was dropping my robes and revealing myself as a lightworker and nothing more and got a huge round of applause. APPLAUSE? for what? I invited everyone else to do the same, but the circle continued with job status, certificates and labels.
>
>LET ME JUST SAY THIS NOW. Until all labels are dropped, no work will get done.
>This is work that needs to be done graciously and in harmony with the universe. If we all listen quietly to the goddess mother, she will tell us what our gifts are and what to use them for. Some of us will work together and some of us will work alone and quietly watch the outcome.
>
>In the end, it does not matter how you were trained, taught or certified. What matters is that you follow your intuition without doubt and work with integrity.
>
>We a fear based society. You see it everyday in the news. I had some visitors awhile back who wanted to talk to me about their magazine. They said that there was some great stuff in this mag about keeping your children safe. I simply replied that my child was safe and always protected and that this family does not live in fear. They left and never came back. Interesting how the most fearful are afraid of the lightworkers.
>
>Every day we are learning.
>
>Anyway, Blah, Blah, Blah :)
>
>Blessings
>
>Paige
>
>www.divineradiance-tejas.blogspot.com
>
>www.divineradiance.net
>
>--- On Fri, 7/18/08, John Dennison <jo...@whisperzone.org> wrote:
>From: John Dennison <jo...@whisperzone.org>
I was heartened by each of your stories. Warriors of the Rainbow strikes me as an apt metaphor, even as I, personally, might feel some discomfiture with Warrior anything; either on-planet or off-.
The latter probably stems from my having been a warrior during countless lifetimes. It's funny; I've begun, in earnest, to really dig into my shadow side. It also hales from having done overt peace and ecological activism in one guise or another for most of this lifetime.
On related matters, a parallel life recently presented itself for healing in which someone representing "me" within a was a tyrant. He was abusive and brutally exploited women as chattel. He used them as sexual slaves and was, ultimately, murdered for his unexplained, deeply seated rage.
The story was brought to my attention by two of my dearest friends in this lifetime, with whom I had shared that particular lifetime. They had killed me in self-defense.
For "my" part, I had serious clearing to do, and honoring of having deeply tasted of the darkness as well as the light. I'm taking stock of the former in the service of the latter. . .
Any of us who too tenatiously cling to the light suffer the prospect of potentially distorting all of our lessons. If I refuse to honor all of the shadow lives that I've also lived, then, as Jung pointed out some time ago, they will likely return as projections upon others. Projections compound the shallowness of masks and end up as prejudice. Or worse.
God of the Quintessential Universe oversees the light and the dark. There is, from my eyes, no duality. But there is universal free will and choice. And we've got to be capable of learning from all of our cumulative lives and choosing one over the other.
I choose to be a Warrior of the Rainbow, a Lightweaver; or as Paige prefers the term, a Lightworker, but I can only do so by exploring all of my various incarnations and the karmic debts accrued, and their lessons. One of my daily prayers is as follows: "The greatest gift one can accept is teaching oneself the responsibility for total forgiveness and gratitude."
Jettisoning masks seems a function of honoring the cumulative whole that we've been during countless lifetimes; this one included. And that process is decisively helped by doing what you are doing John, by gathering the tribe for moving through what no longer serves.
Bless you and Laura for those efforts. It is time I/we called for a gathering on this coast for similar ends.
Blessings to one and all,
Michael
-----Original Message-----
>From: Paige Cheong <cheo...@yahoo.com>
>Sent: Jul 18, 2008 3:31 PM
>To: new-worl...@googlegroups.com
>Subject: [New World Network] Re: SoFla Community - Exploring Our Differences
>
>The part that struck me was about the masks. We have a healers circle here and spend a lot of time going around the circle making "introductions". That is say people tell what they do, what their labels are. Some people are Reiki healers, some are theta healers, DNA specialists, etc.
>
>I am always very uncomfortable when the circle comes around to me. WHAT DO I DO?
>WHO AM I? HOW DO I DESCRIBE MYSELF? I usually say something very vague.
>
>At one meeting, I said I was dropping my robes and revealing myself as a lightworker and nothing more and got a huge round of applause. APPLAUSE? for what? I invited everyone else to do the same, but the circle continued with job status, certificates and labels.
>
>LET ME JUST SAY THIS NOW. Until all labels are dropped, no work will get done.
>This is work that needs to be done graciously and in harmony with the universe. If we all listen quietly to the goddess mother, she will tell us what our gifts are and what to use them for. Some of us will work together and some of us will work alone and quietly watch the outcome.
>
>In the end, it does not matter how you were trained, taught or certified. What matters is that you follow your intuition without doubt and work with integrity.
>
>We a fear based society. You see it everyday in the news. I had some visitors awhile back who wanted to talk to me about their magazine. They said that there was some great stuff in this mag about keeping your children safe. I simply replied that my child was safe and always protected and that this family does not live in fear. They left and never came back. Interesting how the most fearful are afraid of the lightworkers.
>
>Every day we are learning.
>
>Anyway, Blah, Blah, Blah :)
>
>Blessings
>
>Paige
>
>www.divineradiance-tejas.blogspot.com
>
>www.divineradiance.net
>
>--- On Fri, 7/18/08, John Dennison <jo...@whisperzone.org> wrote:
>From: John Dennison <jo...@whisperzone.org>
>Subject: [New World Network] SoFla Community - Exploring Our Differences
John Dennison
Jul 21, 2008, 11:50:17 AM7/21/08
to new-worl...@googlegroups.com
Great discussions. Two quick notes.
1. To all -- When contributing, please deleted the text of emails to which you are replying. It will keep things shorter and easier to read.
2. The masks. Paige, I understand your angst wondering what to say about yourself, having had so much difficulty deciding what to tell others about me and what I do.
Such labels certainly can become a mask, though I'm not sure they necessarily have to. Rather, I see them more as an effort to clarify some of what we're about.
A good friend and adviser (Tsen Tsing) once reminded me that labels can be important for others, though. It provides them a way by which to relate to us. Sure, there is usually much more to us than the label, but it might be a good place to start, at least if they're accurate.
For those who've never had this problem, I'll demonstrate.
It was hard for me even when I was just lawyering, because people always wanted to know what I specialized in. And since I practiced in a number of areas, I often felt like I had to guess which one they wanted to hear. It was torture.
Even now I don't know what to say. While I'm still a lawyer, my work is limited to providing strategic advice now, either to grow a business or work through struggles and conflict. I find a lot of leaders need someone they can rely on for perspective and guidance, empowering them to make better choices. Instead, I try to merge inner insights with my real-world experience to help them add their contribution to a better world.
I also write. I speak. I counsel. I'm a lightworker like you, sharing it if in no other way than through my presence. And for those who ask, I try to shine a light on what I see is going on in their lives.
Of course, there's also this community effort, working to lay foundations by which people might better get along, and together build a better world. And lest I forget, planning how to integrate new with the old, implement systemic changes, and build the cities of light.
So you can see my dilemma. And that's just a small part of me. Just like there's a whole lot more to you than just lightworker.
Labels all. Masks none. Just a lot of things that don't quite fit into a single elevator speech.
If any of you have any ideas on how to state this simply, I'm all ears. Otherwise, if you see we squirm when asked what I do, you'll understand.
john
1. To all -- When contributing, please deleted the text of emails to which you are replying. It will keep things shorter and easier to read.
2. The masks. Paige, I understand your angst wondering what to say about yourself, having had so much difficulty deciding what to tell others about me and what I do.
Such labels certainly can become a mask, though I'm not sure they necessarily have to. Rather, I see them more as an effort to clarify some of what we're about.
A good friend and adviser (Tsen Tsing) once reminded me that labels can be important for others, though. It provides them a way by which to relate to us. Sure, there is usually much more to us than the label, but it might be a good place to start, at least if they're accurate.
For those who've never had this problem, I'll demonstrate.
It was hard for me even when I was just lawyering, because people always wanted to know what I specialized in. And since I practiced in a number of areas, I often felt like I had to guess which one they wanted to hear. It was torture.
Even now I don't know what to say. While I'm still a lawyer, my work is limited to providing strategic advice now, either to grow a business or work through struggles and conflict. I find a lot of leaders need someone they can rely on for perspective and guidance, empowering them to make better choices. Instead, I try to merge inner insights with my real-world experience to help them add their contribution to a better world.
I also write. I speak. I counsel. I'm a lightworker like you, sharing it if in no other way than through my presence. And for those who ask, I try to shine a light on what I see is going on in their lives.
Of course, there's also this community effort, working to lay foundations by which people might better get along, and together build a better world. And lest I forget, planning how to integrate new with the old, implement systemic changes, and build the cities of light.
So you can see my dilemma. And that's just a small part of me. Just like there's a whole lot more to you than just lightworker.
Labels all. Masks none. Just a lot of things that don't quite fit into a single elevator speech.
If any of you have any ideas on how to state this simply, I'm all ears. Otherwise, if you see we squirm when asked what I do, you'll understand.
john
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