Friday Notes: 2/3/2023

From: The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse: The Animated Story

JW: This graphic comes from this sweet "animated' book and seemed perfect for our journey.

Dharma Talk - EWR will "rehearse" his dharma talk about the "three poisons" In Buddhist teachings, greed, hatred, and delusion are known, for good reason, as the three poisons, the three unwholesome roots, and the three fires. These metaphors suggest how dangerous afflictive thoughts and emotions can be if they are not understood and transformed.

(I know these aren't the words you're using because the first was ignorance ... so please correct this.) This will be on next week's discussion list.

Shared books: Gradual Awakening by Miles Neale (I bought both book and audible version). I will set up a post and include some info from amazon author info for background.) This will give us a place to make comments, etc.

Poetry Unbound: 50 Poems to Open Your World  by Pádraig Ó. Tuama. (He has a delightful voice/accent.)

Campbell on the Feminine -- subject for future conversation. JW to review chapter 4 and think about her reactions to this.

Weekly Process: Check-in questions ... How are you feeling? What are you learning? What do you need?

Journal and share about a question of choice from lists under Questions tab. Also share reactions/journaling about one poem of choice from Poetry Unbound. ... Where did the poem take you or where did you go with it?

Retreats: Experiential exercises -- include these in retreats. For Julian, JW will bring collage materials. EWR will bring an exercise of his choice, perhaps related to poetry. Agreement: any sense of competition or judgment is to be avoided.

    For Julian: EWR to bring chanting CD and psychedelics from Colorado.

    Boundaries ... continued discussion and checkins. What boundaries do we need to feel safe?

Vow: Miles Neale recommended the making of a vow to the journey. We are going to think about this, understand Neale's reasoning, and ask the question: Why would we want to make a vow?

Mentors are showing up ... Miles Neale, Francis Weller, Psychotherapist, Author, Soul Activist. 

Living a Soulful Life network Sign up for the call from Francis Weller. starting in April 2023 we'll be deepening into "Facing the World with Soul." Each month we explore a theme through live zoom calls with Francis, weekly writing prompts on the Mighty Network, select writings and poetry. Currently, we're exploring the following monthly themes (with additions when called for):

1. Welcoming & Introductions
2. The Geography of Soul
3. Cooking the Soul: The Alchemy of Ripening
4. Fire in the Voice: Facing the Predator
5. Rough Initiations: When the Bough Breaks
6. Baptized by Dark Waters: The Call of Soul into the Underworld
7. Love's Fierce Embrace: The Great Inducement to Ripen
8. Closing & Integration 

If after reading this and reviewing the website, https://soulfullife.mn.co/ you feel drawn to join, please register for an informational Zoom call on Friday, March 3^rdwhere we will share more in-depth information about the online community. Here is the link to the Eventbrite registration page: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/522996706227.

NOTE: This is at 10 am on Friday so we can discuss it immediately after as part of our Friday discussions.

Death: JW reading The Lost Art of Dying by L.S. Dugdale. Basis for conversation

Psych Trip ... Agreement about the appeal of Peru trip, although a bit long and very expensive. What are our criteria for this type of trip and is there a cheaper, shorter version that might lead to a spiritual breakthrough. What do we mean by a spiritual breakthrough ... oneness with god/universe ...