What You Don't Know

An education isn't how much you have committed to memory, or even how much you know. It's being able to differentiate between what you know and what you don't.

Anatole France

We spend a great deal of our education committing facts to memory, beginning with letters and colors all the way through to quantum physics, rhetoric and Chinese literature. We strive to be experts in our fields ~ which generally means being reluctant to say, "I don't know."

As I've begun each new school year, I realize there is more and more that I don't know. We're getting Chromebooks by mid-September. Although I as often considered one of the 'resident' tech experts, I know nothing about that technology. My position has altered slightly for the new year and I don't know the trajectory of its course. I find myself spending more and more time in the space between breaths, feeling my way forward. Learning a more true definition of life-long learning.

According to Anatole France's definition of education, I am growing more fully into mine. I am more and more aware with each passing year just how much more there is to know and understand in the world around me. I am grateful for all that I do know and remember. The magnitude of information around me could easily overwhelm me. As I marvel at that, I recall another quote, this one from George Washington Carver:

"When I was young, I said to God, 'God, tell me the mystery of the universe.' But God answered, 'That knowledge is for me alone,' So I said, 'God, tell me the mystery of the peanut.' Then God said, 'Well, George, that's more nearly your size.' And he told me."

What an amazing view of education!

What do you recall of your school years? How do you define life-long learning? Are you a participant in life-long learning? When do you think your education will be complete?

Angel Dance

Make me an angel
     that flies from Montgom'ry
Make me a poster
     of an old rodeo
Just give me one thing
     that I can hold on to
To believe in this living
     is just a hard way to go

Angel from Montgomery by John Prine

The past two days, this snippet of song has been the background music in my head. The first line caught me up: Make me an angel...  In the song, I suspect it's asking an angel to fly from Montgomery and give the singer some physical expression to hold on to, even an old rodeo poster would do the trick.

My perspective? To be an angel ~~ not the kind with feathered wings or the one that's sworn to be good, but the kind that dances through life, light and airy and filled with joy and goodwill. That was my version of the chorus. That's what I want to hold on to. An attitude rather than a thing.

The final line of the chorus weighs me down creating the desire for a change ~ or a dance. Sometimes it's hard to face day-to-day living. Sometimes it feels impossible. Yet if I can find the rhythm, the dance, I know I can hold on!

What do you hear in this song? What song plays the background of your recent days? How do you interpret the song? What meaning does it carry for you?

Women's Equality Day

Women's Equality Day celebrates the certification of the 19th Amendment (Women's Voting Rights) on August 26, 1920. Nearly a hundred years later, the argument about the rights of women continues.

"When women are given the opportunity to succeed, they do.  Younger women graduate college at higher rates than men and are more likely to hold a graduate school degree.  They are nearly half our workforce, and increasingly they are the primary breadwinner for families.  But too often, the women and girls who lift up our Nation achieve extraordinary success only after overcoming the legacy of unequal treatment. ...In the 21st century, a mother should be able to raise her daughter and be her role model—showing her that with hard work, there are no limits to what she can accomplish.  On Women's Equality Day, we continue the righteous work of building a society where women thrive, where every door is open to them, and their every dream can be realized."

~ President Barack Obama, Presidential Proclamation, August 26, 2014

The Amendment was ratified after more than 50 years of campaigning. The passage of the 19th Amendment fell to one vote: Representative Harry Burn of east Tennessee. 35 states had ratified the Amendment, it needed 36 to pass. The vote was being taken in the Tennessee House of Representatives and was tied at 48-48. Harry's mother, Miss Febb, sent him a letter imploring him to vote yes. Much to the surprise of his House colleagues, he cast the tie-breaking vote in favor of passage. He later admitted it was his mother's letter that sent him in that direction.

Each step taken toward equality is met with resistance for a variety of reasons, most of them embedded in resistance to change. Some, certainly, infused with a desire for power.

In my immediate circle, passage of the Equal Rights Amendment (for which I marched 40 years ago) is still a strong issue. As is the right of women in every Christian denomination to be ordained (focusing primarily on Roman Catholic and Mormon traditions). It is long past time for women to be fully equal.

Where do you stand on Women's Equality? What does the term equality mean to you? How do you resist full acceptance of the equality of others?

My First Death Cafe

Today I attended and participated in my first Death Cafe. I heard about Death Cafe last October after their event had occurred. I found the title intriguing at the time. Other than curiosity, I felt no pull of interest in it.

In June, I heard about an upcoming Death Cafe event: a picnic in a park. It sounded innocuous enough. How deep into the subject can one go in a park? I hadn't bothered to ask the more pertinent question: How deep did I want to go? and it's accompanying: What does 'deep' have to do with it?

The day was broken into three parts: participatory 'assignment'; lunch (bringing one's own); participatory small group discussions. I dawdled enough with my regular Sunday morning routines that I missed (purposely) the first segment. I arrived halfway through lunch and parked my camp chair in a sunny spot to ground myself before the last segment ~ which is the one I really came to attend. When we began to gather, the instructions were that we would talk in our small groups for 40 minutes, have a dessert break, and then re-group for another 40 minutes. If we needed to do so, we could leave at the dessert break. Ah! A way out!

My small group consisted of two other participants and a person loosely deemed the guide of the group. Every group ranged from 4-5 people ~ and there were 7 or 8 groups. It was one of the most comfortable experiences I'd had discussing whatever we wanted to discuss regarding death. At the break, we gained another participant. I chose to remain. When it ended, I knew I'd return to attend another one.

After attending one, I have no clear description of what a Death Cafe is. It is experiential and unique to the group and individual. I'm glad that I pushed through my resistance to attend. You can find out more about them at: Death Cafe

Would you consider attending something titled a Death Cafe? What kind of images are conjured in your mind when you think of that term? Why would you choose to attend or not attend one?

Lion in Life

Animal Wisdom Tarot

Animal Wisdom Tarot Guide book:

Traditional: Strength

Keynote: Courage, Compassion, Acceptance, Love

Message: Be true to self, claim authority

"Admired for physical prowess and spiritual wisdom, Lion represents strength, stability, and leadership. ... Lion walks gracefully, encouraging us to embrace our noble spirit.

Receiving this card advises honest appraisal of inner strength and character. ... Lion roars and commands respect - a clue to express yourself and step into your power. ... Lion advises patience, compassion and respect - find balance with an open heart. ... Channel passions and align wayward energies through creative, meaningful projects of self-discovery.

Originally associated with the Goddess, Lion melds feline and feminine energies, reminding us that true strength is not violent or controlling, but emerges through love, appreciation, and acceptance of self and others. Be present,overcome fear with trust, and advance on your journey to self-actualization."

As I edge closer to Monday's renewed work journey, I find myself seeking deeper connections to the strengths I have. Wanting confirmation that the strengths exist and that I have the capacity to work with them. So with that in mind, I drew a card ~ and Lion arrived!

The last paragraph struck me most deeply. Yes, I like the roaring for respect and finding balance and channeling passions. But I'd let go the connection to the Goddess, to the Feminine Energies alive in the world.

Egyptian Goddess Sekhmet ~ who could dare to forget Her? Strong, powerful, deeply connected to our gut instincts. Also the goddess of war and vengeance. Whew! Not the side of Lion and Goddess I willingly embrace!

The Goddess on a Lion Throne ~ abundant in the archaeology of Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Canaan/Israel. Some of the Goddesses are Inanna, Ishtar, Kybele, 'Ashtart, Asherah, Anahita and Hebat. Strong, able to be mistress of the strong feline powers of the Lion!

Goddess Durga (Sanskrit for fort or a place difficult to overrun; OR "the one who eliminates sufferings") is the mother of the universe and believed to be the power behind creation, preservation, and destruction of the world. Her incarnations include Kali, Bhagvati, Bhavani, Ambika, Lalita, Gauri, Kandalini, Java, Rajeswari. She has nine forms. Her 8 or 10 arms are considered to protect her devotees from all directions. Her lion represents power, will and determination ~ qualities over which She has mastery.

Maybe it's time for me to study more of the Goddesses with Lions!

How do you view the qualities of Lion in your life? Do you feel strong, confident? How do you exhibit those qualities? How can you develop them further in your life?

Story Life

Stories arrive in our lives in a variety of ways and from multiple sources. People seem ever to want to reveal pieces of themselves. We have different manners of response. Most of the time, we listen to the stories of others with our minds only half present. Our thoughts wander to responses we can give. Occasionally allowing them to formulate our own stories that are close or tangential for when it's our turn to speak.

We've forgotten how to be present, how to listen to one another. Our culture and our society have increased their speed significantly. We have no time. Or we believe that we don't. We believe in the myth of multitasking. We have checklists inside our heads that we inspect and need to complete. We've forgotten the importance and significance of others' stories. We've misplaced our priorities along with the value of interconnection that happens when we truly listen and honor each other's story.

If you don't believe me, check out how many people are writing their memoirs ~ at 25 or 30 years of age! Listen to the people around you who want to 'write a book' with their stories in it ~ whether a teaching/experiential book or another memoir. Each of us has a desire to be heard. Listen to the next person who starts relating his or her story to you. Ask questions that lead her or him to tell you more. Put aside your active mental wanderings that bring the story back to you. See what happens.

Who listens to your stories? What do you do when you don't feel that your stories are heard? How does listening to others help you? How can you honor the story of another person?

Turning Life Sacred

http://www.louierochonphotography.com/

She's turning her life into something sacred: Each breath a new birth. Each moment, a new chance. She bows her head, gathers her dreams from a pure, deep stream and stretches her arms towards the sky.

~ Monique Duvall

It's time for me to once again focus my breath on fashioning the sacred moment into my life. In the eyes of some of the people around me, it's past time. In the opinion of some others, the sacred has never been out of focus. I know I've traveled the path between focus and fog when it comes to the holy and the sacredness of my path.

I am positive the Sacred has always had a hand on my life, irregardless the convergence of my vision or dream. It's a retreat to that internal gyroscope I mentioned several months past. I weave and wander, yet ever return to the Holy One who remains at the core of my being.

My dreams gather from every shore, from each pinpoint of starlight, from the core of the world. As they gather, I remember ~ truly putting my pieces together again ~ and breath in the pure, wild essence of them. I recognize that what I do for a living, how I am perceived by others, whether or not I am appreciated, matters little as I face the light exploding through those dreams. I want to let go the mundane ~ even as work begins anew ~ and let creativity soar. Perhaps I can do that. Perhaps not. I will be valiant and true in the attempt!

What do  you do with your dreams? How do you interact with the sacred? How will you move into your future?