“In twilight shadow and evening darkness,” eighteen conversationalists gathered at the home of Julian Powe on Primrose Hill last Thursday for a “convivial, warm-spirited, curious and inquiring, and edgy in the imperative for action in service of improving civilisation through conversation and collaboration.”
Host Julian Powe offers here a brief summary of the gathering:
Our Conversation
We reflected on our stance and actions in support of our ‘torch’ (shown, as usual under my signature here); heard about what was emerging through the many conversations taking place around the world; conversed and worked with George on his thinking and practice for elevating the present moment and being fully mindful in it; and surfaced individual and collective action ideas.
The following themes emerged strongly:
Our stance in support of our ‘torch’ – delight; harmony; moving towards darkness and embracing the shadow; the power of kindness; the importance of critical thinking, courage; discipline and practice; a spirit of appreciation for what is working and is good; connecting with our and others’ souls; engaging and reaching out, more alignment in conversations; staying ‘in’, facing what is going on but not at the expense of our own balance and integrity; supporting and challenging leaders to really attend to the well-being of their people and colleagues
The imperative for action – now; within a generation; significant change needed across all domains and levels of system, political – economic -social – organsitional – individual
Attention to wisdom – strong common ground emerged here – wisdom is lagging and lacking – we have strong aspirations to see its rapid development across all domains, to be at the centre of discourse and organisational life – this community has deep knowledge about it – our call to action was to develop in 2019 a curriculum for wisdom for 6-96
Our Actions
We all reflected on our personal intent going forward.
By way of examples, here are Aaron’s selected actions:
To continue having conversations.
To assist those however I may in having conversations
To encourage my peers and contemporaries in the life planning world to hold conversations.
To get a babysitter so I can attend future conversations in person ;)
To connect jointly with Bruce and Julian to see what we can do in SE London for future conversations.
……And here are mine:
To continue to support this community in service of all we want to do to improve civilisation through conversation and collaboration, lining up with George’s wider movement and other collaborative efforts
To make the next move in our collective work on a curriculum for wisdom for 6-96 by circulating a discussion document by 26 April 2019 and inviting collaborative support from all interested (Jane, Parul, Bruce, Adam – you were among those who kindly expressed interest, all thanks and delighted to hear from others as we move forward on this)
To support George’s and other conversations in educational systems – and any other conversations where I can help
To up my game, month to month, in all I choose to do in my leadership work, my writing, my volunteering and my political involvement
And to have even more fun and delight!
Our ‘Torch’:
‘If – as a consequence of our work together and in league with other likeminded groups across the world - we, the human race, connected and one as we are :
Live in liberty, with truth, freedom of expression and justice at the core of our existence
Place the health and longevity of planet earth and all who live on it at the forefront of our attention
Delight ourselves and each other with our joy, humour, optimism and sense of fun
Live in harmony and compassion, embracing and working with difference to find common ground and alignment in a spirit of love, empathy, kindness, and inclusion
Explore and deepen our wisdom, self-knowledge, creativity and that of others through vibrant dialogue, curiosity, learning, science and art – stepping into the new and realising the potential we do not currently know we have
Move forward every day with a deep sense of collective endeavour, service, responsibility, courage, vigour and vitality to improve the lives of all on the planet…..
………How would that be?