Tending to the invisible spaces
Today I've been up in Birmingham running a compassionate leadership workshop as part of Festivals of Fearlessness; a radical and relational leadership course in system transformation. Bringing the qualities of the Hawk, Tree, Salmon and Wolf with me, we spent the day exploring how to positively disrupt systems by tending to the invisible spaces that form our relationships - with ourselves, each other and the rest of nature; for it is these invisible spaces of connection that the magic happens.
Yet it is not the workshop I wish to reflect on right now, it is the moments surrounding it...
When I arrived at the venue this morning, I found Karen Creavin (co-convenor of the Festival course) in the bushes picking some foliage to tend to the beauty of the venue space. As we spoke I noticed a heart-shaped pebble by her feet, a beautiful invitation and intention for the journey ahead for our day together (made more poignant with it being Valentine's day).
As I left the venue this afternoon, just as the taxi arrived I noticed a heart-shaped leaf on the floor, a beautiful closing of the day journeying together through relationships. I showed my leaf to Zafir the taxi driver and there began a beautiful long (stuck in traffic) conversation with both of our hearts right open to share our thoughts, dreams and wishes for the future in our crazy beautiful world. All of which was about tending to our relationships.
The two meeting moments which topped and tailed the day - supported by tokens of love - felt as rich as any of the exploration in the workshop, for it is in these "invisible spaces" of being in relationship with each other and the rest of nature that the work is happening to co-create more caring cultures and, in turn, healthier ways of living well together .
The final moment of tending came 5 minutes ago in an email from my dear friend and former Head of Department Nigel, sharing a reflection (for Valentine's day) on love, which I share with you as a gift well received and to be shared widely:
"Love. What a small word we use for an idea so immense and powerful it has altered the flow of history, calmed monsters, kindled works of art, cheered the forlorn, turned tough guys to mush, consoled the enslaved, driven strong women mad, glorified the humble, fueled national scandals, bankrupted robber barons, and made mincemeat of kings. How can love’s spaciousness be conveyed in the narrow confines of one syllable?
Love is an ancient delirium, a desire older than civilization, with taproots stretching deep into dark and mysterious days…..
The heart is a living museum. In each of its galleries, no matter how narrow or dimly lit, preserved forever like wondrous diatoms, are our moments of loving and being liked.
I hope the galleries of your heart exhibit many, many such moments."
#relationships #systemschange #love #valentinesday