Notes from the Heart and Soul meeting 25 April 2007

To see a full list of past events and meeting notes click here

Next meeting: likely to be 22 May, to be confirmed

Updates on Events and Groups

Heart and Soul social (Geoffrey, Lara, Jacqui, Alex)
7.30pm, Friday, May 11th, Birdwood House.

Join us for the Heart & Soul / Arts group celebratory party. This is a chance for us to get together without the burden of an agenda! Unwind to heart and soulful music and maybe the odd surprise spot. There will be some locally sourced food provided and fruit juices, teas and coffees, but bring food to share if you want. Also please bring a photo of yourself when young without showing it to anyone for the rogues' gallery. Usual donation to cover expenses.

TTT celebrations group (Emma and others) Launch and celebration of local food directory planned. Details tba

Anniversary celebration: Also a major celebration of the anniversary of TTT launch next September, with live music and other entertainments, probably in the civic hall.

Climate Change Ritual June 8th – Sylvia will be leading a ritual in central Totnes, possibly Vyre island as part of the international day of protest about climate change coinciding with the G8 summit. Contact Sylvia if you are interested at sylviajrose@yahoo.com

Consciousness café (Max and Wendy) 17th May, 7:30 for 8:00 to 10:00 pm at the Red Wizard café (next to Happy Apple). Places are limited to 24 – there are some left. Let Wendy know if you are interested 01803 868305 or email wendyabroad@lycos.com; flyer attached

The Changing World Janey and Naresh are presenting a one day workshop in Plymouth on Saturday 2nd June combining the Pacha Mama Changing the Dream with Living on the Cusp. The day aims to inform, inspire and generate real action – and hopes to ignite Transition Town Plymouth! If you know anyone in Plymouth who might be interested please contact Janey on 01803 863315 or at janeyfr@yahoo.co.uk

Laughter initiative Geoffrey is proposing that people interested meet to explore this idea. The plan is that participants bring along something that makes them laugh, not more than twenty minutes long. It could be on a DVD, a CD, an audiocassette or vinyl record, or simply in writing on paper for them to read out to the group. The aim is to experience laughing together, as a form of bonding and spiritual healing, and to have FUN. Further details will be on the Heart & Soul section of the TTT website under Ideas & Concepts. Please register your interest by emailing or phoning Geoffrey at greensplatt@ic24.net or 01803 840091.

Ecopsychology group Following the very successful Celebrating the Earth equinox ritual we were hoping to have an event on May 1st to mark Beltane, but haven’t had any response offering ideas or help, so this will probably not run. If you are not on the ecopsychology mailing list and would like to be let Sophy know.

Summer of Love? This year is the 40th anniversary of 1967’s summer of love and the Arts group in Buckfastleigh are planning to have a weekend followed by a series of events to celebrate Love in all its aspects across Buckfastleigh, S Brent, Totnes, Ashburton.. We could combine this with some heart and soul events. For instance Non Violent Communication – the language of love.. Gender dialogue.. Constellations -Unlocking love in families and for the earth… If you have any ideas for this contact Clive at mail@SOL2007.info or see www.SOL2007.info

Marianne Williamson will be giving a talk as part of the summer programme of TTT / Schumacher talks on July 18th. Please put the word out, she has a great reputation. We will be producing publicity nearer the time.

Other happenings you may be interested in…

TTT Market Stall? Wendy Staite and others are trying to get a TTT market stall off the ground on Friday or Saturdays, distributing info, as a meeting point, perhaps selling some eco products. She has organised a meeting at her house, April 28th, Saturday, at 11.30am. Address: 2 Seymour Villas,Seymour rd. Call 01803 868305 for more info

Youth Festival on 19 July at Bowden House – currently a proposal coordinated by Steph. More to follow..

“Home Groups” or “Support Groups” - a trial run

The main part of the evening was spent carrying out a trial of the launch of Home Groups (if anyone has a brilliant title for these Please send it in!!)

The idea is to have many groups meeting where people can get inspiration, practical help, a good listening to, people to work alongside. The idea has come up in many contexts and at different times – for example the Energy group is looking at working with Global Action plan who have resources and train facilitators to run “eco-groups” in a local neighbourhood or workplace to look at practical ways to measure and reduce carbon footprint.

The question for this evening was – how can we create an effective launch for this idea, enabling people to meet, think about what they want, and find others who could be in a group together.

Hilary suggested those who had a particular theme in mind announce it, and we form groups around these.. We created groups for - Follaton and Bridgetown - Central Totnes mixing emotional and practical - Generic, combined with non-home owners.

The three groups then had a discussion as if meeting for the first time.. each with a different style and outcome. I didn’t take full notes, but some points which came out of the discussion.

In the forming of groups, the need to balance “I want and I don’t want” with allowing the organizing field and the grace of the universe to put you with people you wouldn’t have thought of but find interesting..

Some possible themes for creating groups • Topics to include - practical, emotional, campaigning, activism • Structure - facilated, structured, sharing, evolving each meeting.. • Underlying philosophy or world view.. earth based spirituality; I only need practical information; a shared belief in the greater good • Logistics – geography, where, when – evening / day / weekend, frequency • “people like me”.. women or men only, elders, cyclists, faith group..

The power of parallel process – even in these short gatherings the frustration of meeting with a disparate group, spending time doing things which may not feel interesting, sitting with discomfort or boredom – just like we have to out in the world.

The importance of holding a shared wider perspective to help hold conflict, frustration and other difficult processes.

Being part of a group can help people to go beyond their comfort zone – both internally (“I can feel more deeply with others than on my own”) and externally (“with help and encouragement I could drive less, get insulation; we could share gardening and food to make it more enjoyable”)

Ideas for launching Home Groups: • Have a first stage which is similar to tonight – a dummy run of forming groups and having a first meeting. • A possible second stage – create on a piece of paper something which expresses something about you and what you want from a group. It could include logistics and words, or images.. Mill around the room showing your piece of paper, and interacting with others about theirs… ?? Groups might start to form during this process • Third stage – call out themes for groups and invite others to join • There would be a follow up meeting after a month (or more?) for those still keen but who don’t have a group yet, or their group didn’t work out. • There would be ongoing opportunities to form or join groups.

If you have any comments or ideas for these groups, including feedback on the guidelines (attached) please contact Hilary.

Next Meeting

Possible theme for next time: Belonging, difference?

If anyone would like to offer a theme or process for the meeting we would welcome this – if you are thinking of doing this please contact Hilary or Sophy. Or offers to facilitate, or bring a warm-up activity or short ending process..

Newsflash from TTT centre!

We will soon be advertising a TTT coordinator / administrator post – the first funded worker in the project. Please look out for publicity and let anyone know who might be interested.