Artwork by Tomasz Alan Kopera; GIF by George Redhawk
This post and poem (see below) is dedicated to the amazing restorative justice – circle-keeping journey that I took last week at Planning Change
with Visionary Shaman Elizabeth Clemants in Tribeca
and those who journeyed with me on this experience,
which was life-changing.
Restorative Justice addresses the needs of individuals and community after harm has occurred, giving those responsible an opportunity to make amends and providing those harmed with a safe space to heal. Circle Keeping, which is not always restorative justice, is an important component of restorative justice. Planning Change specializes in training Circle Keepers in the foundational work of circle keeping, which has its roots
in indigenous communities.
The following poem celebrates the experience of the July 8-12 Circle Keeping Intensive at Planning Change, led by Elizabeth Clemants, with love, gratitude and humility.
LISTEN BY CLICKING HERE
With a circle of vision, we are weavers of dreams, welders of opportunities, molders, shapers, weavers of endless stories . . .
Us Circle Keepers.
Us wide-eyed and deep-dived and lazer sharp between messiness, finding magic beyond hatred to the patchwork bones of infinite colors of oneness . . .
Us Circle Keepers.
With hearts wide enough to welcome all, appreciate all, hold space for all, beyond construct to creator, beyond lies to truth, tasting the sweetness of prophecy, refraining only from
the profanity of disbelief and the sin of despair.
Oh Circle Keepers,
whose tongues part sands into separate pieces drawing lives whole
in the oneness that all embryos know
before they are shaped in the womb.
Us ears listening to innovate ideas,
changing and scraping and planting and fixing and rhythm and be-bopping and jazzing and rapping and swinging down low and high, crossing over to carry, to ignite, to build with fingers strong enough
to touch the hem of every miracle,
with shoulders as broad as every generation,
with hearts as great as every faith.
Oh, Matt, Dream Weaver
Oh Lauren, Light Bearer
Oh Tom, Truth Teller
Oh Tina, Torch Carrier
Oh Jason, Eloquence Resounding
Oh Tameka, Tongues Resonating
Oh Gina, Wisdom Reborn
Oh Wendy, Peace Shining
Oh Hilary, Pure Potential
Oh Scott, Infinite Possibilities
Oh Katie, Sacred Trust
Oh Mary, Magnificence Awakened
Oh Ada, Creative Consciousness
Oh Noama, Shape Shifter
Oh Noa, Anointed Energy
Oh Betsy, Prophetic Poet
Oh Cecilia, Love Warrior
Oh Elizabeth, Hidden Water, Grace Teacher, Freedom Rider, Life Lifter, Timeless Giver, Hope Harvester . . .
Us Circle as One
Us Circle as Everyone
Us Circle as Geniuses
and Gods
and Bridges
and Counselors
and Callings
Us Circle as All.
We Nowhere
and No one
and Nothing,
and Everything,
Everywhere,
and Everyone.
We circle as us,
bold enough,
brave enough,
brilliant enough
to behold magnificence,
find forgiveness,
and move beyond fault,
filled with the breath of family,
one family
that breathes every single soul
that ever was
and ever will be.
Us . . . Circle Keepers.
[Everything in the Mindful Leader Blogs are protected by Copyright Law and, unless noted otherwise, are created
by Cecilia B. Loving.]
Support the music of Peter Kater and R. Carlos Nakai,
which is celebrated in this recording,
using the following songs,
which can be purchased on i-Tunes:
NEMI-SACRED GROVE
CALL TO ENCHANTMENT
IF MEN WERE AT PEACE
HONORING
SURRENDER
SONORIA
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