By Shae Hadden |
Bio
The premise being that we CAN talk it through…
This
is the question that epitomizes the possibility that the World Café
represents. It is the question that informs Anne Dosher, the
80-something ‘Elder’ of the World Café and Board member of the World
Café Community Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to developing and
disseminating this and other innovative dialogue approaches. I recently
had the privilege of interviewing this gracious, generous and engaging
lady—the human embodiment of what I imagined the World Café phenomena
itself to be—with a few inquiries of my own.[
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Written by eldering at Wisdom in Action
Tagged with:
culture
dialogue
multigenerational
respect
world_cafe
By Shae HaddenBio
How often do we take time to look a little closer at beautiful works of
art? To learn about the culture that shaped the images we see?
I recently had an opportunity to visit a unique gallery in my
community. Founded and run by a Canadian who is committed to bringing
Australian Aboriginal art created by women to North America, the
Jan Townend Art Gallery
features paintings, textiles, weaving and basketry. The British art
critic John Ruskin once said, “All great art is the work of the whole
living creature, body and soul, and chiefly of the soul.” The powerful
paintings I saw at the gallery amply conveyed the soul of the
Aboriginal people—its beauty, strength and hidden meaning. The
deceptively simple style is grounded in a complex ceremonial tradition.
Consider that these people have no written languages, so their art is a
visual record, a way to communicate their history and culture: the
images help them tell their creation stories, their ‘dreamtime’, their
explanation of the world they live in. Pausing to view the creative
work of these women made me realize how my hectic, technology-driven
life has left me disconcertingly out of touch with my own soul. And in
speaking with Jan, I gained a greater understanding of what this art
means to the artists and their communities.[
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Written by eldering at Wisdom in Action
Tagged with:
aboriginal
art
culture
gallery
tradition
wisdom
By Shae Hadden
Bio
Tonight marks the longest night of the year—the time when the
prevailing darkness makes us appreciate the presence of daylight all
the more. Festivals of light and tree lighting ceremonies abound,
traditions meant to dispel the darkness. This holiday season I am very
aware of how much ‘light’ is needed in this world…
[
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Written by eldering at The Great Turning
Tagged with:
ceremony
culture
global
problems
By Shae HaddenBio
I'm fascinated by how people affix meaning to language, and the
limitless interpretations they draw from words. 'Old', for example,
triggers different responses among my friends. And their
interpretations show me how they feel about growing older. It's not
always a happy image...[
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Written by eldering at Personal Empowerment
Tagged with:
culture
old
young
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