The Intimacy of Words . . . Notes on Inhabiting a Living Planet

[pillowmountain]

Until the amazing intimacy of words is acknowledged and tenderly factored into the equation of the human conversation, speech will conceal trauma . . . and an honesty deep enough to release the wounding and heal the illnesses that take root in the wounding will elude us.

Learn the sign for 'pause' (hands folded in front of you with the two pinkies pointing upward to form a steeple). Think of a time when this hand sign may have helped soften a difficult moment in a difficult conversation, then call. The popular relationship with words is painful to me, and I need to find people who are ready to enter this study. To arrange a meeting or gathering . . .

Michael Bridge
707-540-1289

[CSummer]

I think we might have a meeting place, Michael. Now all we need are the time and the people!

Proposed new beginning:

Until we realize our amazing ability to be present with each other and offer our caring and compassionate attention, our conversation will conceal trauma . . . and an honesty deep enough to release the wounding and heal the illnesses that take root in the wounding will elude us.

May we find our way together!

Until the amazing intimacy of words is acknowledged and tenderly factored into the equation of the human conversation, speech will conceal trauma . . . and an honesty deep enough to release the wounding and heal the illnesses that take root in the wounding will elude us.

Learn the sign for 'pause' (hands folded in front of you with the two pinkies pointing upward to form a steeple). Think of a time when this hand sign may have helped soften a difficult moment in a difficult conversation, then call. The popular relationship with words is painful to me, and I need to find people who are ready to enter this study. To arrange a meeting or gathering . . .

Michael Bridge
707-540-1289

[Shandi]

Hi Michael,

I'm a bit curious about the agenda for this study group. Knowing how important words are, I'd like a few that express how you'd like to see this group function.

Intention

Format

Duration (meetings themselves/weeks/months to complete)

Cost

Number of people

I realize it may be a little pre-mature to ask these questions, and you may
be wanting the group to decide by consensus, but you must have some
thoughts on these areas.

Thanks,
Sandy
707 665-0547

I think we might have a meeting place, Michael. Now all we need are the time and the people!

Proposed new beginning:

Until we realize our amazing ability to be present with each other and offer our caring and compassionate attention, our conversation will conceal trauma . . . and an honesty deep enough to release the wounding and heal the illnesses that take root in the wounding will elude us.

May we find our way together!

[pillowmountain]

Sandy,
Thank you for your questions.

Words are my friends ...
and they tell me they hate being the center of attention...that
they are happier and healthier when we give our primary attention to
the arena they inhabit...to Nature.

This is about using silent hand gestures to witness what is going
on inside of us...gestures that others can also witness...and connect
with if they so choose.

I think it is first important to assess the quality of attention
we have to offer to our encounter...to find out if any of our members
are involved in some urgency...and if being given some group time to
do some processing might be useful. This is choreographed gesturally.

I was in the laundromat several days ago and looking at the
cartoon caption contest in the back of the New Yorker...and thought up
a caption for the captionless cartoon of the week and immediately
folded my hands in front of me with the index and middle fingers
pointing upward signifying 'something exciting or disturbing' going on
inside of me (in this case it was 'exciting'...as I loved the caption
I came up with and would have loved to have shared it with someone).
If people knew the meaning of the gesture, there would have been a
chance of someone connecting with my moment of excitement and it could
have grown into a nourishing conversation...just spontaneously. I
could have gone up to someone and showed them the cartoon and shared
my idea for a caption...but this study is so important to me...and
throwing words out uninvited is so very deeply against the principle I
love. What I love is that simply making the gesture offers some real
fulfillment to my own inner experience...with or without response from
somebody else...as the meaning of the gestures is not contingent on
response. It is solely about being true to what is going on inside of
us.

I hope this helps. My session on the computer at the library is
about to expire.

Hi Michael,

I'm a bit curious about the agenda for this study group. Knowing how important words are, I'd like a few that express how you'd like to see this group function.

Intention

Format

Duration (meetings themselves/weeks/months to complete)

Cost

Number of people

I realize it may be a little pre-mature to ask these questions, and you may
be wanting the group to decide by consensus, but you must have some
thoughts on these areas.

Thanks,
Sandy
707 665-0547

[Shandi]

It reminds me of "emoticons", but without the variety of graphics, kind of hand signal emoticons or sign language. I guess it could be based on sign language, so people would be learning the part that has to do with what's going on inside of us emotionally, rather than the whole sign language.

I mean why re-invent a new language when we already have one to learn?

My thoughts on your words....

Sandy

Sandy,
Thank you for your questions.

Words are my friends ...
and they tell me they hate being the center of attention...that
they are happier and healthier when we give our primary attention to
the arena they inhabit...to Nature.

This is about using silent hand gestures to witness what is going
on inside of us...gestures that others can also witness...and connect
with if they so choose.

I think it is first important to assess the quality of attention
we have to offer to our encounter...to find out if any of our members
are involved in some urgency...and if being given some group time to
do some processing might be useful. This is choreographed gesturally.

I was in the laundromat several days ago and looking at the
cartoon caption contest in the back of the New Yorker...and thought up
a caption for the captionless cartoon of the week and immediately
folded my hands in front of me with the index and middle fingers
pointing upward signifying 'something exciting or disturbing' going on
inside of me (in this case it was 'exciting'...as I loved the caption
I came up with and would have loved to have shared it with someone).
If people knew the meaning of the gesture, there would have been a
chance of someone connecting with my moment of excitement and it could
have grown into a nourishing conversation...just spontaneously. I
could have gone up to someone and showed them the cartoon and shared
my idea for a caption...but this study is so important to me...and
throwing words out uninvited is so very deeply against the principle I
love. What I love is that simply making the gesture offers some real
fulfillment to my own inner experience...with or without response from
somebody else...as the meaning of the gestures is not contingent on
response. It is solely about being true to what is going on inside of
us.

I hope this helps. My session on the computer at the library is
about to expire.

[Shandi]

This is a copy of my most recent communication with Michael:


"As a mother, I can attest to using signs and sounds with my babies, way before I used words. And when I began to use words, it wasn't to solve a disconnection, but to communicate in ways that our society is accustomed to.

Can you relate to this? Have you cared for infants? If so, you must know they have many ways to communicate their feelings without words.

The cave men/women probably didn't use language like we do, but still had a way to communicate feelings with sound and action.

I'm wondering what has led you to this place with words. Of course,
it's always interesting to me to know what kinds of events and experiences shape one's perspectives.

I wish I had more time to delve into this fascinating subject, but I've got a life to live, and time is slipping away. I want to make the most of each moment I'm given.

I'll watch your process with interest, from afar, and wish you success in your endeavor, and much continued joy from interruptions."

In the Spirit,

Sandy

It reminds me of "emoticons", but without the variety of graphics, kind of hand signal emoticons or sign language. I guess it could be based on sign language, so people would be learning the part that has to do with what's going on inside of us emotionally, rather than the whole sign language.

I mean why re-invent a new language when we already have one to learn?

My thoughts on your words....

Sandy