Shhhhhuck! Snip! Rip! This is how it all begins, the bond between you and the sacred plant we all know as corn. Have you ever thought of what you could make from the loads of corn husks leftover from a family bbq on a summer afternoon? It turns out many cultures have pondered this same question. From tortillas to grits and polenta, not only has corn been a staple ingredient in many diets across the globe, it has also been utilized to create beautiful and useful items for millenia.
Read MoreThis was indeed an important beginning, I thought, and it was much more than just preparing for our first event. We were healing old stories about what I “am” or each of us “are,” what we can or shouldn’t do. Uncomfortable or not, we were connecting with our friends and even our ancestors, and I sensed that gatherings like these may fall under the guise of “simple” work while simultaneously an incredible vehicle for change and healing, one fuzzy egg and strip of bacon at a time.
Read MoreThe energy in the room was abuzz, everyone immediately engaged in choosing their materials, cutting patterns, and navigating mostly new acquired skills. Intergenerational, intercultural, Circle’s offerings are always much more than a mere “class” but rather a beautiful reflection of our common desire to create, and the importance of a diverse and inclusive community. Each person moved joyfully between “stations,” bringing their disparate pieces of fabric together to form what would soon become a unique bag made with their own two hands.
Read MoreWe sat together that crisp fall weekend in October, bringing all our separate lineages, wounds, wells of power, disappointments, connection to spirit, creativity, and open hearts. We formed a circle, love in action, a momentum of curiosity and compassion,13 of us, putting our "prayers in motion even though they may not manifest for generations" (to quote Janet). Such is the alchemy of faith, patience, and release from expectation- that we can be guided to our highest good collectively and individually- all in its right time and way.
Read MoreThey kept arriving, barefoot, sandaled, from young children to elders, dark skinned, light, experienced crafters or those just beginning, with excitement or a look of trepidation in their gazes. Whatever apparent “differences,” they gathered with a common curiosity: to create something so ancient and for a long time indispensable, as well as far reaching across cultural divides: baskets.
Read MoreSo there I was, excitedly inviting each person to explore what their hands can do, black, white, brown, tiny or long fingered and wide palmed, but hands like mine that are unfamiliar with their own capacity to transform ordinary materials into the extraordinary through movement and the exploration of simple skills. I watched one cautious face after the other also light up with surprise, then soften with laughter, trust ignited by gentle, repetitive gestures of twisting cord between fingers, of a shared experience, and cooperation.
Read More
