In this storytelling interlude, down a darkened road identities morph and mutate. The question is why? The roots of a folklore blues song are found all over today’s culture revealing the timeless magic of blues legend Ledbelly. Then we ponder and contemplate how, when and why we each show up as we do. Hangout, explore, and play…

WAILING CEREMONY

This is an expression of Women of color. Women I admire, known and unknown faces, old pics, out of focus, blurry like our memories. Coretta Scott King, Shirley Chisholm, Diana Ross, Mary McLeod Bethune, my great grandmother, mother, me. The composition (1854) - Hair Clothespins and photo of the amazing visual-activist Zanele Muholi. The red hands - support of our Indigenous sisters and the attention that needs to be placed on their disappearances. The verse is a visceral response to the felt anguish that surrounds us. So much loss. It’s time for us to Wail.

The 4 C’s -

COMMUNITY BUILDING BLOCKS

CREATIVITY - CULTURE ~ CONTEMPLATION

Weaving together Mindfulness practices, games of inquiry, safe space establishment, deep curiosity, respect and appreciation I then embark on a journey with this community to discover where we will be on the other side of this learning experience.  This is even more heightened if I am with a group that I find trouble finding the connecting intersections (it’s a group I would normally not hang out with) because it means I must go even deeper in my own Mindfulness practices to gain that sought after awareness.

This Journey is the Ectasy of teaching that Bell Hooks discusses.  The jewels that are there waiting to be discovered by those willing to take the road and go through the trials of discovery. 

 The 4C’s are inherent qualities that we already possess just like Mindfulness.  As Mindfulness Educators we are the guides, the archaeologist, anthropologists, the adventurers exploring ancient paths that have been forgotten but are being re-discovered in the work we do.

Contemplative Practices Community Building Guiding Questions

1 How can I become more aware of the Identities in this community

2 How can I engage all members of this community

3 Where are the cultural intersections that I can plug into, if not as a member, a welcomed guest

4 What part of my culture can I share

5 How can I bring out the Contemplative aspects of our cultural connections

6 How can I present Mindfulness as being relevant and of value to their community

7 How do I facilitate this community sharing/teaching me their contemplative practices

8 Are we able to co-create/design contemplative practices where I am now a part of an iteration this community

University of VA - Flourishing While Black Retreat

The retreat put me into a place of mental and physical comfort, all while pulling me out of my comfort zone, which I definitely needed! These exercises pushed out negative energies from years and years ago. I honestly fought as hard as I could to be “tough” but Minerva’s retreat broke me down like nothing else. It was a spiritual healing. I am so grateful to have experienced her work and definitely look forward to working with her again! M. Watson, participant

MINDFUL LIFE - SPOKEN WORD SELECTION

This piece was written by a young man in a program bringing together youth that had dealt with a lot of violence. We used Mindfulness, drums, and journaling as our tools. They created selections from their journal entires and we produced a CD. (This was back in the early 2000’s) This young man’s, Flamz, selection has gone on to be played throughout the country. In his own words, he says, what he feels Mindfulness can accomplish in this world.

I was working with middle schoolers at 3 different schools during the summer as well as with youth aged teen years through college in different parts of the U.S. as well as a group in the UK. I was searching for a way to explain Mindfulness in contemporary youth language. I came up with a spoken word piece. Here’s an excerpt.

Me Watchin’ Me or MWM.