Walawaani. We are looking forward to another year of shared contemplative practice and conversation, singing and the simple joy of spiritual friendship. This year we continue with our usual ways of gathering as well as some extra events later in the year. You will find it all on the events page of this website. This year we will also be exploring the principles and practices of ‘circles of trust’ *. This practice is a way of coming together in conscious, kind and contemplative conversation. We will share more on this in the coming months. We see such conversational practice as an antidote to a world that is growing increasingly polarised; a world in which personal and national expressions of violence are threatening social cohesion. We are choosing to practice the kindness and respect of listening and open-hearted dialogue.
In recent times a poem of William Butler Yeats has come to mind. The Second Coming seems to speak to the present world in a remarkably apt way. The first verse of the poem says: ‘Turning and turning in the widening gyre The falcon cannot hear the falconer; Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold; Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world, The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere The ceremony of innocence is drowned; The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity.’
It’s not hard to see Yeat’s words applied to the world we live in today. How then are we to hold the centre? We suggest that one way is through personal and communal contemplative practice that enables stability, simplicity and stillness in a chaotic world. So, we invite you to join us as we gather in various ways, here at the foot of Gulaga. Embodied wisdom and incarnate presence seem increasingly important in a virtual world. We are blessed at Open Sanctuary to gather on Yuin country, in person, in friendship. We look forward to you joining us.
*Circles of Trust is a process of Parker Palmer and the centre for Courage and Renewal
Open Sanctuary gathers at the old Holy Trinity Church on Corkhill Drive between Central Tilba and Tilba Tilba off the Princes Highway.