Deep Listening invites us into the most authentic revelations and understandings about our experiences—what we need, desire, fear, dream, as well as the inner questions we hold.
Poetry, as articulated by Audre Lorde, "...is not only dream and vision; it is the skeleton architecture of our lives. It lays the foundations for a future of change, a bridge across our fears of what has never been before."
With the integration of deep listening and poetry, we can build magical moments of meaning-making that will radically—and poetically—shape our strategies and worlds.
Groups focused on creativity, care and justice can collaborate with me as a deep listener and intuitive writer at their gatherings to capture luminous truths heard from participants.
These shares from participants’ voiced perspectives are transformed into a poem that the community can keep……as a shared memory, body of knowledge, seed of research, and living summary of their collective words and wisdom guiding us to possible futures.
Listening and writing poetic captures as new Social Design grad students shared their fears, questions and dreams.
poetic data in practice
AS WE CREATE A CONSTELLATION OF MEANINGS
a collective poem weaving the live reflections during Virtual Care Lab’s Terms That Serve Us workshop at the Visualizing Care conference by Duke University
what would we say?
what words would we use?
when “community” is co-opted,
now reclaimed. virtually generating
shared definitions.
we are making an allowance for change.
what would we say?
what words would we use?
care at the core.
a meaning, always relative to
the beings building the term.
this is a multiplicity of voices.
what would we say?
what words would we use?
through communication, openness, acceptance,
breathing, listening, cyclical healing.
if we would always come back for each other.
what would we say?
what words would we use?
we can respond, shapeshift and change.
remember: making space for everyone requires care and attention.
no longer assuming what a space or
community should look like.
what would we say?
what words would we use?
“WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LOVE AND BE LOVED?” STORY CIRCLE
a collective poem weaving the story circle shares from nine participants responding to the question “what does it mean to love and be loved?”
What does it mean to love and be loved?
Between the shadow and the soul,
We are holding space for love.
Octavia, Toni, bell —
May this be a love letter
Shining through.
Small moments are reminding us
That touch can look so beautiful.
We deserve this care.
Can we braid love together?
Can we enter more loving portals?
May it be an invocation.
A longing. A reclamation.
Now, our ancestors are gazing, too
Because we are.
Look at our melanated faces
Coming into our bodies.
Love is creative
And intergenerational love is powerful.
In this collective body,
We are who we are.
Choosing ourselves.
Loving ourselves.
Believing we have always
Been lovable.
So, let go and call in.
It is so easy to love us.