Joanna's talk on Honoring our Pain for the World connects to Hiawatha's grief and need for condolence from the Peacemaker. Honoring our pain requires space -like Circle- to hear our sorrow, grief, outrage and all feelings revealing themselves in response to the state of our world. This takes us into culturally forbidden territory, taboos that silence our distress.   "Negative feedback loops" help us navigate thru life via signals when we are off course, so we can make a course correction: Stray off course -> Notice this -> Respond to get back on course ->. Feedback loops enable all living systems to keep in balance.   In Circle, we use feedback in Clearing the Air and Appreciations. Yet a strong current in mainstream culture views gloomy news or feelings as "negative experiences" from which we need to protect ourselves. This can lead to avoidance - a habit that lessens our confidence to cope with emotional distress, and can reflect fear that we'll get stuck in those emotions. Dr. Macy will talk with us about ways to unblock the feedback loops in a safe group where grief can be voiced, heard and valued.  BRING YOUR BEADS for the Condolence Ceremony. 

"We're just 3 meetings into our men's circle of 6 enthusiastic members.   But already at least one principle is emerging as to why our group seems to be off to a good start. All of us are seeking friendship that's experienced regularly, not just when you happen to meet your friend in the store or at the post office. Apparently, this basic need requires commitment, not happenstance. While at some point it may be important t to establish clear intentions for our circle, for now the cohesive factor seems to be the need for supportive companionship. This may be very general, but for us it seems to be the best place to start."