Intro 0:00 [musical interlude] This recording is an offering of Networks for Training and Development's Online University. Jessica Stover 0:23 Hi, everyone. Welcome to tonight's Healing Circle Call. I'm Jessica Stover with Networks for Training and Development. And I am delighted to be with you for this month's time together. So we do these healing circle calls monthly. And this month is no exception. Again, the first Monday of every month on the dot at 8pm Eastern time. So this month, it is January the fourth 2021. And spending the day reflecting on what to share for the call this evening. And I don't have the words, quite frankly, for 2020. I don't know if anyone does. And I didn't know if I had the word for 2021. So I went to those who have the words, I stumbled upon a wonderful website, The Poetry Foundation (.org), and I spent so much time just poring over just frankly the art and the beauty that those who contribute and those who are a part of this foundation. So tonight, and for this call, I wanted to share with you three poems that are maybe interconnected, maybe not, but I thought were good to move forward through into 2021 together with so just going to read through the poems, share them with you and we'll get started. Jessica Stover 2:18 So the first poem is entitled, "The Passing of the Year". It was written by Robert Service. Jessica Stover 2:27 My glass is filled, my pipe is lit, My den is all a cosy glow; And snug before the fire I sit, And wait to feel the old year go. I dedicate to solemn thought Amid my too-unthinking days, This sober moment, sadly fraught With much of blame, with little praise. Jessica Stover 2:58 Old Year! upon the Stage of Time You stand to bow your last adieu; A moment, and the prompter's chime Will ring the curtain down on you. Your mien is sad, your step is slow; You falter as a Sage in pain; Yet turn, Old Year, before you go, And face your audience again. Jessica Stover 3:27 That sphinx-like face, remote, austere, Let us all read, whate'er the cost: O Maiden! why that bitter tear? Is it for dear one you have lost? Is it for fond illusion gone? For trusted lover proved untrue? O sweet girl-face, so sad, so wan What hath the Old Year meant to you? Jessica Stover 3:59 And you, O neighbour on my right So sleek, so prosperously clad! What see you in that aged wight That makes your smile so gay and glad? What opportunity unmissed? What golden gain, what pride of place? What splendid hope? O Optimist! What read you in that withered face? Jessica Stover 4:31 And You, deep shrinking in the gloom, That find you in that filmy gaze? What menace of a tragic doom? What dark, condemning yesterdays? What urge to crime, what evil done? What cold, confronting shape of fear? O haggard, haunted, hidden One What see you in the dying year? Jessica Stover 4:58 And so from face to face I flit, The countless eyes that stare and stare; Some are with approbation lit, And some are shadowed with despair. Some show a smile and some a frown; Some joy and hope, some pain and woe: Enough! Oh, ring the curtain down! Old weary year! it's time to go. Jessica Stover 5:27 My pipe is out, my glass is dry; My fire is almost ashes too; But once again, before you go, And I prepare to meet the New: Old Year! a parting word that's true, For we've been comrades, you and I -- I thank God for each day of you; There! bless you now! Old Year, good-bye! Jessica Stover 5:56 The next poem written by George Elliott Clarke, entitled, "Everything is Free". Jessica Stover 6:08 Wipe away tears, Set free your fears: Everything is free. Only the lonely Need much money: Everything is free. Don’t try to bind The love you find: Everyone is free. Your lover’s yours — Surrender force: Everyone is free. The sun melts down, Spreads gold around: Everything is free. The rain is spent Lending flowers scent: Everything is free. The love you live, The life you give: Everything is free. Jessica Stover 7:04 And for the final poem of the evening. It's written by Joy Harjo and it's entitled, "For Calling the Spirit Back from Wandering the Earth in Its Human Feet". Jessica Stover 7:21 Put down that bag of potato chips, that white bread, that bottle of pop. Turn off that cellphone, computer, and remote control. Open the door, then close it behind you. Take a breath offered by friendly winds. They travel the earth gathering essences of plants to clean. Give it back with gratitude. If you sing it will give your spirit lift to fly to the stars’ ears and back. Acknowledge this earth who has cared for you since you were a dream planting itself precisely within your parents’ desire. Let your moccasin feet take you to the encampment of the guardians who have known you before time, who will be there after time. They sit before the fire that has been there without time. Jessica Stover 8:25 Let the earth stabilize your postcolonial insecure jitters. Be respectful of the small insects, birds and animal people who accompany you. Ask their forgiveness for the harm we humans have brought down upon them. Don’t worry. The heart knows the way though there may be high-rises, interstates, checkpoints, armed soldiers, massacres, wars, and those who will despise you because they despise themselves. The journey might take you a few hours, a day, a year, a few years, a hundred, a thousand or even more. Jessica Stover 9:04 Watch your mind. Without training it might run away and leave your heart for the immense human feast set by the thieves of time. Do not hold regrets. When you find your way to the circle, to the fire kept burning by the keepers of your soul, you will be welcomed. You must clean yourself with cedar, sage, or other healing plant. Cut the ties you have to failure and shame. Let go the pain you are holding in your mind, your shoulders, your heart, all the way to your feet. Let go the pain of your ancestors to make way for those who are heading in our direction. Ask for forgiveness. Call upon the help of those who love you. These helpers take many forms: animal, element, bird, angel, saint, stone, or ancestor. Jessica Stover 10:05 Call your spirit back. It may be caught in corners and creases of shame, judgment, and human abuse. You must call in a way that your spirit will want to return. Speak to it as you would to a beloved child. Welcome your spirit back from its wandering. It may return in pieces, in tatters. Gather them together. They will be happy to be found after being lost for so long. Your spirit will need to sleep awhile after it is bathed and given clean clothes. Now you can have a party. Invite everyone you know who loves and supports you. Keep room for those who have no place else to go. Make a giveaway, and remember, keep the speeches short. Then, you must do this: help the next person find their way through the dark. Jessica Stover 11:15 And that concludes the reading of the poem. Again, I don't know if I have words for 2020. And I could not find words for 2021. So I just felt it apt to go to those do have the words. And I hope in hearing these, maybe it gave you some reflection, maybe brought you peace of joy, help you come to your center. If you're journeying to that point within yourself, I encourage you to go to the books, go to the sages, go to the words that will help you and guide you into 2021 because we're there now. So again, we do these Healing Circles on the first Monday of each month 8pm Eastern Time. Our next Healing Circle Time together - our Healing Circle Call will be February 1 2021, again at 8pm. Eastern Standard Time. However, we have a plethora of these recorded, and you can find them on our website. If you go to www.NetworksForTraining.org and navigate yourself to our Online University. We have several years of these that we've recorded and archived that you can listen to at your leisure, convenience, and whenever you need to. So it's been wonderful to spend the short time together with you all on this wonderful January evening. I wish you love, and joy and peace in the coming year. Thank you so much. Outro 13:14 [musical interlude] Thank you for listening. We hope the information provided was helpful. Don't forget to stop by our website and take advantage of all we have to offer Transcribed by https://otter.ai