9/12/08 Meeting Notes
Cynthia Callsen welcomed everyone to the 4th Metro meeting and then introduced Griffith Feeney as the Moderator for the evening. Griff asked the 30 attendees to give their name and invited newcomers to identify themselves. He then introduced Joan Lavender and Larry Hurst who were presenting “Our Fuzzy Edges”.
Joan’s introduction:- For those new to focusing, Focusing is something distinctly sensed but not yet put into words. A Felt Sense, when it comes into clarity, has a remarkable specificity. A shift happens - a living in a new way…
The theme had come to Joan when discouraged about her work and the pain and beauty of it. She wanted to offer it as a form of comfort. Working on this with Larry, they had articulated “Fuzzy Edge” as: “Anyone’s relation to their vocation, meaningful activity in life or sense of purpose”. They invited us to help create this experience and sense how it might move us towards clarity in our own lives and forward as a community.
We formed triads. Each newcomer was placed with two experienced Focusers. Then Joan led us into a Focusing space inside, with some reminders:
“Focusing is always a gentle process - a ‘staying with’ - putting judging aside, entering the inside realm with interest and curiosity to anything you might notice inside; and then noticing in a larger sense what complex mood is present: what is the internal weather; what do I want to spend time with. If there is a sense of unease, ask if it is ok to spend time with it, and it will respond.
“Allow0Ayourself to move from a public to an interior mode and give yourself the freedom to welcome anything beginning to form inside on the horizon of awareness.
“Bring your awareness to what is happening in your muscles or in your breathing.
“Then become aware of what comes inside when you begin to ask about your work life, your vocation, your purpose. Ask yourself: “How am I with all of this? Can I let some words come that describe all of this…?”
After a pause to allow this to gestate, the triads were invited to share, starting with one of the experienced Focusers sharing, the other experienced Focuser listening and the newcomer holding the space. They were then invited to change roles, ending with the newcomer sharing if comfortable.
To conclude the session, Larry brought the whole group back together in a circle and opened up the space to any individual who wished to express the essence of what they had experie nced and how they were with it. After taking in these “Fuzzy Edge” happenings, in silence, the group took a few moments to bond with each other as a ‘closing’ to the session.
There was then a break for networking and refreshments, after which Naomi Glicken introduced our second MarketPlace - inviting people to share their Focusing projects, trainings, workshops and interests. An inspired exchange took place which illuminated how really innovative and well-targeted to our needs the projects of this Focusing community are. See below.
The meeting concluded with a brief closing by Cynthia.
Next Meeting: November 21st, with Lynn Preston presenting. (Note: This is one week later than originally scheduled.)
MARKETPLACE
Workshop Topics (Please contact as below for up-to-date details of dates and enrollment)
Blending Mind, Body, Spirit: Linda Marsanico - tel 718 636 1421; lindamarsanico@gmail.com
Ready to Fly: A Journey of Self-Discovery: Katherine Brewster and Larry Hurst - tel 212 222 9859; kjbrewster@earthlink.net
De-cluttering: Clearing a Space Within and Around You: Robin Kappy and Nicole Abramovici - robinkappylcsw@verizon.net
Deepening Your Focusing Practice: Judith Cobb, Lori Ketover, Joanne Stickles - jrstickles@aol.com
Experiential Focusing and Dance Improvisation: Joan Lavender - joan@joanlavender.com
Introductory Focusing Workshop: Charlotte Howorth - www.focusing.org/ifop
Open Music Circle: Philip Foster - oddsandends@earthlink.net
Visual Experiencing and Self-Discovery: Janet Pfunder and Robin Kappy - janetpfunder@yahoo.com
Professional Services
Babies & Breastfeeding: Ina Bransome - ina@clearbirth.com
Brush Up Your Focusing: Larry Hurst - tel 917 595 6884; larry.hurst@focus-in-touch.com
Change Processes: Jill Drummond - jilldrum@optonline.net
Focusing and the Arts: Piano Lessons: Justin Jacobs - justin_j@yahoo.com
Focusing, Bodywork and Sensuality: Katya Salkinder - www.sohohealing.com
Issues With Clutter: Nona Bloomfield - tel 212 633 9510
Massage for Health: Bill Zarick - billzarick@hotmail.com
Free Stuff
2 Single Beds: contact Joanne Stickles - jrstickles@aol.com
Cynthia Callsen welcomed everyone to the 4th Metro meeting and then introduced Griffith Feeney as the Moderator for the evening. Griff asked the 30 attendees to give their name and invited newcomers to identify themselves. He then introduced Joan Lavender and Larry Hurst who were presenting “Our Fuzzy Edges”.
Joan’s introduction:- For those new to focusing, Focusing is something distinctly sensed but not yet put into words. A Felt Sense, when it comes into clarity, has a remarkable specificity. A shift happens - a living in a new way…
The theme had come to Joan when discouraged about her work and the pain and beauty of it. She wanted to offer it as a form of comfort. Working on this with Larry, they had articulated “Fuzzy Edge” as: “Anyone’s relation to their vocation, meaningful activity in life or sense of purpose”. They invited us to help create this experience and sense how it might move us towards clarity in our own lives and forward as a community.
We formed triads. Each newcomer was placed with two experienced Focusers. Then Joan led us into a Focusing space inside, with some reminders:
“Focusing is always a gentle process - a ‘staying with’ - putting judging aside, entering the inside realm with interest and curiosity to anything you might notice inside; and then noticing in a larger sense what complex mood is present: what is the internal weather; what do I want to spend time with. If there is a sense of unease, ask if it is ok to spend time with it, and it will respond.
“Allow0Ayourself to move from a public to an interior mode and give yourself the freedom to welcome anything beginning to form inside on the horizon of awareness.
“Bring your awareness to what is happening in your muscles or in your breathing.
“Then become aware of what comes inside when you begin to ask about your work life, your vocation, your purpose. Ask yourself: “How am I with all of this? Can I let some words come that describe all of this…?”
After a pause to allow this to gestate, the triads were invited to share, starting with one of the experienced Focusers sharing, the other experienced Focuser listening and the newcomer holding the space. They were then invited to change roles, ending with the newcomer sharing if comfortable.
To conclude the session, Larry brought the whole group back together in a circle and opened up the space to any individual who wished to express the essence of what they had experie nced and how they were with it. After taking in these “Fuzzy Edge” happenings, in silence, the group took a few moments to bond with each other as a ‘closing’ to the session.
There was then a break for networking and refreshments, after which Naomi Glicken introduced our second MarketPlace - inviting people to share their Focusing projects, trainings, workshops and interests. An inspired exchange took place which illuminated how really innovative and well-targeted to our needs the projects of this Focusing community are. See below.
The meeting concluded with a brief closing by Cynthia.
Next Meeting: November 21st, with Lynn Preston presenting. (Note: This is one week later than originally scheduled.)
MARKETPLACE
Workshop Topics (Please contact as below for up-to-date details of dates and enrollment)
Blending Mind, Body, Spirit: Linda Marsanico - tel 718 636 1421; lindamarsanico@gmail.com
Ready to Fly: A Journey of Self-Discovery: Katherine Brewster and Larry Hurst - tel 212 222 9859; kjbrewster@earthlink.net
De-cluttering: Clearing a Space Within and Around You: Robin Kappy and Nicole Abramovici - robinkappylcsw@verizon.net
Deepening Your Focusing Practice: Judith Cobb, Lori Ketover, Joanne Stickles - jrstickles@aol.com
Experiential Focusing and Dance Improvisation: Joan Lavender - joan@joanlavender.com
Introductory Focusing Workshop: Charlotte Howorth - www.focusing.org/ifop
Open Music Circle: Philip Foster - oddsandends@earthlink.net
Visual Experiencing and Self-Discovery: Janet Pfunder and Robin Kappy - janetpfunder@yahoo.com
Professional Services
Babies & Breastfeeding: Ina Bransome - ina@clearbirth.com
Brush Up Your Focusing: Larry Hurst - tel 917 595 6884; larry.hurst@focus-in-touch.com
Change Processes: Jill Drummond - jilldrum@optonline.net
Focusing and the Arts: Piano Lessons: Justin Jacobs - justin_j@yahoo.com
Focusing, Bodywork and Sensuality: Katya Salkinder - www.sohohealing.com
Issues With Clutter: Nona Bloomfield - tel 212 633 9510
Massage for Health: Bill Zarick - billzarick@hotmail.com
Free Stuff
2 Single Beds: contact Joanne Stickles - jrstickles@aol.com