Conversation

Conversation

Turning together,

A flock glides across the sea,

Enriched by its source.

For as long as I can remember, I've been fascinated by the brain, the mind, and consciousness. Not one to be content with a singular answer, my curiosity has led me to explore perspectives from science, philosophy, literature, psychology, yoga, and various forms of meditation and mystical pathways, seeking to integrate my own experience with narratives constructed by others.

Along the way, I encountered the work of Dr. Dan Siegel, a psychiatrist whose writing and teaching on the nature of the mind, well, blew my mind! A few years later, through a series of synchronicities, I met Dan at a workshop and he invited me to join a "pre-book book group," a sort of think tank for a book he was planning to write. Dan called the group the MWe Council, a nod to his concept of the self as an integration of Me + We, the personal + the relational. (If this concept intrigues you, I encourage you to read or listen to Dan's book, IntraConnected.)

The conversations we had in the MWe Council inspired many of the poems in Within My Illusions, including this haiku. Conversation, at its root means "the process or act of turning with" (com = with; versare = to turn; tion = the action of). The conversations we had as a group, especially during 2020 and 2021, gave us the opportunity to be with the turbulence of the times within a community of healers, artists, and scholars committed to turning toward justice, compassion, and healing. I imagined us as a flock of seagulls, drafting off one another when we needed rest and upliftment, leading when we were strong, and always sourcing from love.

It was through the group that I met Orlando Villarraga, the musician and sound artist who joined me in a collaboration to create a score for the Within My Illusions spoken word album. I'm proud of what we created together, and also the spirit of friendship and creative empowerment that guided our work together. I hope you'll take a listen to some of the tracks from the album!

When we realized that through some spark of divine timing, Dan's book and our album were due to be released around the same time last fall, Orlando, Dan, and I thought it would be fun to host an event and performance that would celebrate the book and the album. We called the event "MWeFest," a nod to the group that had contributed so much to both creations.

This week we released a 90-minute video of the live performance from that event. The full video includes a keynote by Dan and a guided journey through poetry, sound, and meditation by Orlando and me, followed by a conversation among the three of us. I hope you'll bookmark it and create some space to immerse yourself in the sounds, words, and experience! You can watch the two-minute teaser here. For those of you who joined us at the Wisdome in Los Angeles, we thank you for the energy and heart you brought to that afternoon.

I also wanted to let you know that Artwise Poetry Roulette Cards are now available in 13-card mini-sets and single card options, in addition to the 52-card boxed sets. If you are looking for a unique and meaningful gift for Mother's Day, graduations, or "just because," these cards always seem to land just where they need to whenever I share them.

Wishing you a week of nourishing conversations and moments of unfathomable delight.

With love,

Jennifer

ps - For those of you who prefer distraction-free viewing, you can watch the full video on Vimeo.