Resending: Season's Greetings from the Phantom Tollbooth
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You may not see it now," said the Princess of Pure Reason, looking knowingly at Milo's puzzled face, "but whatever we learn has a purpose and whatever we do affects everything and everyone else, if even in the tiniest way. Why, when a housefly flaps his wings, a breeze goes round the world; when a speck of dust falls to the ground, the entire planet weighs a little more; and when you stamp your foot, the earth moves slightly off its course. Whenever you laugh, gladness spreads like the ripples in the pond; and whenever you're sad, no one anywhere can be really happy. And it's much the same thing with knowledge, for whenever you learn something new, the whole world becomes that much richer.” --The Phantom Tollbooth Dear friends,
Happy Holidays! However you celebrate, or if you don’t celebrate, I’m sending a gentle wave of care your way. I know this time of year can be tough for many of us.
I hope you can feel the tendril of care I’m sending your way. Reach out if you want, and tell me what you’re sitting with this week— the good, the bad, the beautiful, the brutiful… all of it. I’m here for it, and I will respond with a personal recorded message.
Reading The Phantom Tollbooth as a child gave me my first glimpse of connection. Mystery and magic enveloped me, and I felt the earth move a bit. What if everything really was linked, I wondered?
Speaking of connection, I made a little recording for you below. It's a conversation with a dear friend, made during the Neuroqueer Somatics Learning Lab this Fall.
Neuroqueer Somatics Learning Lab — A Reflection
Last Fall, I flew to Portland to attend the Neuroqueer Somatics Learning Lab — a gathering for therapists, somatics practitioners, and neurodivergent folks to come together and immerse themselves in somatic practices. The intention was to widen the lens of somatic work and deepen access, so neurodivergent people could participate fully in an in-person (IRL) experience that honored their needs.
On the final day, some of us went on a hike to Errols Park in Portland. Time slowed, and we sensed the quiet beauty of the land. We met ducks, deep-green bogs, spiderwebs, lichen, and edible plants along the path — each felt alive and in conversation with the others.
Come along with us on our walk for a bit... I captured a small recording with em Swanson (they/them), one of the workshop collaborators, who became a dear friend. You can learn about em's wonderful work here.
em spoke about fascia as a metaphor for the web that holds us all. Spider webs and lichen reveal an inner order that is relational and interconnected — a bit like The Phantom Tollbooth come to life. Touch one strand, and the entire web responds. Waves and particles, movement and stillness, transmuting through our participation.
Join us for a quick walk with us and listen to em’s wise words:
Note: Most of these photos are from our walk. Some of the pics are from em's fabulous photo collection of webs and lichen from Northern California. Sending you a wave, ♥️🌊 Adina p.s. thank you to the elf from Divergent Design Studios who helped me put this vid together. |
Hi! I'm Adina
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