Advent - Pagan Style

Well, the Solstice is a little over four weeks away. My friend Beth Owl's Daughter shared with me the notion of using the advent wreath as a way to honor the darkening time of the year in preparation for the coming rebirth of the sunlight on Solstice morning. You can go here to really read in more depth what Beth shares. I got my wreath and have my candle holders ready. I'm going to use tea lights for the four candles that represent the directions and guardians of the directions. Notice the little Santa in the center. I told you I love this time of year.

Then there are these great pictures of the only thing blooming in my yard. The Witch Hazel bush. Aren't these blooms just incredible?

 
 

 

The Holiday is Upon Us

Well, I've had a lovely Thanksgiving weekend. I went to Greensboro and then on to Charlotte for turkey. It was a lovely Thanksgiving dinner. I have a favorite thing about this time of the year, and that is the music. I love many of the Celtic Christmas albums, the Winter Solstice albums. They really make me want snow. HA! It is so rare that we have snow on Christmas. It would be nice. Anyhow, I do love the music this time of year. I have to admit, I even love the sappy songs and this you tube video is a great example. Actually, Jim Brickman's piano music is just lovely this time of year. If you have a chance to listen to the soundtrack of the Polar Express, that's a good one too (you can get to the music by clicking on the soundtrack on this weblink). Then there is this cute version of "Dreaming of A White Christmas."  How about Santa and those reindeer?

As we sat around Thanksgiving dinner, we said what we were thankful for (how appropriate). I couldn't help but feel the gratitude move through me that was created by the people around me at the table. I ended up saying that I feel like I'm living right. I do feel that way, for the most part. I am so fortunate to have friends and family who love me and care for me. It is that feeling that wells up in me this time of year. Gratitude. Try it. It's a fabulous feeling.

The down side is that I celebrate this time of year alone. Oh, I'm surrounded by plenty of people that care for me, but I just don't have that special someone. That will change. 

On another note, I retake one of the exams I failed for my prelims on Thursday. Keep your fingers crossed. I've sequestered myself most of Friday, Saturday and tomorrow for the purpose of passing this thing. 

Busy week

Well, it was a busy week. First off, on Monday evening and saw Milarepa: The Movie. Milarepa is one of Tibetan Buddhism's most famous teachers. However, before he became connected to the dharma, he practiced black magic and even killed people. Check out the trailer.

On Wednesday, I went to the Center for Creative Leadership. You know, last week I talked about the expense associated with leadership development and the limited access there is to such programs. Well, I got to see that first hand. CCL has a campus in Greensboro. Interestingly enough it was founded by the guy who founded Vick's.  Anyhow, walking through the halls and being a "fly on the wall" at one of the training session continued to confirm what I believe. There were no black people and very few women in the training session I saw. It was interesting to say the least. I asked a few questions and for the most part, the majority of folks who come to CCL's trainings are from Fortune 500 companies. Very few come from nonprofits or local governments. I was actually a bit surprised about governments not using it. They did talk about the military using it, which was a bit scarey, but very few local government.

On the other hand, I realized just how much I miss this work. The work of helping people develop themselves. It is a powerful thing to watch people learn and grow and function as a team. It also brought me back to the challenges I have with my current work situation. I love the work I do, but as with any organization, there are certain dynamics that are simply "sick." When I was the Director at Genesis Home, I had the ability to change things. However, here, I have no authority, so I have to do the work in a different way. I'm feeling like that is my next challenge. We shall see.

I'm in the process of writing two papers and studying for one of the comprehensive exams I failed in the summer. I hope to get that done shortly after Thanksgiving.  

Where is the justice

So I was sitting in class last night and we were talking about Leadership Development. It's a Leadership Research class and it is really quite good. However, last night, my trigger got tripped. There are 10 students in the class, seven of them are folks working on their PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology. They anticipate going into the field and working in corporations with folks. We started talking about charging for services and the range of folks who receive leadership development services including mentoring, team development, coaching, action learning, etc. One of the I/O folks has been out working and says she typically charges $1,500/day for consulting and more for individualized coaching work. The professor talked about a high-end firm, Kaplan Devries, who for branding purposes only works with CEOs and COOs, and who typically start out with fees of $10,000/day for their specialized clients.

I kept sitting in my seat and kept fuming. The I/O students kept asking more questions about how to do this kind of work and what, as new graduates in I/O they should charge. I absolutely lost it. Here's what I said.

This simply reeks of economic priviledge and continues to perpetuate the stereotype that a leader is limited to straigt, white men who can afford this type of leadership development. It sends the message that black people or woment can't be leaders. It perpetuates messages about what followers should believe is a leader. And quite frankly all of that is a crock of "bullshit."

Yes indeed. It slipped out without me knowing. One of the other classmates said, "Why don't you really tell us how you feel, Stan?" I sat quietly.

On the way home, I kept thinking to myself, why is it that we can't see the beauty and gifts that all people bring to the table? To believe that leadership development is only for those who can afford it, will result in missing incredible opportunities. I think about the leadership qualities of a single mom, who is raising two children on her own, and trying to make ends meet. I think about the homeless people I've met who know how to "work" the system to simply get their needs met. The skills these folks have are those same qualities that some of our "leaders" have, and quite frankly even more admirable than some of the folks who I know who are leading organizations and companies.

This is the stuff I've been thinking about when I think about King Arthur. The King who is still in Avalon, waiting to join us when the time is right. Isn't the time right now?

Sissy's evening yoga practice

Every evening, Sita seems to lay down and purposefully stretch and do her own yoga. Notice how the back legs and feet are turned to the right and the front are turned to the left with the head tilted and her back arched backward. Wow! If humans were as flexible.

Although when she unwinds and her head spins nearly 360 degrees it reminds me of Linda Blair in the Exorcist.