I began to write my first sentence to introduce the poem I intended to post and realized the prose had a poetic quality. I have been fussing since writing Autumn Promises about a lack of inspiration.
Inspiration is not something we chase. Instead, it emerges. I am reading Deeper than Words by Brother David Steindl-Rast. He refers to Jung’s concept of synchronicity. There are moments things emerge from nowhere with no real explanation.
The last few weeks I spent ruminating over where I am going. I am not teaching in a classroom and teaching is calling for me, deeply spirtual and inspiriting for me. When I talk to colleagues and others, they think I would be a good fit for college and university education faculties, but there is little happening and little on the horizon.
As a result, I considers how I reshape, without certainty and chasing, where I go next. The result is a Youtube channel and a Facebook Page with an introductory video about mindfulness in daily life. In various forms, I wrote about this topic in my PhD course work, presented on it, and facilitated retreats and workshops.
I posted the video below. If you have feedback on content, delivery, and directions for this project, please let me know.
In keeping with bell hooks and Noam Chomsky, I consider myself a public and dissident intellectual. Part of my work is to move beyond (transcend) institutional dogmas that bind me to defend freedom, raising my voice to be heard on behalf of those who seek equity and justice in all their forms.
I completed my PhD in Philosophy of Leadership Studies at Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA. My dissertation and research was how teachers experience becoming teachers and their role as leaders.
I focus on leading, communicating, and innovating in organizations. This includes mindfuful servant-leadership, World Cafe events, Appreciative Inquiry, and expressing one's self through creativity. I offer retreats, workshops, and presentations that can be tailored to your organzations specific needs.
I published peer reviewed articles about schools as learning organizations, currere as an ethical pursuit, and hope as an essential element of adult eductaion. I published three poems and am currently preparing my poetry to publish as an anthology of poetry.
I present on mindful leadership, servant leadership, schools as learning organizations, how teachers experience becoming teachers, assessement, and critical thinking. I facilitate mindfulness, hospitality retreats. and World Cafe Events using Appreciative Inquiry.
I am writing and researching about various forms of leadership, how teachers inform and form their identity as a particular teacher, schools as learning organizations, hope and its anticipatory relationship with the future, and hope as an essential element in learning.
Ivon, I enjoyed the video. I was a “do-er” for nearly all of my life. Having felt many different “calls”, I’m not sure so many from my past were calls from heart, Higher Self, etc., or an ego pushing. Learning to simply BE has been challenging and extremely rewarding. I decided years ago that I would not advertise for clients…rather, I would simply trust Spirit to bring those with whom we would share a mutual benefit in our work together. It’s challenging to sit and listen and allow. It makes all the difference. Wishing you well in your discernment as to what may be next.
Carrie, it is interesting to hear another say that. I have been thinking more and more about not chasing and allowing what emerges to emerge. Thank you for the kind words of advice.
ivonprefontaine
Teacher as Transformer 
Paths unmarked,
No map,
A destiny may be imposed on us. We may create our destiny. But we must initiate the journey. Sound unfortunately too low.
Yes, the two intersect. Thank you Carl.
Thank you Carl. I wondered about the sound as I was recording. I am a novice at this, so will work at it and redo this one.
Ivon, I enjoyed the video. I was a “do-er” for nearly all of my life. Having felt many different “calls”, I’m not sure so many from my past were calls from heart, Higher Self, etc., or an ego pushing. Learning to simply BE has been challenging and extremely rewarding. I decided years ago that I would not advertise for clients…rather, I would simply trust Spirit to bring those with whom we would share a mutual benefit in our work together. It’s challenging to sit and listen and allow. It makes all the difference. Wishing you well in your discernment as to what may be next.
Carrie, it is interesting to hear another say that. I have been thinking more and more about not chasing and allowing what emerges to emerge. Thank you for the kind words of advice.
Wishing you the ease of flowing as if on a river, and peace as you discern what is next.
I love that word: “discern.” It is more about letting what will emerge.
Obviously greatly written, and if one dummy like me didn´t get it in the written word. I thought the video was great.
Thank you Charly and stay frosty.
Beautiful Ivon! It was good to see you and hear you read the poem.
Thank you Rogene.
Reblogged this on By the Mighty Mumford and commented:
STEPPING INTO THE MISTY FUTURE—IS THERE A LIGHT OUT THERE?
Sometimes, we do not know until we step into the future.
HOW VERY TRUE! 😀