I hate authority. There, I said it. I don't like to have others dictate what is best for me. I feel like I can direct my own life. Although, this may seem arrogant or self-centered, I believe it is a great thing when a person reaches this state of mind. It means that their sense of self is strong. It doesn't necessarily mean that the ego is mature, but there is at the core a sense of an independent self. One that has a sense of direction. That is, I know what I want and where I want to go.
Rudolf Steiner coined a term, "individual idealism". This means that for each individual incarnated in their own place and time, there is an ideal life path. That ideal life path is shaped and formed as the individual interacts in the world. It is basically the highest expression of our self in the world. The tricky part is, that the ideal actions cannot be determined by some formula, or by goodwill, or by therapy. The only way for a person to reach that ideal is through their own inner development. It must come from that individual. This leads us to two basic challenges. First, how do we foster an individual's sense of self enough that he or she is able to step courageously onto that life path that will fulfill his or her life mission. That is a big enough challenge. It will not be achieved by emphasizing performance on tasks or even skills that are more generally accepted as important, but on fostering inner capacities of reflection, self-awareness, and purpose. It requires that we help a person understand the world and their place in it. This would be the type of holistic education that would encourage the true evolution of humanity. Second, it is important to realize that each person's life path is intimately connected to that of those around us. To use the words of Martin Luther King, "We are tied together in the single garment of destiny, caught in an inescapable network of mutuality. And whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. For some strange reason I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the way God’s universe is made; this is the way it is structured.” So complex is this level of interaction that it would be impossible for any leader to plan the actions of the individuals necessary to fulfill that destiny. The only solution, I believe, is to rely on the property of self-organizing. I have been using this basic principle, with more and less success, from the beginning of the Art Garage. The whole messy project emerged from two boys who showed up at my doorstep and captured my heart. Their path was intimately connected to mine. They were the trigger for what is becomming a new vision of enlivened community. My individual ideal is only becoming clear as I start to work in connection with other. It is more evidence that we must allow for self-organizing and that it is something that happens through conversation and connection. Not just through planning and deciding. I am a big believer in creating living spaces. Holding space, even if it is in the virtual realm, is where we can more deeply connect to the possiblities of our life. As I come closer to opening two new spaces, I am seeing new ideas emerge, not just from within myself, but through those around me. I am witnessing the power of self-organizing systems. So I don't forget...an important part of my process is to be invitational rather than persuasive. Instead of forcing, I open the door, hold the space and invite others to participate. I love the work of the Foss sisters. They are quite amazing. Here is a link to their summary of how to be invitational *Invitational Rhetoric
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Abigail LarrisonEducator, Scientist and Art Maker. The purpose of all life is to spread joy. What brings more joy than making art? Archives
November 2023
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