Jenny Mosley on education and spirituality - Findhorn series article 1
Introducing Jenny to the Findhorn Community...
Jenny Mosley has been delighted to be writing articles for the Findhorn Global Network Spirituality Forum. We would like to share with you the first letter (below) that Jenny wrote.
(For more information and to join the Findhorn Global Network, the website address is ? www.findhorn.org)
I am feeling very privileged to have been asked by Mattie to write for you all regularly on any feelings, thoughts and musings I may have regarding education and spirituality. I feel humbled by the request, as I have no qualifications for this task other than the fact that I am passionate about how the natural spirituality of children can heal the soul of education and how, unknown to many teachers, their job itself is a spiritual one.
What on earth do I mean by these sweeping statements? Firstly, let me tell you a little about myself. Over 20 years ago, whilst teaching in an inner city school, I was introduced, by a truly inspiring democratic head teacher to a form of circle discussion meetings in which all children and staff could express their feelings, hopes, fears and then work as a group on a range of action plans to move all their ideas forward. It wasn’t easy; kids ‘flipped’, adults retreated behind folded arms and stony faces, but, over time, the circle became a symbol of unity, courage and space to share our humanity. Through the potential of a united vision our spirits were allowed to flutter, sometimes belly-dive, but occasionally to soar.
There is nothing new in the concept of ‘circle-time’. It has always been a symbol of unity, healing and power. The North American Indians used to sit in a circle holding a talking object, often a feather or a pipe. The person who was talking with the object in their hand could relax knowing that others would not interrupt their train of thought. Anglo Saxon monks made a circle on the ground where they would meet to discuss any issues affecting their community way of life; hence we have the term “moot point” meaning a debatable issue. The circle as a healing symbol then, is deeply embedded in the spiritual and emotional history of mankind. Many of you can testify to its potentially healing space through having participated in small ‘home-circles’ for busy communities; the jolly circles of Woodcraft Folk, or the gentle circle at the heart of the Quaker faith — the list, like a circle, is never ending!
Because the whole circle movement became my passion, I academically researched into it, wrote endless books and then, because other people heard about it, I spluttered my way around the country in a wildly impractical old car to take the approach into many schools, community halls, child and family guidance clinics, nurseries, universities and youth clubs etc. I have now been ‘freelance’, running training days, conferences and support circles for nearly twenty years. My consultancy circle has grown; I have a huge team of nearly 30 full-time and part-time consultants, an office based admin team, and a small publishing company busy releasing many other books on the circle theme, written by the teachers, nursery nurses etc whom I meet across the country. We now work in India, Malaysia, Chile as well as across the UK.
The heart of the work, however, has not changed. Its excellence still hinges on the willingness of adults to let go of the trappings of power, and to return to the core of their jobs as educators, and therefore be able to ‘draw out’ the potential of others whilst listening to the beat of their own hearts’ responses. In its widest sense, because we are all in relationships, we are all ‘educators’ coming, as the word does, from ‘educare’ — to draw out. Those of us who work or live with children are extraordinarily, unbelievably lucky, because children are very near grace; they are naturally spiritual in their capacity to see and feel the truth, to experience ecstasy and pain, to forgive and to support. If we take regular time to listen to the ideas of children, or to listen to the hopeful child within the adult, whilst in an emotionally safe place, we begin to hear the truth of what we are all meant to be. I never fail to be moved, amazed and inspired by the courage of the individual to change and grow if supported unconditionally and non-judgementally by others all sharing, and adhering to, the same ground rules of respect. My task, over the next few months as an earnest scribbler, is to expand on this theme.
I came to Findhorn as a guest speaker for a one-off conference, but the warmth of everyone’s responses to my erratic but heartfelt words meant that I found at Findhorn a circle of light in which my spirit could roam around trying out ideas! When Mattie asked me to write a column my instinct, as a tired woman, guilty mother and ‘tearing her–hair-out’ business manager, was to say “no", but recently, after years of helping whole communities to move towards a vision of shared values and warm ethos, I have realised more and more that this vision is one of spirituality.
Unknowingly, genuinely listening communities, inspired by children, are in fact ‘coming full circle’. I will expand on these ideas in the months to come. Thank you people at Findhorn for helping me to see what I hadn’t seen before so clearly and for, with great warmth but firmness, ensuring that I am sufficiently grounded on a monthly basis that I am able to play with expressing these ideas.
For more information, visit ? www.circle-time.co.uk or contact ? circletime@jennymosley.co.uk.
© 2004 Jenny Mosley
The Findhorn Foundation
The Findhorn Foundation is the educational and organisational cornerstone of the Findhorn Community, and its work is based on the values of planetary service, co-creation with nature and attunement to the divinity within all beings. We believe that humanity is engaged in an evolutionary expansion of consciousness, and seek to develop new ways of living infused with spiritual values. We have no formal creed or doctrine. We recognise and honour all the world's major religions as the many paths to knowing our own inner divinity.
With thanks to the Findhorn Global Network for enabling us to reproduce this article. For more information and to join the Findhorn Global Community, the website address is ? www.findhorn.org
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