Today's lesson was very relaxing and fun. I was amazed at how much I was able to take in and focus, just by being outside and grounding myself in the natural surroundings. I enjoyed creating our own poetry in our "sit spaces" and hope I can instill a little of that experience into my own students. I always think about how to connect with students, and how to connect them with the material; but today I realized how important it is for them to learn to connect with their inner-selves. I think when we can quieten down all our environmental noise - man-made and mental - we can truly be open for learning.

The rope was fun, and the 7-strand weaving was challenging. I decided after listening to the podcast, to stray from the "official directions" and incorporate nature and how I just felt like moving the ribbons. My "poem" is below.

Nature's "Gift"

Tapestry of dancing light,

leaves crisscrossing, 

gently nudged by whispering breeze,

the hum of passing cars stirring the air.

Mighty planes and tiny chirrups,

equal under the leafy canopy.

Soft support feels timeless and steady beneath me.

Rough bark melts under my touch, revealing a timeless echo of lifetimes past.

Age smells sweet here; 

verdant youth softly caresses its grounded slumber.

Dewy freshness taunts earth's slow breath - 

a youthful sweetness mellowed with a whisper of what is

inevitable

.