"'Dialogue' comes from the Greek word dialogos. Logos means 'the word' or in our case we would think of the 'meaning of the word'. And dia means 'through' - it doesn't mean two. A dialogue can be among any number of people, not just two. Even one person can have a sense of dialogue within himself, if the spirit of the dialogue is present. The picture of image that this derivation suggests is of a stream of meaning flowing among and through us and between us. This will make possible a flow of meaning in the whole group, out of which will emerge some new understanding. It's something new, which may not have been in the starting point at all. It's something creative. And this shared meaning is the 'glue' or 'cement' that holds people and societies together."

-David Bohm

Dear Reader,

I thought about Bohm's description of dialogue when I recently attended the celebration of life for my wife’s dad’s sister. As Jennifer related in the opening of the service, Aunt Rosie was someone who always showed interest in her: for the youngest of five siblings, it meant a lot to be asked about what events and emotions and interests were animating her life. Feeling that love, Jennifer would close her summers with Rosie helping her set up her classroom. There, young Jennifer found that Rosie didn’t only give that quality of attention to her family: whether she was teaching second grade or junior high school, all those young people also found themselves in Rosemary’s circle, and they also blossomed in the warmth of her interest.

It wasn’t until Jennifer was older that she really understood that Rosemary’s care wasn’t limited to her family and her students but extended into what our recent guests Valarie Kaur and Nicole Marie might identify as revolutionary love. A former nun who immersed herself in community life in the era of Vatican II, Rosemary was tirelessly immersed in struggles for justice over many decades...

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Now in the Studio Putting Ourselves in Play Open dialogue is fueled by a spirit of play - as embodied by the life I eulogized above. This month, we'll think together about how keeping ourselves in play invigorates courage and imagination. ​ Join us

We'll be guided by Bron Reed & Jenna Close For this month's Guide Line conversation, two Studio Members will share ideas they presented earlier this month at the Inspire conference in Sydney.

Growing New Worlds Together ​ We were honored to be asked to participate in what are sure to be some valuable conversations in Denver. If you're able to join Matt in Colorado, he'd love to see you there. No cost registration link

“Every day and every lifetime, no matter how hard, contains moments of joy. Notice what made it joyful. Sense what joy feels like in your body.”

— Valarie Kaur​

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