I am speaking of blending an emotional feeling with a separate physical sensation. Recently, I have realized that I’ve never given real attention to nor fully practiced the art of blending. In fact, I kind of skipped over practicing blending as such. I practiced sensation in the early days until I could call it up … Read more
Sensation is the first building block in the Gurdjieff Work. I know I am repeating myself, but I recently had a new insight. When I was introduced to the Work, a lot of emphasis was put on sensation and the ability to recognize and direct it. Why is this important? I never really thought much … Read more
In Fourth Way work, sensation is a building block. To use it, one must understand sensation differently than the common definition. The usual way of thinking about sensation is something from outside ourselves that sets off our skin sensors: heat, cold, touch, wind, water, etc. We touch a hot surface and burn our finger. We … Read more
The Gurdjieff Conference in Cambridge as a modern-day Babylon became my overriding impression of the event. Granted, I was initially piqued that Cynthia Bourgeault and Joseph Azize were on the podium with top foundation members like Roger Lipsey and Alexandre de Salzmann. What I found, right from the initial reception Wednesday evening, was an openness … Read more
I’d forgotten about returning over Labor Day weekend. That might have been why going through customs at LaGuardia in New York provided such vivid impressions of Americans. One woman, who’s orange-red hair, red lipstick, clunky jewelry, tons of luggage, and a voice as big as she was, seemed to epitomize who we were as a … Read more
Coming home was the feeling that emerged for me in pondering last month’s event marking Claymont’s 50-year existence. Not a coming home only for those who have been away. But also, for those of us who never left or who returned years ago. Some who came may have aged beyond recognition, but people still recognized … Read more
Claymont’s 50th Event took place October 16 to 20th, 2024. Was it a Reunion, a Work Weekend, a Conference? Many had voiced opinions beforehand. Some wanted a party, some a work weekend. Others wished to discuss the future of Claymont while many reminded us of the past. “We needed to honor our teachers.” “We needed … Read more
I am riding a river of thought, emotion, and activity. The night Hurricane Helene struck Asheville, where our children and four grandchildren live, I was preparing to leave for a cruise up the Danube. A trip that had been planned one year ago with my husband’s three brothers and their spouses. Our daughter was at … Read more
I’d like to say more on choice regarding my inner process of lining up a three-centered experience. A Choice Presented Several weeks ago, an old and dear friend expressed the desire for me to be with her in the hospital following an operation. Partly to defray the burden on her husband, but also because she … Read more
Here’s how I make a three centered choice, where everything falls into place. First, the Head First, I need to connect with my head. Choice may come as an idea I’ve generated, or perhaps from outside of myself. Either way, I’ll need to weigh and consider it. I have a friend who’s going into the … Read more