permaculture

[Ren.Reeder@cem.com]

Thank you for this post. I admit it!! I have been a lurker, gleaning what 
I could about permaculture, something I have only recently found out 
about, in the last year or so. I was becoming disheartened about the 
"guard discussion" earlier, since I see validity in both sides. But, Cory 
has explained it in a way that makes it a positive learning experience, 
instead of me merely thinking of it as division. I can see it now as 
legitimate discourse, although flogging a dead horse might have 
accomplished more, since both camps seemed locked in their own boundaries. 
I see the good that can come from taking a moment to understand where the 
other party is coming from, and then to chew it over and formulate a 
response. The permaculture way of observation, thinking and then action 
could suit here in our conversations.  I have learned so much from this 
list, and this might be the most important if we are going to come 
together as a human people and fix the problems that we have allowed/ made 
to happen. Great post Cory. Thank you very much.

Ren





From:
Cory Brennan <cory8570@yahoo.com>
To:
permaculture@lists.ibiblio.org
Date:
09/21/2010 08:14 PM
Subject:
[permaculture] Lakota wisdom, invisible structures
Sent by:
permaculture-bounces@lists.ibiblio.org



There are certain things about the Lakota culture and people that I really 
treasure and love; working with Lakota has given me some really valuable 
insights into applying permaculture principles. 

A couple of nights ago at Pine Ridge on a chilly fall night, we shared 
tobacco and heart-speech around a fire, Lakota fashion. 

Each person was given a chance to speak from his or her heart, for as long 
as we wanted to, and say whatever we wanted to say, while everyone else 
gave full attention, respect and honor to that person. What a healing 
action that was for our project! 

When I first arrived at Pine Ridge in 2005, a Lakota explained to me that 
in their culture, they often pause before responding to someone's comment, 
and this is often misinterpreted as "being slow or dull."  In fact, it is 
a deep sign of respect for the other person - an indication that you are 
truly listening - and not just listening, but taking the time to actually 
consider what the other person said and their viewpoint on things, 
thoughtfully, before responding. 

A form of thoughtful and protracted observation...

I am a fast talker from Los Angeles; at first, this manner of speaking was 
quite disconcerting to me and even jarring. I was continually interrupting 
the person I spoke with or finishing their sentence.  I still find myself 
going off half cocked at times, but I've learned something from the Lakota 
way. When I do use this form of communication, it almost always results in 
deeper understanding and better relations. 

To Lakota, listening to and understanding others is important. That is not 
something that is much valued in this culture - we put far more emphasis 
on communicating our own viewpoints and convincing others of them. 

One Lakota friend said jokingly, "sometimes it takes us a week or month to 
respond to someone's comment."  But it wasn't really a joke. I've actually 
seen Lakota do that with each other, and it is totally understood when it 
happens. 

I realized that sometimes it takes all of us that long to truly process 
certain things that happen to us, or that are said to us. Or even years! 
What a luxury, in a way, to be able to wait that long to respond, and have 
the other person understand and appreciate that you are being thoughtful 
about it :-) 

I have incorporated the "talking stick" or "sharing tobacco" into all of 
my community efforts. It is one of the most powerful invisible structure 
tools I know of for building compassion and understanding and therefore, a 
stronger community. 

It's harder via email - I've tried it one on one with wonderful results, 
but never in a group.  But perhaps it is something we would want to try 
here....There really is no reason it wouldn't work, now that I think about 
it.

I realized after the tobacco sharing that I have a modus operandi on the 
internet, especially when debate is raging, of going into persuasion essay 
mode, which doesn't usually entail careful listening and understanding. 

I am going to hand over the talking stick to whoever wishes to hold it and 
speak their heart with respect and honor. I pledge to listen thoughtfully, 
and to strive to understand your heart. 

Love, Cory


 
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