by Pia Fritsch, Prairiewoods Intern Monday I got the chance to witness the Day of Self Renewal retreat. I spent almost all day walking and sitting outside. There were a lot of animals out there that day. I saw the mother deer with her young. I saw a few other deer as well. A groundhog…
Detailsby Pia Fritsch, Prairiewoods Intern Since helping get things ready for the Garden Party I’ve realized how much work goes into creating those events. I never really thought about how much work goes into that, but somebody has to set the tables out and wrap the baskets. I felt like I could see a lot…
DetailsJulian of Norwich said, “Be a gardener! Dig a ditch! Toil and sweat, and turn the earth upside down, and seek the deepness and water the plants in time. Continue this labor and make sweet floods to run and noble and abundant fruits to spring. Take this food and drink and carry it to God…
Detailsby Pia Fritsch, Prairiewoods Intern I’m getting a better picture of how Prairiewoods functions more and more. It takes quite a few people to get everything ready for guests. A lot of times that just means rearranging furniture and wiping down tables, but these things need to get done. During the facilities meeting I saw…
Detailsby Pia Fritsch, Prairiewoods Intern It was interesting to be here during the silence retreat, because it felt like we were backstage at a show. We had to whisper to each other and do the behind the scenes work to make things happen for the guests. The silence creates the feeling that you are in…
Detailsby Pia Fritsch, Prairiewoods Intern I appreciate how everyone participates in the small chores of keeping the facility clean. I’ve seen different staff members doing dishes, wiping tables, and folding cloths regardless of their position here. I think this is a really great way to run a hospitality center, because since everyone willingly does those…
DetailsThis week, Prairiewoods welcomes our fourth summer intern, Pia Fritsch. She is a student at Maharishi University in Fairfield and is passionate about issues of sustainability. Several times a week, Pia will write a blog about her experience at Prairiewoods. We will post them here and would love to hear your feedback! Reflection 1 by…
DetailsSave the date for Spirituality in the 21st Century April 12–13, 2019, with Charles Eisenstein (author of The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible and gift economy advocate) and Bayo Akomolafe (author of These Wilds Beyond Our Fences and radical paradigm shift activist). Recap of 2018 Spirituality in the 21st Century Chaos, Consciousness, Connection,…
DetailsWhat makes Cedar Rapids a compassionate city? What compassionate movements are you connected with in the corridor, in the Midwest, in the United States or around the world? Please share your insights below. Connect with others focused on compassion: Green World Campaign Planetize the Movement Wake Up For Your Rights Movement Trees Forever Matthew 25…
DetailsHow does your creativity inspire you to be compassionate, and how does compassion inspire you to be creative? Please share your poetry, photographs, art and reflections below. Click here to see a recap of the Rooted in Compassion conference that sparked this conversation.
DetailsRooted in Compassion: Cosmology, Eco-Justice and Empathic Wisdom March 28–29, 2014 Come and be energized by Marc Ian Barasch and Drew Dellinger as they inspire, challenge and accompany us in our spiritual journey to renew the face of the earth! Marc Ian Barasch is the award-winning author of The Compassionate Life: Walking the Path of…
DetailsThe holiday season brings with it a sense of wonder, gratitude and generosity. Welcome the spirit of the season at Prairiewoods’ annual Holiday Bazaar on Saturday, Nov. 23. It will be a great opportunity to cross items off your holiday shopping list! Our doors will open at 8 a.m. so that you can enjoy a…
DetailsPrairiewoods is pleased to announce that we will welcome Marc Ian Barasch and Drew Dellinger to the 2014 Spirituality in the 21st Century conference March 28–29, 2014. Marc and Drew will talk about compassion, eco-justice and hope for the world today. Marc Ian Barasch is an award-winning writer, editor and producer. He is the founder of…
Details“Every single person has capabilities, abilities and gifts. Living a good life depends on whether those capabilities can be used, abilities expressed and gifts given. If they are, the person will be valued, feel powerful and well-connected to the people around them. And the community around the person will be more powerful because of the…
Details“All we have to do to create the future is to change the nature of our conversations to go from blame to ownership, and from bargaining to commitment, and from problem solving to possibility.” —Peter Block Studies show that there are two major determinants of our local safety. One is how many neighbors we know…
Details“Determination, energy, and courage appear spontaneously when we care deeply about something. We take risks that are imaginable in any other context.” —Margaret Wheatley “The economy” is the sum total of transactions between people. And people’s lives and experiences are about much more than just dollars, profit and growth. As the conventional economy continues to…
Details“Circles create soothing space where even reticent people can realize that their voice is welcome.” —Margaret Wheatley We are responsible for each other. This is the meaning of community. We take seriously the idealistic notion that our future is dependent on each of us and if one of us is not free, or valued, or…
Details“Whatever life we have experienced, if we can tell our story to someone who listens, we find it easier to deal with our circumstances.” —Margaret Wheatley Children become effective adults by being connected with community adults in their productive roles. The most effective local communities claim their youth and assume primary responsibility for their upbringing.…
Details“Everyone in a complex system has a slightly different interpretation. The more interpretations we gather, the easier it becomes to gain a sense of the whole.” —Margaret Wheatley The environmental movement has taught us a great deal about how everyday lifestyles and behaviors can have an impact on the quality of life on our planet.…
Details“In these… times we don’t need more command and control; we need better means to engage everyone’s intelligence in solving challenges and crises as they arise.” —Margaret Wheatley Take time to learn the ways in which different cultures give expression to the human spirit—engagement and identity, performance and creativity, culture and art. Circles currently forming…
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