Children are made of awe. We have much to learn from them, but we seldom aim to. When we encounter the freedom of a child, we can choose to participate in their liberation, or we can grow to resent the freedom in them. The words childish and juvenile are made derogatory as we become overly concerned with the serious. … Read moreThe Web of Awe
I’m a Kiwi, born in New Zealand/Aotearoa, and while I’m of European heritage, my early work life was spent in a Maori educational environment. So, for non-Kiwi readers, Maori are the indigenous people Europeans encountered living throughout New Zealand in the last two hundred and fifty or so years. They first arrived here around 700 years … Read moreThe Web of Wellbeing – where the story begins
I’ve been collecting photos for a year or so.
I have lots of Tui living nearby, even beside my outside deck, but I’m. not much of a photographer so the credits for these all belong elsewhere!
Sample below, and here’s the link to the whole library—awesome, right?
This morning, I was out walking the dog in our local sports park. 
And, as happens on a longish walk, my mind wandered.
I was musing on a talk and presentation I went to in December, a month or so ago, in a massive stadium. It was by Professor Brian Cox, titled, “Horizons – a 21st century Space Odyssey. ” So, the topic was the Universe… how enormous it is, black holes, the big bang, evolution of life on earth, the JWST (James Webb Space Telescope), is Earth the only place life as we know it exists, etc.
Two things stood out for me.
One, the massive high resolution screen which featured behind the relatively tiny human presenters. It was the biggest, clearest screen I’d ever seen, and it featured, of course, brilliant new images from the JWST of previously unseen parts of the Milky Way.
Two, as the presentation came to a close, the fact that someone as deeply informed about the universe as Brian was in AWE of what he sees in his daily work. Not just amazement, not just “wow!” But actual awe, faced with the extraordinary beauty and “incredibleness” of it all. Frankly, if he’s started talking about “God’s creation,” it wouldn’t have been out of place, such was his reverence!
Then, back to he present and the thought came, “Aha, another Web to add to the Webs of Life: the Web of Awe.
So, now we have three 🙂
I’m thinking most of the items in this new Web will be from the natural world, where I find “awe-inspring” images and concepts on an almost daily basis.
Watch this space.
Hi all! It’s been a while coming, but I’ve finally found a domain name and format for ideas which have been brewing for—well, a few years. The ideas emerged while I was learning to teach meditation in Spain in 2014. Our teacher often talked about living life 200%. I mean, we all, surely, would like to … Read moreWebs of Life is Live!
I’d never heard the term “web of meaning” until recently (late 2022) when I was doing some training with the North Shore Hospice. Before you’re allowed to work face to face with patients, you have to complete a full day’s orientation. It was all very useful and practical – confidentiality, boundaries, and how to wash … Read moreThe Web of Meaning – where this story begins
A post appeared in my Facebook feed this morning, from two people I admire greatly. The post was from Brene Brown, famous for her research on shame and vulnerability. One of her TED talks, on vulnerability, has been viewed 57 million times. And she was interviewing Father Richard Rohr in a two-part podcast. Brene introduces … Read moreBrene Brown: Spirituality, Certitude, and Infinite Love