WholeHeart Inc.
Bringing tenderness to light

On the eve of a full moon, WholeHeart launched its newest program series, Poetry As Portal, featuring Julie Cadwallader Staub, a poet from South Burlington, Vt. More than 40 participants gathered on Zoom, March 25th, to participate in the event, part-poetry reading, part-conversation with the poet, and part-listening exercise for attendees to reflect upon their own lives.

Bringing tenderness to light
WholeHeart Inc.
Living our life like a prayer

What does it mean to live one’s life like a prayer? Heather Omand, of Huntington, Vt., is pioneering a different human way of being in the world as a Queer person, mother, partner, and caretaker of agricultural lands. Read about their insightful journey. Listen to their prose, “What Queerness Means to Me.”

Living our life like a prayer
WholeHeart Inc.
Listening to land whispers

What does it mean to be in deeper relationship with the land where one lives? Three friends spent last summer wandering in the mountains of Vermont’s Northeast Kingdom, coming to know the plants/medicines growing on the land, preparing meals with the foods harvested, and learning to navigate the wind and waves off the coast of Maine. This story encapsulates some of their heartfelt insights gained.

Listening to land whispers
WholeHeart Inc.
Following the wisdom inside

Marianne Mullen, of Middlesex, is a Vermont artist who draws inspiration from the complexities of being human. One of her paintings is the featured artwork for this year’s Valentines of Gratitude, WholeHeart’s January-February scholarship fundraiser. Learn more about how this WholeHeart community member uses her art creation as a spiritual practice.

Following the wisdom inside
WholeHeart Inc.
Celebrating a decade with poet James Crews

We were warmed by the community of 50 friends who gathered online, December 11th, to celebrate WholeHeart's actual 10th birthday! Like radiant candlelights each of us, we relaxed into the gorgeous poetry of Vermont poet James Crews for just over an hour. We’ve included a brief recap here, as well as sharing some of the poetry that James featured during the celebration.

Celebrating a decade with poet James Crews

Poetry

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Holding our Wholehearts

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Holding our Wholehearts

On the eve of the day to give thanks, I am imagining all the people across the country turning their attention to coming together for this holiday, with love and gratitude as well as wounds and divides. Part of me wants to bundle up my heart in protection, part of me wants to find sanctuary with others who are like minded.  WholeHeart has been teaching me that love is not easy. Opening one’s heart lets in the joys and the sorrows, the connections and the longings.  The wounds and the worries can be loud, but I do believe that love is louder and softer, gentle and fierce.

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Tara Reynolds reads "Fire" by Judy Brown - in Italian!

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Tara Reynolds reads "Fire" by Judy Brown - in Italian!

In the fall of 2015, one of our board members, Tara Reynolds, traveled to Minnesota for a Courage & Renewal global gathering. There she met up with Judy Sorum Brown, poet extraordinaire, who penned the beautiful poem, "Fire." We use this poem frequently in our WholeHeart classes and workshops so it was fun to spend time with the poet herself!

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Heroes of the Heart In Poetry

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Heroes of the Heart In Poetry

There were 21 children in the room ranging in age from 1 ½ to 64 ½. The youngest left early to take a nap. The oldest took a nap afterwards, her dreams filled with heroes held in many hearts.

Some in the group did not know each other, so we began by standing in a circle and holding hands. The leader, Trish Alley, showed everyone how we would put our names inside the circle. After saying “Trish,” she squeezed the left hand of the person to her right, and then that person said her name. All our names were placed in the circle by passing the squeeze around its perimeter. This was the first step in creating a safe space to explore the heroes we hold in our hearts and to maybe share them in pictures and in words.