The Power of Listening
Hello Good People,
As we greet the new moon in Cancer, I’ve been intentionally trying to listen better. We often talk about the power of speaking out, but the other side of that equation is listening. Listening expands our field of awareness while honoring our own particular experiences and points of view. Esther Perel (author of Mating in Captivity) says that “reflective listening helps validate the other person’s experience. Validating someone’s experience doesn’t rob you of your point of view nor does it mean you agree.” I’ve heard women peace activists in a war torn region practicing non-violent communication. In plurilingual gatherings on Whats App, they speak about their lives and realities in Hebrew, Arabic, and English and respond with empathetic listening. You can learn more about this NVC approach in Non-Violent Communication: A Language of Life. (As always, this is an L.A. Public Library link).
Poems From the Orality Archive
As we get ready to welcome a new book of poems into the world this summer, I’ve been posting recordings from the orality archive that accompanies it on Soundcloud. It’s a way to share the joy of languages, and to honor the guest translators. Pre-order copies of Random Experiments in Bioluminescence with Flowersong Press.
For today, I’m posting the words and audio for “Feather Psalm 56” | “Pluma Salmo 56” | “Pesaleme Ya Lesiba 56” in English, Spanish, and Sesotho.
Listen to the English and Spanish versions here:
The Sesotho translation and performance is by the daughter and mother duo: Katleho Kano Shoro and Pulane Mary Shoro.
Listen to the Sesotho recitation here:
About Katleho Kano Shoro and Pulane Mary Shoro
Katleho Kano Shoro is a South African artist-scholar. She is the author of the poetry collection, Serurubele, and currently a PhD candidate at the University of Pennsylvania. Her artistic practice extends to performance, workshop facilitation, and curation. She is the daughter of Pulane Mary Shoro.
Pulane Mary Shoro is a translator and transcriber working between Sesotho and English. She is also the director of the Johannesburg-based events company, Lily-Leaf Events, Decor & Design, where she creates magic through floral arrangements, colours and clients’ dreams. With many lives lived, she has been an actress, a manuscript-reader for Cameroon-based publisher, Langaa RPCIG, and a teacher.
Planetary Consciousness Through The Arts
Libretto Magazine (based in Oyo, Nigeria) asked me to be Guest Editor for their June edition. I accepted their invitation as an opportunity to grow planetary consciousness through the Arts. This special issue shines light on the theme through poems, essays, interviews, and visual art by creatives from around the corner, and around the world.
Read the issue online and/or download your own copy.
Cover Image: Photo by Reva Santo; Dancer: Ashley Blanchard.
Sending you wishes for your health, wellness, and thriving.
Until next time,
Amy