Some reflections on our Circle with Jean-Pierre and his family...

Jean-Pierre the window you opened for us onto your origin story and the landscape of your childhood, was truly special. Gratitude for sharing your parents' unique spirits and lives with us, and for giving us such a sense of what they stood for, and what they seeded in you. Also for giving us such a compelling introduction to the remarkable men's circles that you were part of - how they arose, what intentions guided them, and what emerged in the process. There is so much more here for us to learn from your experiences! It would be wonderful to explore this thread further together at some point down the line...

The poignant thoughts you shared on creativity and mortality, and the vivid dream story that you blessed the circle with, have stayed with me.

Perhaps you are familiar with Ganesha, the beloved Hindu god who bears a human body and the head of an elephant (not unlike the figure in your dream)? Perhaps you know that he is often worshiped as, The Remover of Obstacles. But there is another dimension to his symbolism that is less known. Ganesha not only symbolizes the Remover of Obstacles-- but is also considered to be the creator of them in the first place. The dual role is dizzying in its implications. And it occurred to me this morning that in that seeming paradox, lives the evolutionary tug, between what you so beautifully termed the unconscious creative and the conscious creative impulses of the Universe. The play of two springing from the One-- and drawing us back towards it.

Ganesha is also revered as a representation of wisdom and a keeper of that Wisdom of All Wisdoms -- discernment. And I think of the other imagery in your dream-- the fish you gleaned from the river and piled into your wicker basket-- pieces of your book...A work of art that would celebrate our uniquely human capacity to make distinctions, to name and differentiate -- so that we can make discerning choices.

Thank you Jean-Pierre for saying yes to this long-ago invitation, thank you for sharing your special new book with us, and bringing your truths into our midst with such generosity and grace.

Each of the rest of the family wove their unique threads into the tapestry of our time together...

Rachel-- through your words and silent presence beside Jean-Pierre, you embodied for us what a lifelong commitment to creating one's own art while nurturing a loving family can look like. You also spoke to the gift it is when you happen to be married to both your number one fan, and most trusted critic :) Thank you for your commitment Rachel.

Davida -- you named the power of growing up in an environment of 'wide-armed acceptance of whatever is going on,' and also spoke to how you found your own creative and personalized place within the fabric of the family art studio. you made it a point to remind us that while it is easy to put your father's work, and the whole family on a pedestal-- keeping it real and grounded is important to you because ultimately everyone is a work-in-progress. Thank you for your authenticity Davida.

Yadin -- you talked about the difference between "needing to be oneself" and simply -- being oneself. And of the bold, hands-on, figure-it-out-as-you go attitude you inherited from your mother. He also laughingly referenced how it's so easy "when the train is running late" to get caught up in the world of what ifs and why didn'ts [like, "Why didn't I think to give my parents one of the three high quality microphones I have sitting in my apartment so that they could be heard better on this call?" :)] rather than simply being present to what is. You also brought in your brother who couldn't join us on the call, as a presence felt even in absence. Thank you for your humanity Yadin.

Safira you eloquently described what it meant to have a father who, "Saw me as an artist way before I did." You described the creative process as being one of iteratively and consciously "letting go." Starting with an idea and letting it go, and then doing that again-- and again, and again. As a way of getting to something more interesting, more true -- and therefore, more beautiful. Thank you for your insight Safira.

Elisha (through Davida) paid tribute to the deep respect his father has for people. A respect reflected in the sophisticated demands that his books make on the reader, they anticipate a reader who is ready to work, think and be engaged. He named the courage that it takes to do what he has seen his father doing --taking what is most meaningful and essential to who he is, then putting it out in the world and trusting that people will be responsive. Thank you Elisha for your discernment.

These words from Jean-Pierre on what the core of their family art studio is about - in some ways capture the spirit of this circle.

"I believe in the small reminders that help us stay on track to being the people we want to be...I hope that the messages that we send out to the world are ones that bring good energy, beauty, and big-heartedness into the world."

With gratitude for all the small reminders and the big-heartedness we reflect to each other...

Wishing each of you well in all ways, Pavi, on behalf of Zita, Fiona and DailyGood :)

The Circle