voice (262)
642-8753Letters from Members
Nina Simons
Co-Executive Director, Bioneers/CHI
July 29, 2004
Dear Susan,
I am still basking in my various enjoyments of our Kindred Spirits
inaugural weekend together.
After all your years of network-building, I feel deeply privileged
to receive the benefit of your remarkable intuition and sixth sense
about bringing people together in shared purpose.
It was lovely, and rare, to feel the intimate space you created for
our group. Hosting us at your farmhouse, serving us with your home
cooking, and inviting us to experience your emerging life with
Walter was quite a marvelous experience. Experiencing a biodynamic
dairy farm up close, especially one situated in such beautiful and
enchanted country, was a treat.
Your selection of participants, also, was remarkable. I found our
group to be diverse in their interests and achievements, while also
being folks of real quality, integrity and smarts. Kenny and I
experienced real connections with people we’d not known previously,
and were delighted to find that our weekend was so well spent.
Our discussions about participating in this network of networks,
also, felt useful and timely. At so urgent and dangerous a time in
the world, the opportunity you’re affording us to deepen our
understanding and capacity to more meaningfully connect folks whose
work seems related and relevant is a valuable one.
It strikes me that, when we’re all feeling so much pressure for
change in the world, having time in an intimate setting to explore
the nexus between the personal and the political is also extremely
valuable. Given how hard it is to carve out personal time in our
lives these days, I really relished it.
I find myself enjoying following up on new relationships formed at
the farm, and eager to meet the whole network together, in December.
Thank you for your impulse, gifts and intuitions in gathering us, to
align with each other toward greater impact, mutual support and
enjoyment.
Gratefully yours,
Nina Simons
Co-Executive Director, Bioneers/CHI
Molly Stranahan
Private Investor, Philanthropist
To Kindred Spirits,
Susan said 'Come join me at the farm to meet some wonderful people.
I am collecting people from the various networks to create a
gathering for replenishment of servant-leaders.' Or at least that is
what I heard. And because I trust Susan's judgment, and enjoy her
company greatly, I came.
What happened was I met wonderful, wise and inspiring people -
Diana, our 'elder' with her twinkling eyes, honesty, humor and great
questions; curly haired Nina, who is full of deep, smoldering
fire-energy and fun; Kenny, sharing his passion, knowledge,
convictions and hope; Cliff, warm and attentive, mischievously
pushing us to grow; Arlene, deeply grounded, seeing with her soul,
creating beauty and serenity; Mark, passionate, speaking up, and
taking responsibility when something isn't working; Karolanne,
Susan's youthful, brave and competent assistant, who participated
deeply; Walter, welcoming strangers into his home, sharing his
passion for the land and for biodynamic farming, a 'shy person'
stepping forward to share himself; and of course, Susan, excited,
cooking, dreaming, and open, who discovered she couldn't
successfully hold all of the roles of visionary, convener, hostess
and facilitator, and asked for help and was willing to let go of
control.
It seemed to me we all came trusting Susan, and committed to
creating a meaningful experience for ourselves. We 'told our
stories' and learned a little bit about what we each do, and what we
believe. We commit our intense energies to a wide mix of
passions/destiny paths/purposes. Some of us aren't even members of
one of Susan's networks. However, we found a lot of commonality in
values. We shared our hopes for Kindred Spirits and for the world,
we built trust, we were open and honest, we shared at a deep level,
we listened, we challenged, we offered what we had to offer to
support each other's passions. Susan shared her hopes and dream of
what Kindred Spirits might be. We struggled with what the purpose or
goal of the group could or should be, and what we were willing to
commit to. We agreed to gather with the large group in December, to
offer each other our truest perspective, and to offer help where we
can.
I felt we created a caring community, although we have yet to define
a common goal that will keep us together into the distant future. We
agreed to continue to explore whether there is a common vision to
which we are willing to commit our precious time and energy. I was
inspired by the people I met, and I greatly enjoyed getting to know
them. I hope the Kindred Spirits becomes a gathering of people who
are trying to change the world into a more peaceful, sustainable
place, who come together to learn from and inspire each other, to
share stories, ideas, knowledge, resources, and to connect at a deep
personal level.
See you in December!
Molly Stranahan
Kenny Ausubel
Co-Executive Director, Bioneers/CHI
Dear Susan:
I want to offer my heartfelt gratitude for the opportunity to be
part of Kindred Spirits. I believe it’s a crucial time to gather our
networks to heighten our growing influence in the world at this
critical moment. You are doing a first-rate job.
I found the first mini-retreat to be both very valuable and very
enjoyable. It was a terrific group, and the synchrony among those of
us you assembled was high, a reflection of your personal mastery at
this kind of work. It was authentically productive for me and for
Bioneers, and well worth the time spent. Several important contacts
have occurred from which I expect significant collaborations and
material outcomes to result. That, as they say, is where the rubber
meets the road. I believe it also is an indicator that the timing in
the world right now is propitious to bring this network together.
Beyond even that, I made new friends and deepened other existing
relationships.
It was really good to meet Walter and see the farm. It was great to
get such excellent, healthy, vital biodynamic food!
I also appreciated the fluidity you brought to the overall process
that allowed the group to self-organize ultimately in the ways most
appropriate and meaningful for us at that moment. I certainly look
forward to the next event, and I find this network most worthy of my
time and participation. Many good things will come from it, as they
already are.
Lastly, I want to again offer my very best wishes to you and Walter
and your impending marriage. It is very obvious how in love you both
are, and that vibration infused the whole of the experience for the
rest of us too. Congrats !
Much love and appreciation --
Kenny Ausubel
Carol Wyant
President, Pathfinder Consulting
28 September 2004
Dear Susan and Walter:
You both know how to put body and soul back together again. I
arrived feeling stressed and fragmented, and the Kindred Spirits
experience was just what I needed. As we explored issues of global
importance we learned from one another, developing a broader
perspective. Bringing the global to the local, we also provided
support for personal challenges each of us brought to the weekend.
When I arrived I knew almost nothing about biodynamic farming. The
weekend provided me with an appreciation for its importance and a
deep respect for what you and Walter are doing on behalf of all of
us.
Furthermore, the food throughout the weekend was absolutely
delicious. It seems that every moment I was surrounded with yet
another enticing meal or snack that was nevertheless good for me –
really!.
Please share my thanks and appreciation with Julia. Her generous
spirit and zest added to the pleasure of the weekend.
I look forward to joining you again in December where we can take
the dialogue and inspiration to the next level.
Sincerely,
Carol Wyant
Arlene McGibbon
President, McGibbon Interiors
Dear Susan,
Each of us who participated in the first Kindred Spirits weekend
will have been back in our usual work-a-day world for a week now and
have had a bit of time to process what happened and what we
experienced ‘on the farm’. I have not heard from anyone as yet with
their impressions.
Clearly, it was a pleasant weekend. You and Walter made us feel very
welcome and comfortable and fed us well. Our walk on the land was
special. I know we were all touched and moved by Walter’s
sensitivity to the land and farming. His sharing of his experience
of awakening to spirit through his involvement with the Earth’s
natural cycles was memorable.
It was a fascinating blend of personalities. Each person has made
efforts in life and has learned about ‘giving back’ and about
nurturing their own seeds of change on the soul level.
Your Circle members may be accustomed to a Network Circle whose
focus is clearly delineated. We are all ‘doers’ and have each, in
our own unique ways, had to learn about ‘being’, whether through a
yoga/meditation practice, by sitting quietly on a hilltop and
watching clouds, by closing our eyes and smelling the hay that has
just been cut, or smiling as we watch a child be adorable.
Our individual sense of ‘purpose’ is strong...whew, just look at
yours! This was a group of people motivated by facilitating ‘change’
in the world...people who are ‘doing their work’, knowing that first
we change ourselves and get centered, balanced, strong, and go with
the flow, working from effortless effort.
As the Circle name indicates, you chose prospective members based on
your notion that we would, in fact, feel like kindred spirits
towards one another...that we share similar values and beliefs. We
all came because you have inspired us and we trust your intuition to
create venues of spiritual value. I think we were each honored to be
invited. The building of a sense of ‘kindred spirit’ may take some
time; a sense of ‘family’ is not created overnight and often comes
from working together towards some common goal.
It was interesting to watch how we floundered in a certain way
because we were not certain of our ‘goal’...and we have been
programmed to be goal oriented, haven’t we? In the end, there seemed
to be a consensus that the group was about sustainability. Further,
that we would be coming from ‘softness’ and ‘allowing’ rather than
from the dynamic ‘doer’ model. Your original notion of getting us
more involved in the earth by participating in a biodynamic farm,
specifically Walter’s farm, seemed not be the ultimate focus of the
group. Perhaps, as in watching how the land is worked to be
developed into a farm, we may need to watch us work a bit to allow
the process of direction of the group to evolve. I must admit,
though, that I have a certain frustration about not knowing what
this group will ‘do’ or ‘become’ and if I (who pretty much lives at
the ‘be in the moment’ level) have a problem with it, then I would
imagine the rest of the group must, too. That may, in itself, be
something that binds ultimately. Paradoxes do have a way of
stretching us to grow in new ways, don’t they?
It may, in fact, be this open, organically developing quality that I
find appealing...that this Circle will not have rigid sides or be
bound by any precepts or agendas other than a sense of community and
sharing of our human condition and how best to maintain our
alignment with the natural world. Out of this may come big and small
ways in which we may contribute to ‘changing the world’ in ways that
keep a healthy balance.
In hindsight, I think it might have been a good idea to have two
group meditations each day as that process has a magical way of
engaging and connecting at the level of the heart, spirit and
‘being’ level...a simple method allowing for the dropping of the ego
for a time. As we sat in the living room in a loose circle, we
stayed very cerebral. It is a strange phenomenon that sitting and
doing ‘nothing’ together in a meditation circle does become like
doing ‘something’....and ultimately binds people together in a very
unique way. It might be something you could consider for the next
two meetings.
I am always happy to have new people come into my life, especially
when they are the sort who work at achieving harmony in their work,
social, and ethical lives. I look forward to the December meeting
when more people come together in this evolving circle.
I’m certain that you’ll write letting us know about each of the two
upcoming weekends and how they compare and relate to our weekend
experience.
Arlene
Mark Epstein
President, Flow Systems
Hi Susan,
I wanted to write a short note to thank you and Walter for hosting
such a fantastic gathering last weekend for your 'Kindred Spirits.'
The nurturing setting on the farm is so beautiful, and I really
enjoyed relaxing, dialoging, and getting to know such wonderful new
friends.
With the free-flowing structure to your new network, it isn't clear
where this will lead, and that's the beauty of destiny!
You are bringing together a passionate and dedicated group of people to explore and change the world. I've wondered how I fit into the gathering (and I still do), and I'm looking forward to our full weekend in December to watch it unfold.
I loved having time get to know Joan and Mary, and I feel blessed to be able to share time with you, Walter, and Julia (and Winston, Mr. P., Fritha, and all the other animals on the farm). And, Thank You for letting me play in your vegetable garden. WOW! The tomatoes, basil, and parsley have made exquisite salads, and the potatoes, beets, and squash harvest you shared with me are more delicious than words can describe. True nourishment.
I'm excited for the future. Thanks for gathering the kindred spirit family. 'To Infinity and Beyond!' :-)
-Mark Epstein.
Mark Donohue
Founding Partner, Expansion Capital Partners, LLC
Dear Friends,
My recent weekend experience, at Susan and Walter’s Nokomis farm, was simply splendid. We gathered for the first organizing weekend of Susan’s latest network, Kindred Spirits, which is composed of so many great people, who are each on the front lines of global sustainability.
For me, Kindred Spirits is a network of networks - creating a synergistic convergence of our respective initiatives. Yet, it is more, since it is so Earth centered and spirit infused. This reflects Susan’s gift of connecting heaven (our dreams) with Earth (practical execution).
Given my eight years of successful partnering with Susan, once again, I am excited and honored to join one of her leadership networks. I hope to see you at our next gathering.
With my warmest regards,
Mark Donohue, General Partner
Expansion Capital Partners, LLC
Mark@ExpansionCapital.com
(c) 617-571-4440
(e-fax) 415-634-3255