"Children are the future stewards of the world and helping them to understand that they have freedom of choice and the ability to discern their calling is so important." - Andrew Katz (Boo Bears Dad)
This week The Dream Flag Project invited me to run a poetry workshop at a school in Philadelphia (slightly cringe-worthy-on-my-part-video made by the school of the workshop I ran here). I was incredibly honoured to have the opportunity to facilitate four workshops for groups of 11-year-old girls. What are their dreams? I asked them. What would they do if they couldn’t fail? What do they want for the world? What is their essence? What brings them to life?
It was a wonderful exercise in ‘blue sky’ creative exploration providing a tangible foundation of visual stimuli; namely a dream board, to become the springboard for their poetic prose and eventually their own dream flag that will blow to the winds a prayer for the world. They all unite in that invisible thread of truth which beautifully connects the futures of children around the world as the strings hold each flag together in one big wish. It's divine. It's love.
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| beautiful dreamboards hanging in the classroom after the workshop |
Bring me all of your dreams,
You dreamers,
Bring me all of your
Heart melodies
That I may wrap them
In a blue cloud-cloth
Away from the too-rough fingers
Of the world.
- Langston Hughes
Realising how western curriculum is tailored to an industrious 18th century mind (Post: leaders of tomorrow) honing on maths and science rather than creativity, while also recognising the impact the repression of the creative spirit can have later in life certainly made me feel incredibly honoured to be invited to teach to children at a school in Philadelphia on behalf of The Dream Flag Project (to which I am an ambassador of).
I met the founder Jeff in Tengbouche, Nepal in 2011. I saw many of the children’s dream flags flying in the winds around the highest school in the world, Khumjung of Solokhumbu, the Everest region of Nepal and was incredibly moved (previous post & video). The project made a deep impression upon my soul to the extent that I also reflected upon what it was I dreamt for in this world and my own life. Its no secret that when I return from that amazing two week holiday in Nepal; that my life changed significantly. It was a reflection I needed.
Steph and I interviewed Jeff and his words moved us both to tears as he shared a very real perspective of the world we live in and the value of connecting children’s dreams from around the world to unite us regardless of all the layers of societal differences and cultural ideas. All these children have dreams and the beautiful thing to see is how much they wish for peace and love in this world.
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| Jeff: fellow poet, dreamer, teacher & yogi. |
This week The Dream Flag Project invited me to run a poetry workshop at a school in Philadelphia (slightly cringe-worthy-on-my-part-video made by the school of the workshop I ran here). I was incredibly honoured to have the opportunity to facilitate four workshops for groups of 11-year-old girls. What are their dreams? I asked them. What would they do if they couldn’t fail? What do they want for the world? What is their essence? What brings them to life?
It was a wonderful exercise in ‘blue sky’ creative exploration providing a tangible foundation of visual stimuli; namely a dream board, to become the springboard for their poetic prose and eventually their own dream flag that will blow to the winds a prayer for the world. They all unite in that invisible thread of truth which beautifully connects the futures of children around the world as the strings hold each flag together in one big wish. It's divine. It's love.
I am a dreamer but that doesn’t mean I live in la-la-land (read previous post: facing challenges of being a dreamer), I feel the need for very practical ways of bringing dreams to life while considering too, what the ‘big picture’ looks like to encourage unity in the world as a whole, with a togetherness that transcends religion, societal ideals, gender and time with a consciousness that paints a world beautifully from the heart in kinship. The Dream Flag Project to me, does just that. I love it. I hope you feel the wonderful inspirations too.
The most amazing thing I would like to add is the fact that Jeff is also a yogi. And not just any old yogi, for his yoga talent show he spun hoops around his waist while reciting poetry. I know an adventurer of spirit when I see one ;) he kindly gifted me a beautiful book: The Radiance Sutras which I am enjoying studying and reciting at present.
The most amazing thing I would like to add is the fact that Jeff is also a yogi. And not just any old yogi, for his yoga talent show he spun hoops around his waist while reciting poetry. I know an adventurer of spirit when I see one ;) he kindly gifted me a beautiful book: The Radiance Sutras which I am enjoying studying and reciting at present.
Enjoy some images I captured of the architecture of Philadelphia and also snaps from the workshop.
2 comments:
Singing my heart melody. Namaste. (No words for a smile this big.)
Thanks Mr. Harlan. I love it when we poets get to transcend words.
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