COLLECTIVE BREATH – Episode: 33
Week of Sunday, February 21st, 2021
Number of people attending Facebook (personal portion):
Number of people attending Zoom Meet (group portion):
Introduction:
“Where is Jessica Hyde?” a question posed in the British TV series entitled ‘Utopia’
Where are you today? Not just where is your corporeal self in physical space, but where are you mentally, emotionally, and spiritually? Inevitably we enter into questions of where we are individually, where we are as a community, where we are as a society, as a country, in relation to the idea of ‘Utopia’
“There is something very utopian about what I do. But utopia is nothing more than a truth that the world is not yet ready to hear.”
A transcript of this segment and each subsequent session will be posted (for anyone interested) at http://www.sidewayseight.co which is my main outlet for personal poetry and photography: Sideways Eight Projects.
“Kindness and good nature unite men more effectually and with greater strength than any agreements whatsoever, since thereby the engagements of men’s hearts become stronger than the bond and obligation of words.”
— Sir Thomas More, Utopia
Hello fantastic people! My name is Jesse James Ziegler. I am the current Poet in Residence for the Bruka Theatre of the Sierra in Reno, Nevada. I am an active poet, special event MC, principle photographer, special event series host, and now weekly wellness writing workshop host in collaboration with Spoken Views Collective of which I am also a Board Member.
According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary
utopia noun
1
often capitalized : a place of ideal perfection especially in laws, government, and social conditions
2
: an impractical scheme for social improvement
3
: an imaginary and indefinitely remote place
This Weeks Writing Prompt:
This week’s Prompt : Write in response to the singular word ‘Utopia’
I want for this podcast style personal portion to contain information about famous writers and their quotes as well as, futuristically speaking, local guests to this program who help everyone involved gain a diversity of perspective and positively impact our individual process.
Quote(s) of the Week:(5)
“I abhor the idea of a perfect world. It would bore me to tears.”
— Shelby Foote
“A map of the world that does not include Utopia is not worth even glancing at, for it leaves out the one country at which Humanity is always landing. And when Humanity lands there, it looks out, and, seeing a better country, sets sail. Progress is the realisation of Utopias.”
— Oscar Wilde, The Soul of Man Under Socialism
“We can only know what we can truly imagine. Finally what we see comes from ourselves.”
— Marge Piercy, Woman on the Edge of Time
“Reality is what people who lack vision see.”
— Mokokoma Mokhonoana, The Confessions of a Misfit
“Not until the creation and maintenance of decent conditions of life for all people are recognized and accepted as a common obligation of all people and all countries – not until then shall we, with a certain degree of justification, be able to speak of humankind as civilized.”
— Albert Einstein, The World As I See It
I’m hoping this sharing and vulnerability I’m demonstrating will encourage others who love creative writing as well to open up, by sharing from their innermost, related to the topic provided. I’m hoping we all gain perspective, compassion, hope, and discipline through such organized sharing.
“Perhaps every society is a utopia when you fail to peel up all the layers and look at what’s underneath”
— Kameron Hurley, The Stars Are Legion
Part of what helps us look underneath in the world, is digging into other perspectives on what’s going on around us. As a means of encouraging this, I’m willing to go first.
Piece or Pieces of the Week: (3)
Thread
Utopia
Not a Word
For further personal reading/viewing
Utopia – TV Series – Amazon 2020
https://m.imdb.com/title/tt8303474/
Utopia – Novel
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia_(Child_novel)
Utopia – Place
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utopia,_Northern_Territory
Next Week’s Writing Prompt:
Next week we’ll have a guest on the weekly wellness writing workshop. Stephanie is a new member to the Spoken Views Collective and she’ll be sharing some of her work on the topic which she hand selected.
Which will also be posted across Collective Breath and Bruka Theatre’s social media platforms: The topic for feb 28th will be “Loss & Gain, it’s a Risk”
Closing Sentiments and an Invitation
“The search for Nirvana, like the search for Utopia or the end of history or the classless society, is ultimately a futile and dangerous one. It involves, if it does not necessitate, the sleep of reason. There is no escape from anxiety and struggle.”
— Christopher Hitchens, Love, Poverty, and War: Journeys and Essays
That’s it for my personal portion. If this is where you get off this train of thought, because you checked in to listen, thank you for tuning in and absorbing. I appreciate your time and consideration. If you are here for the Weekly Wellness Writing Workshop group portion via Zoom Meeting, please transition to that application now using the link provided in the details/description section of the ‘Collective Breath’ Bruka Theatre Facebook Event Page. The link for all previous episodes is also in the bio section of the Collective Breath Instagram page @biggestlittlecollectivebreath
“They constantly try to escape
From the darkness outside and within
By dreaming of systems so perfect that no one will need to be good.
But the man that is will shadow
The man that pretends to be.”
— T.S. Eliot, The Rock
‘Keep’ (my frictionless benediction)
Keep writing. Keep your heart open and your mind aware. Keep coming back for more. Keep going. Keep giving. Keep doing. Keep daring to believe in a better way of living. Keep loving and creating. Keep each other safe and sound. Keep it real, and keep the faith. I love you. Goodbye for now.
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SIDEWAYS EIGHT PROJECTS 