Offering #7: Generosity
I want to create content around Sacred Reciprocity.
Sacred Reciprocity is an idea, a way of being that I find compelling, yet truthfully, I don’t know much about it. The only book I’ve read that examines Sacred Reciprocity is by don Oscar Miro-Quesada: “Courage: Peruvian Shamanic Wisdom for Everyday Life.” The bulk of what I understand is from observing how Sacred Reciprocity has functioned in my Life like a Spiral; I keep winding my way back to it.
I ask humans about their experience of Sacred Reciprocity and what it means to them.
I notice when I feel in the flow of Sacred Reciprocity and especially when I don’t.
I remember how Sacred Reciprocity has shown up in my communities and how it (heartbreakingly) has not.
I think Sacred Reciprocity is a version of Reciprocal Altruism, which some evolutionary biologist suggests is one of the reasons humanity has survived so far.
I continue to explore what Sacred Reciprocity means to me and how it could be something we collectively move towards as the current structures of power over continue to negatively impact this planet, the Life on it, and our humanity. What are the components of Sacred Reciprocity? How do we engage in Generous ways of connection to ourselves, each other, and something bigger?
Generosity is one vital ingredient of Sacred Reciprocity.
What is Generosity and Why Should We Give AF?
It’s Monday. I’m trying to resist doing a deep dive of researching what Generosity means. Thinking about and writing down my initial thoughts is a necessary part of how I’m structuring the work in Year Two.
Monday: My current thoughts/ideas/curiosities. Practices to stimulate experimentation, reflection, exploration.
Wednesday: Input from research. What am I learning, understanding? What’s perplexing me.
Friday: A creative offering (probably a wee UBR film?) that is a synthesis, experiment, jumping-off point of further exploration.
I confess I did go to Etymology Online to understand the origins of the word Generosity. I think that’s fair, BUT I did begin to go down the rabbit hole and give myself a good scruffing to stop. Hey, following curiosity is like honey for me! A bear will wreck a structure to get at some honey, him will!
What I’ll share is the root word for Generosity:
Gene: genə-, also *gen-, Proto-Indo-European root meaning "give birth, beget," with derivatives referring to procreation and familial and tribal groups.
https://www.etymonline.com/word/*gene-#etymonline_v_52600
Gene is a loaded root word if you ask me!
My riff is also gene is to create, bring forth.
Even before looking up the etymology of Generosity, I suspected it was related to our relationships with abundance, creativity, Life. Generosity rests at the heart of creation and is a powerful demonstration of radical trust. The type of trust that says, "I can offer because I have and have in abundance! I trust there is or will be more."
Or maybe Generosity is the understanding that we're cool with not having what we give away? Generosity as a practice of non-attachment?
I want to take a moment to point out that Generosity is a multidimensional experience. Yes, it’s about physical things, resources, the stuff of Life.
AND...
Generosity is even more about the emotional, energetic, intellectual, creative, relational, connective stuff of Life.
AND MORE!
Generosity reflects the abundance that Life offers us and is a partial antidote to the fears of scarcity, although clearly not a cure. The cultivation and practice of Generosity can't fix our scarcity fears. Those anxieties are woven deeply into our relationship to survival and safety needs. AND…I believe Generosity can do some heavy AF lifting towards creating a better experience in Life, of Life, with Life.
Practice:
Create a list of the resources/gifts/skills/talents currently in a state of surplus in our lives.
Physical things/objects of value in some way/stuff
Experiences
Connections/networks of people/communities
Emotional supports
Time
Acts of service
Spiritual Guidance
Acts of care
Energetic and physical healing gifts/massage/reiki/yoga etc…
Intellectual supports (All the ways we are intelligent, not just brain hole stuff!)
Visioning
Creativity/all the crafts/arts/hobbies
Hearth tending/cooking/cleaning/nesting
Entertainment
Coaching
Relational/Intimate Crafts
Feedback/problem-solving/input: done by request and with a lot of Love.
Encouragement
Paying Attention (IMO one of the most valuable and least valued ways to be Generous)
There are so many ways to be Generous!
2. The emphasis of this practice is on Generosity from a surplus. It's the whole put on our oxygen masks first thing. It's also about knowing and respecting our boundaries.
3. Choose three ways to be Generous that feel good for you, not like a burden or obligation.
4. You don't have to do anything else if you don't want to. You don't have to enact your Generosity. Just notice that you have a surplus, an abundance.
I need to state that it’s perfectly cool to have a lot of feelings about Generosity.
Feelings of:
Scarcity
Selfishness
Lack
Exhaustion
Lethargy
Resentment
Obligation
Pressure
Stress
Perfectionism
Etc…
Feelings about wanting to be the recipient of Generosity and not the giver.
All those feelings are challenging to feel.
Our culture sucks about encouraging the acknowledgment of our needs. To be needy is regarded by far too many of us as one of the worst things we can be. There’s a lot of shame regarding having needs in a country that prides itself on being composed of rugged individuals who are self-made.
That’s a bunch of horse pucky!
And, speaking from my own experience with understanding and, for Gods sake, naming my needs, this can be painful work.
It’s hard to be Generous when we feel so needy.
It’s hard to be Generous when we feel unsafe.
It’s hard to be Generous when we feel such lack.
Here’s the thing…if you're able to enact Generosity, do it. Be Generous in some way that feels nourishing, not depleting. (With excellent boundaries, BTW! Boundaries need their own week, and they are not my strongest suit! I am learning.)
Generosity is a practice. When we engage with Generosity consistently, it may become a Lifestyle.
Generosity has the potential to Liberate us from so many lies that keep our imaginations small and our courage tamped down. It is a powerful source of strength that supports us in trusting Life. Our abundant gifts to the world are necessary. Humanity requires our individual and collective Generosity to tell a new story that will guide us into a future co-created by something much more potent and nourishing than survival.
I'm excited to dive into Generosity, dear Patrons!
We do this thing together.
We do this thing together.