The Way of Council: A Living Practice
Episode’s host: Lori Austein
This conversation began with the story that brought council consciousness to Jack which was then expressed spontaneously on the first day of the Heartlight School. Jack spoke about the early days of The Ojai Foundation (now TOPA Institute) and how decisions there arose through story. Every indigenous culture has a form of this practice, to be respected, and Jack spoke of a term he coined -“indigenuity.” Circle came to Jack at a time it was entering the morphogenic field and coming to many others, as though humanity was remembering something essential. Jack touched briefly on the concept of “third consciousness,” that awareness that emerges not from you or me, but from the space we create together. This is a gift of council- it cultivates a field where our collective wisdom can surface and be witnessed. He shared how council has touched the lives of myriad children around the world and the movement of council into businesses and corporations. He shared a vision of the ongoing practice of council in education and how it must be brought further into the economic realm at this time. In light of current events, the need for cultivation of the heart-mind is essential. The mind-heart has brought us far, but the next stage of evolution requires the development of the heart-mind and council is a space for that growth.
Books by Jack Zimmerman et al.
The Way of Council, by Jack Zimmerman and Gigi Coyle, 2nd Ed. Bramble Books, Las Vegas, 2009
Flesh and Spirit: The Mystery of Intimate Relationship, by Jack Zimmerman & Jaquelyn McCandless, Bramble Books, Las Vegas, 1998.