I-Thou: Heart to Heart Communication
with Susannah Darling Khan
This month's focus is the powerful theme of "I-Thou” - mutually respectful 1:1 communication with regard for our own and each other’s uniqueness and mystery. We enquire into the question: "How can I strengthen my own expression whilst, at the same time, respecting your autonomy and self-determination?"
In the Keynote we dive into what responsible communication actually means in practice - ways to communicate with respect for my own circle and for yours. We look at different aspects of what takes us away from responsible communication, for example: nobody ever taught us how, the habit of blame, internal emotional pressure, feeling clumsy with new ways to use words, and we look at what is and what is not so helpful when trying to bring this to others.
In the Live Class we practice bringing body, heart and mind together as we communicate, and see what difference this makes. And we experience the powerful role which movement can play in all of this.
The Mini-Embodiment practice is designed to help you strengthen the "semi-permeable" boundary of your own circle by practising saying a clear and congruent 'yes' and 'no'.
This is about the kind of intimacy that is not about confluence (merging) which can also be beautiful- but its a different thing. This kind of intimacy (in-to-me-see) is about seeing each other from the ground of owning one's own being, one's own circle and from there opening the channel of communication.
This month's lesson is the yang counter-part to the more yin practice of embodied listening. It is both practical and philosophical, personal and interactional. “I-Thou” heart to heart communication has changed our own lives profoundly and we are so happy to offer this here on the Study Hub.
