Altared, Altered Books: A Compassion Practicum 

January 28 - February 28

 

This exhibit is an outgrowth of the January Term course “Altared, Altered Books: A Compassion Practicum,” that I taught at St. Mary’s last month.  The course was based on the recent publication, Twelve Steps to a Compassionate Life, by religious historian Karen Armstrong.  As indicated by the title, in this book Armstrong proposes a program of twelve concrete steps as a means for developing a more compassionate life.  She encourages that the reading of her book and the practicing of the steps take place in a reading circle, in community.  She also recommends that the group focus on one step a month, over the course of a year.

Although this course introduced the text in its entirety, in order to encourage students to commit themselves to a lifetime of learning and practicing of compassion, and out of respect for the incremental process of transforming our “hearts and minds,” the class focused on the first step: “Learn About Compassion.”  Actions for this step include: studying religious or secular traditions, others’ as well as our own; and, keeping a journal.

The journals in this class were creative, non-linear, and tactile: each student created a personal altar using discarded books and other reclaimed, recycled, upcycled, and everyday items; natural and found objects; photos, keepsakes, ephemera; and, various creative techniques for book arts / altered books. 

 

" . . . Our people are suffering terribly from
a sort of spiritual nomadism, a loss of
meaningful contact with the earth and the
earth's cycles of birth, growth, and death.
To live, we must daily break the body and
shed the blood of creation.  When we do this
knowingly, lovingly, skillfully, and reverently,
it is a sacrament."
-Wendell Berry

 

 

 

I found this quote (or it found me!) in the journal from Just Faith Ministries that HNU students are using this semester in their J -Walking program.  A very special thanks to my amazing Graduate Assistant, Carolina Vargas, for coordinating this program, and to our mentor, Meg Bowerman!

 

This is the work for those who are skilled and peaceful, who seek the good:

May they be able and upright, straightforward, of gentle speech and not proud.

May they be content and easily supported, unburdened with their senses calmed.

May they be wise, not arrogant and without desire for the possessions of others.

May they do nothing mean or that the wise would reprove.

May all beings be happy.

May they live in safety and joy.

All living beings, whether weak or strong, tall, stout, medium or short, seen or unseen,

near or distant, born or to be born, may they all be happy.

Let no one deceive another or despise any being in any state,

let none by anger or hatred wish harm to another.

As a mother watches over her child, willing to risk her own life to protect her only child,

so with a boundless heart should one cherish all living beings,

suffusing the whole world with unobstructed loving-kindness.

Standing or walking, sitting or lying down, during all one's waking hours,

may one remain mindful of this heart and this way of living that is the best in the world.

Unattached to speculations, views and sense desires, with clear vision,

such a person will never be reborn in the cycles of suffering.

 

Note: I just finished teaching a course on compassion at St. Mary's College, and learned that I still have much to learn . . . and to practice!

God speaks to each of us as he makes us,
 then walks with us silently out of the night.
 
 These are words we dimly hear:
 
 You, sent out beyond your recall,
 go to the limits of your longing.
 Embody me.
 
 Flare up like flame
 and make big shadows I can move in.
 
 Let everything happen to you: beauty and terror.
 Just keep going.  No feeling is final.
 Don't let yourself lose me.
 
 Nearby is the country they call life.
 You will know it by its seriousnes.
 
 Give me your hand.
 


  ~ Rainer Maria Rilke ~