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generative somatics

Mid-Day Meditations: Pausing to Reflect and Reset

Filed Under: Contemplative Practices, Emotional Literacies, Everyday Feminism By Beth Godbee May 28, 2024 Leave a Comment

A video title-screen for a Heart-Head-Hands meditation video. The title is "Mid-Day Reset: A Moment of Calm" and the video is led by Beth Godbee, Ph.D. The background is a light purple color and there is an image of a candle, glasses on a notebook, and green ivy growing across a table.

Guided meditations are part of the one-day writing retreats that I offer on a rotating and recurring basis. As a writer, I know the importance of getting grounded, setting intentions, and remembering what and why I am called to write before I begin. Similarly, as a facilitator, I find that contemplative practices—whether meditations or freewriting or other grounding practices—can slow down the tendency to jump into action, interrupting autopilot and urgency ... Read more ...

What Is Contemplative Writing? A Definition and Guided Meditation for Writers

Filed Under: Contemplative Practices, Emotional Literacies, Everyday Feminism, Higher Education By Beth Godbee October 23, 2021 Leave a Comment

This cover image for the YouTube video shows a photo of Beth with eyes closed (in meditation). The photo is framed by a yellow-orange-pink border and the text: “Guided Meditation on Motivations for Writing: The Five Whys. Contemplative Writing Practice, Beth Godbee, Ph.D., Heart-Head-Hands.com.”

What is contemplative writing?What is not contemplative writing?And why do I want to prioritize contemplative writing in my life? While teaching the “Contemplative Writing” workshop series this October, the importance of definitions has become increasingly clear. “Contemplative writing” invokes a range of interpretations, so this blog post defines the term and shares questions for exploring your relationship with writing. From there, I offer a guided meditation for ... Read more ...

Q&A with Mel Meder: Why Support generative somatics

Filed Under: Contemplative Practices, Everyday Feminism, Interviews, Racial Justice By Beth Godbee December 3, 2019 Leave a Comment

Photo of three generative somatics students in jo practice. Used with permission of gs.

In this Q&A post, we learn from Mel Meder about the importance and possibilities of generative somatics—a deeply embodied practice and theory for creating transformative change. I met Mel several years ago through a mutual friend in Madison, Wisconsin, and I’ve since been learning from Mel about the work of fundraising for organizations that we deeply care about and want to support. generative somatics is one of those organizations, which is why we’re highlighting ... Read more ...

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Embodied knowledge matters. So do commitments. And especially acting on commitments as part of everyday life, BIG and small. This website—a mix of blog posts and research writing, courses and offerings—shares ongoing efforts toward everyday living (feeling, thinking, and doing) for justice.

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This summer, caregiving and family responsibilitie This summer, caregiving and family responsibilities have taken me through the Appalachian Mountains ~ from North Carolina to Tennessee and through Virginia, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania. In some moments, I’ve felt so unmoored, unsure of where and when I am. But in others, I’ve felt the mountains holding me and reminding me that home is all around.

So, here’s photographic evidence that I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains and even learned to clog at a young age. I found this photo during a family conversation about learning to dance. Yes, I still love to dance. Though, like crocheting stitches, most of the clogging steps are long forgotten—maybe to be remembered?

(And here are a few accompanying recent photos from the mountains.)
It's a wonderful thing to return home to affirming It's a wonderful thing to return home to affirming emails. Here's one about a job offer aligned with commitments! 

From email, shared with permission: 
"I just wanted to send you a quick note to say that I accepted a job offer as _____ at _____! This was one of the roles we looked at in one of our sessions, and I'm very excited that I was able to get a position at a company I feel a strong sense of alignment with. Thank you for your coaching! You were a big part of the process that led to me getting this job!"

It is an incredible honor to be involved in career transitions. And it is incredibly rewarding to witness movement toward more supportive and aligned everyday conditions. 

When so much in the world is hard, coaching still feels like a strong yes. <3

#coaching #careercoach #careercoaching #careerdiscernment #commitments #livingoutcommitments #goodnews #strongyes
There’s so much I want to say about my love for There’s so much I want to say about my love for DC and my anger over this move toward federal control. Please support local organizing and follow calls for how to show up in solidarity in the days to come. 💛

#Repost @freedcproject with @use.repost
・・・
For our friends across the country asking how you can help, this one’s for you.

What’s happening in DC right now is not the first time this administration and its allies have attacked our communities. In March, Congress froze $1.1 billion of DC’s local budget. In addition to the current police escalation, Congress is also trying to overturn several critical local laws.

We want your members of Congress to do everything in their power to stand down federal forces DC, and stop attacks on DC communities for good. Send a letter to your Senators and Representative telling them to stop to it: freedcproject.org/allies (link in bio)
There’s so much I want to say about my love for There’s so much I want to say about my love for DC and my anger over this move toward federal control. Please support local organizing and follow calls for how to show up in solidarity in the days to come. 💛

#Repost @mvmnt4blklives with @use.repost
・・・
Earlier today Donald Trump announced that he is placing MPD under federal control and plans to deploy the National Guard to DC.

This is a dangerous escalation for our communities. But our people have been through things like this before.

Here are three ways everyone can help DC weather what’s ahead, starting tonight.

Repost via @freedcproject
This summer, amid many pulls away from writing, I This summer, amid many pulls away from writing, I was able to create a new writing portfolio.

Because my SelectedWorks page was sunsetted this summer, I needed a new way to share publications. The portfolio highlights some, while linking to a fuller list (what I’d share as part of an academic CV). I start with academic publications and then share pieces from public and community writing. And I include a final section of meaningful writing that doesn’t always (or even often) make its way into writing portfolios.

Certainly, publications are part of my writing story. But they aren’t the full story. I reflect on that here: https://heart-head-hands.com/meaningful-writing-in-writing-portfolios/

And share the portfolio here: https://heart-head-hands.com/writing-portfolio/ 

May we tell fuller stories about our writing and ourselves as writers—toward well-lived writing lives. <3

<Image shows the start of my portfolio page with a mix of academic and public publications.>
One thing about my partner Jonathan’s dad is tha One thing about my partner Jonathan’s dad is that he loved Pittsburgh. Here are some photos of the city he loved — with gratitude for walks to help navigate the emotions and many to-dos following his passing. <3
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About Beth Godbee

I'm an educator and former writing studies professor who believes our fully embodied selves matter in the world. We can’t just think our way out of the incredible injustices, dehumanization, violence, and wrongdoing that characterize everyday life. We must feel and act, too. [Pronouns: she/her.] Read more ...

This image shows books alongside the words: courses, coaching, consulting. learning + unlearning.

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