leave of presence
I began a journey of what I call, “a leave of presence”, many moons ago. I remember having an epiphany about competing world-views when I heard a discussion at work about taking a “leave of absence”. This seemed ludicrous to me if the point was to take “time off and center” or “restore” or “care for” why would the word “absence” be used? From my interpretation, this literally meant work is more valuable than human wellbeing. So I made an agreement that regardless of whatever circumstances I was experiencing as an adult, I could choose to be present and focus on wellbeing.
There are many ways to define what it means to be present. The Etymology of present as a verb is: “bring into the presence of, introduce formally or ceremonially'“ (Etymonline, 2024). According to cultural theorist Gerald Vizenor, “Native artists, have continued to produce artworks as acts of survivance (an expression of active and dynamic presence that involves acts of resistance)” (Carnegie Museum of Natural History, 2020). The teachings of Eckhart Tolle focus on the power of Presence as “the awakened state of consciousness, which transcends ego and discursive thinking (the main focus is in the doing, conscious action as an end in itself)”(Connecting Yourself to the Universe, 2023).
I also deeply appreciate the offerings of Thomas Hubl and the way he weaves so many unique voices together for matters of presence. So I did a search to see what his interpretation of presence might be and interestingly I also found this mention “absence is the signature of trauma”(Hubl, 2021) in a video titled “From absence to presence: Restoring the Fragmentation of Collective Trauma”. Wow!
Like Hubl, I deeply appreciate the scholarly and practical work of both Ottio Scharmer (MIT) and Dan Siegel (UCLA) so I will add these two definitions he lists in the same presentation (that I found today!) here:
“Presencing to sense and actualize the highest future possibility in the now”
- Otto Scharmer
“Presence, the mental state of being receptively aware, has compassion and kindness at its core”
- Dan Siegel
Probably one of my favorite articulations is “presence” as a bundle with reverence and synchrony(Engagement Ethic Roots), what Darcia Narvaez calls the“Ethic of Love”(Communal Imagination)(The Indigenous Worldview: Original Practices for Becoming and Being Human, 2016).
Now, I borrow from all of these definitions a little, while also allowing space for mystery, omni-directional curiosity and continuous emergence of potential. And since choosing this path, or rather, when this path of presence chose me, so much hidden beauty has been revealed.
May these reflections bring hope, spark courage and ignite a gentle flame within you to discover what it means to chose presence in your own unique way.
Jas (like the music)
