6 Ways to Change Minds

Several layers of sealer on my sign for our community
garden prove useful as fall rain begins.

Recently I read an interview with Howard Gardner, the researcher who wrote about seven intelligences. The subject was ‘Is it possible to change someone’s mind?’ Gardner said yes, there are six ways to do so. 

1. Real World Events 
2. Reason 
3. Representation 
4. Research 
5. Resonance 
6. Resources     

His six methods relate closely to the seven intelligences. 

Real World Events involves having physical/bodily experiences, called kinesthetic intelligence. Think of someone whose relative or friend died of Covid-19.

Reason utilizes both linguistic and logical/mathematical intelligence. It represents listening to and trusting scientists to help guide us through the pandemic.

Representation relates to descriptive images or visual spatial intelligence. This bring to mind maps showing where Covid-19 cases and deaths are occurring.

Research means getting people to do their own reading, experiments and investigation. Media figures who suggest taking animal de-worming medicine put all their trust in themselves, a form of self-smart behavior that can have disastrous results. 

Resonance is about making connections with people, interpersonal intelligence. This can be seen in Biden, Harris and celebrities being publicly vaccinated.

Resources means receiving money or material goods. Some states offered financial rewards for getting vaccinated. Some businesses are reducing pay or firing those who do not get vaccinated. I think this is another example of physical/kinesthetic intelligence.

Gardner reported that change will be gradual, so much so that a person will be unaware of changing. You can reduce negative emotion by delivering new ideas in very short bursts rather than lengthy explanations. Time will pass. One day they surprise themselves by recognizing they are a different person than the one represented by attitudes and beliefs they once held.

I'm including photos of our community garden and the Book Box recently placed just outside the garden entrance. In contrast to the lengthy time it took to finally get the garden, it was just a matter of months for this free library to appear. Having observed people on the bench enjoying the beauty and benefit of the garden, others were inspired to add another benefit to our community. Perhaps this is an example of 'resonance' - interpersonal intelligence.

 

End of An Era

Today President Biden announced the end of the era of United States military presence abroad. Calling us to face present day reality, he whispered - the future has already arrived.

Natural Sources of Energy

   

Nation-wide System of Charging Stations 

Local/Regional Production Units

   

    

Global Information Systems

Precision Fermentation of Food

    

Any people who can airlift over 120,000 people under extreme conditions in two weeks surely has the capacity to accept reality. 

       

   

Healing Gardens: Food

When I first moved into my townhouse, I wanted to grow food. 

I planted lettuce and beans but deer devoured them before I had 

a chance to pick and enjoy them. I gave up and bided my time.

 Finally this spring a group of neighbors requested and 

received permission to create a community garden.

We recruited the required ten persons and raised funds to build

 raised beds. The HOA helped pay for fencing and soil.

Luckily for us, one of our group is a landscape designer. 

With a spigot some distance away, we installed a 

water barrel that can be filled once a day.

Concerned about attracting and feeding bees and butterflies, 

we requested permission to plant a flower patch 

outside the veggie garden.

Most of us also planted flowers with our veggies.

Lettuce, spinach and kale arrived quickly and soon 

zucchini, radish, beans and peas were in our kitchens.

No one really thought corn would take off but it's coming right along

And now here come the tomatoes!

Pumpkins, acorn squash, even watermelon are in our future.

And we love to share our bounty.

 

Healing Gardens: Privacy

Four neighbors at crossroads.
My unit is straight ahead behind the fences.

We are four neighbors in proximity who have privacy issues. Two side by side can see into one another’s patios despite a partial fence between them. Most dramatically, two diagonally across from each other can see directly into each other’s patios and living rooms. My issue was neighbors behind me seeing directly into my patio from their second floor windows. 

Solution for Side by Side

A top-of-fence planter was installed to give visual height to the partial fence and distract people’s vision. Unseen are two heat pumps surrounded by plants.

Note planter on top of fence
 between two side by side neighbors.

Solutions for Diagonal Views 

Tp protect her from diagonal neighbor's view, the person behind me built a paver tower in the corner of her patio for a tall plant and surrounded it with other tall plants also on pedestals.

Tall plants on pedestals.

 

The other diagonal neighbor who is next door to me got a tall planter box for the edge of her patio and put plants beneath, inside, and surrounding the box.

Note dark wood planter on stilts to the left
and behind large pink blossoms.

Solution for Seen from Above 

My solution was to plant small trees: one beside my patio, one in a large pot on the patio and one by the fence separating me from the neighbor directly behind me. The trees screen my seating areas from immediate view and provide shade from the direct morning sun. 

Small Dogwood beside my patio
screens view from one neighbor behind me.

Potted Crape Myrtle on patio and second Dogwood to the right
(see branches) screen views from neighbor behind me.

My trees provide 'borrowed scenery' for all my neighbors and a Buddha statue sets an appropriate tone for resolving issues.

Buddha on my patio table establishes peace
 for the neighborhood.

Symbols of the Self

The circle, square, and diamond are symbols of the self or soul. In traditional Tibetan mandalas, one can only get into the central square through portals that are guarded by ogres and angels. Any centering mandala is an invitation to go inward and be refreshed.

Portals to the Heart

Centering Mandala with Square and Portals

• Place the materials in front of yourself on a table.
• Write the date in the upper righthand corner of blank white paper.
• In the upper left corner write, “Beginning this I feel …” 
• Center yourself. Put both feet on the floor, close your eyes, slow down your breathing, center yourself. 

Just remain in the center, watching. And then forget that you are there. Lao Tzu

• Choose a color and draw a circle.

Flower Portals

• Choose another color and draw a square in the center of the circle.

Goddess Portals

• Choose one or more colors and draw four doorways into the square. The doorways are portals, thresholds, and obstacles.

Peaceful Center

• Fill the whole circle with color.
• When finished, write at the bottom, “Completing this I feel …”

If it feels right, share your reflections with a friend.

Four Directions Home

   

LiDoña Wagner, GRAPHITINT & INKTENSE pencils

Radiating Hope

LiDoña Wagner Radiating Flower

Last month I introduced the making of centering mandalas to find peace in the midst of troubling or anxious times. I showed centering mandalas based on the spiral, a shape that focuses on the cyclical movement of time. 

This month's centering mandala is a radiating pattern. We recognize this pattern in flowers whose petals radiate out from a center. It can also be seen in relation to how a tiny seed grows roots that radiate out into the soil. We recognize it when we throw a stone into water and watch ripples flow out from the spot where it hit the water.

Use whatever media with which you are comfortable. I have used Derwent Graphitint and Derwent Inktense pencils and Cretacolor AquaStic Metallic crayons for mandalas shown here. My photographer friend Sandy Brown Jensen generated hers on the computer using her own and free online images. 

 Radiating Pattern Centering Mandala

Place the materials in front of yourself on a table. 

Write the date in the upper righthand corner of blank white paper.

In the upper left corner write, “Beginning this I feel …” 

Example: Beginning this I feel anxious about Covid 19 rampaging around the world. 

LiDoña Wagner Radiating Roots

Just remain in the center, watching. And then forget that you are there. Lao Tzu

Center yourself. Put both feet on the floor. Close your eyes, slow down your breathing, do a body scan relaxing each body part as you move from head to toes. 

Choose a color and draw a circle.

Choose another color and draw a radiating pattern out from the center of the circle.

Fill the whole circle with color.

LiDoña Wagner My Beating Heart

When it feels complete, write at the bottom, “Completing this I feel … ”

 If it feels right, share your reflections with a friend.

 Sandy Brown Jensen Computer Photo Collage Spring Equinox

Centering Yourself #1

Centering Mandalas are a wonderful way to find peace and calm in the midst of your daily life. 

Just remain in the center, watching. And then forget that you are there. Lao Tzu 

 Beach Stones LiDoña Wagner Feb 2, 2019

I advise persons to do a centering mandala whenever they feel fragmented and desire greater balance. You can do one in twenty minutes. Frequently, after drawing one during a twenty-minute gap in my schedule, I go back later and embellish it. Because it is a symbol of wholeness (circle) time spent embellishing is also centering and calming. All of the examples shared below have been embellished.

Materials

•    Depending on the size of the journal you’ve selected, you may want to do centering mandalas in your journal so you have a record of your inner life.
•    Otherwise, you need a sheet of 8.5” x 8.5” paper. A sheet of copy paper will work but will limit the media you use if you wish to embellish it.
•    At least eight crayons, markers, or colored pencils (Red, Yellow, Blue, Green, Violet, Brown, Black and Grey) and a pencil. I like to use Derwent Graphitint (softer earth tones) and Inktense (strong colors) pencils.  

 Dancing Spirals LiDoña Wagner March 24, 2021

Spiral Centering Mandala

• Place the materials in front of you on a table. 
• Write the date in the upper righthand corner of blank white paper.
• In the upper left corner write, “Beginning this I feel …” Example: Beginning this I feel conflicted re letting some things go but wanting to hold on to others – frenetic.
• Center yourself. Put both feet on the floor, close your eyes, slow down your breathing, do a body scan, relaxing each part of your body as you move from head to toes.  
• When you feel balanced, open your eyes, select a color and draw a large spiral on the paper. (If you’re feeling scattered, go from outside into the center, if not, go from the center to the outside.) Put that color down. 
• Fill the entire spiral with color(s).
• When it feels finished, close your eyes and focus your energy. When you are ready, complete the phrase,  "Completing this I feel ... ", writing it in the lower right corner of the paper. Example: Completing this I feel there is some place in the universe where there is wholeness and unity. I am calm.
• If it feels right, share your reflections with a friend. 

 

Earth Jewels LiDoña Wagner
 July 21, 2019

Remember, the important thing is the PROCESS, not the product!