I was given an honest-to-goodness crystal ball this year for a birthday gift (seriously, it\u2019s labradorite\u2014what could be more perfect?\u2014and I love it!), but I don\u2019t need it to know what has happened by the time you read this.<\/p>\n
I know, because I know you, that I was delighted to put faces to names. So many different people making up such a wonderful meadow filled with more kinds of flowers than I can count. A glorious riot of names and faces, like the flowers that bloom where butterflies and bees love to come and create fruitfulness in the world.<\/p>\n
I know, because I know you, that (despite having felt nervous enough to throw up on my shoes ahead of time) once I saw you, I was suffused with the love that I had for this community.<\/p>\n And I know that we had a good talk. I mean, inasmuch as anyone can know these things a few days in advance. I have faith, though, that we had a good time, and that I have you to thank.<\/p>\n Whom do I mean by, \u201cyou\u201d?<\/p>\n I mean everyone<\/em> who receives this little letter every week. You, who are critical. You, who don\u2019t read and don\u2019t even know I\u2019ve been typing. You, who wait with eagerness to open this note every week. You, who are part of the Facebook community\u2014and there are folks there who aren\u2019t here, so you know, there\u2019s another \u201cthem\u201d becoming \u201cus.\u201d<\/p>\n All of you. All of us.<\/p>\n It\u2019ll be six years this fall since I started sending out The Way of the River Reflections<\/em>. And that\u2019s six years since I just started asking my friends, hey, would you be interested in hearing some of what I have to say? I had been writing a blog for a good long time by then\u2014writing about ritual and mental illness and fat and politics and courage and grace\u2026 And so I thought maybe the people who read my blog would be willing to read some love letters.<\/p>\n And so here we are, having had a lovely time together, a couplafew dozen of us, the other night, talking about one method to use for aiming at an outcome that feels good and right and solid. I\u2019m so glad to have been able to share the time we did.<\/p>\n And I confess, I\u2019m curious; now that we\u2019ve had that time together, who among us might enjoy spending some more time together? Who might like to sign up for Making Hard Choices: The Art of Discernment<\/em><\/a>? Who might like to dig into some interesting material at their own pace, choosing what you like, joining together on live calls when you can, spending some time in the Facebook group if you do the Facebook thing? I\u2019d really love to see you \u2013 and if you find you need more information than that page gives you, go to our Testimonials<\/a> page, or to the About Catharine<\/a> page, and find out more about what you might be getting yourself into if you join us in August.<\/p>\n So one last thing, comrades of The Way of the River, there are many new folks about! So if you are one who frequents our Facebook Community Group<\/a>, please do welcome new folks, and be on the lookout for people coming in. And those of you who are now here receiving my love letter for the first time, do feel welcome to the Facebook Group linked above. We have some lovely weekly traditions, and folks reach out to their comrades for help and love and care and in delight and in joy. We\u2019d love to have you there, so please do go ahead and sign up at your leisure.<\/p>\n Blessings and so much gratitude \u2013<\/p>\n ~Catharine~<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thewayoftheriver.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/04\/flower-meadow-23757141920.jpg\")
<\/a><\/p>\n