Page 140 - ReAwaken Ebook 1st Ed

Just listening is simple – two people sitting or standing together, a listener and a person
with a story to share. This approach can be facilitated anywhere, any time and in any

community. Just Listening aims to demonstrate the value of connection through listening
and being heard.

Listening can offer justice to both the person narrating their personal reality and to the
person listening. In the process of deep listening we hear both ourselves and the other
person and can honour the truth of each person.

Just Listening is a free community listening project that seeks to offer justice in listening

and connection through this meaningful action.

At ReAwaken a Just Listening station was established, consisting of two chairs and a Just
Listening banner. Participants were encouraged to take up one of these chairs at any
stage during the week if they felt like being a listener, thereby inviting anyone that had
something to share to sit down and tell their story. While Just Listening can take place in
any setting, the themes covered during the week long conference meant that this

opportunity to share, be heard, listen and connect were particularly valuable for people.

Along with just listening, we also had the lovely listeners from Sidewalk Talk lending some
ears. Jeff Simmons, Paul Shultz, Sharon McGann and Debbie Dunn. The Sidewalk Talk sign
and chairs were set up on the lawns in front of the Monastery. With the same invitation
from the organisers to go and talk with Jeff, Debbie, Paul or Sharon whenever they felt
inclined.

Sidewalk Talk is not in anyway associated with Just Listening, but is under the same
concept. “Two San Francisco therapists shared a vision: to help heal that which
divides us through the fine art of skilled listening.” Extract from https://
www.sidewalk-talk.org/about.html

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