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Simplicity Circles
"If you cultivate a healthy poverty and simplicity, so that finding
a penny will literally make your day, then, since the world is in fact planted in pennies, you have
with your poverty bought a lifetime of days.
~ Annie Dillard, "Seeing," Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, 1974"
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| Philosophy of Simplicity Circles |
The core of simplicity circles or study groups is to assist individuals in returning to a simpler way of life. This
simpler way encompasses many aspects of life, some small and some not so small. The idea of the simplicity cirlcle is
to help guide individuals in reducing their footprint on the earth, bring passion back into their lives, make their spiritual
path a priority and find joy in doing so.
Some of the main ideas of a simpler life:
- Reducing Clutter - Determine what you really need and dispose of the rest. Got a buffet filled with papers that haven't been
looked at in how long? How about that junk draw? Do you really wear all the clothes in that closet?
- Reducing Consumption - Buying things creates a market for making things that use up vital natural resources and creates waste
problems. Do you really need that extra TV? Are you buying food that spoils before it gets eaten? Are you buying gifts rather
than creating your own? Is that cell phone really necessary? Why buy new when existing (used) items are available and will serve
the same purpose?
- Discovering your Passion - Search your soul for the the things you really enjoy doing and make them a integral part of your life.
- Careers - Take your passions and make them support you. Do you like your current job - then why are you doing it? What would you
really like to be doing - why aren't you doing it?
- Spirituality - Examination of your spirit path (or lack thereof) and start working on making your spirituality a daily presence in
your life.
- Earth Consciousness - The earth is under massive assualt from our consumption and it needs to be toned down significantly before
She is totally ravaged and there is nothing left. Are you recycling? Are you a part of a Green Power program? Are you a
spokesperson for those who cannot speak for themselves? Are you buying local and organic food products? Just how "Green" are
you? How can you become a darker shade of Green?
New groups are ongoing and for more information, contact Linda Fels at gr8fels@msn.com
"A Simplicity Circle helps one sort through the mental, spiritual, and physical clutter
that is their lives, in search of the true nature of their hopes, dreams, and goals. It enables us to find that quiet
place from which to recover a path we've wandered from along the way. It helps us sort out the trivial from the truly
important in all aspects of our life and enables us to eliminate the unnecessary from our life without feeling guilty
about it. It encourages us to see from a broader perspective what it is we really want to do, what's really important
to us, and then a Simplicity Circle is our support system as we begin that journey. It's there for us as we reach deeper
into this process as our comfort level grows. But most important, it can evolve into a new and lasting circle of friends."
~ Kay Witter
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BUF's first simplicity circle, affectionately know as the "Simple Sisters" began it's journey
in the Spring of 2006. Using Cecile Andrews book entitled "The Circle of Simplicity: Return To The Good Life,"
this group began a journey that continues today. It's been the initiating and driving force behind the Green Sanctuary
Program. This group has been very active in developing activities and projects that support the "simplicity philosophy"
particularly as it relates earth-based and environmentally responsible actions. It continues to pursue simplicity and
reducing their footprint through attending lectures/workshops and watching videos on related topics, hosting local dinners,
contributing to the BUF Auction, supplying local refreshements for events and more. Meeting twice a month, it explores
options and alternatives and discuss where they are and where they are going. Simplicity, to them, is not just a destination,
but a journey that they are making together.
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