integrative group learning cO-Operative

Take a seat. Close your eyes and then breathe, slowly. Can you feel the rhythm in your heartbeat and the tingling in your fingertips? Do you feel alive? Did you read these steps with your eyelids closed? 

New Mind Group, held every Monday night in Pilsen since 2011, got in tune with the chimes of Zen Buddhism last month. We covered the works of Alan Watts, Thich Nhat Hahn and Osho. 

For some group members this was a fresh dip into Zen while for others it was a refreshed dive into these works. Because, as you’ll see in group, your perception of the same piece of writing can be drastically different between one reading to the next. 

That’s the thing about discussing short excerpts in group: it’s not about simply recognizing what’s in the piece itself, but also recognizing YOURSELF within the piece. 

For example, let me offer you a simple assignment, this will be a sort of sampling of what group can do for you, and what you can perhaps do for group. 

Step 1: read this excerpt from Osho’s book, “love, freedom, aloneness:”

“Of course people are afraid to be free, because freedom is risky. One never knows what one is doing, where one is going. What the ultimate result of it all is going to be.”

Ponder and reflect what this quote might mean for you. 

Step 2: wait a week.

Are you back? Great! You have proven yourself an anchored stone in the mad river of civilization. 

Step 3: read this excerpt from Osho’s book, “love, freedom, aloneness:”

“Of course people are afraid to be free, because freedom is risky. One never knows what one is doing, where one is going. What the ultimate result of it all is going to be.”

..Wait a second! Am I, the author, trying to bamboozle you, the reader? No. I am only drawing a point that perceptions evolve and how re-examining a piece in group will always be an original experience no matter how many times a piece is visited. The readings planned by group leader Kyle or brought in by other members always fuel our discussion. 

“But, I continue to think the same things!” you say. 

Well, the fact that your perception has stagnated may be a sign that you should find a new social circle where you can find what’s jamming the spokes in your wheel. Or, maybe you’ve found a granola chunk of truth and you’re original perception was right all along! Who knows? Maybe group can offer you some insight...

Travel inwards and outwards,

New Minds Group, held each Monday evening for the past four years, has held steady throughout this past winter offering a healthy space to develop relationships and deepen your perspectives.  In the face of snow, ice, changing locations and Mayoral runoff elections, two New Minds Group continue to discuss, relate, and interact. That’s what dedication is all about. 

We at New Minds like being in Pilsen and do intend to stay in the neighborhood as we look to expand. Pilsen’s charm may be due to the special businesses in the neighborhood like La Catrina and Café Jumping Bean in which we like to collaborate with. 

This past month has been spent delving into and discussing “The Sibling Society,” by poet Robert Bly. His book explores how adulthood has become lost in post-modern society as well as any notion of having “elders.” Bly said in the 1990s that discrediting anyone who presents themselves as a leader is a trend that has grown from this loss of genuine adults. 

“Every detail of a president’s life is used to discredit him. President Clinton has his faults, but no other American President has been put in the stocks so soon and left there so long,” Bly said. I’ll bet this trend has worsened since. We can freely criticize our leaders when it comes from righteous anger, but not when it comes merely from a place of teenage angst. 

“One sad result of this habit of envy and aggression is the utter discouragement and bitterness of voters, who move into an adolescent place in relation to the duties of citizenship,” Bly said.  

Quotes such as these are provocative in the ways we like and offer a lot to chew on, easily filling group’s 90 minute running time without fail. 

So, know that there’s no preparation needed before coming into group. The structure provides you with the starting point needed to enter the present moment. 

The individuals in group collectively enters the realm of sharing and receiving feedback about all of life’s mysteries in order to get a clearer perspective on what step can next be taken in life. 

Group member Sean Froelich reports.

From Sean Froelich, group member and Medill Reports journalist. 

Well, it's been a bit since we've updated but fear not, New Minds Group has been kicking for the last two months exploring new ideas, opening up to and conquering fears, laughing and moving around! It's the moving around that has been simultaneously a source of chaos, inspiration and an annoyance we're glad to be done with. For those of you who hadn't heard, the building we rented our office in was sold and so top priority was securing a new space and that has happened!

Of course, New Minds can't quite (never ever) so we kept the group going at the generous and wonderful La Catrina Cafe in Pilsen, and even once at the beautiful community garden. Some of the topics we explored have been mindfulness, the changing seasons, being a part of the river of life instead of fighting against it, and finding a fulfilling vocational path in spite of student debt/lack of options (that last part sounds depressing, but it was actually a very inspirational dialogue!)

If you've thought about joining the New Minds Group before, maybe now is the right time! The sun is shining, the winter is hopefully totally over, and you've been meaning to think deeper lately.

Kyle King

 New Minds is moving locations! Due to a change of ownership in the Kraft building at 18th and Sangamon where we rented our Pilsen space, the Igloo dwellers will now be finding a new location to run our diverse groups at the start of February. The New Minds discussion groups called this location home for the past year but are resolute about staying in the Pilsen neighborhood where the group was born,  and where many members presently live and work. 

 In group last month, the men and women discussed planting seeds for the New Year after discussing what 2014 meant to them. This was an opportunity to deeply and collaboratively reflect with peers about what changes each of us experienced, an opportunity such as this can often be hard to find, but the folks at Igloo know how to deliver the goods. 

  Goods such as what? Well, one week our Holiday festivities got Wilde. Charlie Corwin brought into group a collection of Oscar Wilde quotes which were explored and gave ample time for discussion. The man who runs group, Kyle King, also brought to group an article about the belief in Santa Clause and his capitalist foothold in our shared culture. I can say for certain that I had never talked about Santa in this way before. And saying, “that never happened before,” can be a common occurrence at New Minds. 

 New Minds Group runs 90 minutes, for a menial fee every week, rain or shine. Several of the group members have been coming consistently once a week, sometime for multiple years. But group also welcomes those who only have a few months to spend here; so whether your stay is for the short or long term, there’ll be a chair waiting for you! 

 Warmly,

Were you thinking about how much you needed to buy some new perfume before finding this article? What about after viewing this ad from Marc Jacobs? If the answer is no because you have no interest in buying perfume, let me pose another question, a question that was faced for multiple weeks in November’s New Minds Groups: Do you feel like you are missing something?

Advertisements have an incredible psychological effect. We see MILLIONS of these each day and they, on an emotional level, are taking our own self-respect, packaging it into enviable images and sell it back to us! Sounds a little nutty doesn’t it? Well, there was some skepticism in group too! But take into consideration a pulled quote from John Berger’s, Ways of Seeing, which was the basis for our publicity discussion:

"Publicity persuades us of such a transformation by showing us people who have apparently been transformed and are, as a result, enviable. The state of being envied is what constitutes glamour. And publicity is the process of manufacturing glamour.”

So basically, ads are selling us something we feel we don’t have but need. But internally, all of those enviable consolations don’t move, revealing marketing as the mouse trap it is! Does this subject interest you, ready to join the circle and discuss these topics with other like-minded young adults? Then follow the link to learn more about New Minds weekly group!

Dream on,

Were you thinking about how much you needed to buy some new perfume before finding this article? What about after viewing this ad from Marc Jacobs? If the answer is no because you have no interest in buying perfume, let me pose another question, a question that was faced for multiple weeks in November’s New Minds Groups: Do you feel like you are missing something?

Advertisements have an incredible psychological effect. We see MILLIONS of these each day and they, on an emotional level, are taking our own self-respect, packaging it into enviable images and sell it back to us! Sounds a little nutty doesn’t it? Well, there was some skepticism in group too! But take into consideration a pulled quote from John Berger’s, Ways of Seeing, which was the basis for our publicity discussion:

"Publicity persuades us of such a transformation by showing us people who have apparently been transformed and are, as a result, enviable. The state of being envied is what constitutes glamour. And publicity is the process of manufacturing glamour.”

So basically, ads are selling us something we feel we don’t have but need. But internally, all of those enviable consolations don’t move, revealing marketing as the mouse trap it is! Does this subject interest you, ready to join the circle and discuss these topics with other like-minded young adults? Then follow the link to learn more about New Minds weekly group!

Dream on,

When you or I pull out our smartphone to snap a quick selfie, what do we see? Do we see the idealized version of ourselves? No? Well, then just press the erase button, problem over. Are you instead happy with the image projected from the screen? Ok then, share it with the world so they can be exposed to what you consider to be your “best self”.

In my own case, every one selfie that I like, there were probably a dozen that I wasn’t OK with. What is wrong with these images of ourselves that we consider: ugly, dull, fat, and undesirable? Are we able to simply tap the trash can icon and say, “goodbye, the undesirable me”? No, but can we learn to embrace the parts of ourselves we deem unfit for the world? You bet your sweet imperfections you can!

Well then, this would be an ample opportunity to mention the New Minds Group hosted every Monday evening by Mr. Kyle King with the support of reliable, stupendous individuals from the Chicago-land area. Each of these individuals, myself included have found ways to operate in our daily lives allowing us a sense of getting by. “Ah, this works, no need for adjustments here!” But, also, there’s also aspects of our being that we perceive as, “unworkable”. And there’s no trash can icon to dismiss these quirky machinations.

The good news is, instead of seeing the human experience as something of a “selfie” project that can be managed and perfected, why not expose yourself to a group of young adults who regard our “mistakes” not as something to dispose in the trash bin, but as a way of integrating hidden parts of ourselves for the necessary sake of growth and development? Well, that sounds like it may be difficult. And you know, sometimes it is a difficult process, but good thing there’s friends along the way to share in the laughter and tears tucked in the pages of life’s journey. A journey that is meant to present its’ metaphors in a unique manner to each of us.

Dust off the covers,

For nearly three years now, I have been attending the Monday Night New Minds Group in Pilsen, every week, besides a whirlwind tour across Europe that kept me away from Chicago for two months in the summer of 2012. Led with earnest discipline and a tasty concoction of kindness and willful exploration, Kyle King has dedicated himself to establishing groups for discussing the human experience via poetry, current events, shared experiences, and the wisdom of other model pioneers of thought like psychologists, Carl Jung, Marion Woodman, James Hillman to poets, Maya Angelo, Pablo Neruda and Charles Bukowski, and Philosophers, including Plato, Noam Chomsky and Michelle Foucault.

Although my particular extrapolation of the New Minds experience can seem burdensomely intellectual, (yes, I’m aware of how this sentence furthers that notion) my experience of New Minds is also filled with inside jokes, birthday feasts, sassiness, and an appreciation for popular culture. Orange is the New Black, or Jay Z lyrics have also found their way into group discussion as a tunnel into the unfolding layers of modern society which evolves faster than the next iPhone. In New Minds, I keep my pinky up and shirt unbuttoned, balance is key.

While I like to plunge deep into myself, it is done for the purpose of gaining a keener vision of the world I inhabit. That’s the benefit of group, having multiple eyes present on your plunge so you don’t tumble onto sharp rocks or find yourself hanging mercilessly in a rut. I’ve built many relationships in my years in group which all quickly ring with a special chime because of the nature of group’s structure. The connections I have made, both short term and long term, will forever be held in pride; a pride for the bravery that enlists the type of vulnerable sharing that New Minds Group both protects and nurtures amongst its’ members.

The security of safe sharing in group ruffles away the dry top soil and reveals the mineral rich mud for dialogue. In other words, when I and others speak in group, it’s like getting your hands dirty, and I am confident that I am better off for it. My life is enriched with a revitalized ground to plant my seeds.

 Play in the mud a little,

The retired Kraft warehouse is unassuming from street view. The train tracks that run alongside are over fleshed with grass and a marked cinder block grave that reads: “here lies Flopsy, meow, meow meow.” Who was Flopsy? And how bustling was the Kraft warehouse in its’ heyday? These are questions with answers that are out of my reach, but history has left it's gentle record at Sangamon and 18th.

Don’t let this spookhouse impression keep you from discovering the excitement that is housed inside, where the Igloo experience is growing.

In order to experience the spirit of life and soul that inhabits this space, some digging needs to be done. Not literally, please do not disturb Flopsy’s eternal slumber. Rather, the digging is done through discussion between the dynamos that congregate inside the retired Kraft building, up the stairwell on the newly renovated second floor.

The hard working millennials of New Minds Group are reigniting the grit that once dwelled in these brick walls. In the re-imagined warehouse the friendly members of the Monday night groups think creatively and without limitation. Laughs are shared, some tears are shed, learning and understanding will be attained, and coffee from Halfwit will be drunk until my fingers begin to vibrate.

Like the mix of identities in Pilsen, New Minds Group isn’t specifically tailored to race, gender, age, or musical taste: it is simply tailored to the curious. And don’t worry about whether or not you’re too introverted or shy, this is a place to crack your shell or go deeper within. We all could take a break from taking ourselves too seriously, it’s that simple.

Hold on now, “simple” is a word that we use sparingly at New Minds, because with any awareness of life and the world, it becomes clear that we are anything but. Curiosity, on the other hand, is the seed for new beginnings. This seed needs care and patience. Good thing the people at the Igloo Space have reinvented the warehouse to be a greenhouse brimming with curiosity plants overlooked by sustainable conversationalists.

Don’t forget to smell the roses,

“It keeps taking longer for me to get home!” I said to Sustainability Group Leader Charlie, wagging my arm in the direction of Simone’s where I saw some of the other Igloo members chatting. Charlie furrowed his brow and pursed his lips in understanding. Charlie had to tend to the plucky beets and kale in his home garden but I walked home with road bike in hand alongside group member, Jakki to discuss our summer plans.

The curious and open minded walk their way or bike their way to group every Monday, causing a congestion on 18th street every time they have to stop to speak with a friend in which they may have not seen in a week. But the commitment of New Minds group members gives each individual a sense that they will see their friend the following week on 18th street once again, witnessing the unique changes we humans make in our development.

As I’ve spent more time at the Igloo space on 18th street every Monday night, I have experienced a growing sense of community. About a month ago, I sat down at Belli’s juice bar with a holistic healing student who had jumped around the United States before deciding to plant herself in Chicago. In between sips of her blended kale, apple and banana juice, she told me how she has experienced a greater sense of community than she had in Los Angeles or New York. Take that LA! I didn't ask her to extrapolate at the time; rather, I just let it sink into my brain bank for future pondering.

Community and commitment are the key words here, and they outlast the month of July. These two words may grow flat when you see them on every pamphlet or High school pep-rally banner, but the experience of New Minds Group brings those oft overused words alive! One group, Abby returned from a excursion in the Big Apple to share with the group a poem from Anne Sexton. We explored the meaning of the images, the inspiration for the writing, and how we each related to the poem. Community comes alive through the uninhibited discussion in which all taboos are made naked and the usual classroom etiquette is replaced with REAL human interaction that can be sometimes ugly, but often times beautiful. A microcosm of life is how I like to see it. After group, I was delighted to know that my commute home was going to be stalled by various mingling between the members of the second New Minds group.

Exelsior!