Many, many moons ago, I was living in a indigenous village of close to 200 people (100 dogs, 70 burros, 50 pigs, 30 goats and 1000 chickens) along the Pacific coast of southern central Peru. It was called San Vicente de Azpitia. These were thoughtful, hardworking, gentle, kind-hearted and somber people born of the [...]
Continue reading “Safety” »
Galileo’s ideas challenged the assumptions of his time and culture. The mere suggestion that the earth was not the center of all creation with humans being at the center of the center, was ludicrous, even heretical! The proposition that we lived in a helio-centric system and all that it implied, threatened the stronghold (and [...]
Continue reading “Challenge Assumptions!” »
There is so much more that is unknown and undiscovered about nearly everything than is currently known and understood.
The word “science” comes from the root - to know. And school textbooks give the impression that the sciences are based on irrefutable evidence and hard facts.
Wouldn’t it be more accurate to say “science” means our [...]
Continue reading “The Future Is Open!” »
Art lives at the heart of what makes us human.
What is art for?
If not to inspire and motivate us to our best, then what?
If not to engender hope, to light a candle in the darkness, then what?
If not to reflect back to us the brilliant human potential, causing uplift and upgrade, then what?
What is [...]
Continue reading “What Is Art For?” »
Do you remember what it feels like to be a child?
To wake up in the morning tingling and trembling with excitement because there is a whole new day to discover!
To be unafraid of the unknown. But to be so comforted by what is familiar.
To barely be able to contain oneself because life is just [...]
Continue reading “To Be A Child” »
Whatever your teaching ecology happens to be, wherever you are helping to “grow” young learners, here is an analogy that provides some food for thought…
Agriculture
The further we have moved away from the source of our food, the more disconnected we have become from our bodies, the earth’s natural cycles and systems and the natural [...]
Continue reading “Not Resources, Resourcefulness!” »
Patience is an enduring love for natural process.
It is a “being with”, an abiding with another life without imposition.
Patience is the teacher who has the space and time for every child, fast or slow, red or blue, straight or round… It is a presence, a warmth, an encouragement… kind but firm.
It is fulfilling the [...]
Continue reading “Patience” »
My grandmother was an extraordinary human being. She was a feisty, smart, extremely talented and lovely woman who, as she related to me, grew up with all the disadvantages of privilege. Pretty much everything was provided for her from cradle to grave, she said. But in her twenties, in the nineteen twenties, she [...]
Continue reading “Is Your Heart In It?” »
We trust others as we trust ourselves.
One of the greatest gifts we can give to the youngsters in our care is trust. It starts with having a deep trust in oneself, in the deeper parts of oneself. Before you can extend genuine trust to others, especially the children in your care, it’s got [...]
Continue reading “Trust” »
Little Johnny Whitaker was rambling down the alleyway on his way to the Saturday afternoon baseball game with his buddies. Bat, mitt and ball in hand, White Sox cap on head, he was ready for the big game!
“Johnny ‘Blue Eyes’ Whitaker, best hitter in the world!” he called out as he pitched himself the [...]
Continue reading “Confidence” »
Paul Andrew Zeir grew up in the adventurous and expansive landscape where the Rocky Mountains meet the Great Plains west of Denver, Colorado in the U.S.A. He learned the basics on the piano from the age of 5 and took up the guitar at age 12, writing songs and composing music since he discovered the gift to be able to do so. Music, the wild and free outdoors, the magic and mystery of being an adopted child, rhythmic sports and glimpses of inspired community were his principle mentors growing up. Paul’s search for vocation and mission began with the Institute of Cultural Affairs where he lived and worked with indigenous people in Alaska, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru and Venezuela. It was in these small villages that he discovered the spiritual integrity and kaleidoscopic human theater of indigenous peoples around the world. These were profound and indelible influences. He studied at Northern Arizona University in Flagstaff and Colorado University in Boulder between his travels. His education continues to this day, expanding and deepening through a variety of researches best characterized as the field of Human Development and Education. Because of the many gifted teachers in his life, including his lifelong love Melanie, he discovered solidarity in kinship endeavour with people from all over the world working to pioneer new pathways in the human potential. The world of child education opened up when he became a father of 2 boys. His primary wish as a parent was to provide a rich & loving multi-layered learning ecology in the home and family life which included natural human theater arts. Thus the adventure into children’s education began! His family has put down roots near Santa Fe, New Mexico where they live in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains.
You’re currently browsing older “Talking Hands Talking Feet Blog” Blog entries.
Note: This is the end of the usable page. The image(s) below are preloaded for performance only.
