Street Wisdom Reflections

What happened?  This 90-minute session was very gracefully led by Fiona, there were 6 of us. Fiona took us through the tune-ups, and straight away people started to notice feeling present, grateful and relaxed.

What did you learn? My question was “How can I be useful?” which has been on my mind quite regularly this year (Covid) and also resulting from my decision a couple of years ago to stop making a living in corporate events. I realized that I was getting a bit old for the travel, the long hours and the resulting stress. But how can I be useful in today’s world? A 58-year-old, white male – yes, pale, male and stale – although I really don’t want to be stale. Who would?

After tuning up, my walk took me out across the descampo. There’s a custom here, that if people are clearing out ‘rubbish’ they tend to leave things out by the bins – in case they may be of use to others. It’s a good tradition, I like it. Recycling and upcycling the old – gave me some optimism that I still may be of use, despite my age, despite my grey hairs, despite the fact that the world has changed. I may still be of use.

How can you use what you learned? I’ve been interested in old technologies for some time now. Not that I have anything against the new technologies, not at all. But looking to the past may be of great benefit. The old technologies, of fire, language, ritual, divination. I feel more confident that these can serve us. (#Streetwisdom is a good example) I feel motivated to continue my study of the arcane and the esoteric. These things still carry their own stigma and taboo, but I’ll not let that stop me.

“Someday you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again.” – C.S. Lewis

by Street Wisdom R&D, Chris Sollett.

Everything Happens in Birmingham

Everything Happens Here and All At Once – that’s the opening line of a poem by spoken word artists Polarbear and Simon Turner carved into a granite fountain at Birmingham’s Bullring.  It’s also a great way to sum up our Street Wisdom experience – the first one in the city – hosted by RSA West Midlands.

We began by the famous bronze Bull statue, in blazing sun bustling with shoppers, buskers and market traders.   And ended three hours – was it just three hours? – later in fake candlelight at the mad mashup (part medieval, part ancient Greek, part Victorian with a sprinkling of Tutankhamen) of the Bacchus wine bar.

In my group we have an interesting spread of people, academics and arts/business hyphenates. Many people are here through a connection with the RSA.

The opening warm-up and kick-off on Street Wisdom is so straightforward and gettable, and within 10 minutes we’re off into the ‘tuning’ stage.

I like watching the gradual changes in people as they return, step by step, chatting with them briefly about what happened, in some cases they soften, walk more slowly, deepen their breathing etc. A lady tells me later that she noticed ‘not being slightly irritable’ and enjoyed that state of unhurried travelling. Her default state has become to ‘travel grumpy’ and she was able to reframe it.

Then the quest.  Some great examples of questions ‘What shall I concentrate on for my PhD?’ and ‘How can I sell my services more effectively?’

And finally the sharing at Bacchus.

David points out that the working buzz of these conversations, is the sound of the 18th century coffeehouse;  arenas for debate where the RSA has its roots.   And so eventually our conversations move on to general business/culture/society discussions, mutual interests are outlined, business cards exchanged, etc. It’s good for that, Street Wisdom.

Street Wisdom Birmingham

An insightful suggestion from a senior city planner – that workers, especially executives get out and into the streets (in a mindful way?) and see and feel something of the experience of the locals, or perhaps we should say the ‘end-users’. Who are they exactly? In the commercial centre of Birmingham, competing among at least 4 highly vocal religious groups for the attention of the shoppers and commuters.

I suppose the idea is to try and combine Culture, Business and Society.

As they say, everything happens here….

Comments from participants:

it was all brilliant, inspiring exciting, intriguing and excellently facilitated and wonderful

it was enriching and pleasure filled