October 2008

Dear Workshop Participant:

We would like to welcome you to this Tensegrity workshop, “Is There Anybody Out There Who Loves Me?” The workshop begins now, as you read this note!

In response to requests for a preparatory assignment for this workshop, we would like to ask all of you to explore the following questions, one of the first recapitulation assignments that Carlos Castaneda, Florinda Donner-Grau, Taisha Abelar and Carol Tiggs gave to us:

First: Write a list of all your romantic or sexual relationships.

Second: Review the list and next to each person, indicate who left whom—did you leave, or did the other person leave? Or was it both of you?

Reviewing your list, answer the following questions:

Why did you choose this person?

Why do you think they chose you?

Why did you leave? and/or--

Why do you think the other person left?

Did part of you “leave” before the relationship actually ended?

Is there a pattern to your choices and actions?

And as a further consideration: What is your definition of love? How has it evolved over time?

And: What did you learn from writing your list, and answering these questions? What new questions, if any, arose from this exploration?

Your engagement in this assignment will likely continue over time, it is the kind of endeavor that “marinates” after its beginning; we ask you write your best current answers to these questions in a notebook and bring the notebook to the workshop with you, and be ready to refer to it as we practice further recapitulation exercises in the workshop.

We look forward to enjoying the workshop with you!

With affection,

The Tensegrity Instructors