Great Conversations

John O'Donohue, Irish poet, writer and philosopher (1956-2008)

His mystic gifts were recognised in the Corporate World where he spoke on various topics of Leadership: The Awakening of Creativity; Without Vision, The Work-Place Works Against Itself; The Gift of Encouragement in Times of Anxiety.


I had the privilege of listening to him at Greenbelt 2007, where he spoke on 'Imagination as the Path of Spirit'.
He held the large audience spellbound, as the weaved his Celtic repertoire through our attentive senses. I loved what he shared about great conversations and friendships:-

"In our contemporary world it’s very hard to find places where you can show your heart.

One of the things in our culture that’s very difficult is to find someone you can talk to. People want a best friend or someone they can talk to.

When was the last time that you had a great conversation with someone? A conversation that sang in your mind for days and weeks afterwards. In real conversation you can be taken to places you never expected. You can overhear things from yourself that you never knew you had in you. And you can absolutely change in a great conversation.

It’s like pure nourishment for yourself. This is one of the beautiful gifts of friendship. And if you have a friend with whom you can have a great conversation with, then you should do that often.

And regardless of where they are you should go to see them, so you can talk to them and be with them. Because I think in that you find new dimensions of your self, that in normal day to day life no one even suspects.

In friendship and in really good conversation you get a chance to make a clearance, in order to allow the other person to emerge as who they are in their otherness. In a safe space, where they won’t be assaulted with either expectations or judgement.

And that’s one of the things friendship should be.

Friendship and love should be safe spaces of clearance and healing and possibility."

Yes, a great conversation with a friend is indeed pure nourishment for the soul.

May you be blessed with a friend
with whom you can have great heartfelt conversations.
May you be able to speak with them often
and know that the time spent with them is like no other

Take care
David

P.S. For those interested in hearing John O'Donohue's talk, it can be bought here:-
http://www.greenbelt.org.uk/shop/talks/speakers/400

Alternatively check out his website:-
http://www.johnodonohue.com/