First Tuesdays of each month, 7-9pm.
JAAK LONDON STUDIO, E10 5ET

Offered here is an opportunity to meet, talk and listen. Many women support each other in their life experiences and often men often don’t. This is a space to correct this, to deepen listening skills, to practice relating authentically, and to develop community.

This space is grounded in the philosophies of author bell hooks and aligned with feminist masculinity—committed to challenging the harms of patriarchal culture.

The Positive Masculinity circle upholds the belief that every individual holds the same worth as anyone who has ever lived or will ever live. We live within a miracle, and each day offers us the power of choice. People cause hurt because they themselves are hurt / insecure. Every person needs to know that they are loved and have value absolutely. We can disapprove of the action yet still hold someone with love.

At each circle we will sit in quiet, tune into our own emotions, each be given the opportunity to share, to listen, to talk as a group on a chosen subject, to share tea, eat food, and sit around the fire when possible.

NOTES FOR CIRCLES

All sexual orientations are welcome.

Listening in itself is a wonderful gift. Please give uninterrupted space to listen as though it were you that was speaking.

Please aim to speak when you feel grounded as opposed to reactive as it will most likely be misaligned, angry, defensive, judgemental etc etc.

Take your time. Please only share as much as feels comfortable.

Please talk with dignity grace and loving-kindness.

Please keep an open mind.

Please leave it to the other, to continue a conversation about which they have shared.

Please invite others you feel would benefit from this space :)

‘Withdraw into yourself and look. And if you don’t find yourself beautiful yet, act as does the creator of a statue that is to be made beautiful: he cuts away here, he smoothes there. He makes this line lighter, that one purer, until a lovely face has grown from his work. So you also must cut away all that is excessive, straighten all that is crooked, bring to light all that is overcast. Labour to make all one glow of beauty, and never cease chiselling your statue, until there shall shine out from it the godlike splendor of virtue—until you see perfect goodness surely established in the stainless shrine.’

Hsin Hsin Ming

‘Only a feminist vision that embraces feminist masculinity, that loves boys and men and demands on their behalf every right that we desire for girls and women, can renew men in our society. Feminist thinking teaches us all, males especially, how to love justice and freedom in ways that foster and affirm life. Clearly we need new strategies, new theories, guides that will show us how to create a world where feminist masculinity thrives.’

‘The Will To Change’ bell hooks