The Art of Belonging and Our Capacity to do Unexpected Things — with Pádraig Ó’Tuama

Where do you belong? Where are your edges of belonging? 

Belonging/not belonging is a universal and intimate experience that shapes our identities, self-confidence, rebellion and personal evolution. In Episode 2 of Tension of Emergence, Jennifer speaks with poet and theologian Pádraig Ó’Tuama about belonging and how it's shaped by language through politics, theology and recent national events like Brexit. 

At the heart of this conversation, Pádraig and Jennifer discuss: 

• how language became a source of rebellion and relief as he navigated exclusion and belonging in beloved places and institutions;
• the importance of truth-telling to name and liberate what's inconvenient and difficult; and
• how  to create places where we all belong.

At the end, Jennifer offers a practice to help explore and cultivate belonging and inclusion in daily life. 

Pádraig Ó’Tuama is the author of many books including In the Shelter: Finding a Home in the World, Readings from the Book of Exile and Borders and Belonging: The Book of Ruth, A Story for our Times with Glenn Jordan. He hosts the popular Poetry Unbound podcast with OnBeing Studios and The Corrymeela Podcast. Most recently Pádraig was the poet in residence at the Morton Deutsch International Centre for Cooperation and Conflict Resolution at Columbia University. 


Links & Resources-

• To learn more about Pádraig's writing and work you can visit his website here.
• Stay in touch with Jennifer's work and offerings to support your path of emergence by subscribing here or by following her on Instagram.
• Show music by the talented Jordy Walker

Gratitude for this show’s theme song Inside the House, composed by the talented Yukon musician, multi-instrumentalist and sound artist Jordy Walker. Artwork by the imaginative writer, filmmaker and artist Jon Marro.