1 Jan 2020 DRAFT

Just listening is simple – two people sitting or standing together, a listener and a
person with a story to share. This approach can be facilitated anywhere, any time
and in any community. Just Listening aims to demonstrate the value of connection
through listening and being heard.
Listening can offer justice to both the person narrating their personal reality and to
the person listening. In the process of deep listening we hear both ourselves and
the other person and can honour the truth of each person.
Just Listening is a free community listening project that seeks to offer justice in listening
and connection through this meaningful action.
At ReAwaken a Just Listening station was established, consisting of two chairs and a
Just Listening banner. Participants were encouraged to take up one of these chairs
at any stage during the week if they felt like being a listener, thereby inviting anyone
that had something to share to sit down and tell their story. While Just Listening
can take place in any setting, the themes covered during the week long conference
meant that this opportunity to share, be heard, listen and connect were particularly
valuable for people.
Along with just listening, we also had the lovely listeners from Sidewalk Talk lending
some ears. Jeff Simmons, Paul Shultz, Sharon McGann and Debbie Dunn. The Sidewalk
Talk sign and chairs were set up on the lawns in front of the Monastery. With
the same invitation from the organisers to go and talk with Jeff, Debbie, Paul or
Sharon whenever they felt inclined.
Sidewalk Talk is not in anyway associated with Just Listening, but is under the same
concept. “Two San Francisco therapists shared a vision: to help heal that
which divides us through the fine art of skilled listening.” Extract from
https://www.sidewalk-talk.org/about.html
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