“But many of us seek community solely to escape the fear of being alone. Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.”
― bell hooks
The Grove is a reading circle for creatives and community seekers.
We gather monthly to carve out a cozy space for quiet reading, intentional conversation, and connection.
The Grove is spacious and focused on nourishment. You are welcome to read the book before we meet, but it isn’t necessary. Our curator, Kate Creech, will select an excerpt (or a few) and we’ll take time to read quietly on our own, before transitioning into a discussion/learning space. There is ample permission to relax, receive, and surrender the pressure to say something ‘smart’!
Our featured book for February is all about love: new visions by bell hooks, a renowned scholar, cultural critic, and feminist writer.
“[In all about love] bell hooks offers a proactive new ethic for a society bereft with lovelessness — not the lack of romance, but the lack of care, compassion, and unity. People are divided, she declares, by society's failure to provide a model for learning to love.” (Book Shop)
We look forward to being together and soaking in this imaginative, deepening book together!
“How different things might be if, rather than saying "I think I'm in love," we were saying "I've connected with someone in a way that makes me think I'm on the way to knowing love." Or if instead of saying "I am in love" we say "I am loving" or "I will love." Our patterns around romantic love are unlikely to change if we do not change our language.” — bell hooks
Timing
Our gathering will loosely follow this flow:
7:00 — Arrive + get cozy
7:10 — Setting the frame
7:15 — Quiet reading
7:50 — Conversation
8:30 — Space for casual connection
Tea and chocolate will be provided. You are welcome to bring snacks, wine, or your favorite beverage to share.
Registration
$7 suggested exchange for the general public
Registration fee is included for collective members
Please RSVP by Noon the day of the gathering so we can prepare the space for you. We will also share access to the selected excerpts that we will be reading together so you can download to your favorite reading device for print copies to bring with you.
We encourage you to support the author and your favorite local bookstore by purchasing the book, before or after the circle. We love our building-mates Ardunsel Books.
Kate Creech
Psychotherapist & Circle Curator
Kate is a therapist and visual artist. She is excited to curate this circle because books offer a space for us to connect and create the space to process (or simply be) with others in the daunting questions we often face as humans/healers/creatives, etc
Learn more about Kate