November 3, 2025
Linda Hogan, The Woman Who Watches Over the World: A Native Memoir
There are ways in,
journeys to the center of life,
through time;
through air, matter, dream and thought.
Ways are not always mapped or charted, but sometimes being lost,
if there is such a thing, is the sweetest place to be.
And always, in this search,
a person might find that she is already there,
at the center of the world. It may be a broken world,
but it is glorious nonetheless.
by Linda Hogan, The Woman Who Watches Over the World: A Native Memoir.
Invitation: “if there is such a thing…”
Linda Hogan is a Pulitzer finalist, author and poet. She is a professor Emerita from the University of Colorado. Her works include Wellings: A Spiritual History of the Living World and The Woman Who Watches Over the World: A Native Memoir. In collaboration with Brenda Peterson, she co-authored Sightings: Additionally, she wrote the PBS documentary script Everything Has a Spirit, which focuses on American Indian religious freedom. More writing by Lisa Hogan can be found at these links:
https://www.lindahoganwriter.com/
https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poets/linda-hogan
If you are enjoying The Community Table and would like to support our work consider making a donation. While the offerings on the Community Table will always be free - we appreciate any support you can provide to continue helping us set the table for creating community.
We will meet for the Community Table every Monday at 4:30 pm or 8:00 pm (EST) - Go to our calendar at this link for details: https://courageouscommons.com/events/
You can also see our many upcoming events with Dr. Sally Z. Hare, and others on our events page at this link: https://courageouscommons.com/events
I am intrigued by this insight from Linda Hogan -- "Ways are not always mapped or charted, but sometimes being lost, if there is such a thing, is the sweetest place to be."
________
As I look back on my life, it may have been that off the path -- off the map -- off the social script and expectations where my true self was allowed to be and flourish. Not lost, but found.