COMMUNITY? AUDIENCE?
what's the difference?
Did you know I used to be a professional musician? Those pictures are from my performing days. From professional orchestras to solo performances and almost everything in between, I’ve done it. I know what it’s like to get in front of people and perform.
As a performer, I needed an audience. During the day, I looked at the audience as people to be won over, to be enchanted by the performance and who would come back again and again to hear the performances I took part in.
(As I’m writing this, in hindsight 20+ years later, I really think I was looking for groupies! 😳)
And you know what? Someplace along the line, I lost the desire for audience (or groupies) and now yearn for community.
The Difference Between Audience And Community
Today, audience means everyone, everywhere, around the world. That’s really big, I mean FRIGHTENINGLY BIG! - at least for me.
I see the biggest difference between audience and community as audience being a large group of folx who engage through appreciation, applause, adulation etc. with the performer. Community is a small group of folx who care about the same things and engage with each other in solidarity.
In the communities I’m now a part of, folx ask the same questions I have, have the same concerns I have and think about the same things I do.
I am passionate about many things and heading the list is true kinship with animals - moving from power-over animals to relationship-with animals and being with them in a new place of understanding.
Do you have that same concern? Is that something you’d like to think about with me and other like-minded folx?
If The Answer Is Yes…
We’re already connected through this newsletter, yay and thanks! If you care to share, that’s greatly appreciated. Here are other places to join with me in community and solidarity:
True Kinship With Animals Podcast
True Kinship With Animals Website
Instagram - get your Daily Dose of true kinship
Kindred - the online group true kinship with animals subscription program where we can connect beginning at $15.00 USD monthly.
I no longer want to perform for an audience, I want to be with like-minded folx. Is that you? 😊 👋👋👋
If you find value and support in this newletter, please forward it to a friend or three. If you’re the friend (hello there friend!) you can learn more about my work and subscribe to your own copy here.
Thank You For Supporting The Free Teachings!
 The work I do here is how I choose to show up for the world and support myself. The income I receive brings relief as it enables me to meet my financial responsibilities.
Every week you find my free teachings on the site, the podcast, in this newsletter and on social media. These are free because I want to nurture the practice of community and collaboration as best I can in a society that values power-over, competition and individualism.Â
I recognize there are folx who want to work with me but cannot afford a 1:1 session or a visit to the shop. These free teachings are a stopgap that gives you the teachings you’re looking for while giving me the means to meet my financial responsibilities.
I honor the integrity and wisdom of the teachings as well as the time I have spent learning, tending and passing them forward. If you are in a position to pay what you can for them I ask you to do so in a reciprocal exchange of energy.
Thank you!
About me…..
I am an animist, podcaster, intuitive practitioner and mentor identifying as she/they and respectfully acknowledge I am supported and sustained on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Séliš (Salish) and QÌispé (upper Kalispel or Pend d’Oreille) People who have stewarded this land throughout the generations.
As a practitioner of true kinship with animals, I pledge to recognize the descendants and practices of the original Peoples, Lands and Animals. I will not knowingly appropriate their wisdom, nor will I knowingly speak over their voices. When I have participated in colonialism practices, I will be accountable by publicly acknowledging the harmful practice, apologizing, and doing the needed reflection and self work to do better in the future.
For 30+ years I have facilitated clear conversations between animals and people. In my work I encourage people to recreate a bond with animals by disengaging from colonized approaches and relating in true kinship.
I am cheerfully owned and managed by a multitude of angel animals and several houseplants.
janetroper.com Kindred Membership Site Shop Podcast Blog
We all do better when ALL creatures do better.
If you find value and support in this newletter, please forward it to a friend or three. If you’re the friend (hello there friend!) you can learn more about my work and subscribe to your own copy here.