Colloquially, ‘‘dwelling’’ is associated with a particular quality of engagement. It connotes lingering, paying attention in an unhurried way. As a quality of thought dwelling suggests openness, it is not quite so directed or forceful as ‘‘pondering’’ while being more focused than ‘‘day-dreaming’’. As an activity, dwelling implies affecting a place, creating a home space perhaps, which reflects the self while sympathetically representing the particularities of the space itself.

In Heidegger’s terms, dwelling has corresponding connotations. Similar to the common sense use of the term, dwelling is strongly associated with a ‘‘poetic’’ way of being in Heidegger’s writing. As such, it can never be wholly apprehended through hermeneutics or completely rational ways of knowing; the imaginal plays a key role in both our understanding, and enactment of dwelling.

¶ 8:41 AM