Spirit of the times 2004

December 2004

Deep Democracy December 2004 and Worldwork 1994

We are thankful to Ms. Cat Saunders for the following interview. (See her website at http://www.drcat.org/articles_interviews/html/DeepDemocracy.html.) Though the time of this interview was 1994, and although some of our answers might be different today, the essence of our approaches to world issues has remained the same.

November 2004

Learning experiences

Because of professional ethics, we can’t report on details of work done with private and public organizations. However we can report on our learning experiences. A consistent experience is the repeated insight; for the world to progress, all of us need to learn how we use our rank. Those with less social rank must have more (and not just equal) social and psychological awareness compared to that of those with higher social rank for the world to transform. Those with lower rank realize inequities.

Their knowledge about rank can be disturbing to those who have a lot of it. Awakening others to their rank is important but can be terrifying. To change the world, everyone, but especially those without social rank need to use his or her awareness courageously and with more consciousness in order to create sustainable change. Love and Power like all ghosts are nonlocal communication potentials. When used with consciousness, they can be transformative.

September 2004

In Relationship We Trust

Note to those wishing to be leaders: (written during the 2004 US Presidential campaign)

Dear Ms or Mr. President to be:
IN RELATIONSHIP WE TRUST

To win the election and the hearts of the world, connect not only to the voters but also to that half of the nation that does not vote. Those fifty percent are your gold mine. Speak to that half in all of us. Say the following: [more ...]

August 04

Open Letter : "Reflections on 9/11 and Ground Zero"

To the USA AND ITS ALLIES, we appreciate the creation of a new, higher building at the site of Ground Zero, the place of the terrorist attack in Manhattan. We understand that this building may be the highest. This project is symbolic; we understand that it is meant to give hope and renewed sense of value to all who have suffered under attacks. In addition, we would like to suggest another symbol. A building that is round and flat at the top, not necessarily tall and peaked. Such a building could be named, " The ROUND TABLE AT GROUND ZERO".

" ROUND TABLE" symbolizes a new purpose for the building; awareness practice and research into dialogue and diversity. This new meaning for "Ground Zero" would show the U.S.'s desire of holding to the center in conflict, to the "zero" so to speak. In our minds, we would like the US to be proud of its consciousness, not only its strength; of its eldership and not only its power.

To TERRORISTS and FREEDOM FIGHTERS. Many have advised us not to speak with you as if you were not human.

These are tense times for all. We are all living in and trying to recuperate from trauma. If you can, please listen - even though we are from the US. At the same time that the US and her allies are trying to do the above, we dream that you too will make more use of consciousness. We understand you are saying that the US is dominating and imperialistic. However, no one has ever overcome imperialism without having a model of how to do it. We know that to reduce imperialism, you must consider that is an outer and inner reality. Therefore, to model a new world, you must reduce imperialism by refusing to extend power or authority over innocent "others" in the interests of domination. We must all do that. We must all fight the dominating tendencies of hopelessness, depression, and the ecstatic intoxication of revenge and power. Then a real change will have occurred.

DEAR FRIENDS everywhere. Governments can only fulfill our highest dreams internationally if we can. Every world leader comes from a family. Every family member interacts with others. Realizing this, let's all study, learn and work together by exploring each and every tense relationship moment. If you want the world to change, show it how. Let no difficult moment pass in friendships, family, group, cultures and world. If needed, stop conflict and potential violence. Remember, that's only a first step. The next step it to understand where it comes from, its essence. Finally let's learn from history and the oldest lessons. Whatever is forbidden today, reappears tomorrow. Differences that are not valued today become the wars of tomorrow. Center yourself in awareness of the dialogue process, and not only in one side or another. And then show and ask the world to do the same. Thank you.

April 04

Rethinking Leadership

Arny's Sitting in the Fire (1995) differentiates between the role of an Elder and a role of a Leader:

" The leader follows Robert's Rules of Order, the elder obeys the spirit.
The leader seeks a majority, the elder stands for everyone.
The leader sees trouble and tries to stop it, the elder sees the troublemaker as a possible teacher.
The leader strives to be honest; the elder sees the truth in everything.
The democratic leader supports democracy; the elder does this too but also listens to dictators and ghosts.
Leaders try to be better at their jobs; elders try to get others to become elders.
Leaders try to be wise; elders have no mind of their own. They follow the events of nature...
The leader knows; the elder learns.
The leader needs a strategy; the elder studies the moment.
The leader follows a plan; the elder honors a direction of a mysterious and unknown river."

(Thanks to Dr. Bogna Szymkiewicz-Kowalska for finding this for us, and reprinting it in her paper: "OLD AGE: HOPES, FEARS AND BEYOND About Process Work and Aging." bogna@pacificinstitute-europe.org. )