Spirit of the times 2006

Winter 2006

New Social-Action Film

TO Mr. Joseph Jacques, producer of  the film, C.A.S.T., www.jointhecast.blogspot.com

Thanks for inviting us to be part of your work.  We, Amy and Arny very much appreciate your present direction.

Wherever we go, whether we are alone on the Oregon Coast dreaming, running and doing research by ourselves, with a small class or with hundreds of people in the US or another country working in a large forum dealing with world conflicts--- we seek the truth.

For us, that word is something very special, and almost sacred. By truth we mean “deep democracy”, an encompassing feeling skill that embraces people and dreams. This term means approximately for us that each person must speak about who she is. By truth, we mean that each of us helps the other to notice and appreciate all kinds of signals. We  know about, some of the messages we intend to send. But some of our messages and signals go without our awareness. We encourage one another to notice all signals and stand for them.

For example, the truth may be that one part of us is smiling, while a deep seriousness may be in the background. Both of these signals together, create the truth. And then, even if all voices, signals, and dreamlike messages have been expressed, there is something, we call the Dreaming, or with the Aboriginal Australians, the “Dreamtime”, which can not always be spoken about in words. The whole truth also needs the dreaming earth, the subtle feelings we have of being moved, our dreamlike sense of space, the songs that arise from the atmosphere.

All together, all levels, the so called consensually real level where we speak to one another about what is on our hearts and minds, the dreamland level, where we bring up hidden feelings, ideas and images, and the essence level, where we try to give form, sound and motion in art and music to the inexpressible aspects of reality belong to the truth. All these things and more, depending upon a given person’s and group’s culture, history, and orientation, create that magical truth!

So when we hear about folks like you trying to tell, dance, and sing the truth, we celebrate, we heartily welcome, we dance like kids, and move like elders.

Fall 2006

Birth of a Mother

Thanks to Rebecca Ragain’s article “Birth of a Mother” and thanks to the magazine “JUST OUT” serving the Lesbian, Gay Bi, and Transgender communities Oregon and SW Washington, we can read about the amazing theatre performance of Dr. Dawn Menken.

Reporting on Dawn’s play, called “MAMA SPEAK”, Ms Ragain reports about Dawn’s dreams….

I had very, very powerful dreams of babies, of looking into their eyes and seeing the universe,” the 48-year-old recalls.

But Menken didn't make the decision to have a child until she realized that being a lesbian mother could be a social statement as well as a personal choice.  

She says, “The whole political side of that experience, the social action side, became very meaningful to me.”…

See the full article at http://www.justout.com/archives/issues/09_15_06/ and go to the bottom right of page 30.

September 2006

The Missing Elder

We listened closely to the US TV channel, C-Span, “American Perspectives”, (Aug 19-- you can get it on DVD here) called “The Future of Young African American Men” with Bill Cosby, Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree, and former Congressman Ron Dellums and others. The show featured a diversity of African Americans views. All agreed that many young fathers were not living with their families today.

An intense interaction between the well known US African American comedian, Bill Cosby and newspaper editor form the US Washington Post occurred when Cosby criticized the editor’s suggestion that though 30% of a population may be in crisis, still 70% is not.

Both men had important points. The editor was looking at the whole picture of things (the 30 plus the 70), and Cosby said essentially that this “whole picture” marginalized needed social action. Everyone agreed that the US government, the Black community and mainstream population must help young black families, where the fathers are often missing.

We noticed that the missing “fathers ” are also a “missing” everywhere in the moment. There are too few parenting situations, that is, scenes where an elder, (male or female) presides over any situation at home, in the world, or in open TV forums. Perhaps this is the most common problem in group situations around our planet. We all need to find that missing elder, not just in the African American community, but in all communities. It is up to each of us to find the elder who supports her or his viewpoint, and sees the importance of diversity in other viewpoints as well. We thank C-Span and all the participants for producing that good TV forum.

Rev. Gardner C. Taylor

One of Martin Luther King’s role models, the Rev. G. Taylor, speaks about the connection between love, detachment and letting yourself be carried by something greater than the moment. To hear his eldership teachings, click on the right where it says, “Watch this report”. His ideas are part of the essence of the Christian Gospel.

The Women’s Theological Center www.thewtc.org

We are thankful to the Women’s Theological Center of Boston for having sponsored our worldwork facilitator training in that city last year. This wonderful multicultural diversity-conscious group is located at 140 Clarendon St. Boston, MA, USA. (Email: contactwtc@thewtc.org ) They are especially devoted to creative, spiritual leadership development to promote social justice.

Change Facilitation

We are happy to see the new process oriented deep democracy approach to conflict, coaching, team and world issues issues offered in Switzerland (in German and English)by Lukas Hohler. www.changefacilitation.ch

August 2006

Observer Rank; How Observers Create a "Hidden War"

Social rank refers to the power you have relative to a given group. If you have little rank, you feel misunderstood, downed or cast out by others.

Rank is a power term. In war, the abuse of power always seems obvious to most observers on the “outside” of the conflict. One side has more air force, more rank on the ground etc.

But too few of us think about “observer rank.” If you are psychologically centered and are not suffering in the moment from a fit of revenge, you usually don’t see your good luck as a “rank”. But it is. If you are not suffering from a fit of revenge, then you might look down on people who are angry. IF you look down on others, in a way, you turn against them and create a “hidden war” against those people.

Groups, cities and whole nations can misuse “Observer rank”. Our politicians and newspapers, radio and TV often join the “hidden war”. Without realizing it, we all can turn any war, into a kind of world war. Such hidden wars are more infectious than a plague that can sweep the earth. Without awareness, we are all potential devastators.

Remember your “observer rank”. Are you sitting in a secure physical place, is your health OK, do you have enough to eat? Because if you have these assets, you have observer rank. Use it wisely. Becoming aware of your role in conflict can help the sun to rise again.

War in the Middle East

We are often asked which side we are on. We do stand mainly on one side; mainly the earth beneath the flow between the sides. However, we also strive to totally feel and understand all the sides that are involved as best we can. This holds true for us for just about any conflict.

July 2006

WAR? Please Do Inner and Outer Conflict Facilitation Work.

Dear Friends, just now, the world news is full of conflict in many world hot spots. War is imminent almost…If you would like to help, please don’t just suffer, think or talk about the conflicts with others—like we all do. Please choose at first to at least work on the hot spot you personally feel most emotional about--that may well be best for all.

If you are able, please connect to and facilitate outer situations connected to that hot spot. Connect to others you may know that can make a public difference.

Then, work inwardly. Please facilitate the hot-spot situation as if it was your own. How? Each has her own way. Our preference would be that you use your awareness as best you can. Notice which side you are on. Then, go into the feelings, anger, pain and history of that side. Go deeply and don’t stop at edges. Then after that, please explore the exact same things with the “other” side as best you can. Don’t be satisfied until you can somehow feel Both or All sides completely. Just that is already a gift to everyone.

Then relax, take a breath and notice the feelings, fantasies, or sounds arising in the moment. Catch and follow them. Don’t stop until those feelings begin to flow and move you as if they were a river of wisdom…towards insights, feelings, and experiences that may be helpful to all.

Thank you, amy and arny

P.S. Please feel free to pass this on, or your version of what might be helpful.

June 2006

The Deep Democracy Of Open Forums On KPFK Radio In Los Angeles

By clicking on this link, you will hear Nita Vallens interviewing Arny on KPFK, a progressive, activist oriented public radio station in Los Angeles, U.S.A. You will hear how the station is using Arny and his “The Deep Democracy of Open Forums’ (among other people and their work) for their fundraising campaign. We learned from this interview how interested the world is in a deeper democracy. Without it, many feel hopeless and lost. Many people are hoping for and wanting new open forums and deeper political change. We were touched by, and thoroughly support, KPFK.

June 2006 Interview, Part 1 (mp3 format, 2.5 MB)
June 2006 Interview, Part 2 (mp3 format, 4 MB)

America At War?

Dear America, you –we– can’t win a war with guns today. Times have changed. Robotically controlled, powerful explosives have made the idea of a battle-“front” less important. There is no one front-line location. Today, the war is in great part in the heart. Create a war of heart and win it by having a big heart for everyone. Learn to process experiences with other peoples, that’s how to make friends, and win the battle on terror. Instead of the “the war on  terror”,  let’s call this “a battle of heart”! Learn how all sides have important points to make. Protect yourself and the others by changing your feelings and the nature of the battle.

April 2006

Worldwork in Australia

We are thankful to the Australian and international process oriented worldwork community for having sponsored the April training with just under 300 people from at least thirty different countries. What a powerful learning and healing experience that was for many people. Some of the tensions we were dealing with even got mentioned by one of Australia’s main newspapers, the Sydney Morning Herald.

See http://www.worldwork.org/home.htm for pictures from this Australian experience.

Spring 2006

Muslims, Jews and Christians
We are often asked about our views of the Middle East and the Muslims. We remember that Islam showed great vision and generosity in earlier times saying that like Muslims, Jews and Christians were ‘people of the book’. Muslims, Jews and Christians were understood as part of a religion of well known sacred texts. Today, while respecting the differences between these religions, we also recall their unity. In the “Koran” we read;
“ O children of Israel! Remember My favors which I bestowed upon you, and fulfill your covenant with Me, I will fulfill My covenant with you, and Me alone should you fear..... (The Holy Quran: 2;41)

To Politicians and Leaders involved in Misconduct Allegations
Please don’t just excuse yourselves once caught. Become “wounded leaders”. Model new world governments. Show how your problems are due to your particular gender, culture, moment in history and psychology. Model being real people. Pay the price of your crimes, but grow beyond them in order to help us all realize how most of us also suffer from the same problems you do. Let’s grow together.

Our “Political Agenda”: Deep Democracy
After working with many everyday people and world “leaders”, we developed the following political agenda. Practice deep democracy, be practical and realistic, then go deep underneath, and incorporate awareness of your deepest feelings. Do this at work and home. Politics is not only about politicians. Encourage yourself and others to realize their gifts and their problems are not just wounds, but experiences shared by everyone, everywhere. Discover who you are; namely, a combination of your enemies and friends. Become a river that fluidly moves between frozen states and opinions. The Deep Democratic Party convenes at the very least, every night of our lives in our dreams and its actions want to be seen during the day in our behavior.

Palestine, Israel and Ariel Sharon
We hope you return from your coma as soon as possible. We are happy to know some of the people trying to help you there now. Please, if and when you return, model a new leadership. Speak about your deep experiences and integrate your coma. You almost died, now we hope you integrate that experience by telling others to “die” out of their one sidedness in order to embrace their side, and others. Tell people not to act from extreme positions, but to go deeper and find the roots that make us all extreme; that is, agony, love, hopelessness, and sadness.

Bad Cartoons
We apologize to all religions for negative cartoons published in the EU and elsewhere ridiculing religions and peoples. The first step for each involved group is obviously to protect itself against further injury. And for some in any group, the next step might be to move beyond being one part, one political party only. Please choose facilitation instead of war.

Worldwork and Issues of Race in Australia
We are thankful to Sherry Marshal from Australia for these insights, sent to us in letter form, on the race scene in Australia with Aboriginal people and Muslim people.

Download Sherry's letter (28KB Word document)