Patterns in the sand – part 4 – Navigating the Mysteries

What is your way?

I ended my last post poised, balanced on a pivot point, contemplating changes that I want – and can make. And inviting you to do the same.

What has been revealed since that post – since the last full moon?

Are you being drawn further along a path you’ve been following for some time?

Are you being invited to step out of something old, into something new?

Are you ready to put language to the changes you wish to make?

We all know that we can only change something once we’ve seen it, once we’ve owned it, once we’ve named it.

Until some crucial pivot point arrives, many of us don’t even consider making changes, especially not the changes that require us to look within, to see and own shadow patterns and those deeply hidden, previously denied capacities that often remain concealed in the murky depths.

I know how uncomfortable it can be, as that moment of realisation dawns, when our denial melts away into acknowledgement.

Just like you, I’ve felt and faced the fear of change, the discomfort of stepping into the unknown, the anxiety about where this might lead. I’ve faced the questions – am I up to the task? What will be required of me? What if I fail? Who will I become?

I believe that these, and many other questions are typical of everyone who stands at a pivot point, of everyone who seeks greater depth to life, everyone who seeks to make life more meaningful.

In that sense, we are all pilgrims. Isn’t it good to know we’re not alone!

Isn’t it good to know we walk an ancient path!

Pilgrimage is on my mind again. After taking a physical break, my next walk is planned.

Whilst I know that I’m on a perpetual pilgrimage, seeking self-knowledge, an understanding of the world, purpose and meaning, sometimes, the flow disappears from sight, a river plunging underground, to reappear somewhere ahead.

Many of you know that since late 2019, when it was no longer tenable for me to continue the humanitarian work I had been doing, I’ve repeatedly walked across northern Spain, following some of the ancient pilgrimage routes, especially the Camino Frances and Camino Olvidado (the Forgotten Way).

High in the hills, this forgotten or old route (it bears both names), hugs a narrowing river as it rushes over craggy rocks and through tight gullies until the water simply disappears. The water bids farewell for a while, leaving the walker to follow, above ground, tracing the ancient course.

It’s an eerily quiet, mysterious place, and challenging walk over huge boulders, winding between awe inspiring sheer cliffs.

It offers a great metaphor for my life – another pattern left in the sand, or more accurately carved in the rock! And I have the sense that the part of me that’s been navigating the depths, is being reunited with the one navigating boulders and staring upwards in awe and delight!

Perhaps this is where the divergence began –

On my first Camino, in the autumn of 2019, as a huge vista spread before me thoughts that had been brewing for weeks erupted into words for the first time.

“Wouldn’t it be wonderful to combine humanitarian work and walking the Camino!”

It seemed innocent enough at the time – a passing comment – but ideas of what that might look like persisted, buzzing around my mind. What humanitarian work could I do? How could I complement this with pilgrimage? Who could I invite?
What funding and preparations would be needed? How would the pilgrimage be crafted into something beautiful and meaningful, whilst also being manageable? How might this raise awareness of the issues faced by the thousands of people across the globe who are in need? How might this contribute to co-creating a more loving world?

The idea seemed to have a certain life of its own, but a way forward disappeared from view.

The Israeli-Palestinian conflict has long been on my humanitarian heart and in my mind. I have wanted to help – but how?

Those who have read Patterns in the Sand – Part 2 will know how my heart leapt when I discovered the Green Olive Collective, a working collective of Jewish and Palestinian partners, who describe themselves as being “driven by a belief in inherent human rights with a dedication to advancing them, as enshrined in international law”.

Their principles reflect the “core principles of justice, dignity, and equality for all people and the need to address historical grievances through just and equitable solutions.”

After years of holding the situation, mostly silently, somewhere in the depths of my heart – a crevice appeared. And I gushed through it!

The crevice led me into conversation with Erez Bleicher, the Green Olive Collective’s Advocacy and Membership Director, he explained that part of the motivation to found the Collective was to provide such an opening for people like me, who wanted to help, but didn’t know how to start.

Pouring through was easy, but as if entering a deep pool, my pace slowed, circling rather than rushing, plumbing the depths and exploring where the light touches the surface. Not going anywhere fast!

I know that any action I take will set me on the next phase of my inner, and potentially outer pilgrimage and as preparation, I’ve been pondering Phil Cousineau’s question, from his book The Art of Pilgrimage –

What is your way?

I needed to be clear about the foundational beliefs and values that I was basing any action upon.

I needed to be clear that my motivation came from a place of wholeness.

I needed to be clear that I was responding, not reacting.

I needed to be clear that my actions would, at the very least, do no harm.

My contemplation has helped me to identify several threads, and with your support, my intention is to weave them into something beautiful!

We have the deep tones of the principles for humanitarian response

Humanity

Neutrality

Impartiality

Independence

Voluntary service

Unity

Universality

And the warm hues of the humanistic approach of unconditional positive regard, a way of interacting that enables people “the comfort and freedom to safely be themselves without fearing rejection or the loss of other people’s love”*.

We have the bold colours of human rights, claiming dignity, equality, and freedom, protection from abuse, neglect, and discrimination for all people.

We have the precious threads of ancient wisdom traditions, the Vedic Yuga Cycle, and teachings from nature, indigenous people and multiple spiritual teachers.

And we have the vibrancy of friendship, collaboration, diversity and inclusion.

Ah! I’ve reached the lip, where the water once more can flow! Will you come along for the ride?

In collaboration with the Green Olive Collective, it is my intention to launch a Solidarity Circle.

A Solidarity Circle is

“A group of people committed to maintaining sustained and direct relationships of solidarity with Palestinians, amplifying the voices of activists living under occupation, becoming ambassadors for change in their local communities, and supporting on the ground activism in the West Bank.”

As you read these words, notice your thoughts, feelings and body sensations – honour them all!

When I first read them, there was an excitement, and a fear. Perhaps it’s similar for you.

I understand if, like me you don’t want to provoke or be accused of divisiveness, prejudice, hatred, or violence.

I understand if your greatest concern is to do no harm.

But do you, like me, think that enough is enough – it is time to act?

In this moment, I believe that raising awareness of the issues faced by Palestinian people in the West Bank will, in some small way contribute to the eventual finding of equitable and just solutions to what appear to be entrenched problems.

In some small way, it will contribute to the creation of a more loving world.

Of-course, I can’t create a circle on my own – so this is where you come in!

Will you join me in a Solidarity Circle?

I understand if you need time for contemplation and consideration.

So, to support you in your discernment process, I am offering a series of online conversations, in which we’ll consider some of the where, what, how, and why questions.

We’ll consider the context and environment in which the Palestinian people find themselves. And we’ll consider the humanitarian and Aquarian principles that will be foundational to our Solidarity Circle.

We’ll think about how we can participate in effective and principled humanitarian action, gently and kindly, practicing unconditional positive regard and bearing witness – initially at least, from the comfort of our own homes.

And we’ll consider how such action contributes to the wider context of raising consciousness and supporting human evolution towards a more loving world.

Will you take this step with me?

Join me in the first interactive zoom gathering on

Monday 23^rd February at 5pm GMT (6pm CET / 9am PST / 12noon EST)**

We’ll begin our conversation by introducing the work of the Green Olive Collective, reviewing the humanitarian principles and welcoming any fears and concerns to the conversation.

Leave a comment or hit reply if you’ve received this post by email for the zoom link.

I look forward to being with you.

(** Let me know if you want to join me, but this time isn’t good for you. We can work something out!)

*D Myers (verywellmind.com). I expanded upon the gracious approach of unconditional positive regard in my post Do to others as I would have them do to me.