Today it was the news of the dolphins that weighed on my
heart. Dead bottlenose dolphins are being washed ashore at an alarming
rate. Many marine biologists state that the dolphins are a litmus test
for whether or not an ocean system is healthy or unhealthy. Clearly, our
oceans are in deep trouble.
How long can we pretend that our ecosystems are not under
serious threat? Our unconsciousness and denial of what is happening are
staggering.
What has the power to turn things around? Will we
descend into the darkness of fundamentalism and militarism? Will our
unconsciousness continue to allow us to scapegoat the "other" and
engage in wars over resources and ideology?
As human beings, is it possible that we are capable of more
than this? Can we connect with the larger, cosmic story of creation and
find our way home to who we truly are? What role can our spirit play in
healing the traumas and solving the problems of our world?
Black Elk stated that, "The first peace, which is the
most important, is that which comes within the souls of people when they
realize their relationship, their oneness with the universe and all its powers,
and when they realize at the center of the universe dwells the Great Spirit,
and that its center is really everywhere, it is within each of us."
This September in Toronto, we will be engaged in an ongoing
dialogue series entitled, "Unconscious No More" that seeks to respond
to these questions from a paradigm that is emerging to create the future, as
well as being rooted in ancient wisdom traditions. This event, held at Beit Zatoun - a Palestinian solidarity space committed to peace and justice - follows a
similar gathering held in May of this year. That event was an innovative dialogue was held featuring Mohawk knowledge holders and Jungian depth psychologists. The
proceeds of that event were directed towards a groundbreaking trip to the C.G. Jung Institute in Zurich where Indigenous
teachings and ceremony were brought together with Jungian understandings of the
psyche and its process of transformation.
This follow-up event is an opportunity for a deeper
exploration of the role the human spirit plays in fostering a truly healthy
(whole) human psychology. This is an important discussion, as it is our
wholeness which allows us to respond intelligently to the crises facing our
world, and helps us in creating a more humane and sustainable way of living on
the planet.
Members of the delegation to Zurich will share their
experiences from this trip, and we will continue the process of allowing for a
deeper integration and convergence of worldviews grounded in a respect for, and
understanding of, the human spirit. This event will feature powerful
Indigenous ceremonies, reflections on the trip to Zurich from those who
attended, and discussion circles led by pioneers in the fields of
psychology and spirituality.
Proceeds from this event will be directed towards a trip
being undertaken by Soul of the
Mother to Serra San Bruno, Italy to join in prayer with
the Carthusian Order of Monks in
a ceremony of reconciliation and renewal in the spirit of pluriversal interconnection. Healing the legacy of colonialism and transforming fascism and fundamentalism are essential tasks of our time.
