The same principles and practices that we use to facilitate creative growth
and healing in ourselves, each other, and with children and babies can be
applied rather easily to 'larger bodies' such as our Earth.
What we have learned from focusing and meditation speaks to the possible
value of such an approach. These practices can help us to feel the truth of
these relationships between our attention, listening space, and connection with
others on an interpersonal and interpersonal scale.
These approaches are very powerful and gentle ways to help our planet move
towards wholeness without getting lost in complicated details.
With this experiential understanding, we can also apply these same healing
ways of offering loving presence on a larger scale - without even leaving home!
[ Top of Page ]
(How our intention and awareness assist the process of life unfolding and
developing, and the role that minds, bodies, and 'holding a space' all have in
this process.)
A. Receptive sensitive attention is very life-nurturing
and life-creating
". . . the simple holding of a facilitative presence with a
group has made a difference, even when I have not had the opportunity to
actively intervene in any way, or to even say a word."
"As a listener I have an important role. I become part of "the
creation or meaning". I am not only part of Nature, with my consciousness
added to it which can listen, but my attention can create a cradle in which
inner parts and parts of other(s) living beings can get companioned/listened
to." (Barbara Rolsma) Barbara's website
Insights such as these remind us of how profound and loving it is to 'offer
our attention' to ourselves and to others. When we listen receptively, we are
not only 'midwifing' and 'companioning' others, we are also actively
contributing to the process of 'bringing new life into being,' and supporting
it in its tender early stages.
B. The key role of perceptive intelligence in 'bridging' or connecting
different 'realms of being'
Our attention can not only make space (a cradle) that welcomes and 'holds'
the new life, it can also point out bridges that already exist but were not
recognized before.
"...the bridges are already there, but usually we are cut off
from them by acts of our minds in becoming conscious beings.
From my perspective we can heal this connection ... by
listening to /welcoming consciously what has been split off from
Life/Living."
Pointing out bridges allows our conscious awareness to move into and across
these bridges; it allows something new to come. It is a highly creative act
implicit in the listening, receiving, and 'seeing':
One set of bridges connects the spaces and qualities of receptive attention
cultivated in focusing and prayer with Neale Walsch's suggestions of ways to
bring about peace on earth through a form of opening to the "don't
know".
Here a few suggestions Neale D. Walsch makes in his book "The New
Revelations":
1. I acknowledge that some of my old beliefs about God and about Life are
no longer working.
2. I acknowledge that there is something I do not understand about God
and Life, the understanding of which could change everything.
3. I am willing for new understandings of God and Life to now be brought
forth, understandings that could produce a new way of life on this planet.
4. I am willing to explore and examine these new understandings, and,
if they align with my inner truth and knowing, to enlarge my belief system to
include them.
5. I am willing to live my life as a demonstration of my beliefs,
rather than as denials of them.<<<
Each is a way of allowing something new to enter. (This movement of opening
to Something Greater is, of course, also part of the Alcoholics Anonymous
prayer, many creative and artistic disciplines, and at the heart of many
spiritual practices).
These bridges increase my respect and communications with many of our
'cousins' - others who are also facilitating and contributing to the creation
of beautiful new life in the world in ways that they feel called.
These include those who pray, listen, meditate, and simply 'stop and wait in
stillness.'
These bridges, or connections, are built from the beautiful relationship
between loving open attention and the creation of a space into which new life
can emerge.
That is the next section.
[ Top of Page ]
Summary of this section:
A) Space is alive and dynamic, and is affected by our intentions
and attention
B) We can actually create spaces for new life to grow into
- even when we don't even know what that new life might be!
C) Holding spaces open, in faith, is one way that we can
participate in the process of creation.
- Safe loving attention facilitates creative unfolding
As we know well from focusing, whenever loving attention is offered to aspects
of emerging life, something is quickened or facilitated. Spacious loving
attention feeds life-in-the-process-of-becoming, just as the sun nurtures a
plant.
(Focusing primarily attends to the physically felt qualities and aspects
of emerging life; there are other practices that attend to more visual,
auditory, or conceptual aspects of spaciousness.)
We are also aware that it is not loving attention alone, but loving
attention in a 'held space' (safe/ protected space) that is important.
In our gardens, it is not only the warm sun that contributes to the plant,
but also the space (soil) into which "something" is allowed to be
planted, unfold, emerge, and become manifest.
In addition, we cooperate with the space and with the seeds and
sprouts - there is a sensitive co-operation with the plants and sun and air.
The gardeners (our conscious intentions) can:
- till and cultivate the soil (make the space welcoming and inviting),
- remove weeds from the garden (protect the space from adverse elements),
- allow space for flowers to bloom without being obstructed.
(-They can also work with the flowers to shape or thin or prune them,
etc...)
B. Living and dynamic qualities of space
In Focusing, we act as if space is very dynamic, or flexible.
We sometimes experience how inner spaces can be 'collapsed' and shaped by
various emotions and qualities of attention, or how it can also be 'held open'
by attending in certain ways, especially the presence of a caring listener.
We often intentionally "make space" for something or someone as
part of the focusing process. Some of us have noticed how the volume, tone, and
other qualities of spaciousness feel in our bodies when we focus or companion
another.
One Aramaic translation for 'to make holy' includes "to set apart in a
special space" - to set in an 'intentional container.
This suggests that space is actually created from some interaction with
our attention!
That space was merely a possibility before it was called into being -
called into being by some interaction between space and our consciously
attention/ listening/ imagining/ wondering about.
This happens not only in focusing, but also occurs elsewhere. It can
be sparked by reading a book, hearing another speak, or just simply wondering
about something with interested curiosity and openness. It happens when we are
attending to our felt experience, listening to others, considering new
possibilities or new ways of being.
Whenever we move into a listening, or a 'wondering about' mode, whenever
we are open to possibilities - a space is held open/ created for something new
to come.
This is a creative act, an opening to something new in 'an inner universe'.
C. Holding spaces for what we know and feel to be true,
and for other forms of new life to emerge
1. Loving attention holds open space for 'new life' to emerge into being.
When we offer our receptive loving attentive presence in the belief that
there might be a possibility of something (life-forward movement,
'growth', one's Deeper Self, the Higher Good, God,…), we are actually
holding a certain type of space open for possibilities yet unknown to
emerge!
We are very familiar with this from focusing. Focusing is based on holding
spaces open for 'that which is felt in the body but not yet known in the mind'
to come into that space, make itself known, and unfold.
This opening and holding a welcome attentive listening space is a generic
creative force that is of great creative power. The openness and freedom that
is provided by this movement of attention allows profound possibilities to
emerge into the space that is 'held' for it.
2. Intentional loving attention holds open spaces even for that which is
not yet understood or presently exists.
Not only can we hold spaces for 'that which is felt in the body but not yet
known in the mind', but we can also hold spaces open for future
possibilities, even if we are not certain whether or not they do or might
exist!
Sometimes in focusing, we invite 'whatever wants to come' into an open
focusing space.
We don't know what it is. We may not even know IF there is anything there when
we start - that is, we may not sense anything there at all in a felt way.
But we may, and sometimes do, invite that < whatever > into a
welcoming space that we have created. And sometimes, something emerges into it.
3. These qualities of loving attention apply to more aspects of being
than those which can be physically felt.
Most focusers are familiar with the offering of receptive attentive presence
to physically felt experience - that is the essence of the focusing process.
But the process of creating and holding spaces for 'that which is not yet
known' is not limited to the realm of making space for only 'that which is felt
in the body.'
Receptive welcoming attention can be offered to other things that may not
have feeling connected with it. A good example of this is Walsch's guidelines
for transforming the world listed earlier:
"2. I acknowledge that there is something I do not understand about God
and about Life, the understanding of which could change everything.
"3. I am willing for new understandings of God and life to now
be brought forth, understandings that could produce a new way of life on
this planet....."
Walsch suggests 'holding a space' inwhich nothing is felt yet, but into which
some possibility can develop - 'allowing something to come', without
knowing or feeling what or how it might be.
There do not have to be any conditions or expectations of the form that will
emerge into being.
We may or may not even sense what that possibility is, or where or how it
might come.
All we may know is just that possibility can emerge, just as we know that
felt senses unfold and shift.
Interesting!
We may not know when,
We may not know what.
We may not know how.
The good news is that we do not have to know any of these things in order
to deeply participate in the process of creation!
These perspectives expand our understanding and deepen our
appreciation for the richness of the creative life energies that we are a part
of.
The creative power of this receptive attentional space assists in the birth
of this 'something that could produce new life'.
'New life' in us, in others, and perhaps even for and on our planet.
[ Top of Page ]
How an expanded understanding of what faith is connects many of us who are
creating space and facilitating new life
Summary of this section:
1) Trusting or believing in "something as yet unknown
or unseen but believed in or hoped for" is one definition of faith.
2)Opening up to 'the More' in the knowing that something
life-enhancing will come plays an essential role in focusing. Therefore,
focusing is a secular faith practice.
3) Having "faith in the More" is common to secular
and spiritual faith practices. This offers ways to connect and emphasize
similarities with them - to link focusing and other secular faith practices
with spiritual faith practices.
4) Some examples and details as they apply to focusing,
prayer, and 'secular faith practices'.
5) Honoring the many people and groups who contribute to life
in this way.
The first two sections pointed to our capacity to contribute to life through
receptive listening and attending (the focusing attitude) - how we can create
and hold a healing space.
As we prepare to apply this capacity to larger realms, such as our planet,
it feels important to point out a bridge of connection with others who help to
hold and create receptive spaces in parallel ways - other 'faith
practitioners'.
There are more of them than you may think - both spiritual and secular faith
practitioners!
When awareness of what we already share becomes more conscious,
we are further able to cooperate with its movements and with each other
for a common good.
Connecting in this way adds a sense of 'we are all in this together', which
is part of the beauty of this life movement. It offers the possibility of
synergy, of 'two or more gathered together…" as we realize that we are all
helping something be created into this world.
1) "Faith" - as both noun and verb - is an
intrinsic aspect of the focusing process
Focusing trusts in and attentively cooperates with the inherent rightness of
life-forward movement. When we are focusing or companioning, we are holding a
creative space for each other or another and trusting in these two things:
a) Life moves (especially when we honor, welcome, and make space for it)
b) 'It' (the life in something - whatever the 'it' may be that we are
companioning) knows its own rightness
Another way to say this is that:
c) Focusing includes the 'inviting' and 'offering' of certain qualities and
expressions that facilitate the growth and unfolding of life (loving
intelligent attention, creating space and receptive welcome, felt sensing.)
d) These are offered with an intention to nurture and facilitate the growth
and unfolding of something that is not yet fully seen or known.
Focusing operates on the principle that something more than we know now can
be experienced in our bodies, that something more than we know now can
become more real or present, if we open to it.
Here is one definition of faith -
"Faith is trusting or believing in something as yet unknown or unseen but
believed in or hoped for."
"Faith" used as a verb refers to this internal movement of opening
oneself up to the More - to incline our hearts towards the More, trusting in
its existence, and allowing it into our lives. We could also say that faith is
"holding a space in our attention open for something as yet unknown or
unseen but believed in or hoped for."
From this perspective, focusing can be considered one form of faith practice
- a secular faith practice that involves felt-sensing, but a faith
practice nonetheless.
{{Here is where things can become confusing. Faith is a beautiful movement
of opening to the More, of an attitude.
Faith is also used as a noun, as a thing one can have. One meaning of 'faith'
as many people understand it is "an unquestioning belief in something as
true."
Sadly, the definition of this beautiful movement of heart and mind has often
been interpreted to mean that people should have 'blind faith' - that they
should have unquestioning obedience and sacrifice their own truth for some
belief system.
From this unquestioning obedience, belief systems can clash, and lead to much
suffering.}}
I acknowledge that the word faith can be confusing for these reasons. Still,
I wish to return to the point that "holding space open for the More, for
something believed possible but not yet seen or known", is one of the core
aspects of the focusing and the listening process.
2) Using this perspective of focusing as a 'faith practice'
to reflect upon similar movements between focusing, prayer, and other faith
practices.
A) Faith practices lead us into open spaciousness and 'not knowing'
Most faith practices involve intentionally 'holding a space in faith'.
They connect with (Spirit, God, Life) in order that something can emerge
into us or into the world. They also involve trusting in the rightness of
whatever may come from doing this.
The spiritual practices hold spaces for spiritual dimension to express
themselves in this world.
The secular practices operate from other belief systems to describe the More
that they connect with and open to.
Notice that, in all of these, 'what may come' and 'how it might come' may
not be known, may not be clearly felt nor understood, and may not be
specifically asked for.
Certain forms of prayer involve a very trusting and very loving offering of
one's attention and intention to 'hold a space' for something to manifest
without attempting to control or direct it.
When I feel moved to offer my mind or heart to pray in this manner, I
usually feel that I am in a difficult place, not knowing what to do. I may not
sense ANY right way through, nor even any sense of what way would feel even a
little helpful.
{I guess I could say that my felt rightness actually invites me to trust
that (Something) knows what is right, and leads me to open to that.}
When this happens, I shift from trying to control or figure something out,
into opening myself up to God, or to Life.
I acknowledge my own wishes and desires and fears. Then, being willing to let
go of controlling it all, I offer myself and the outcomes up to God's greater
rightness.
A common spiritual prayer offered in this way is "Not my will, but
Thy Will be done."
Perhaps the most common secular 'prayer'/ faith practice of this type is:
"Trust the process."
(Let go of trying to control things, and trust the process to bring about
healing/something more)
There are many healing forms, therapies, etc, which are based around this
opening in faith for something to come, rather than attempting to direct it.
They may involve 'not resisting something anymore' - a letting it be, or
letting it move in and through us. (Allowing its life-forward movement to
unfold in ITS way.)
B) Another movement within "faith practices" involves offering
receptive attention and space TO 'wantings' (the 'desires of our hearts and
minds')
These expressions of spiritual 'faith practices' involve 'asking in faith'
for a desired outcome, for something to happen or not happen. This is perhaps
what many people mean when they think about prayer.
In this form, our attention may focus primarily upon 'what we are wanting'.
This wanting, this longing or request, may be offered into an open space (to
God in some prayer forms, to the universe in others). Our longings are received
by this larger spaciousness.
Petitionary prayer (praying FOR something in particular, about
"an issue") is one spiritual practice along these lines. Here
we allow the calling of our hearts for something to happen, or a need to be
met, to be offered into the vast spaciousness of God/ the Universe.
Focusing on particular issues, on something that we feel is wanting
our attention, is also a form of giving space and attention to what wants to
come, and of believing in something not yet fully known.
Another secular practice along these lines is "manifesting"
something desired - offering attention and energies by visualizations,
affirmations, or by imagining or feeling that you already have it.
Some practices of manifestation are more directive than others; many
do not take felt knowing into account. Yet they do involve acknowledging and
experiencing our wantings in a 'larger space' in faith that this will help
bring them to fruition.
There are forms of secular and spiritual prayers for peace in which one is
encouraged to fervently wish for peace, or to visualize it. These could be seen
as forms of 'manifesting peace', for example,
Many faith practices combine these two movements of receptive space and
attention to wantings/longings - one gets quiet inside, opens to the More, and
then may feel drawn (from within or by Spirit) to pray for someone, to
visualize peace, or to be with something that comes up.
In the prayer or meditation space, one could feel a wanting for
spaciousness. So, I am making a somewhat excessive distinction here - attention
to spaciousness and attention to what is wanted actually flow together as part
of a single movement.
3) Similarities and differences between focusing and prayer
may be partially due to the 'direction' that one listens, or the direction that
one 'speaks to.'
When our bodily experiencing is embraced in loving attention, shifts of
healing and insight can occur.
This loving attention can come from us companioning ourselves, from another
person's company, or from a spiritual Presence companioning us'.
I wonder how many of the differences in language, practices, and beliefs
between focusing and many spiritual practices are due to the 'direction' that
our energies and attention are offered.
How much of the separation between 'faith practitioners' has emerged from
differences based upon whether we are 'working' in 'inner' or 'outer' realms of
experiencing?
In the historical roots of focusing (therapeutic applications) especially,
the felt senses that one focuses on are usually those sensed to be intrapersonal,
the felt senses that one attends to are usually those from within the client/
focuser.
But these same principles apply equally well to our being able to sense into
and resonate with what feels to come from outside of us.
This is the case with most prayer. Some experience the Presence of God as being
within them. At other times, we may pray to Someone or Something that
feels to be outside of who we are, often that feels TRANSCENDENT or
TRANSPERSONAL (such as to God.)
Many people would experience or interpret the guidance and rightness and or
grace that comes in prayer as if it was coming from outside of themselves.
In focusing, the guidance or shift or sense of rightness are usually
experienced/interpreted as coming from within ourselves.
The interpretations and location of the experiences are quite different. But
there are some deep similarities in some of the core movements, principles, and
dynamics. Looking at the similarities may help us build bridges and connections
among 'faith practitioners'.
4) Connecting these movements to similar ones in other
transformational faith practices
The guidelines from Walsch, and the Course in Miracles, are other examples
of these movements.
Step One - Noticing - "I acknowledge that this situation (strife
on the planet, a situation in my own life, etc) doesn't feel like it is
working."
Step Two - Pausing - "Realizing this, I can take a moment to
acknowledge that my present processes and reactions are not working."
(Becoming aware that the present set of beliefs and actions and reactions are
not working - that something More is needed.)
Step Three - Choosing another way - "I can remember that there
is another way of being with all of this " (even if I don't know what it
is or from where it will come.)
Step Four - Opening up in Faith to the More -
"In this remembering and pausing, I can open oneself up in faith for
something new to come."
I can open up to, and making space for, a connection with another tier of
energy and wisdom - from God in these particular forms - to bring in something
new, even if I don't know what it is yet.
In all of these forms mentioned in all of these sections, something is
allowed to guide, to direct.
"I" cooperate with it and can influence it, but primarily I
facilitate and allow the movement of what wants to come from a source (inner or
outer) that has more wisdom than I know consciously.
5) Looking at commonalities between faith practices
- When we feel moved to offer our attention to hold an open spaciousness and
let come what will, without having any conditions or knowledge of what is to
come...
- When we offer loving attention to 'something that is wanting to come
forward', or that we feel moved to, and let it unfold as it wants to from
there…
- Whether we feel moved to do these things within a secular belief system,
or within a spiritual one...
All of us who do any of these things that involve offering our
awareness and intentions towards something life positive, that involve an open
spacious faith in the More - all of us are doing something in common.
We are part of a deep creative process of offering ourselves in the service
of assisting new life to emerge and develop into being.
This is an important bridge upon which we can connect more deeply and
consciously to ourselves. It helps us recognize the important nature of what we
are called to do, and to others, and lets us more fully appreciate the
contributions of others who do various other forms of faith practices.
Secular, spiritual, personal, profession - there have been, will be, and are
many people, and many tribes of people, who offer their love and care in faith
in order to serve life in some way.
The word "cousins" comes to mind. It has a certain quality of
kinship to it - 'kinfolk' who also 'offer something in faith to help make this
a better world!'
The invitation to join in one of the myriad forms of this process has been
offered for centuries. Jeladdin Rumi has sung:
"Come,
Come,
Even if you have broken your vows a thousand times!
Ours is no caravan of despair!"
There is plenty of room for all.
This vast caravan of love and faith even makes space FOR our despair, but it is
most definitely not a caravan OF despair!
It is built from the essence of hope- the expectant awaiting of The
More Than We See Or Know Now.
This caravan we are on is based on an understanding - one that we develop
and embody experientially as a result of our faith practices - that there is
always the capacity for something life-forward to come, that our caring and
wanting and hoping and listening and making space all contribute to birth the
fruits of that life-forward movement into our lives and our world.
[ Top of Page ]
1) What we have learned from personal practices can be applied
on a global scale
2) We can 'hold a healing space' for and with the Earth.
3) There is a fundamental reframing of 'what we can do to heal
the planet' based on what focusing teaches - our planet is in need of deep
healing - can we facilitate her finding 'her own way through'?
1) What we have learned from focusing and other
growth practices and faith practices can be applied on a global scale.
These things include:
a) Trusting in life-forward movement
b) Creating/ invoking a receptive welcoming space in safety and trust
c) Building a relationship to deepen the space
d) Connecting on the three levels that occur in focusing listening:
- Creating a shared field of connection by attuned listening
- Listening for what comes, for what it needs, and helping articulate that
- Moving with felt aliveness as we feel called to in response to what we
have heard and how we have been touched.
We know that our listening and acceptance are of profound value.
We have helped each other with this.
We have helped ourselves.
We serve the earth as a whole by these practices, helping it become a better
place to live.
Perhaps we can be of even more service when we remember to consciously
invoke and hold a bit of listening accepting space for all of humanity and for
the globe in this way.
One of the largest blocks to expanding this form of listening attention that
we learned in a human setting into other realms is our skepticism and disbelief
that such a thing is possible.
Most of us have no problems just waiting, trusting, ourselves and others as
part of the focusing process. Can we consider doing the same for our planet or
its life forms?
When I think back to when I was introduced to focusing for the first time.
it seemed to be very strange stuff, at first glance:
-Someone suggeststhat there is an inherent 'body wisdom'.
-And that there is some 'life-forward movement' inside of living beings
that 'knows' which way to go, if we only would listen and let it.
-That somehow attending inside, where there might be nothing at first, or
only vague sensations, can lead to profound life changes.
-That a listener does not need to 'do' anything, but be present,
and perhaps reflect back.
Yet, this all now seems so very obvious and natural to many of us. In fact,
many of us base our lives upon these things:
I would like to invite us to consider that all of this may apply equally
to beginning a healing relationship with non-humans.
The earth is a complex adaptive system. It therefore operates along the same
dynamics as smaller complex adaptive systems, such as organic life forms -
humans, animals, plants.
Many of us have had the experience that the energetic patterns of aliveness
and information flow of creatures ON the earth can be 'sensed into' in a
focusing way.
How about the earth itself, as a larger system with a 'life of its
own'? The energy and organizational patterns that are often felt as 'aliveness'
can resonate within our bodies, experienced as felt senses.
2) Focusing with our planet
We hold listening spaces open for something-not-yet-known to emerge for
ourselves and others.
Some of us offer this listening attention to babies, or to animals.
We can also offer this space to our entire planet.
Our receptive awareness can allow a very rich space into which our
Earth's next right steps can emerge.
We already do this in one sense. We listen to ourselves, and to each
other. Each of us holds certain aspects of the planet within us, so any
personal healing that we do IS already a form of also offering space and
helping heal aspects of life on our planet.
We can also expand 'who we listen to' to include Earth as a whole.
We can begin to develop a relationship which helps us to trust her
knowing and its life-forward movement.
When we do this, it is as through we are the listeners, and the world is
what/who is being listened to.
When we offer and hold a listening attitude, this 'holds a space open in the
universe' into which SOMETHING can emerge into being in the entire planet
("the earthbody".)
There is more synergy and connection when we share this process of offering
and holding space for our Earth with others who are doing parallel forms of
creative attentional practices.
While we may not know what these somethings are that can emerge and unfold,
we don't have to - the Earth knows!
When a receptive welcoming space is offered to any living system, a shared
field is created. As the Earth is sensing and responsive in its own ways, it is
able to be part of a shared field, just as are babies and animals.
As we hold space open for the Earth to unfold, and sense into our Earth, we
become part of a larger joined felt-sensing system that links our awareness
with the 'Earthmind' and 'Earthbody'.
A key new understanding that comes from this is that the Earth
knows its own right next steps and what is to come - just as any other
living complex adaptive system does.
At times, we may even be able to experience a sense of Gaia physically, and
articulate what comes from senses in that shared field - speaking a Voice of
the Earth.
One could say that it is an act of faith to offer space to the Earth in
faith/trust in its intelligence and capacity to heal. (This is also, in a
way, what Walsch is saying in his 5 things that he suggests we do for the
earth.)
"But I have never felt any sense of our Earth as a being, as having a
life of Her own!" one might say.
Hmm, how often have we tried this?
It is a very small leap of 'faith' that something healing can happen even if
we don't 'feel' or 'know' it to try this out, given what we already know and
have experienced.
In my early days of focusing listening, I often felt nothing while I
listened, but I held a space for someone to shift and heal. And they did, even
if I felt nothing. Over time, I sometimes would feel more connected and could
begin to sense something in me that resonated with something in the other
person.
Likewise, even if at first we feel nothing (and it is hard for Earth to
'tell you' how much of a blessing your presence has been as easily as your
companion) it is very simple, rather painless, and who knows what may come?
3) Proposing a process of trusting in the inherent
rightness and healing power of the planet itself
(instead of trying to 'fix' it or analyze its problems!)
There is much fear and self-protection in the world.
There are urgent and desperate pressures suggesting that there is not enough
time to check inside, to listen deeply...
There are pressures to not listen inside. Voices cry out, "Don't listen
inside - listen to ME!!! (whoever the 'me's are that are calling for our
attention.) We know better than you - trust us!"
There are movements toward oversimplification and polarization - pressuring
people to decide if "you are either 'for' us or 'against' us".
And, within this, often either choice that people propose feels
anti-life.
These pressures 'collapse the space', limit choices, and encourage reactive
movements based on fear and anger. There is much pushing one way and another -
pushing for certain directions and actions, painting fearful scenarios.
In response to this suffering and distress, many feel called to 'find the
solution' for the earth's problems, investing great amounts of energy to help
figure it out, to make wise decisions and recommendations.
The complex implications of political, cultural, environmental, health, and
other issues on our planet are literally overwhelming the present
decision-making and informational processes that we usually use to make
decisions. It may seem to be too much to even be able for anyone, or any group,
to figure out - too much complexity...
It is easy and natural to feel helpless and overwhelmed in response to
wanting to help.
On the other hand, isn't this analogous to people who are expending
incredible amounts of energy trying to analyze and 'fix' the problems of others
rather than listening and trusting in the clients' own capacities to heal?
What a gift and a healing potential is contained within the capacity to
trust 'inherent rightness.' If focusing teaches nothing else, it teaches us
that there is a softer and more effective way to facilitate change than by
trying to fix or bringing in outside solutions. Just as we do not have to
frantically struggle to 'fix' our clients, neither do we have to 'fix' the
earth!
We know that there IS a 'right answer' - or at least 'an answer with
rightness.' But the good news is that we don't have to know the answers to
be able to be of great service! Nor do we have to 'figure them out' for
others!
Consider that the earth may well be capable of 'healing herself' if we
offer her loving attentive response Presence. And, that we do not have
to 'understand her' or make analytical interpretations to help her move forward
in her own best way.
I believe that our planet has an emergently creative soul. Our
efforts might better be spent on offering receptive welcoming attention and
moving from what comes in response. We can 'be present for our planet;
this would assist her to move life-forward into her own rightness!
If we consider some of what we have experienced through our practice of
Focusing:
- We can feel the difference between being in a critical
situation in a spacious way and being in the same in a narrow constricted
field.
- We know to pause, sense inside, and listen when we notice this
happening.
- We know the difference between trying to 'figure our way out' of a
situation, and having the blessing of a transformative healing shift that comes
when it is ready, that lives its own way into the 'answer.'
Anything we can do to build peace and trust and offer acceptance might
allow the earth to "FOCUS HERSELF" and shift forward into 'her own solutions'
in her own life-forward way.
Knowing all of this, why deprive our earth of something that she may be
desperately in need of right now?
This can be an immense and 'easy' contribution that can bypass a great deal of
conflict and inefficient effort.
I am quite excited about this paradigm shift (reframing) of efforts and
energies to improve the world situation!
Those drawn toward analysis can offer their gifts, and those drawn to offer
space and intuitively sense can offer their gifts. Focusing's can allow
life-forward bridges to develop between both aspects of these efforts through
its capacity for harmonization and articulation.
This also takes a big load off of me feeling responsible for 'answers'
or right solutions in these critical times. I am relieved at not having to
'figure it out for the earth.'
I don't have to try to decide what she needs next.
This doesn't mean that I don't have an important job to do.
I feelvery responsible to listen and move as I am led, and I feel very
responsible to speak what I hear from the Earth. And possibly to take
action based on what I hear her ask for.
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1) A few ways to be of service to our Earth and
to each other
2) Considerations in offering a safe welcoming presence
3) Supporting the unfolding
4) An open invitation and blessing
5) Concluding and beginning
1) A few ways that we can be of service to our planet and
each other.
Focusing offers a beautiful and powerfully loving way of assisting in the
creative healing of the world. This can occur on several levels, individually
or all together:
a) We can check inside to see if it might feel right to simply offer a bit
of our attention (in whatever focusing way that we offer it to ourselves and to
others) to the world - whether we 'feel her presence' or not. This might mean
just making an intention to do so, then taking a small amount of time and hold
a space in that intention.
b) We center in our bodies, we make space and be open, and listen for
what wants to come. In this, we can connect with our planet, be a part of the
'shared field', andgive it more space into which it can find its own
rightness and healing.
c) Space can be held for something that we sense 'wants to come' (such as a
felt sense or image of peace and justice) for the planet.
Or we may feel drawn to hold a receptive loving space with a recognition that we
don't have to know what is right for her - we just know that opening up
this caring listening space will allow whatever needs to come to be able to do
so.
Perhaps this is what some of us are called to do - often all that is needed
to allow healing to occur are receptive space and connection.
2) Considerations in offering a "safe and welcoming
space" to our planet
An essential aspect of this process is building trust -
our trusting the Earth to heal, and her 'trusting us' to be a healing presence.
From Barbara Rolsma:
>>> When a listener is able to hold a space in which I am conscious of
something, my becoming aware of things starts to be able to unfold; it becomes
a safe place to be in. This can never happen if this "new being"
does not experience acceptance first. It is needing to experience first
that I am willing to accept and welcome it, before it even will
unfold.<<<<<
Right now, the earth might have some distrust for much of its current
inhabitants - for some very good reasons! As we begin to allow that
relationship to become more loving, and the planet begins to feel accepted by
us, and we by 'it', might it not become more free to grow and change?
Part of the richness that we offer is the listening space, and part of this
is the acceptance (caring feeling presence). It goes a long way towards
'helping the planet feel loved' by at least some of humanity. And, without this
love and acceptance, it is hard to change and grow.
This does not really require us to do something radically new. We are simply
'taking on another focusing partner' - our planet!
Maybe on some regularly scheduled basis, we take a few moments, make space, and
attend with love and care (and a bit of curiosity for those so moved.)
a) The process of building a relationship can begin with 'saying
hello', offering a welcome, and being sensitive and patient.
Perhaps we can begin by simply 'say hello' to our felt sense of the whole
world, (or to whatever larger space calls us to make space for it.) and
beginning the inner relationship with it.
b) We can check with the Earth - "Is it ok to be with you?" - and
sense what happens.
c) If we have no felt sense of the world, we might dedicate a few moments
each day andhold a space to invite one to come
{Many of the Inner Relationship Focusing steps described by Ann Weiser
Cornell in her book "The Power of Focusing" Focusing Resources website apply to
developing relationships with other life forms quite nicely. Other forms of
focusing also work well here, too. The Focusing
Institute}
d) Perhaps as we focus and listen, if nothing comes after a while, we can
take a minute to 'hold the earth in our hearts' in whatever way we feel moved
or called to, which may include more focusing, visualization, prayer,…
A great deal of where to go next depends on what comes in response. But taking
the first step to pause and listen 'in faith' seems to be what matters most at
the start.
3)Supporting the unfolding
As we are familiar with from Focusing, our role is to follow the movement
and aliveness of what comes rather than directing the process or forcing it to
follow some pre-arranged path.
In that spirit, perhaps some of us will receive something out of our
connection with the Earth that what wants to emerge more clearly, that
wants to be made known. These listeners can then speak for the voices of the
planet, and help it feel heard.
As more unfolds in the listening process, "saying it back" to
the earth so that she feels heard is another bridge of healing and
promoting life's movement. This may take the form of words, art, dance, song,
or prayer.
As we help ourselves and our planet sing her songs and ours, we become more
of who we really are - and so does our planet. There become more and more wise
men and women who speak for the planet's deeper tones and needs.
Perhaps some might bemoved to take action steps from what comes -
to serve that which needs to be made manifest in concrete reality. Certain
external structures need to be built to support the emergent internal
processes. This may involve social action.
There is no real need to 'figure any of this out ahead of time' - as our
sensitivity grows, we will sense into next steps guided by our sense of
rightness for ourselves and for the earth.
4) Offering blessings and an "open" invitation
(...and an invitation to be open)
Is this real, or imagination?
Does the earth felt-sense?
We know that it 'self-regulates' weather patterns, temperature, etc - but
can she regulate its own healing?
Could there really be healing facilitated by a deeper mutual trust - we
trusting her to know what is right for her, and her trusting us to listen and
respect her?
We, who companion others in the faith of an inherent forward rightness, who
have experienced the miracles of new life and surprise and shared fields and the
More from our practices - is it really so crazy for us to consider that something
like this might be possible?
There is no way to know in advance. There is no way to know for sure without
trying it.
It involves a certain amount of faith - trusting in "something yet
unseen and unknown, but hoped for."
Might it feel right to 'invest' a bit of our attention towards the
possibility that, maybe, allowing a little more space for 'Earthbody' could
allow her to come more fully into being? That, without sacrificing our
comfortable homes and lives and many blessings, we can offer something precious
and healing and desperately needed to the whole world and its inhabitants -
loving accepting spaciousness for us all to unfold into more of what we can be?
Even if we do not know 'who she is', what she wants,
"where to seek her", or even if she exists- even knowing none
of these, is it totally unrealistic to consider that something life forward
might come if we hold space open for our planet to rest in her being within our
loving receptive attentional embrace ???
There are no guarantees.
Taking time to listen receptively to 'the planet' instead of using that time
and energy to DO something FOR the earth risks our being seen as ridiculous -
and all of the other names that those who dream and hope have been called in
their childhood and throughout the history of humanity.
So, perhaps it boils down to this question - how willing are we to risk
being 'stupid' or 'naïve'?
How willing are we to be disappointed, to hope and dream as we did when we
were children, and risk having those hopes dashed?
At times like these, in the face of critical voices that have prematurely
collapsed the possibility fields of creation for themselves, and are trying to
do the same to others, I remember what I know:
- I remember what I know about the nature of reality, about the powerful
role of faith, and of our capacities to influence what may be possible.
- I remember that the universe can be friendly and responsive - and how the
choice for what will come, for what kind of world will unfold, is, to a large
extent, up to us.
- I remember that we can align to an attitude of continuing onward, with
hope in our hearts, and that we can bless ourselves, others, and the world in
the process.
5) Concluding, and beginning
Having read what you already have,you may wish to simply stop and sense
into what feels right based on what is coming up for you in response. This
would be embodying the spirit of this approach.
I would like to end with some words from Brian Andreas www.storypeople.com
In my
dream, the angel shrugged and said,
"If we fail this time, it will be a failure of imagination,"
…and
then she placed the world gently in the palm of our hands.
With deep gratitude for your loving attention and caring,
Bruce
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