A letter from Mary-Alice to Toke on the conclusion of the training.
...I've been thinking about you, friend! Especially when I opened the daily Rumi quote and found one of your favorites on the 14th -- the one that ends "but you'll be forgiven for forgetting that what you really want is love's confusing joy". I think we found that together!
On the 14th people divided into their like groups when Laura was hosting the conversation in the morning and the students led the way. They immediately grouped up, they were quiet and ready to go as everyone else was milling about. And did they have something to say! The teachers responded by giving their time to the students! People were buzzing during the Knowledge Expeditions, which moved to before and after lunch.
Then they really got down to it during DFWA [Designing for Wiser Action] for the afternoon. People were working hard and then when the peer coaching came, a fresh burst of energy jumped into the group. We finished after dinner with everyone reporting in. Valdus picked up his accordion and then we DANCED! I thought of you so much then, you would have loved the Lithuanian dances — there was one with a spare woman and at the end of every round people were rushing to find a partner and see who was the one left in the centre. So much laughter — and boy, did you need stamina!
I finally went to the sauna that night. Eventually Valdus arrived, I got “beaten” with the branches — loved that! And then.... Yes, wait for it... I actually got into the ice water! Nobody pushed me, but Anne told me later once I walked out the door she wasn’t going to let me back in until I did! Now I’m a polar bear swimmer too!
We began Day 5 with a story check in — Mary receiving seeds from heaven, I think it was, with people visualising the future. Then an hour on the 8 Breaths — I laid the breaths out on the floor inside the big breath already taped there. We talked through them, then people met in groups, then finishing off the teach. I think it really landed, and I was able to put the Chaordic Path and when to use what method into the teach. The Harvesting team hosted us in two places at once — in Harvesting house they had a display of all their work and the metaharvest/in the main room we looked at the marvelous website. And in between the two places, the young people taught us a new song about our work. Wow!
After lunch, a dance to the song “Brave” by Sara Bareilles, to get us in the mood to write a letter to our Future Self. The letter will be posted on 15 April to remind people what they committed to here. And then we ended with the Circle of Commitment — so beautiful to watch people put their toes on the line, speak what they committed to do and be joined by others. For me the most potent moment was Richardis coming to the line, beginning to speak and then being overwhelmed by tears. He committed to keep doing his work for education quietly and most of the group stood with him. I was thinking about all those government people everywhere who are trying so hard and feel so lonely. This is exactly what they need.
Some thanks, an ending by Auri and me and boom! It was over. What a powerful time! I was so tired by the end I could barely have a conversation with Aurimas on the way to the vegtarian restaurant. We ended as we had begun. And we felt you there.
Oh, 10:30, better get down to some breakfast. It is cool and raining here in Vilnius (and it is the national day, celebrating freedom for Lithuania) -- what a perfect time to do very little but let this all sink in.
THANK YOU friends for being such a beautiful team to work with! I think we cracked a new level in our hosting and harvesting and I hope we do it again soon! I saw each of you in your brilliance during the time we were together. And guys — YOU ROCK!
xxMA
...I've been thinking about you, friend! Especially when I opened the daily Rumi quote and found one of your favorites on the 14th -- the one that ends "but you'll be forgiven for forgetting that what you really want is love's confusing joy". I think we found that together!
On the 14th people divided into their like groups when Laura was hosting the conversation in the morning and the students led the way. They immediately grouped up, they were quiet and ready to go as everyone else was milling about. And did they have something to say! The teachers responded by giving their time to the students! People were buzzing during the Knowledge Expeditions, which moved to before and after lunch.
Then they really got down to it during DFWA [Designing for Wiser Action] for the afternoon. People were working hard and then when the peer coaching came, a fresh burst of energy jumped into the group. We finished after dinner with everyone reporting in. Valdus picked up his accordion and then we DANCED! I thought of you so much then, you would have loved the Lithuanian dances — there was one with a spare woman and at the end of every round people were rushing to find a partner and see who was the one left in the centre. So much laughter — and boy, did you need stamina!
I finally went to the sauna that night. Eventually Valdus arrived, I got “beaten” with the branches — loved that! And then.... Yes, wait for it... I actually got into the ice water! Nobody pushed me, but Anne told me later once I walked out the door she wasn’t going to let me back in until I did! Now I’m a polar bear swimmer too!
We began Day 5 with a story check in — Mary receiving seeds from heaven, I think it was, with people visualising the future. Then an hour on the 8 Breaths — I laid the breaths out on the floor inside the big breath already taped there. We talked through them, then people met in groups, then finishing off the teach. I think it really landed, and I was able to put the Chaordic Path and when to use what method into the teach. The Harvesting team hosted us in two places at once — in Harvesting house they had a display of all their work and the metaharvest/in the main room we looked at the marvelous website. And in between the two places, the young people taught us a new song about our work. Wow!
After lunch, a dance to the song “Brave” by Sara Bareilles, to get us in the mood to write a letter to our Future Self. The letter will be posted on 15 April to remind people what they committed to here. And then we ended with the Circle of Commitment — so beautiful to watch people put their toes on the line, speak what they committed to do and be joined by others. For me the most potent moment was Richardis coming to the line, beginning to speak and then being overwhelmed by tears. He committed to keep doing his work for education quietly and most of the group stood with him. I was thinking about all those government people everywhere who are trying so hard and feel so lonely. This is exactly what they need.
Some thanks, an ending by Auri and me and boom! It was over. What a powerful time! I was so tired by the end I could barely have a conversation with Aurimas on the way to the vegtarian restaurant. We ended as we had begun. And we felt you there.
Oh, 10:30, better get down to some breakfast. It is cool and raining here in Vilnius (and it is the national day, celebrating freedom for Lithuania) -- what a perfect time to do very little but let this all sink in.
THANK YOU friends for being such a beautiful team to work with! I think we cracked a new level in our hosting and harvesting and I hope we do it again soon! I saw each of you in your brilliance during the time we were together. And guys — YOU ROCK!
xxMA
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