BUSH VENTURE

CONNECTING AUSTRALIAN LEADERSHIP TO THE LAWS OF NATURE

A WORKBOOK FOR A FOCUS SEMINAR

WITH JOHN GUY

BUSH VENTURE
ABN 95010974482

Post !" P#O# RATHDOWNE$# % 4287

T&!&'(o)&" 07 5544 *2*2 +o,-!&" 0418 798 007

F .s-/-!&" 07 5544 *124 E/ -!" 0/1234/3 ..&ss#.o/# 2

MIND POWER
Imagine a tree. Pe !"e #a$ t%at t%e & re#t i# green '(t n"$ t%e "ea)e# are green. T%at i# *%at (r attit(+e t (r min+ i# "i,e. O(r - n#-i (# min+ i# "i,e t%e "ea)e#. n"$ ne !art. an+ n"$ a #ma"" !art at t%at. & t%e t ta" min+ r 'rain. /et (# re)ie* t%e tree a# a #$m' " & (r min+#0 THE LEAVES THE CONSCIOUS /inear t%in,ing / gi/ang(age C n#-i (# a*arene## Pr ! #iti na" t% (g%t I+ea# an+ I+ea"# energi#ing an+ +ire-ting gr *t% 10%

THE TRUN5

THE SUB CONSCIOUS

45 6

Imager$ N "ang(age Fee"ing#1int(iti n# A!! #iti na" t% (g%t C n+(it 'et*een - n#-i (# an+ (n- n#-i (# Carrier & n(trient t t%e +ire-ti)e e"ement T%e #trengt% & -%ara-ter "ie# %ere ma,ing & r e&&i-ien-$ an+ " nge)it$ & t%e "ea)e# C nta-t t%i# '$ 2#"ee!ing n t%e !r '"em3

THE ROOTS

THE UNCONSCIOUS

456

In t%e +ar, (n#een !art# & (r min+ "ie# t%e &ten (n,n *n Ar-%i)e & a"" mem rie#. mem rie# & rea"it$ a# inter!rete+ '$ me Tr(t% an+ &a"#it$ are n t +i#-erne+ %ere 4 *%ate)er I t%in, i# #een a# tr(t% C mm n Un- n#-i (# N(trient & r t%e #('#tan-e & t%e tree Pain to Toxin leads to stinking thinking and victim state

or Pain to Compost courage, honour and service Ask: What is this pain, suffering, or discomfort here to teach me/us?
5

PLANNING FOR A PROACTIVE AND HAPP$ LIFE

A PROGRA++ED TE7T B$ 8OHN GU$
INTRODUCTION What am I on this planet for? Why am I here? What is life really about or for any way? These and associated questions have been asked millions of times. These notes are shared in the belief that the answers are not that hard to find and that the quest of our time on this arth is to find happiness from a place within rather than by reacting to the outside environment. In short! happiness is a real possibility and therein lays success and meaning. "ow we #ourney on our quest in the outer World very much reflects the #ourney within in the way we relate to others! cope with the challenge of change and the attendant fear! being extended beyond comfort $ones! approach our families! and develop our careers. This #ourney within is where %it is really at%. It is here that we ask %Who am I?%! %Who is running this show.....me.....my ego.....fate....who?%! %&m I '( what do I think and feel about me and what is the truth here?%......and so on. Thus the #ourney of life is driven by an inner #ourney. It is in this context! that it becomes vital to know where we are within! where we want to go and how we intend to get there. This knowing is self knowledge and is very much akin to preparing for a bush walk where we confirm where we are! identify where we want to go! check for the obstacles and obstructions that may occur! plan an appropriate route which maximises our safety and en#oyment of the #ourney while offering efficiency in getting to our destination! measure the territory to be covered! the distances involved! and the directions required. )rom this comes a sense of purpose and from that comes positive motivation. We will use the metaphor of navigation as it applies to bush walking. This can provide the means to present the dynamics involved in determining the plan for our quest for meaning and fulfilment in an adventure set towards a true personal destiny. *avigation in this context requires three skills. These are measuring the shape of the ground +map reading,! measuring the distances involved! and measuring the direction+s,. When these skills are mastered! we can put them together to make a navigation data plan. In the context of the #ourney of life! this becomes a matter of setting a life mission or destiny statement and the goals to achieve it. Then we go out and en#oy the #ourney and that is where happiness is- This text is set out under the following themes. + ' R& 9-)1# "appiness vs. /espair The *ature &pproach 0ind Power The 0ap D-st ).& )9 D-:&.t-o) 0easuring /istance 0easuring /irection N ;-1 t-o) D t P! )# Planning and 1oal 2etting. & Plan for a Pro3active and "appy 4ife.

+AP READING
T(& H ''-)&ss D&s' -: P : 9-1/ If the purpose of life can be distilled into one phrase! it could be % TO BE HAPP$< +the issue of morale,. The opposite of this can be seen in the condition of =DESPAIR= from the 4atin 5de sperare6 meaning %without hope%. The &0& states that &ustralia is currently in the grips of an epidemic of depression. We all come from that background. "appiness and despair are compared in the table below. *ote that the attributes on the right are those that most cultures have demanded of 5responsible adults6 i.e.! adults able to respond proactively.

AIM: TO BE HAPPY SYMPTOMS OF DESPAIR______________ _SYMPTOMS OF BEING HAPPY

2uicide 2ubstance &buse 7iolence +particularly verbal, Without hope +by definition, 8ynical +ties into lack of hope, Into hate +of self! the World! others, Into blaming others and the World )ocused on the negative +stinking thinking, 4ow self image9self esteem 4ocked into self9compulsive9moody Imprisoned in 8omfort :ones 4imited by mediocrity Poverty +'ld nglish 3 stay in ruts, 8ourage "onour 2ervice )ull of hope ;elief in life <nconditional caring &bility to respond proactively +=esponsibility, Positive3thought! word! act "igh self image9self esteem )ree9self actualised xplore challenges Pursuit of excellence Prosperity +from 4atin. in accord with hopes,

The word 5courage6 is the key and comes from the 4atin 5cor agere6 meaning to come from the heart or to be life centred and life giving. In &ustralian culture! courage was 5have a go6! honour was 5fair dinkum6 and 5fair go6! and service was 5mateship6. These values emerged from the most rural of western societies from >?@> to >?A@. &ustralia is now one of the most urbanised and so has become separated from its roots in the laws of *ature or the ways of the bush. TWO WAYS OF THINKING CITY_____________________________________________________BUSH
Made by humans Disorder Disunity Dependence Routine set in efficiency Lack of growth negati!e thinking Made by Nature as we are Total order Unity Interdependency Variety in seasons "rowing towards life

P(-!oso'(3 to A.t-o) The positives action characteristics that lead towards happiness can be summarised thus. T(& Pos-t-;&s Co2: 1& 4ife 8entred 4ife 1iving > "ave a go B Inner locus of control A *o ego C Positive E 1o for change Ho)o2: =espect self! others and *ature )air dinkum 2elf esteem 2ee goodness in others *ot confuse behaviour with D human essence 8ompassion and empathy S&:;-.& mpower and improve ;e a good mate "elp others progress )acilitate a team effort People first! things second 2etting standards of excellence 2etting challenges )acilitate morale V-o!&).& Win lose paradigm 4ose win paradigm Put downs xcessive gossip ;ack stabbing ;ullying xcessive vulgar language

F 4ife giver Professional manner G &ble to change paradigms Positive humour T(& N&1 t-;&s S2-.-9 ! S2,st ).& A,2s& > /isown power xcess eating B 2ocial withdrawal xcess drinking A *egative and la$y Illegal drug use C ;laming others 4ow energy9frequency music E 7ictim mentality &bsenteeism F <nfit =unning away from reality behaviour G 1ive power to others Inappropriate use of stress leave

I) s2/# The proactive #ourney is about observing *atureHs laws +eg unity! growth and interdependence, and obeying them as a means to develop positive! life giving actions. nacting the spirit of the above means using and acting on the template of courage! honour and service in all that we do! say or think.

T(& Co2:s& to H ''-)&ss -s !->& S -!-)1 S(-' 4eadership is measured by morale. The origin of the verb 5to lead6 is 5laed6! an old north uropean word for 5the course of a ship6. This is a most apt metaphor as leadership means looking squarely at three choices. >. 2taying and rotting in a safe harbour. B. /rifting on the tide and wind. A. )inding a destination! plotting the course and going there either in accord with the rules of *ature or against them. The latter brings disaster 2ailing in accord with the laws of *ature presents the following scenario. >. 2triving for a destination beyond the hori$on and thus out of sight. This requires constant focus on the 5vision6. B. 2ailing often to unknown places over uncharted waters to move with the law of evolution or change. This requires courage to take risks. A. The requirement for a crew and a ship who can and will achieve the mission even in the face of uncertainty and possible set backs in gales! ship wreck and deprivation. This requires inspirational leadership and sound management. C. & sense of adventure and humour in the face of challenge. This requires being a well ad#usted human being. +&&t-)1 N&&9s Individual needs are well developed in 0aslowHs hierarchy! which are described and listed below. >. P(3s-o!o1-. ! N&&9s. ;asic needs in food! water! shelter! etc. B. S ?&t3 N&&9s. =equirements to feel safe in oneIs environment. A. C :& )9 Co).&:) N&&9s# The giving and returning of care. C. S&!? Est&&/ N&&9s. Positive feeling from positive thinking. E. S&[email protected] !-s t-o) N&&9s. That required for full self3potential. &ccording to 0aslow! the needs listed above overlap and require fulfilment in accord with the sequence > to E. This gives us a clue in determining how we set out a complete and realistic set of goals and ob#ectives in a program or in our lives. Thus! any strategy in life needs to include and then go beyond levels >. and B. Indeed! if we identify level E! it will set a context and purpose for all the other levels. I) S2/ 'bviously! many people fluctuate somewhere around the middle between happiness and despair! but! perhaps! a good and effective leader is a self actualised person who knows how to be more himself or herself at the happy end for most of the time and who can take others there. The knowing of the way to happiness cannot be imposed. The pathway of a true human being is there to be sought and found individually. =ole modelling facilitates this personal paradigm shift. )or a life #ourney set towards our self3actualisation and our destiny! we must first %take command% of ourselves +or of 5our ship of life6, and then do everything using the template of courage! honour and service. %2&st-o)s +2ee table above for some guidelines, In your #ournal or notebook! please answer the following questions. >. What are the despair3based behaviours in my life? B. What can I do to practice courage! honour and service into my life

T(& E1o D3) /-. The following are the energies that 5father6 our reactive behaviours based on the ego that wants to be 5stroked6 in a certain learned way from our childhood. ;ecoming an adult means having he courage and honour to move beyond childish thinking and challenging the ego game. We have nine ego games and one is pre3eminent. &ddress this with courage and honour! and the others fall into place. The nine ego games or fallacies are. The BOAR AT3'& 1B has the ego NEED TO BE PERFECT. "is perceived lack of perfection in himself and the World results in resentment and hidden FURY. ;y standing back and viewing the total perfection in the order of the universe! the ;oar can let go and discover PEACE. The DOG AT3'& 2B has the ego NEED TO BE NEEDED. This is based on VANITY in the sense of being an egoistic Ido gooderI. In this mode! /og forgets that all beings are complementary. ;y being free enough to see the World through othersI eyes lovingly! the /og becomes earthed +4atin humus! the root of humility, and touches REALITY. The RAT AT3'& *B has the ego NEED TO BE SUCCESSFUL. This leads to DUPLICITY as the Iends will always #ustify the meansI. When the =at can release his image making and see the success implicit in all aspects of the universe! he can discover TRUTH like no other. The HORSE AT3'& 4B has the ego NEED TO BE SPECIAL. This leads the "orse to look around her +the 4atin for this is invidia from which we have our word envy, at a perceived specialness of others causing a sense of MELANCHOLIA. When the "orse can focus on her personal uniqueness! she can cease to swing between moods of lows and highs to settle in a state of harmony and BALANCE. The OWL AT3'& 5B has the ego NEED TO PERCEIVE. This leads 'wl to have a scrooge like disposition as he sits alone with an AVARICE for information and outward things for his identity. When 'wl reclaims his power he can be compassionately involved and here he finds his OBJECTIVITY. The RABBIT AT3'& CB has the ego NEED TO PROTECT THE SELF. This need is based on FEAR from the Iwhat ifI paradigm. =abbit will then align herself with strong leadership and powerful structures. When =abbit discovers that nothing can hurt the essence of self +not even death,! she can believe in herself and express COURAGE# The PLATYPUS AT3'& 7B has the ego NEED TO AVOID PAIN. With his perm3anent smile! Platypus ignores pain and succumbs readily to GLUTTONY in all its forms. When he works through pain he can discover that! living in the moment in tune with nature! he finds JOY. The SNAKE AT3'& 8B has the ego NEED TO BE AGAINST. The self centred 2nake is obsessed with in#ustice and the need to sei$e power with an over masculine AGGRESSION# When she can feel the pain in others and realise that vindication is unnecessary because the universe can look after itIs own! she discovers INNOCENCE +4atin for into non violence,. The WATER BUFFALO AT3'& 9B has the ego NEED TO AVOID. "e has a perception of experienced put down and disempowerment to the extent that he sees reality as over demanding and so Iwhy try.I In this state he PROCRASTINATES. When he realises that action is the Ithank youI for being alive! he becomes DECISIVE.

T(& + ' O? T(& E1o D3) /-.

D$NA+IC BOAR AT3'& 1B G2t C&)t:&9 DOG AT3'& 2B H& :t C&)t:&9 RAT AT3'& *B H& :t C&)t:&9 HORSE AT3'& 4B H& :t C&)t:&9 ROOT CHARACTERISTIC Try to do better! hate wasting time difficulty being relaxed9playful! worry a lot! need perfection for approval! compulsively honest everything urgent 8lose to people! like caring9helping! want recognition! feel unappreciated! feel victim sometimes! see others depending on them 'n the go! good in a team! organiser! IsuccessI is important! hate IfailureI! need achievement to be noticed )eel not understood! environment is very important! moods up and down! nostalgia about past! good taste! sometimes preoccupied with death and suffering STRENGTHDPOSITIVE Idealistic! honest! fair! inspire others! leader! serene! high energy! persevere! loyal! altruistic! support poor! industrious &ware of others needs! considerate! sensitive! compassionate! nurturing! humble 7ery IinI! popular! confident! get things done! pragmatic! enthusiastic! generous! decide quickly! articulate well )oster beauty! sensitive! feel all is sacred! refined! deep! generous! recognise talents 9feelings of others WEA5NESSDNEGATIVE =esentful! repress anger! find fault! driven! picky! #udging! argumentative! harsh! explosive anger "ard to receive! controlling! outward vs. inward looking! guilty about own need! anxious! manipulating! put self down9 false humility 2elf image in outer IsuccessI! underdeveloped inner life! superficial! glit$y! aggressive! donIt admit mistakes! lying is ok 4ack #oy! romanticise feelings! complainers! aloof9snobbish! serious! depressed! play roles! brittle! loners! unforgiving

OWL AT3'& 5B H& 9 C&)t:&9 RABBIT AT3'& CB H& 9 C&)t:&9 PLAT$PUS AT3'& 7B H& 9 C&)t:&9

SNA5E AT3'& 8B G2t C&)t:&9 WATER BUFFALO AT3'& 9B G2t C&)t:&9

Think a lot! stingy with time and money! donIt like small talk! loner! intellectualise! need privacy! observe rather than participate 4oyal to the group! obey authority! cautious! doubting! like to be sure! fearful! need approval from auth.! prudent! fantasise hero role 4ight and humorous! better planning than doing! en#oy life! unsuspicious of people3 motives! experience little pain3 un happiness! positive outlook! optimistic! like to tell stories! like people Tough! fight for needs! go for others weakness! get bored quickly! #ustice9 in#ustice are key issues! earthy! nonconformist 8omplacent! easy going! low energy! hate being unsettled! feel unimportant! procrastinate! stable like doing nothing

'pen minded! curious and ob#ective! deep! wise! patient! thorough! clear vision! excellent listener 8ooperative! faithful! playful! loyal! constant! traditional! responsible! reverence elders 2avour life! enthusiastic! fun loving! celebrate life! visionary! child like! humorous! love making others happy! playful! hopeful /irect! sense of kinship! play hard9work hard! honest! strong!I lean on meI type! intense! love challenge Peacemaker! unflappable! grounded9salt of the earth! calm! balanced! decisive! modest! relaxed! kindly

<ninvolved! critical! stingy! forget feelings! loner! see others as IfoolsI )earful! uncertain! inhibited! shy cautious! indecisive! anxious! dogmatic! legalistic 'ver idealise! live in the future! donIt deal with pain! impatient! flighty! talkative9 gossip! compulsive smiler

1o for power! punish others! abrasive! sarcastic! over masculine have to win! despise weakness! into revenge! donIt listen well 4a$y! complaining! hopeless! hate confrontation! guilt ridden about sex! stubborn! procrastinate! powerless

%2&st-o)s )rom the above! please answer the following questions in your #ournal or notebook. >. What is my ego need? B. /o I really %need% this? A. What do I need to work through? C. What is the gift in my life there for the taking T(& L&1&)9 o? t(& B& : )9 %2&st-o)s Please study the handout on 50ind Power6 and read the hand out called 54egend of the ;ear6 and then answer the questions at the end of the legend in your notebook or #ournal. C&)t:-)1 $o2:s&!? W(&:& -s +3 O'&: t-)1 C&)t:&E 1o by yourself for a while and IfeelI your dynamic 3 savour it. Then! imagine that there are three rooms named I"eart 8entre!I I"ead 8entreI! and I1ut 8entre.I nter your chosen room! shut the door behind you and sit in the middle on a comfortable easy chair. 4ook around you using the props9questions listed below and get a feel for it. &re you in the right room? If not! go into another until you find the Ihome centreI and then revise the information above. 'nce in the correct room! sit with it for a while and then hug yourself. Jou are home. >. H& :t C&)t:& 3 /og +B,! =at +A, and "orse +C,. I am adaptive to my environment in my life 3 how does this feel? What is it like for me to feel anxiety as my main emotion? ;eing a doing person is important to me 3 in what ways? ;eing with others seems important 3 how do I do this? ;eing in the InowI is important for me 3 how do I do this? B. H& 9 C&)t:& 3 'wl +E,! =abbit +F,! Platypus +G,. I like observing life and the world 3 how do I do this? What is it like for me to have fear as a main emotion? I live in my head 3 what is this like for me? Working out where I am is important to me 3 how do I do this? What helps me to move out of my head and into the Ireal worldI? A. G2t C&)t:& 3 2nake +K,! Water ;uffalo +?,! ;oar +>,. I feel guided by what I like or donIt like 3 how is this for me? What is it like for me to have anger as my main emotion? I seem to be an emotional person 3 how do I deal with this? Working out who I am is important 3 how do I do this? What helps me gain a proper perspective on life?

MEASURING DIRECTION AND DISTANCE

T(& Co/' ss ?o: t(& E1o D3) /-.

9 1

6 5
Not&s o) t(& Us& o? t(& Co/' ss"

3 4

>. $o2: P:o .t-;& D&s.:-'to:s# To find the key words for your pro3active behaviour! identify your type on the circle and then follow the line AGAINST the arrow and read the positives9strengths of the type at the end of that line. Turn these into affirmations. B. $o2: R& .t-;& D&s.:-'to:s# 2imilarly! to find the key words for your reactive behaviour! follow the line WITH the arrow and read the negatives9weaknesses of the type at the end of that line. <se these as a warning that your ego is in control and find your inner locus. %2&st-o)s Please answer the following questions in your #ournal or notebook. >. What are my proactive behaviours? B. What are my reactive behaviours? T(& R2!&: Fo: T(& E1o D3) /-.

Mea#(re a ! #iti n 'et*een %a!!ine## an+ +e#!air '$ gra+ing $ (r#e"& n a #-a"e & 1 t 1; n t%e & "" *ing #tatement# in $ (r n te' ,0
C( : .t&:-st-. o? . :-)1 ,&( ;-o2: I am patient and kind +being gentle! friendly! and playful recognising the woundedness in self and others, B I am happy for other peoplesI achievements and giftedness A I am unpretentious +while respecting who and what I am, C I am respectful of everything and can see life through the eyes of others E I am slow to be irritated F I am ob#ective! future oriented! and forgiving of the past G I am centred on truth! not deceit K I am positive +being able to see beyond the physical and mental plane, ? I trust myself and others >@ I always persevere Tot ! s '&:.&)t 1& / :> o? t(& 9-st ).& ?:o/ D&s' -: toF :9s H ''-)&ss" > A??-:/ t-o)s &n affirmation is a sentence with the following characteristics. >. It is in the present tense. B. It is positive. A. It is in the first person. S.o:&

<

&ffirmations are a way of reprogramming the mind. =epeat them morning! noon and night! and after about three months! you will notice changes in your thinking and action. This is the process for developing pro3active thinking. %2&st-o)s Please answer the following questions in your #ournal or notebook. >. In my masculine and feminine traits! what are my weaknesses and what would they look like converted to affirmations? B. What are my affirmations from the compass and the map of the ego dynamic? A. What are my weaknesses from the ruler and what are they converted into affirmations ?

PLANNING FOR A HAPP$ AND SUCCESSFUL LIFE

W(3 P! )E The Plan for a pro3active and happy life is where we bring together our navigation skills in map reading! measuring of distance! and direction finding. Without a plan you drift aimlessly and get nowhere except by chance. 4ife is too precious to be left up to chance. Jour destiny is too important for thatT(& R&! t-o)s(-'s B&tF&&) O2: N&&9s# 2ee the list of personal needs in 0aslowHs need hierarchy given at the beginning of this paper. &ccording to 0aslow! the needs listed overlap and require fulfilment in accord with the sequence physiological through to self actualise. This gives us a clue in determining how we set out a complete and realistic set of goals and ob#ectives. O2: C( )1-)1 N&&9s# 'ur perception of our needs will constantly change- &s we self3 actualise! our perception of our needs change. )or example! the young ;uddha saw his needs in levels > to C of 0aslowHs hierarchy in the context of his princely court. 4ater! his definition had changed with fasting and being one with nature as satisfying these same needs. Thus constant review is part of this in a process. It is like a spiral going where we want to go or away from where we want to go. A;o-9 A-/-)1 S(o:t# *ote that the evidence in our society suggests that most people define their goals or needs at levels > and B only. %& good education is required to get a good #ob%! as a statement is popularly accepted as the aim of education. There are many over qualified people without employment and this confuses the public because it says nothing of what else beyond a #ob that a good education can facilitate. W( t -s t(& R&! t-o)s(-' o? E92. t-o) to A!! o? T(-sE ducation in 4atin literally means to lead out or lead forth. In our language it could be translated to mean bringing out the best in people. To do this we need to include! but move beyond the Ithree =sI and develop all the way to 4evel E. Thus relationship education! challenge for self esteem and spirituality for an in touchness with the pure gift within that is unique to each person! are all a vital to our learning and growth. T(& P! >. B. A. C. E. F. ))-)1 S&G2&).& O??&:&9 H&:&# 2et the context with the question %Who am I?%. 1ain focus by setting the %4ife 0ission 2tatement%. Identify the blocks to your progress and plan to conquer fear. &chieve power through love. /evelop a firm base in security. ;ecome fit enough to see the distance.

NoF P:&' :& $o2:s&!? ?o: t(& P:o.&ss# =eview your notes on the questions raised so far and sit with them for a while to double check your findings. These will form the raw data that will go into your development of your personal definition of lifeIs meaning. nsure that what is to follow is built on rock! not on sand. Jou need to do this with your whole mind and you need to move well beyond the cerebral left3brain activity. Include the process of stillness and re3 creation described in handouts to this text.

St&' 1 W(o A/ IE S&t t(& F: /& o: Co)t&Ht# =eview the earlier sections and set the %frame% for the goal setting to follow. 4ook at the list below and revise and confirm who you are as defined by your energy. Type > +;oar, Idealist 4eader! reformer! high energy! driven Type B +/og, 8arer 8ompassionate! nurturing! controlling Type A +=at, &dvocate 2elf assured! achiever! antagonistic Type C +"orse, 8reator &rtistic! intuitive! melancholic Type E +'wl, 'bserver 'pen minded! analytic! loner Type F +=abbit, 4oyalist 8ooperative! faithful! anxious Type G +Platypus, 'ptimist )orgiving! playful! avoid ugly Type K +2nake, 4eader 2trong willed! direct! abrasive Type ? +Water ;uffalo, *egotiator /ecisive! relaxed! procrastinate Us& $o2: OF) Wo:9s# 2ome synonyms are offered to help find the right word for you. I9& !-st" =omantic! 4eader! 7isionary! Prophet! =omanticist! =adical! &ctivist. C :&:" Philanthropist! *urturer! Patron! ;enefactor! "elper! "umanitarian. A9;o. t&" Image 0aker! 2ales Person! Propagandist! :ealot! 0issionary C:& to:" &rtist! /esigner! 7irtuoso! &rchitect. O,s&:;&:" Thinker! 8ounsellor! 2age! Philosopher. Lo3 !-st" Patriot! *ationalist! 8ourageous Person! 8hauvinist. O't-/-st" Positivist! nthusiast! Partisan! /reamer. L& 9&:" &uthoritarian! 0aster! /irector! Ludge! &rbiter. N&1ot- to:" Peace 0aker! 0oderator! &rbitrator! 0ediator! /ecision 0aker. & ;oar would convert this into an affirmation such as. I &0 &* I/ &4I2T St&' 2 L-?& +-ss-o) St t&/&)t P! ) W-t( t(& E)9 -) +-)9# It is suggested that we start by examining the self3actualisation need first and that we call this the aim or life mission statement. )or example! a ;oar may describe his aim in affirmation form thus. II am a person of peaceI. In choosing an aim! it is important to use the words that mean something to you and are not simply a transcript. It is also important that the aim be stated as a short pithy direct and positive sentence that ultimately summarises or stands for everything that is to follow. In short! the aim is 3o2: ?o.2s. What follows are the Ithrough9byI elements which are those determinants that have been developed in the balance of masculine and feminine! weaknesses from %the ruler% converted to positive affirmations! the positives of the home dynamic and the positives from the %compass% etc. &n example of a ;oar 0ission 2tatement! beginning with the 5who am I6 or context statement! is as follows. I &0 &* I/ &4I2T +the 5who am I6 part, I &0 & P =2'* ') P &8 +the 5where am I going6 part, , I am centred on peace I love the poetry and beauty in nature ,The mind set that moves me to , where I am going I am calm balanced and decisive , I trust the universe to unfold perfectly ,This changes as my mind develops I take time to smell the flowers , I en#oy pleasure without guilt tc etc............affirmations from the work and reflection done and listening to the bush and starga$ing. R&;-&F $o2: N&&9s# <sing the headings below! review your needs against your statement of who you are what your mission or destiny is and! therefore! what your ultimate dream is.

1;

$o2 :& U)-G2& )9 $o2: Go !s )9 A??-:/ t-o)s +2st B& U)-G2&I =emember that the outcome is for you alone and so avoid treating this as an exercise being demanded of you by another. )or example! do not become a slave to the language or layout of this but rather listen deeply to your own self. W( t -s It t( t $o2 R& !!3 W )tE It may sound selfish to listen to your deepest wants and desires but! when these are detached from your compulsions and are seen in the light of you as a whole being! it is these very needs and wants which will be life giving to you and the world around you. ;reak down your needs into achievable chunks and then list them in positive terms with a time to be achieved by dates. St&' * Co)G2&:-)1 F& : S&!? Est&&/ Go !s# /etermine what it is that you are afraid of +eg re#ection, and then set the challenges required to extend your comfort $ones to accommodate your aim +eg peace means working through re#ection! so set up re#ection scenarios and sail through them without being reactive,. 2imultaneously work on developing a positive self concept eg conquering a fear of heights! or being alone in the bush for a week! getting a degree at university! or going on a trek in the 'ut ;ack etc. St&' 4 PoF&: T(:o21( Lo;& C :& )9 Co).&:) Go !s# 2et out the goals required to achieve this. >. In my inner circle of influence +close family and close friends, eg. Taking my spouse to dinner every month! or camping with my children as the focus every year. B. In my second circle of influence +friends and acquaintances, eg. making peace or extending social interaction and developing family life. A. In my third circle of influence +the people I do not know, eg #oining a service organisation. St&' 5 A F-:/ B s& I) S&.2:-t3 S ?&t3 Go !s. 2et out goals that will allow you to feel safe. >. 2piritual development goals in routines of meditation! prayer! affirmations! uplifting music! worship etc. B. 0ental development goals eg reading! listening to tapes! seminars qualification courses and education. A. motional goals in setting boundaries and enforcing them firmly without rancour. C. Physical +health, goals eg diet and exercise. St&' C F-t)&ss To S&& T(& D-st ).& P(3s-o!o1-. ! Go !s# 2et out your goals to realise the physiological environment in shelter food and water. >. Type of diet. B. Type of lifestyle and the increments to achieve that. A. Type of work and the increments to achieve that C. 4evel of income and the increments to achieve that E. Type of home and the increments to achieve that. SO+E NOTES ON THE FORGOING R&;-&F t(& S-t2 t-o) R&12! :!3# 'nce a week! review your progress! once a year take some time out to spend days in retreat! and every seven to ten years step right out of any ruts and review the whole thing. 1oal setting must not become the structure of a prison but rather the flexible order required to live life to the full. /o not become obsessed by your goals. "aving identified them! reviewed them! visualised them! and set your course! let go and let the <niverse operate in some free space. B& Ho)&st# &s 2hakespeare put it %to thine own self be true and it must follow as the night the day! thou canIst not then be false to any man%. 2tudy models like the above and get to know and love yourself in terms of both light and dark side. &re you truly honest 3 do you dare to be true to yourself?

11

C(&.> L-st Fo: R&;-&F-)1 T(& P:o.&ss# 2ome points to check progress to freedom9proactive behaviour or regression to compulsion! reactive behaviour and despair. >. "ave I identified my energy! my weakness and my strength! and do I know the direction I need to go to for freedom. /o I do a regular %navigation check% in the bush walk drill %stop! sit! think! and have a yarn%? B. &m I impatient with everything to the point messing things up and then allow failure to confirm a low self image or do I re#oice in learning from failure to find success 3 the former is the symptom of low self esteem! the latter the symptom of high self esteem? A. &m I open to change and growth or do I hang on to the security of the past even if that makes me miserable? C. /o I have a positive obligation to myself +eg reading positive books! listening to positive people and tapes! relating to a positive 1od in reflection9prayer regularly, or do I simply soak up all the bad news about me and #oin in the laments? E. /o I lead those about me to be more free or do I burden them by #oining them in compulsive behaviour 3 am I a life giver or a death giver? T(& + -)t&) ).& P:o1: /# The %maintenance program% is essential for our sanity at one end and our productivity at the other. & suggested format is. >. D -!3" 0orning! noon! and nightM pause and spend time with you even if but a few minutes. 2top! sit! think and have a yarn. The 'g 0andinoIs scrolls are very good. 2peaking or writing affirmations is extremely worthwhile. Whatever you do! set a program and do it. This gives focus to the inner being and allows a positive approach to your community and your work. B. W&&>!3" "ave a social get together +happy hour, with your friends. 'ne day in seven focus on your 8reator! yourself! and the ones you are intimately close to. A. +o)t(!3" =ead a book of some inspirational worth such as positive textbooks and autobiographies +eg. & )ortunate 4ife by & ; )acey, where we are inspired by every day heroism and courage. C. A))2 !!3" Take leave to facilitate. o 2everal weeks of G2 !-t3 time with family and close friends. Plan this carefully! positively! and excitedly and then savour this! as these times are memory makers. & week or a few days +K days is ideal, for an annual reflection time. 2elf3improvement courses! seminars! hobbies and the follow up of special interests. E. E;&:3 S&;&) $& :s" 1o for a complete change in scenery every five to ten years. & trek to the "imalayas! a forty3day solo in the bush! an overseas study tour! a sabbatical or something really IwildI that you have always wanted to do but kept putting off. /o something to shake you out of any ruts and thoroughly review your goals. PA7 ET BONU+ PEACE AND BLESSING

o o

15

THE LEGEND OF THE BEAR

B$ 8OHN GU$ AA Sto:3 o: P : ,!& Co).&:)-)1 t(& D3) /-.s o? t(& No) V&:, ! +-)9B
The young warrior panted with hidden anxiety as he gripped his spear with sweaty palms. This was his special moment in lifeM his time of initiation. &lone in the vast wilderness! he was required to hunt the legendary bear and then to dream a mystical dream for the holy man of the tribe to interpret on his return. )or the second time he heard the roar of a bear near the river where the fishing was good. The warrior felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise and salty droplets of perspiration mired his view as they stung his eyesM and yet it was a cold day. "is mind was torn between planning his approach to the bearIs domain and simply turning to flee. The latter would mean losing his place in the tribe and only the loyalty to the security of that belonging kept him going. "e was still planning at the edge of a small clearing when there was an awful crash of branches B@ paces behind him. "e immediately spun around! tripped! and dropped his spear as he saw the huge apparition of a brown bear standing on its hind legs. "e fainted. & calm descended over him as he collected his wits and realised that the bear was seated opposite him with a head cocked to one side with mild curiosity and a friendly gentle look. I&re you all right?I &sked the bear in a gentle womanIs voice. 2he seemed almost motherly and this was confusing given the manly warrior enterprise he had been so set upon. IJes! I think so. Who are you?I II am 0ihalinka! the keeper of the caves hereabout. Who are you?I 2he asked this last as if she already knew and was being a little mischievous. II am a warrior on my initiation quest. I am in search of the legendary brown bear with the white chest and my naming dream.I IWell! Two 4egged! you have found both and #ust as you were about to give in! I think.I The warrior shook his head as he realised that all the conversation hitherto had been in Imind speak.I 0ouths and lips had not moved and yet communication was clear. IThis is ridiculous!I he said to himself. I;ears do not speak and the ones we hunt are large fierce male gri$$lies.I I'h really-I 0ihalinka responded in a friendly mocking way. I2o much for expectations. Jou! my special friend! are about to be given some choices for initiation but first we must dispel this youthful approach to manhood. Jour guide for your initiation #ourney is woman and your first quest will be to find your inner woman........I. 0ihalinkaIs voice and presence drifted off into a mist that had suddenly descended and chilled him. &s the mist cleared! he found himself in an underground tunnel as if he was in some sort of mine. "e felt drawn to walk along the tunnel as it took him deeper into the earth. It briefly occurred to him that this was illogical. "e should be looking for the surfaceM for light! fresh air! and freedom. 2omehow! he felt compelled to dismiss this thought and to go on in trustM trust in his instinct or gut reaction to the situation. "aving moved deep into the tunnel ma$e! he realised that the light that he had been relying upon became gently more powerful until he went around a corner and walked into a brightly lit cavern. &t the centre of the cavern! was a large underground lake with a second tunnel entrance on the other side. &s his eyes ad#usted! the warrior saw a beautiful young woman seated on a rock by a small cooking fire. 2he wore a long white doeskin dress edged with blue patterns. "er #et3black hair tumbled like a waterfall down her back. 2he seemed lost in sad or distant thoughts and was oblivious of her surroundings. The warrior looked upon her with a deep sense of curiosity. While she fascinated him! as would any ob#ect of such feminine beauty! there was something deeply familiar about her. It was as if he had known her all his life and yet she really was a stranger. It was this strangeness! which! in a way! scared him. The fear that began to well up made him turn to go back the way he came had come. &s he turned! the young womanIs voice suddenly broke the silence. IWho are you?I

16

2he asked. 2he sounded impatient and a little annoyed. "e felt to run out but something within made him turn and confront the lady of the cave. "e looked at her squarely and! while somewhat threatened by her! he felt also a sense of peace and well being especially as their eyes met. "e then heard 0ihalinkaIs voice inside him speak. ITwo 4egged! this is the quest of which I spoke. This young princess has been captured and is held here against her will by *ight 2hade. Jou must rescue her or all the land hereabouts will fall under the spell of darkness and fearM the spell of death from the 4ord of the /ark-I The princess looked at him with an air of quiet amusement. I2o!I she said. IJou are to be my hero.I Immediately! he felt awkward. "e was not sure how things were supposed to proceed when a gallant came to rescue a princess. 2he had a natural ma#esty about her that made her seem more in control of the circumstances than he was. & rumble suddenly broke his thoughts and a thumping that rapidly became a roar from the tunnel opposite. ;efore anyone could react! a huge menacing shadow began to fill the cave. What was coming seemed slowed only by the need to cross the lake. INuick-I The princess cried. IIt is *ight 2hade- =un- We must fly like the deer of the forest.I &ll of a sudden! he grasped her hand and ran! leading her out the way he had entered. 0iraculously! the giant *ight 2hade seemed to recede slowly behind them. "owever! all was not well. &t every tunnel #unction! and there were many! the sound of warriors gathering themselves for the hunt kept the fugitives aware of imminent doom. The ma$e of tunnels became a nightmare. "owever! as they ran! a mist enveloped them! and suddenly! panting with exhaustion! the two fugitives fell on the grass of the original clearing in the forest. The warrior lifted his head and there sat 0ihalinka. There were no tunnels! no evil giants! and no longer was there any fear . 0ihalinka ga$ed at the youngsters together with pleasure and she nodded a deep approval at them. The two young people looked around da$ed and gradually regained their composure as they sat opposite her. There was a lovely gentleness and mild playfulness about 0ihalinka which allowed both of them to feel secure such that they could let go and allow events to unfold in their destined manner. 0ihalinka led them to a glen and set out a beautiful meal of fruit! fish! honey mead and bread. 2he explained that it was time for the two to get to know one another but she also saw with amusement that the two seemed more interested in food than each other. They were famished. The warrior looked up from his finished meal and realised that 0ihalinka had gone. "e turned to the princess and! awkwardly at first! they began to talk. There was an instinctive eagerness to get to know one another and they talked! walked! and talked some more. &gain! in the mind speak that still characterised the language of this place! information seemed to be exchanged at a much more rapid rate than the normal conversations of the long house in his village. The princess was not only beautiful! but emanated a serenity that had the quality of something formed over a long time and through the tests of many trials. While playful! she did not mock him and! instead! created space for him to meet her in a place where preconceptions and suspicions had no meaning. 2he was like a true sister and she marvelled at his stories of achievement and fortune with a sense of en#oyment. 2he had an openness that almost confused the young man as there were none of the tricks he was sometimes sub#ect to from his sisters at home. 2he was trusting! receptive! detached from the material! and prepared to flow with what she called IThe =iver of 4ife.I With her! worry seemed to slip away and the burden of life seemed to diminish rapidly. 2he seemed able to nurture a sense of life and living. "e was not sure of the nature of the love that he felt for her! but he did know! that never would he allow evil to befall her again. It became clear to him that! in meeting this woman! he was driven to removing the threat of *ight 2hade. "is duty as a warrior moved from hunting the bear to seeking out and destroying the 4ord of the /ark.

17

'ne day! as the princess was gathering berries and fruits! the warrior took up his spear and went to look for *ight 2hade. 'utside the forest! he found a large grassy hill and there! in all his baronial splendour! as if preordained! stood the ob#ect of his quest. The warrior saw a darkly clad giant of a figure wearing heavy armour! and carrying a huge sword and shield. "is helmet and shield were embla$oned with the image of a rabbit. The warrior struggled to compose himself but discovered that he had a newfound courage and that this seemed somehow aligned with his memories of the princess. "e strode purposefully up the knoll towards *ight 2hade and his boldness alarmed the 4ord of the /ark. ;oth fought hard in the severe battle that ensued. The warrior! however! could not get close enough to thrust his spear into *ight 2hadeIs heart but he kept lunging forward. It was in one such moment that his adversary suddenly turned and lashed out with a huge mailed fist. The warrior was knocked senseless and thrown down to the foot of the hill and lay at the base of some trees that edged the forest. *ight 2hade contemptuously deserted him as dead but! within himself! he knew that he could not go down to check and kill the young man if he was still alive. While in victory! he felt no triumph and so he left the place of combat a little saddened and confused. The warrior awoke to find 0ihalinka tending to him by a river. 2he had cleaned and dressed his wounds and was in the process of preparing herbal tea to help relieve his pain when she heard him stir. &fter drinking some of 0ihalinkaIs herbal brew! the warrior fell into unconsciousness once again. /uring his time of healing 0ihalinka made him medicines from the forest and found food that would strengthen his body. "e now had a lot of time to think as he recovered in the stillness of the forest. While convalescing! he contemplated the recent events! and also a dream that had alarmed him. *ightshade! according to his dream! was his father and the princess his twin sister. This disturbing thought startled him and brought him back to a conscious reality. &s he opened his eyes! he focused on 0ihalinka sitting next to him and gradually he shared his dream with her. I8an there be truth in this dream?I "e asked 0ihalinka in mind speak. 2he #ust looked at him calmly and nodded. Then she gave him a gentle hug. I/o not become too confused! Two 4egged!H 2he said. I&ll of this is happening inside you and we are all parts of you. 2o it is! that you attacked a part of yourself and! in the process! you only diminished your being.I I"ow can *ight 2hade be a part of me?I "e asked in anguish and confusion. ITell me! Two 4egged! have you not felt a tendency towards being fearful? "ave you noticed that almost all that you do may be in response to this?I The warrior thought for a while and remembered his intense loyalty to his tribe and his cautious and indecisive manner at home and during his quest. The description fittedM too close for comfort. "e wanted to deny the truth but knew that his quest was for truth. Truth about himself. "e caught 0ihalinkaIs ga$e and acknowledged it gravely. ITwo 4egged! there resides a lion of strength and courage within you-I 0ihalinka exclaimed with delight and hugged him again. IJou see! *ight 2hade is the dark side of you! your fear! which seems to father so many of your actions while you remain unenlightened. What this does is to show up the /ay 4ight. We cannot have light without dark. Jou will discover your /ay 4ight through *ight 2hade and so it is that you must prepare to meet him again.I The warriorIs spirits sank until he looked up and saw the princess approaching with food and drink. 2he was delighted at his recovery. 0ihalinka explained how the princess had nursed him when he was unconscious and had helped her gather the foods from the forest that hastened his recovery. "e wondered how he could ever have considered survival and life without the wisdom! teaching! healing! intuitive advice! nurturing! and loving care of woman. There was so much here in partnership that made for a balanced sense of man rather than in separateness where woman was simply an ob#ect for dominance! and! perhaps! one sided gratification. &ll of this seemed to herald a new understanding of lifeM an understanding that seemed life giving. The word harmony came to him. &fter a lovely shared meal! 0ihalinka offered the warrior a Icave vigilI before he took his next step. & vigil! she explained was a word for watch or watchfulness. "e might care! she

18

thought! to watch out for that which was important to him and! therefore! to his approach to life and the problems presented to him on his #ourney. "e liked the idea but did not know how to IvigilI or IwatchI in this context. 0ihalinka smiled knowingly. ITwo 4egged! often we have eyes but see not! have ears but hear not. 'ften we are so full of the noise of our daily lives and our preconceptions to notice the truly important life making issues. The answers to all our concerns lie within and it is thus that we need the strength of ;ear! which is the power of introspection. This is symbolised in the bear hibernating in winter in a cave to digest the yearIs experience and coming out in spring with new life within. It is the act of going into the womb cave of 0other arth and connecting to the nutrient of the 1reat 7oid. It is the place where knowing comes in silence and stillness.I The warrior thought on this and! while he understood what was being offered! and was attracted to the Icave vigil!I he felt a sense of urgency and the need to sit down and plan his strategy with cold logic maximising the strengths and minimising the weakness. I8onscious thought and the fruit of the logical mind are powerful indeed! my son!I said 0ihalinka understandingly. IIt is this strength9weakness! black9white! good9bad! powerful9powerlessness thinking which you men are often so good at that it blinds you to the fact that most of your brain power is not being harnessed. Jou are like the waggoner with ten horses who only harnesses one. The mind energy beyond your conscious is non3verbal and is full of the imagery and feeling which superficial warrior cults discard. The true warrior of wisdom who defends love and truth! needs to harness all ten horses to his war engine. It is here that you truly meet *ight 2hade.I The warrior sought the counsel of 0ihalinka and the princess and then repaired to a mountain and the ;ear 8ave. "e then remembered the woman wisdom of intuitive thought and began the process given to him in recent counsel. "e stilled his mind! practiced the discipline of silence! relaxation! and re3creation. "e dreamed dreams! he felt feelings! he cried! he re#oiced! and he worked through despair and fear to find courage and #oy. "e was alone a long time and yet not alone at all. "e became immersed in that which went beyond the mental and physical planeM an awareness that gave him a true sense of belonging beyond family! tribe! humanity! creed! taboos! lawsM a belonging to a reality which lay beyond words to describe but which feelings could touch. It was this that gave him the power to confront his next step. 'ne morning! he found his resolve. "e stood! picked up his spear and broke it in half over his knee. "e then prepared for a #ourney and set off for the West where he knew he had to go to find *ight 2hade. This time! his approach was not of destruction and death but of a son approaching a father in trust and in love. &s he neared *ight 2hadeIs hillock! he came to a river and there! as if prearranged! awaited a ferry in the form of a punt and a ferryman who was old! stooped! and dressed in a long black robe! his face hidden under an oversi$ed hood. The mysterious presence of the ferryman with his gnarled and twisted hands clasping the punting pole like a weapon! filled the warrior with suspense and dread. While faceless! the old man emanated a strange power that was accentuated by the still surroundings and whirling mists on the river. *evertheless! the warrior felt driven to step aboard this unusual solution to the problem of the crossing. 2ilently the ferryman nodded! chuckled a little and hastily punted to the middle of the broad still waters. Then he stopped amid an eerie stillness. INuite the warrior now! arenIt we!I the ferryman sneered. I1oing to visit *ightshade with love! I believe-I "e cackled and nearly choked with cynical mirth. IJou foolish boy- /o you think the World fro$e still while you were away? /o you honestly think that *ight 2hade was going to stay still after you stole his property? What arrogance- What foolishness- What sheer irresponsibility to go off and leave the princess with that she bear-I "e spat this last out with contempt. IWell! you fool! yesterday I gave *ight 2hadeIs warriors crossing on this very spot and I was handsomely rewarded. What do you make of this?I "e emptied the contents of his leather pouch into his hand. The young warriorIs heart sank as he recognised the #ewellery of the princess. The ferryman shook the pouch again to reveal the signet ring that the warrior knew only death could remove

19

from the princess. There was also a necklace made from engraved bear clawsM 0ihalinkaIs. The warrior felt horror and disbelief as the tears welled up in his eyes. "ad it all been for nothing. 2uddenly he was filled with fury and leapt off the boat as it nudged the grassy embankment. Nuickly! he fashioned a spear and club in a nearby copse of trees and ran in a mad fren$y. *ight 2hade was standing on a hilltop waiting for him as the young warrior charged. ;oth could hear the mocking laughter of the ferryman in the distance. 2uddenly! 0ihalinkaIs voice came to him. ITwo 4egged! you are attacking yourself. /o not destroy what I love.I The warrior fro$e in his tracks and looked *ight 2hade in the eye and there he saw something that helped him turn from his deadly intent. "e dropped his weapons and knelt on one knee. I)ather!I he said! II have come in peace and in love even though I know of your intent to kill me.I "e noticed that the ferryman had grown silent and then! as if out of nowhere! the old man! with the agility of youth! was upon them. 1rabbing the downed weapons! he set upon *ight 2hade and knocked him senseless. I*ow you fool-I "e exclaimed between deep breaths from his exertion. I(ill the murdering 4ord of /arkness or forever be damned as a coward! a weakling! and a boy never to be a man-I The images of his beloved princess and 0ihalinka murdered by the Warriors of /arkness incensed him once again and he grabbed the spear that the ferryman held to him. Then he heard the princess speak. I0y prince!I she said gently. I)or what are you so consumed with duty to violate our father? Jou have imagined the worst. /o you really believe that woman can so simply and easily be destroyed by a war party? If you call down this manifestation it could happen in your awareness but! if you refuse to call down this fear it will never happen. In some form! 0ihalinka and I will be alive to you always if you allow us to be. =emember your cave vigil and your dreaming and remain true to your self.I The ferryman saw the change come over the warrior and a fearsome fury sei$ed every part of the hidden being in the black robe. IJou opt for banal benevolence-I The ferryman shrieked in desperate fury. IJou deny my acrimony-I "ave you no brains at all? 0ust you always wither before the mantle of woman? Well now you get what you deserve- Power of love- "umbug- Jour power will be that of being dust in an unmarked grave. *ow you die-I The ferryman had the club over the warriorIs head and all was lost. The young man realised helplessly that these were his last moments and he felt alone and confused. IWhere have I gone wrong? Where did I fail in my dream quest to become a true warrior and a man of my tribe?I "is sense of emptiness and doom were suddenly eclipsed when he heard a mighty thump and the ferryman was driven like an arrow into the river where he disappeared into the deep. In disbelief he looked up to see *ight 2hade! but instead of the dark baron! he saw a knight wearing a white tunic embla$oned with the head of a water buffalo. I0y sonI! said the knight. IThank you-I They embraced as a great silence fell over the forest. I0y son! you have released me from the form of *ight 2hadeM from fear and my tendency to call down and manifest disaster in my world and to those around me. Jou see! behind my power lay uncertainty and the need to protect everything by constantly working at the Iwhat ifI question. *ow you have set me free to come from the real power! the power of courage that is from the heart! the life centre! the pump house of life. This is a grounded place where peace and calm can come naturally. It is here that I find decisive action. I shall walk by your side and give you strength rather than death for all your days.I &s the knight spoke! their surroundings changed and the warrior realised that they had returned to the glen. "e shook his head to clear his mind and then saw a vision that made him explode with #oy. Walking towards him were 0ihalinka and the princess smiling happily

1:

and bearing another of those renowned forest feasts. The princess embraced the knight while 0ihalinka held the warriors hands. 2he held the young man at arms length! looked deeply into him and then she embraced him. 2hortly she made way and the princess gave him a hug which was full of relief. "e heard her voice repeating Inow we can be.I "e ate heartily and talked and laughed with his companions. "e felt relief from his deep inner burdens and it seemed that if he wished to do so! he could flyM so happy and so free did he feel. &s the feast progressed! and the sharing of recent events deepened his understanding! he began to surrender to his weariness. "e knew not when it happened! but he slid into a sound slumber almost against his will. I4eo!I called a kindly voice. I4eo! wake upI The warrior awoke and there stood the tribal holy man! "allomarey looking down at him from friendly eyes in an aged and wrinkled face. The warrior was stunned and he simply ga$ed at this apparition from his childhood past. There stood everything he had respectedM this gentle mystic in his coarse brown woollen robe! bare feet and long white beard. "e noted the shoulder bag that "allomarey carried was bulging with recent harvesting of forest medicines and secret ingredients for healing. While the warrior collected himself sufficiently to sit up! "allomarey sat on the grass and looked into the forest while one hand found the prayer beads which hung from his rope belt. The warrior had seen this natural and seeming absent3minded act many times. "e knew that this mystic was able to switch from the human reality to that of the realm beyond and then back again with ease. "e marvelled at the sight as the prayers from this venerable man left silently on vapours of his breathing that! on this cold morning! looked like puffs of incense from the sacred burner swinging on the end of a chain. The warrior sat up and looked around him. "is new friends were no where to be seen but here and there he saw the unmistakable spoor of a bear as if one had actually walked around him several times. I&h- I see that you are now awake!I cried "allomarey with a glint of sheer #oy in his eyes. IWell! my son! you have been busy. *o longer do I ga$e upon a small boy but rather upon the form which contains a true man. &nd now! 4eo! you have found the resource of courage which naturally abides in you and for which I named you as a babeM after our 2ister 4ion. The two men shared in mind speak as a warm silence entered the morning air of a new and wonderful day. "allomarey eventually stood! clasped his staff that had been leaning against a tree and led the warrior to the river. I*ow we cross back to the world! my son. This time you do not meet /eath in a ferry but unaided you swim across. 'n the other side you return to us! your people as a boy no more but as a man. While you swim in the water of life! you will leave your boyhood fears behind and emerge with your new name. The warrior stripped and left everything behind as he plunged into what his people called the I=iver of 4ifeI. &s he swam! "allomareyIs voice came to him and told him always to listen to his newfound companions. "e realised that I4eoI was the youth within who when #oined with his sister! 4ea! made him complete in a manhood of harmony and balance. "e realised that 0ihalinka was his truth speaker! *ight 2hade the father of his actions! and that the ferryman was the ever3present alternate choice to life and livingM /eath. "e emerged on the far side and found an earth brown robe waiting for him with sandals and a staff. "allomarey had thought of everything. *ow! like his mentor! he was to wear the symbol of the ;ear. "e dressed and knelt before the mystic who simply laid hands on his head and they both entered the quiet for a while. II welcome thee as son and brother to the tribe whose ;ear raiment you now wear. I now name thee as the whole person and man that thou art. I am commanded to name thee 0ichael! which means Iwho is like unto 1od.I 0ichael looked up to find his family eagerly welcoming him home. "e and 0ihalinka remained as one throughout the arth Walk and wisdom and #oy came naturally.

1<

NOTES ON THE LEGEND + s.2!-)& )9 F&/-)-)&# The first step in our growth to self3actualisation is to balance and harmonise the masculine and feminine aspects. This process is often similar to the events in the 4egend. 'ur inner selves contain the animus +masculine component, and anima +feminine component,. In our story! we have 4eo and 4ea who are twins. The animus here +4eo, is the hero! so our storyIs psyche is a male and thus we meet the balanced 0ichael. In the process! 4eo had to rescue +literally shake loose, 4ea in his first quest. & woman in this process would need to rescue her inner 4eo. %2&st-o) 1# a. 4ist in your notebook what you understand as your masculine traits and! on another page! what you understand as your feminine traits. &re you in touch with both? or! do you identify with only one? b. "ow can you get in touch with the other side +eg as a feminine with your masculine, to allow balance in your view of life? T(& T& .(-)1s o? T(& B& :# Wisdom is not always expressed in words. I& picture is worth a thousand wordsI. *ature is full of symbolic expressions. %2&st-o) 2 What are 0ihalinka and "allomarey saying in their lifestyle! demeanours and colours? 7isualise both beings for a while in quiet and relaxed surroundings. /o not think too much and let whatever comes into your head go on paper in the style of brainstorming. NOTES FOR %UESTION 1# F&/-)-)& As'&.ts# 'ur feminine! &nima reflects such aspects as nurturing! mothering! caring! the intuitive! poetry in nature! beauty! the artistic! meaning! protecting9fostering life! playful! curious! adventurous! assumes others are friendly! creates! space for others without preconception or suspicion! en#oys and shares good fortune of others! inclusivity. + s.2!-)& As'&.ts# 'ur masculine! &nimus! is attracted to strength! power! control! overcoming challenge! giving life! fathering! winning! survival! logical thought! protecting! tribal belonging! rank! outward recognition! exclusivity. NOTES FOR %UESTION 2# ENVIRON+ENT# 0ihalinka and "allomarey both live in the IbushI. "ere there are no distracters of prestige! power play! control! maintenance of comfort $ones! telephone! T7! computers. "ere we can get in touch with the spirit of. a. D&t .(/&)t# & detachment from our control mechanism in wealth and power and with the status that goes with it. *ote that the opposite is true of the baronial power of *ightshade or the manipulations of the )erryman. b. %2-&t T-/& to O)& S&!?# 0aking oneself available to the inner world by being detached from outside relationships. This allows a relationship to grow within by making time and space to look at the deepest sense of self. c. L-st&) D&&'!3# &n ability Ito listen deeplyI is the 4atin meaning of obedience. If we obey the laws of *ature! we are listening deeply to the lessons to be taken from our natural surroundings. "ere we discern our needs and wants in the light of truth. We then go forth in conviction and courage to achieve our destiny fully. COLOURS# The costume of the "oly 0an "allomarey is earth brown with a white rope. 0ihalinka wears the same colour of earth brown and she carries white fur over her heart. a. EARTH COLOUR# /amp9fertile soilM where we come from because every thing we eat comes from the earthM 0other arthM 0other to all humans and all animals and all plants and all rocks etc. 3 we are brother and sister to all creationM this means peace! harmony! conflict resolution! life in the context of others and the environment. ;e earthy! earthed and humble +from 4atin humus for earth,. b. WHITE# 4ightM solar energyM the sun on which we depend for life! gravity! etc. like the life )orce we cannot do without itM we need exposure to it +like the trees lifting up their leaves towards the sun,.

1=

THE S$+BOLS AND THEIR OUTLINES B$ 8OHN GU$

Not& 1# The points listed below are given as stimulants for personal interpretation of symbols that are essentially the non3verbal communication of the sub conscious and unconscious minds. Please minimise conscious9left brain style critique and enter a world of imagery. Not& 2# To avoid the distraction of dwelling on any one gender! the third person alternates gender as we explore each animal symbol in turn. THE BOAR To the 8hinese! ;oar symbolises courage! prosperity! and nobility. To the Lapanese he is the 1od of war. To the 8elts he was a sacred beast who represented authority. To others! he is an obscene glutton and a destroyer of agriculture. &t the core of ;oar! is a sense of authority and power from an idea that he knows what is needed for the making of perfection on earth. ;oar puts out the image of being perfect and stores up anger and resentment at the imperfection and in#ustice around him. "e feels duty bound not to show his IimperfectI behaviours and so he can become unaware of the undercurrent of fury deep inside. When he has not confronted this! ;oar can be pompous! sarcastic! critical! #udgmental! puritanical! and his natural authority and power can be austere and frightening. The enlightened ;oar! however! can step back and let things be by recognising that everything is in a process of growth and development in a pattern that is perfect. "e can then express anger in a constructive manner and be a reformer with compassion. When a positive Platypus stimulates ;oar he moves away from the pompous sermonising and settles down to en#oy the celebration of life with a childlike sense of fun and an outlook that is full of hope. "owever! never underestimate ;oar as he is essentially an animal of the wild and can be violent and destructive. 'n the other hand! ;oars like 8arl Lung! are stamped with profound tenderness and love for humanity. THE DOG &ccording to 4a )ontaine! there was once a mangy Wolf made up of nothing but skin and bone! who met a sleek! healthy! beautiful! and powerful /og. The Wolf would have gladly swapped places with the /og but this would mean being sub#ect to the two legged. The Wolf asked about the harness about the /ogIs neck and was told that it was merely a collar to keep her attached. Wolf was ama$ed at this surrender of needs and he turned back to the wild where he remains free to this day. /og! meanwhile! remains faithful and a compulsive do gooder and surrenders her needs to be there for every whim of her two legged owner. /og likes to appear independent! self sufficient! and put together! but in fact! she is very dependent on attention! approval! and appreciation from others. There is! therefore! a hook in her devotion ...... there is a price to pay. ;eware the door mat /og. "owever! when she connects to the power of "orse! she finds the strength in reality and not in the sentimental vanity based fantasy. With "orse! she can see all as sacred and refined and she can be generous and can recognise the talents! feelings! and gifts of others. 0other Theresa of 8alcutta is typical of the enlightened /og who found her real power in being one with the dying and the poor in a true sense of humility. ;eware of /og! for she remains a dangerous carnivore who! when touched by snake! can go for power! become over masculine and abrasive! with a need to win. In this state! she will despise weakness! she will not listen well! and she will be attracted by revenge. THE RAT 2currying here! hurrying there! disappearing into the underworld! reappearing at night! surviving even when others do not! and able to be sleek and healthy when surrounded by death and destruction. To the Lapanese! the =at was the god of wealth! to the 2iberians! a symbol of prosperity! to many Westerners a sign of squalor and disease to be feared. =at is! in fact! the image of success and efficiency. "e hates failure and he needs achievement for recognition. In this mode he can become over committed to appearances! deny his inner life and become superficial! glit$y! aggressive! and deceitful. When =at takes time and effort to go deep within! he can find true peace in the ambience of =abbit! a fellow hole dweller. With =abbit! he can! move from his self3centredness and learn to be cooperative! faithful! playful! constant! and loyal. It is in this new ambience of responsibility and reverence that he discovers truth. The problem is that many =ats do so well in duplicity and in the world of superficiality! that they rarely feel motivated to befriend the earthy unglamorous =abbit. Instead they can touch the Water ;uffalo when he is in the la$y procrastinating mode in the wet season swamp. "ere =at is seduced to being stubborn! hopeless! non confrontational! and powerless. "owever! remember the ;uddhist 4egend that when ;uddha called the twelve animals to him! the intelligent =at was the first to respond.

5;

THE HORSE The thoroughbred "orse prancing in the field with her coat gleaming and her mane and tail streaming behind her in the wind is making her statement. *othing is ordinary here. &s she shows off! she clearly says II am special! I am sensitive! I conform to elite standards.I Jears and generations of breeding ensure that she can show herself as refined ... an aristocrat among animals. )or all the harnessing of power of "orse and the domestication of her! humankind has never truly dominated her. 2he has always demanded a relationship based on profound! exalting! organic! and psychic harmony! +eg. the myth of the 8entaur, or often the alternative was death. ;y the same token! the face of "orse is melancholic. 2he can look upon the world +4atin invidia means this and is the root of our word envy, and she sees what others have and she can easily feel down. This comes from a poignant feeling that there is something missing in her ... something others have. 'ften she has a sense of having been abandoned in her childhood physically or psychologically. )rom this she seeks attention through an air of suffering. 2he can become preoccupied with the extremes of tragedy and the converse in exploding #oy. Thus her moods can swing between two poles. When en#oying the positive attributes of ;oar! "orse can step out with power and state her leadership in balance and harmony. &lternatively the dark side of /og can capture her melancholic and she becomes outward rather than inward looking! she puts herself down! she becomes controlling and finds it hard to receive and is guilty about her needs. 2he then adopts the ;asset "ound look. THE OWL /escartes spoke for the 'wl when he concluded II think! therefore I am.I 'wl sat on the shoulder of the goddess &thena to reveal unseen truths to her so that she could be the deity of wisdom. 'wl can be a loner who reaches out silently at night for his needs when no one can see or hear him. It is difficult to deceive 'wl because he has spent his life observing everything with large eyes supported in an oversi$ed head. "e can know more about anotherIs inner life than that person knows about him or herself. It is thus easy for 'wl to put out his self image of perceptiveness and wisdom. To him truth is central and feelings are #ust more information to get to the truth. "e dreads looking foolish and he is always explaining from a position detached from daily living and thus a place of ob#ectivity. "e finds shallowness in others contemptible and easily labels IfoolsI and IidiotsI. 'wl can be too distant from day to day life and with the need to fill the void left by the absence of hurly burly experiences! he can become I2crooge likeI! live alone in the garret of the mansion! and sit alone in the barn roof looking down on the world beneath. "is nest can be full of bits "e avoids emptiness and has a avarice to fill himself up and a stinginess towards others. "e can feel an absence of meaning in himself and compensates this by seeking the meaning of life. "owever! when touched by the positive power of 2nake! 'wl realises his prowess as a bird of prey who comes from a position of strength to swoop into the world with a new found love of challenge. "ere he resonates with kinship and hard work with a strong! honest! Ilean on meI approach to others. The ob#ective thinker becomes popular and involved. If! however! he is moved by a gluttonous Platypus! he can be impatient! selfish! talkative! an avoider of painful issues and he can live in the idealised future back on his tree branch high above the issue. THE RABBIT &merindian 4egend has it that =abbit is the )ear 8aller. 2he calls out her fear and therefore! attracts the very beings which bring the disasters she fears the most. The lesson is what you resist will persist. It is said that up to forty percent of people come from their inner =abbit more than any other animal. =abbit handles fear by obsessive loyalty to IstrongI leadership and IinvincibleI groupings. 2he surrenders her independence and natural deviousness to orthodoxy and intense loyalty. There is much about the ma#or institutions in the armed services! religions! and government that reveal =abbitIs style. ven in a nation! her energy can predominate in issues such as &ustraliaIs intense loyalty to the I0other countryI up to the >?F@Is and then to <2& +all the way with 4;L, during the 7ietnam war. &ll of this was because a small white settlement felt isolated in the 2outhern "emisphere. =abbit understands fear like no one else but conversely! she also shows courage like no one else as many tales of bravery from fearful people confirm. When =abbit contemplates the power and ma#esty of Water ;uffalo! she moves naturally towards courage as she touches the essence of being earthed! unflappable! calm and decisive. 'n the other hand! if she is bitten by =at! she can become stuck on the outer world of image making. =abbit seems small and cute but she twitches often with fear of what might happen. ;ut if you want to see courage in a tight corner! look no further. 2he will take a challenge to prove herself.

51

THE PLAT$PUS Platypus wears a permanent smile and he savours his life both in water and on land. "e is unconcerned about convention and confuses people who try to categorise him ... as a bird ... as a marsupial ... as a mammal ... . Platypus #ust smiles! sniffs the scented air! expresses freedom in a graceful swim and then becomes one with 0other arth in his underground home. "ere he is always planning for the utopian future in which pursuit he is very imaginative and compulsively creative. "owever! his plans and thoughts can tend to stay in his head and he can be distracted by a good time. Indeed he is very nostalgic about good times past and he will go out his way to another place to slurp a celebratory situation. "e is a bit of a glutton. "e will avoid pain and suffering almost at all cost. 'n seeing a catastrophe he will simply convert it to good as Ia necessary lessonI or the Iloving will of 1odI. When the ;oars trotter finds him through the mud of the creek bank! he can find his poisoned spur on his hind3leg and express harsh explosive anger from a stance that is #udgmental picky! argumentative and driven. 'n the other hand! he finds his peace with a fellow loner near his home! 'wl. When these two connect in brotherhood and sisterhood he can be an excellent listener instead of telling stories all the time. "e can open up to curiosity! open mindedness! patience and clear wisdom. THE SNA5E When 2nake enters a situation every one notices and! often! with some dread. ven the non3 venomous snake! for all her intrinsic beauty! seems to bring out deep and innate fear. "owever! despite all the immediate negative reactions! few animals have endured such a rich array of symbolic significance. There is the 8eltic circle made up of a snake biting her tail as a statement of eternal renewal that is echoed in the Tibetan ;ook of the /ead. Then there is the 8hinese representation of wisdom and the ;iblical story of &dam and ve tempted by the serpent. &nother ancient symbol is where "ermes! the father of alchemy! used the sign of two snakes entwining around a sword to represent healing. There! the complete acceptance of masculine and feminine dynamic in an organism melds two into one creation. &nd here lies the clue. It is when 2nake over identifies with her masculine side that the vengeful fearsome warrior dynamic puts fear into all. In this form she turns for power and sarcastically punishes those in her way as she blindly rushes into a cause for #ustice and winning only to create more in#ustice with the violence of it all. This is the ultimate macho state which both genders can manifest. "owever! when 2nake meets /og! she is moved to the symbol and power ordained by "ermes in healing in all its forms. "ere she learns consideration! sensitivity! compassion! and! indeed the elements of the feminine that balance the overstated masculine. When she blends these elements of anima and animus! she becomes a being of true innocence +from the 4atin! into non3violence,. "owever! if she finds her focus on a fellow warrior in 'wl! she can become a loner! uninvolved! stringy! tactless! and critical. It is in this state that she can sei$e and use situations and people in a manner of transparent aggression ... a far cry from the symbol of "ermes. THE WATER BUFFALO The Water ;uffalo stands in his wet season swamp in the *orthern Territory and looks la$ily about with a haughty but slow air as he munches the dripping grass. In the heat and humidity! Water ;uffalo #ust takes things easy and lets nothing disturb him. In fact! it is here that we see his la$iness and avoidance of any form of conflict or bother ... he simply raises his snout slowly and ga$es down his nose with an attitude of why stand when you can sit and why sit if you can lie down. "e can have the Iwhat is the use of tryingI attitude of powerlessness. In this state! Water ;uffalo seems to have the essence of power drained out of him altogether. ;ut do not be fooled. 'nce the easy going Water ;uffalo takes action it is decisive and powerful as the huge horns! muscle! and sheer mass are focused and brought into play. In fact! when influenced by a well3ad#usted =at! Water ;uffalo resonates with confidence! action! enthusiasm! generosity! and articulate communication. "e then becomes decisive! grounded! relaxed! and kindly. 'n the other hand! when =abbit hops lopsidedly into his ambience he can be tempted towards inhibition based on fear and a belief in himself as a walking failure. 2oon he can be shy! indecisive and anxious. The sleepy looking Water ;uffalo becomes a magnificent and balanced being of grace and boldness when empowered with the positive esteem he richly deserves. )irst however! he needs to stop believing the Iput downsI he has experienced.

55

E7ERCISE WILDERNESS T(& <H&:/-t 1&< o: <V-1-!< ,3 8o() G23

>. P:&!-/-) :-&s" a. & 4eadership seminar or course is useful but not a mandatory precursor of this xercise. b. The % nneagram Workshop% is an essential precursor. c. Jou will need your workbook! 4egend of the ;ear and a #ournal. d. Jou will need to be prepared to go into the bush on your own in total silence for an extended period in a spirit of simplicity and relatedness to *ature. e. Wear appropriate clothing! hat! sunscreen and take water and insect repellent. B. To'o1: '(3# xercise WI4/ =* 22 is usually conducted in quiet mountain country where seclusion and ma#esty are guaranteed. )or large groups! the exercise area is divided into sectors. *ote from the briefing the current situations with regard to. a. water in creeks! b. temperature9heat! c. wind direction! d. phase of moon! e. sun up and sun down times! f. location of tracks! and g. location of sector and hermitage boundaries. A. C. +-ss-o). To focus. EH&.2t-o) a. G&)&: ! O2t!-)&# Participants will be placed out into areas that they have selected and each will have space for solitude in sectors with a central sector safety post with a 1uide and then every one will be silent. b. T s>s ?o: t(& P :t-.-' )ts. +>, set up your hermitage space. +B, be silent from start to finishM +A, listen to the bushM +C, star ga$e +if a night is involved,M +E, study your work book if applicable! +F, if so inclined! pray +see attached,M +G, write a #ournal! +K, &nswer the questions. +a, What are my pro3active and reactive dynamics? +b, Where is my centre? +c, What am I? +d, What is my %&im in 4ife% or %4ife 0ission 2tatement%? +e, What are my 1oals? +?, by process of rest! diet! and contemplation! re3create. T s>s ?o: t(& St ??" +>, provide safety net in sectors and at xercise ;aseM +B, provide first aid post! unless each participant has a medical kitM +A, complete roundsM +C, be available for counselling and co3ordinate people needing to see the /irectorM

c.

56

+E, ensure that the discipline exists to allow an undisturbed quiet for those participants who seek to fully complete the exerciseM and d. Coo:9-) t-)1 I)st:2.t-o)s. *ote from the briefing the current situations with regard to. +>, coordination of the areas for sectors! +B, coordination of the access routes to sectors! +A, time for the start of "ermitage and silence! +C, time for the end of "ermitage and silence! +E, /irector available for counselling! +F, action in emergency 3 move to 1uide 3 if immobile! use 8ooee system! and +G, hermits to be positioned far9close9intermediate by choice E. A9/-)-st: t-o) )9 Lo1-st-.s# . *ote from the briefing the current situations with regard to. a. =ation plan and its use. b. =ubbish to be carried out. c. Water to be carried in 3 no re supply during exercise. d. 4eave area better than found with minimum impact. F. Co// )9 )9 Co)t:o!# *ote from the briefing the current situations with regard to. a. EH&:.-s& Co)t:o!!&:" The /irector. b. S&.to: G2-9&s" 1roup 1uides c. Us& o? B21!&DB&!!" )or all back to xercise ;ase. e. Coo&& S3st&/" &s per 2afety Instructions. f. H )9 S-1) !s" <sed to 1uides9/irector on rounds. +>, Thumbs up . %'(%. +B, Thumb down. %*ot '(%. +A, Patting head. %8ome to me%. +C, Wave . %"ello%. g. D-s.-'!-)&" &nyone visiting another will be taken off the exercise. S2// :3 )9 Co).!2s-o). The symbol of the ;ear.

G.

57

STAR GAZING & LISTENING TO THE BUSH

R&! H t-o) EH&:.-s& <se a grassed area with a clear view of the night sky or class of ob#ect +eg trees,. <se this time to relax and focus on the positives. 4ie down in flat grassy area! using ground sheets9raincoats if necessary. If accompanied! lie double arm distance apart. (eep your head uphill! arms by the side! legs flat9uncrossed and commence a relaxation exercise thus. tense feet! relax let weariness out through heels like water out of a #ug tense legs! relax weariness out of heels tense torso! relax weariness out of heels! stress out of shoulder blades tense arms and hands! relax weariness out of heels and hands! stress out of shoulder blades tense head9close eyes9clench teeth! relax! open eyes weariness out of heels and hands! stress out of shoulder blades *egative self concept out of back of head +eg. I canIt do it! I am useless etc., )eel floating sensation of weightlessness take over from heavy sensation St : G J& )eel weightless like an astronaut 7iew the cosmos through the window of earthIs atmosphere Jou are travelling at >@G @@@ km9h! spinning on axis! moving around the sun 2unship arth is C.E billion years old! E billion to go 8oncept of time and season from movement therefore time not an absolute 2uper *ova takes >G@!@@@ years for light to travel from it to us at approx. A@@!@@@ (m9sec "ugh distances 3 light years 3 black bits closest thing to forever than we will see on this life 3furthermost known ob#ect F billion light years away 8lock like order! stars used for *av. "uge energy in suns and planetary movement 3 beyond measure &tomic9molecular structure of all matter like the cosmos Jou are a cosmos If the 8osmos is a miracle so are you If the 8osmos is ma#estic and wonderful! so are you If the 8osmos is full of power! then so are you Jou are of a blueprint shared with all matter! the whole 8osmos 3 you belong! you are not alone Put downs and negatives are valueless. Fo: t(& T(&-st 1od is not an old man in the clouds Ponder the force! designer! maintainer! creator! and intelligence of the 8osmos This ;eing wants a personal love relationship with you

58

L-st&)-)1 to t(& B2s(# This involves a Isacred siteI where you can focus on a class of ob#ect! such as trees! and then go through a relaxation exercise stilling the mind and body and allowing the non verbal mind some scope with the language of feelings and symbols. 4isten and observe for an hour or more. <se the relaxation exercise from 2tar 1a$ing as a lead in if you want to. If there is a particular matter you want to resolve! ask your Iinner committeeI to consider it before you start the relaxation exercise and then Iswitch offI. Jou may have to go through the process several times over several days before getting the answer in some form or another. This is like Isleeping on the problemI and waking up with the solution to something the conscious mind could not resolve. ;e open to analysing symbols in the latter part of this exercise for the answers you seek. 'ften it is simply a matter of following your hunches. /o not be surprised if you feel some intense emotions during this time as feelings are an integral part of the sub conscious process. 2o if you feel like crying or laughing! do it with fullness and freedom. (eep a diary or #ournal and record your thoughts and feelings. &fter a while you may be surprised at the matrix of the workings of your inner being and mind. Co).!2s-o) stretch 9 sit up slowly 9 stand slowly consider uses of the technique +dealing with stress! depression! gaining positive views, relate the technique to day or night time use relaxation and star ga$ing as prayer in listening to the bush

59

DIALOGUE WITH THE FORCE IN THE UNIVERSE

INTRODUCTION# Through 2tar 1a$ing and similar activities! we can become aware of something which is beyond us in power! si$e! intellect! age....and yet is within and around us. It is here that we can discover our roots! our meaning and our purpose. /ialogue with this element of reality is! therefore! a positive and meaningful activity but one where we can feel awkward as the %other party% seems invisible. Jet in the bush! facing an awesome sunset! or a piece of ma#estic scenery! or a star studded sky! such dialogue can be strangely %natural%. The thoughts presented here are a suggestion only as there is no %correct% or %perfect% format. Whatever one does is personal and need only to have meaning to the person doing it. SILENT SPEA5ING# In the bush! we often find that we have the space and the mood to #ust stop and be. This type of thing is formally introduced in 2tar 1a$ing. 1iven that ?@O of our brainpower is none verbal! our minds and our consequent awareness can be intensely busy even when the conscious >@O is relatively quiet. In fact! it is this %outer quiet% which allows us to become more aware of the sub conscious %thoughts% and processes. This is like seeing someone! recognising the face and not remembering the name though %it is on the tip of the tongue%! and then doing something quite different where the name comes to you. It is in this quiet that the bulk of our mind connects problems to solutions and so it is that we can connect to the nature of our selves at the deepest of levels and to the essence of the %)orce in the <niverse%. THREE SI+PLE STEPS TO DIALOGUE WITH THE <FORCE<

P:&s&)t W(o $o2 A:&# 4ook within and present who you are honestly. 2o if you are feeling great! express this. If you are feeling lousy! present this. "ypocrisy has no place here. Jou can use symbols! posture! words! dress etc to do this. B& St-!! )9 S-!&)t. 0ake your self comfortable and practice a relaxation exercise. "owever! ensure that your posture reflects alertness not slouching. )ocus on a class of ob#ect in *ature in front of you or in your imagination! and let go of conscious thought.....go into %nothingness% and stay there for a while. &fter some time! you may find solutions! inspirational thoughts9concepts or images coming to you. /o not rush at this. Lust be with what is presented. &fter a while! you may be moved to think consciously about what you have been presented with eg analysing a symbol. If nothing comes! en#oy the %sounds of silence% and #ust be with you! letting re3creation take place at every level. H ;& $ :)# If the need to talk arises! do so in any style that suits you. 2ome find it nice to chat as if to a mate in the bush sitting opposite. 2ome want some words from inspirational literature like the ;ible and others use a form taught! perhaps! in childhood like The 4ordIs Prayer. Whatever the form! try to use both the verbal and none verbal aspects by pausing to reflect on words or by such forms as writing down some concerns or the names of those who are hurting you and then %offering% these to %a higher power% by burning the writings while asking for help to find solutions or to forgive etc. The use of affirmations are good here especially as %an ending with a blessing%. &n example of a %yarn% using the 4ordIs Prayer is on the next page.

5:

A REFLECTION USING THE LORD=S PRA$ER

Please note that this is offered in the belief that the 54ordHs Prayer6 is universal and so! whatever your religious or non religious views! the concepts offered below can have meaning. If something does not fit with your truth! simply move onto the next point. If it as no fit overall! ignore what follows. OPEN UP O2:.....with every star! solar system! universe! and galaxy. 'ur....with every human of every race and creed past! present ant to come. 'ur....with every animal! plant! rock and grain of soil. 'ur....with every living and none living thing. '<=........&loneness! loneliness and not belonging are #ust not true. F t(&:......&bba.....Parent......mum....dad.....loving! unconditional! forgiving! needed! from whom every thing worth while comes in security! love! and meaning. & parent to every thing in the <niverse and beyondM 2ister 0oon! ;rother 2un and 2ister 0other arth......We are related to everything and so love and reverence of ourselves! other people and all creation is the way to go. RESPOND TO +EANING AND TRUTH WITH LOVE AND HAPPINESS "allowed be thy name! thy kingdom come! thy will be done on arth as it is in "eaven.......0ay our Parent be honoured! loved and served always as this is to put the power of love before all else. 4et the power of love succeed in everything and drive the way we do things in our lives here on arth. 4et us make it "eaven all the way to "eaven. "ere is where we find faith! hope and love............. all from the essence and power of love. PRESENT OUR NEEDS 1ive us this day our daily bread.......1ive us what we truly need in food! shelter! water! safety! love! and growth to our full potential and destiny. 1ive us the key to this in love of self and then of others. "elp us keep in touch with our dignity as human beings created in your image. PRESENT OUR RELATIONSHIPS )orgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us.....4ove of self and others means not #udging! removing our faults before we correct others! and not carrying a bag of resentments. This is so hard as it seems natural to put others down and to hit back at those who hurt us. 2ome things seem impossible to forgive and yet! when we do not it is us! not our enemies! who pay as we become twisted! stunted! unhealthy! and unhappy inside. "elp us to unburden ourselves of our hate! our vengeance! and our resentments by forgiving so that we can go forwards happily and freely. "elp us to see that people are not bad! only behaviour can be. CHOOSE LOVE OVER HATE 4ead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil........4ead us away from reactive behaviour where our ego is in control and we lose our freedom to act from a place of caring and love...."elp us find the purpose! the courage! and the will to be pro3active from a place of personal love and dignity and deliver us from hating ourselves and reflecting this in pushing evil in put downs! violence and emotional and spiritual death. We ask this! for with you is the strength! the power and the glory to be fully the great human beings we were made by you to be.
PA7 ET BONU+ PEACE AND BLESSING

5<