Dear friends,
Heat and fire, higher temperatures, danger and joy, comfort and discomfort bring us into our longest season: the Summer.
Here, in Australia, the Summer is also a time of change: school ends, the year ends, people go on holidays, move, change jobs and so on. Transition in our life or in the life of someone we know can be a challenge and is certainly worthwhile discussing. It brings us to position ourselves, to compare and even to judge, particularly when confronted personally with another person’s change we couldn’t anticipate. But: who are we to judge and who doesn’t judge? And why do we do it? That is the moment when the personal growth work starts. We tend to forget to do something positive about a situation that hurts, but: good luck with it, it’s good work.
I am very blessed to meet so many of you as you go through amazing life choices, changes and tests. I often think that I would not have met you if I were to do different work! I learn so much from listening to your stories and in helping you. I had no idea just how many friends I would make when I started this work, as work, in 2002. I am grateful I did.
I am myself very much involved in transitions and I have been more itinerant than settled in my life so far. Yet, I think of myself as stable nonetheless. It is important to have a goal, to have faith in life and people, as without life we don’t exist to people and without them life is too big a venture! With goal and focus we can remain stable when everything else moves.
Frankly: can we rely on others?
Surely: we can always rely on ourselves.
So, let’s be positive and keep the focal point in mind! This will allow us to move in and out of clarity and find our grounding again and again. Waves and heatwaves come and go, so do years, so do friends, jobs and all sorts of events in our lives. It is more essential to know who we are than where we are at, as we change our options regularly. Let’s not forget that we have friends, family and colleagues who can support us because they love us, as we would support them. I encourage all of us to ask for help rather than get unbalanced fast without help from our loved ones.
You have all given me your trust, shown me your love and pain and shared your complex attitudes regarding your situations in life. I hear from you the most beautiful, the harshest, the crazy and the amazing circumstances that life throws us into. I thank you for the sharing and the faith you have put in me and my work.
As a story, please read
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The Conquering Spirit
The elven king called together his three sons. "It is time for you to make your mark." he told them, "Beyond our borders are unknown worlds of dragons, maidens and black-hearted knights. Go out and conquer."
And so his sons ate the feast of the departing, donned the green and set out across the world.
*
After three years, the first son returned and the whole court came out to greet him. "What have you conquered?" asked the king.
"I have slain dragons, rescued maidens and vanquished black knights." spoke the son. "I have conquered lands such that our territories are now doubled in size."
"Boldly done!" said the king, gravely, "Those new lands shall be your kingdom to rule and protect."
*
After three more years, the second son returned, and the whole family came out to greet him.
"What have you conquered?" asked the king.
"I have parlayed with dragons, negotiated with black knights and made the maidens fair swoon." replied the son. "I have conquered the minds and hearts of ten kingdoms, and we now have fond allies all of the way to the Azure Sea."
"Brightly done!" cried the king, "You shall be my most noble lord, ambassador in my stead to all of the lands."
*
After three more years, the third son did not return. After three further years, he still did not return. After three years again, a ragged stranger walked alone up the steps to the royal court.
The old king was the only person to recognize the stranger. He came down from his throne, embraced his third son deeply, and then asked, "What have you conquered?"
The son smiled a long smile.
"I have slept with dragons and caroused with knights. I have danced with maidens and sung with the children. I have laughed with old men on the quay and cried with old women left alone. I have howled at the moon and lain in the sun. I have scaled high mountains and seen distant lands of mystery and promise. I have plumbed the depths and met magicians of the mind.
"I lost some fear and gained some wonder. I lost some of myself and found some of other people. I tore down the walls of ignorance and found many more. And I have found my way home. I have no need to conquer or fight or persuade. Today is now enough for a lifetime."
A deep silence fell over the court as the king thought long and fully about what his son had said.
"Wisely done." he said, eventually, "For you have conquered yourself, and the world and the worlds beyond shall be your playground."
Anonymous |
