UPDATES - KEEPING YOU INFORMED OF PROGRESS AND
EVENTS
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Seeing through
Energy - 17 September 2011
Natalie Dekel facilitated a fascinating afternoon of
meditation, insights and practical experiences of
expanding our senses to help us access various
aspects of our intuitive selves. It was both
challenging and insightful to engage with these
processes and led to some remarkable realisations.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NOW! @ The Pit -
weekend of 23/24 July 2011
The weekend was filled with inspiration, Arch
Ventures playing host to the younger generation. We
were introduced to ways they are pro-active in
virtual and real spaces. We had guests from Holland
too. Among the young ones were ambassadors to a much
larger, international group, who as children had the
benefit of attending summer programmes filled with
Magic Theatre and formative experiences at Four
Winds...
more here>>>
And for more on the workshop on Stop Animation
see here>>>
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sustainability - 25 June 2011
The session on Sustainability by Professor Ross King
was a passionate event. We learned that thirty
governments and two-hundred organisations run all
global affairs. And something not usually spelled
out: approximately 4 % of the individuals in power
have no conscience we would recognise as such,
morals won't convince them. Given the run-away speed
by which damage is wrought on the environment and
balances of sustainability are tipped.
Ross got us to look at our anxieties for the future
… pens were dancing … natural disasters, water wars,
overpopulation, oil peak, disrupted food supply and
distribution, breakdown of digital communication -
aggressive viruses and genetically engineered
disasters, social unrest, the likelihood of
over-legislation … these were only some of the not
unrealistic fears we unearthed.
We looked at our feelings, ranging between
helplessness, rage, and deep sadness. Yet the first
step towards change is recognition and
acknowledgment of what is.
The programme Ross helped set up - CSEM-BMP Centre
for Sustainability & Environmental Management -
seeks to demonstrate that it is possible for a
business to be both environmentally sound and
profitable.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Circle Dancing - 7 May 2011
We had a lovely afternoon engaged in Circle Dancing
led by Barbara Driscoll. We were very grateful to
Barbara and her three friends who joined us in the
circle and helped to create a very special
experience for us all, with a variety of steps,
music and energies. Thank you.
What a memorable sunny day at The Pit!
We missed Malcolm and sent our loving wishes to him
and Nora.
Such abundance of contribution. Warm thanks to
Robert Doe, Rob Leech, Binah Taylor, Aranth Frye and
Nelissa Mendy for sharing your richly diverse
impressions, stories, information and poetry.
Together, you created a wonderful depth of
experience for us.
An overriding theme in continuation of Rahima's talk
on the anima last month was here again - Africa, the
myth, the dream, the feminine, the earth, the
gut-feelings, intuition, wisdom and embodiment to
bring balance to our overly rational western
cultures.
To Arch Ventures 09/04/11 - Africa Roots and
Flowers
Love is present here today.
Seeking peace is at the heart of all matters.
To be gathered together as the Divine has planned
To redress the imbalance of the colonial platters
History, by historians, researching what is close to
the heart,
I feel I am truly blessed,
to be chosen to come and take part.
So I thank you all, for your love that you've
shared,
Thank you for showing Africa that you really care.
The fact that you choose to spend your free time
Looking for ways to heal Mankind.
It shows that each of you are holders of the light
Empowering each other of the Spiritual rights.
Taking things forward, trying to put things right...
Blessed be the Most High Creator,
Reminding us all of our Human nature.
Nelissa Mendy 9.4.11
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Talk on the Anima by Rahima - 26 March 2011
Rahima's inspirational talk on the Anima sparked a
lively discussion. The Anima (psyche) providing the
bridge between ego and Self, we looked at the
relative values of matriarchy and patriarchy, at
dependence, independence and interdependence, at the
dynamics between the two forces (for those who know
the terms, jelal and jemal), rhythm and balance. The
discussion brought us back to the purpose of Arch
Ventures and some future themes emerged.
Spirit without Soul has no vessel, Soul without
Spirit has no direction ...
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We had a rare sunny Saturday for the launch of Heart
of a Sufi, all the more precious as this was
probably the last day of the year we could
comfortably
sit outside. Friends came from far and wide, floral
tablecloths fluttered in the breeze,
fruit/cakes/meringues were enjoyed with Pimms and
tea. A special celebration cake baked by Susanne was
served with great panache, accompanied by silvery
fire fountains and champagne. Aranth gave an
entertaining and heart-warming talk. Later, warmed
by a log fire, we reminisced, packed precious
packages of books and celebrated again our great
good fortune.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
We spent a tender and entertaining afternoon in the
sunshine engaging with the image Malcolm offered of
Roerich's painting of Procopius the Righteous
Praying for the Unknown Travellers. Thank you,
Malcolm, for such a productive and happy time
together.
An arrow marks the spot.
On a journey from the known to the unknown;
Following the flow of the winding waters,
Scaling slopes into hills and dark mountains.
Skies resplendent with assembled light
Of passing suns and moons and shifting clouds along
the way.
An arrow marks the spot;
Illusory - or not?
While unseen blessings smile and call us there,
- Suddenly grateful -
Not knowing for what.
Ruth Paris, May 2010
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AMONG THRESHOLDS
Poetic reflection by the Arch Ventures collective
At the Threshold Workshop
crafted by Zohra Sharp
Standing at the threshold,
I had this dream of separation
A gulf between other people –
There was a doubt of choices.
And to give up this doubt,
It will feel like grass reaching
Up to the sky.
At the threshold,
I had taken water for granted
Until I went to the desert,
Eight people died for want there,
And I am left with a question
Between lack and plenty.
What needs to be done?
How do I know what I need?
Today, I felt the tears travel
Across the circle we made.
Beside the threshold,
Standing at the abyss,
There was fear, oh, fear,
A father who gave a stone
Instead of bread.
But fear creates beauty.
A pitcher reaches water.
I have found the forbidden fruit:
The bread of the life,
The bread of the spirit.
I can have it now.
At a threshold of new possibilities,
The more I sit and think –
I ask of understanding. From Him.
And that’s the perfect reflection
Of destiny.
At this threshold, there are tall trees,
The whole journey to take into account,
The strength of tears.
I have come a long way to get here.
I don’t need to go through it again.
The trees are sentinels bearing witness.
If I assume I have permission to go on,
Even the trees will bow.
And I accept my threshold,
No way I’m turning,
I will kick the ladder back.
My guardian is the sun,
It gives time,
My guardian is fire,
Which can destroy a whole field
Only if I allow it to happen.
Fire is my element
That keeps moving and going.
return
to top of page
Although I’m not sure where I’m heading,
I’m listening to people’s hearts,
English is my second language,
And I don’t even care.
And when I flow, I know
Thousands of miles to find the road.
I’m a butterfly who can go anywhere.
My threshold is the point to embark.
I feel like Alice in Wonderland.
Everything is behind me.
Am I prepared to step over this threshold?
Make changes? Am I ready?
I’m fully determined to step through.
And my threshold is love and heart,
Inner and outer. My purpose?
To maintain cosmic equilibrium
For the world and its waters.
Sometimes I ask myself,
Will human beings survive or not?
Structure is a function of purpose,
We need a shift in power. Today,
A friend’s picture says what I want to say.
The human heart refuses to believe
In a universe without purpose.
Human beings have to make the difference.
A Native American Indian says:
“We’ll be known by the tracks we leave.”
I will not keep my mouth shut any longer.
The planet is out of balance.
I will speak out now for pure reasons.
And my threshold is the finity of time,
The point of life, the flavour of urgency.
There are presences who flank my inner threshold:
Two grandmothers – one died at 19,
The other at 97. Both give the mixed blessing
Of eternal youth. But now, I don’t have a choice,
My archetype is the crone,
I’m bringing the feminine into the moment.
I recognise the sacrifice I have given
In the service of other people’s desires.
I decided on my responsibilities then.
The urgency now is to be in my own mould.
The urgency now is to be responsible.
But what is the pressure, the emphasis?
What is my business? I will decide.
My threshold is inspiration
And what emerges through the breath.
My purpose is to hold open the space –
To find each other,
And to find our resonance.
We are the threshold when we meet
Between the cosmos and the psyche.
There are stories and poems to guide people.
I want to hold open that space for gesture,
Taste, sound and stay long enough
For beauty to inspire further.
return
to top of page
There are two levels of experience –
In the mundane and on the lofty plain.
When things go to the edge,
I want to look at that
And I want to look at the opposite.
I wonder what’s stopping me from a great life.
Is this a threshold of inertia?
The gatekeeper is a powerful being with wings.
He’s called Bob and asks me questions.
He said, “Try stepping over into greatness
And if you don’t like it, you can step back again.”
I tried walking over and used a twig for the line.
I walked over. I saw the illusion of the past.
All along, I had a fear of being great. Not now.
I can close down or be open, I have the choice.
For so long, my threshold was old loneliness.
At times, dialogues were ever impossible.
Why? Name it. I had been lonely, I was afraid.
I am wondering: do I block the path of change
If I don’t change? Aye. I must employ space.
Last night, words come as if through a door:
“To see in us a mastery as well as a gain.”
What is the mastery, what is that gain?
I recall Fazal Inayat Khan: “Discover who you are,
And destroy that, so you can become something else.”
I think again of loneliness throughout my life
And see it as the necessary teacher,
Where an understanding of loneliness
Means no longer holding on,
I don’t have to come back
To the same questions.
Now I see the solitude – that is potentiality.
I see the beautiful friendships – that is love.
The threshold becomes water and calls itself
fidelity.
And in the experience of all this,
The divine ideal is everywhere.
In between these thresholds,
We’ve been weaving a garland
Of micros and macros;
Here is the power of gratitude
From an open heart.
And among the myriad of thresholds,
Something has been said to each one of us,
Each person has an effect on the other,
I saw it happen: this threshold work,
It lifted us all forward
To help everyone else be taken forward.
Truly the Truth is including us now.
Inspiration emerges on the breath.
return
to top of page
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Talk on Water and
Washing the Heart - facilitated by Aranth Frye -
5th December 2009
Aranth gave us a passionate account of
the truth re: Water scarcity, which prompted equally
passionate questions amongst ourselves, feedback, a
will to communicate and spread the emerging facts
and act within our own sphere where possible.
 |
The crux is that presently 1. 4 billion people have
not enough drinking water. This number is likely
to increase to 7 billion by 2050 - and there are
dire consequences for our planet.
Water being at the heart towards healing our
beautiful home, Aranth created a unique and very
moving ceremony during which we
washed our hearts and went on
to offer blessings to the universal heart.
|
We now call Aranth our Water-Man. We must get
him onto YouTube!
return
to top of page
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enterprise Day – 14th November, 2009
“A cup is not just a cup . . . ”
All morning, the Arch Ventures group explored the
awkward constraints of corporate logo-types pushing
a discussion across the boundary of logo-concept to
the richer ground of symbol and its function for the
sake of the heart.
Susanne and her friend, Lora Starling – an
inspirational logo expert – brought a steadying,
open approach to their workshop on logo and
symbolism facilitating the play of collective,
creative imagination.
The Arch Ventures group broke through the paradigm
of logo-ideal and began its work of looking at the
slippery, dominant symbol-ideal informing individual
lives – such as water carrier; heart polisher;
inventor – and the infinitely beautiful ways of
offering back symbols in visual representation.
Working in small groups, deep and intimate personal
material was drawn to light using the channel of
Ruth’s question to all: "In the context of what is
meaningful for you, what is it that you uniquely are
bringing into the world, and what does that look
like?"
Rahima affords the last word on what she brings to
the world – her painting, which gives her a sense of
wholeness. She reminds all of the value of
perception, vision, the truth of the manifest. “A
cup is not just a cup,” she said, “it’s what we
bring to the cup.”
The subtle interweave of personal testimonies and
creative expansion invoked unity, that inner
sweetness, an awakening to what is under the surface
of appearances and the blessing of silence
increasing connection and love.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dowsing Workshop
facilitated by Alim Ward - 17th October 2009
Our dowsing yesterday afternoon began with inspiring
discussions on the value of its practice in
developing intuition and keeping communication with
the unconscious alive. Our sharing widened out into
the underlying philosophy of dowsing. Our thoughts
were enriched by the presence of Steffan Vanel, an
American astrologer friend Tanya brought along.
Alim introduced us again to the pendulum, with a
focus on the diagnosing and directing of healing.
Later on we formed smaller groups, where we dowsed
the first choice of four personal activities we like
to get involved in, or achieve. From there we
formulated further questions regarding the steps
towards these aims, paring down the answers once
more with the pendulum … this process was like
opening a well from which creative ideas emerged
like cool water from the deep.
Many thanks to all who participated, especially new
friends who joined us and to Alim who facilitated
the afternoon with deft skill and gentle wisdom.
return
to top of page
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Archers on top of an Iron Age
Fort - Devon, 19 September 09
Photograph by Lora Starling |
Weekend at
Hazelwood
19 - 20 September 2009
Due to
gremlins, our weekend in Devon was not quite
as planned! However, we had a lovely time in
the beautiful surroundings of Hazelwood,
enjoying just being with dear friends
(including Daisy dog, who was a wonderful
companion throughout) - walking,
talking, paddling & grazing the hedgerows
for blackberries.
Thank you
to Lora for leading our creative
conversation on logo design and to Susanne
for taking this forward. |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Collage - facilitated
by Eleanor Chamberlain - 11 July 2009
Being led into a quiet space, given a short outline,
and questions like - what do you long for - what is
it you cannot not do - was enough to send us hunting
for words and images from the sea of magazines
available. Building on white, the poster-size spaces
filled, our unconscious guiding us with scissors,
glue, sticky fingers - total involvement.
Quite oblivious to anyone else, and there were 14 of
us, I was carried by a creative wave into the
process of my collage. It was fun, a great method of
release, and surely a slow unfolding in the days to
come, as I contemplate the messages I expressed to
myself.
We create our reality each moment. In sharing, we
were impressed by each display having powerful
iconic images and words, a clear signature of
psychic roots, a record of experiences, unfolding
stories, things to celebrate and a tune for the
future, indicating what may need releasing with
compassion, for deeper visions to be realised. -
Ashen.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Crossing Thresholds
- facilitated by Zohra Sharp - 20th June 2009
We had a nourishing afternoon with Zohra, exploring
our boundaries in refreshingly creative and
respectfully affirming ways. Zohra has a wealth of
approaches to nudge unconscious content ready to be
integrated, of which we used a few methods, make
belief, character creating, monologue and
body-sculpting. Our work/play sparked deep
connections within and without, and fun. We were
joined by new participants who felt inspired and
expressed how welcome they were made to feel. We
took away the beginning of a line to continue
writing ...
on the threshold of the unfamiliar I will ...
Thanks Zohra, for giving us your expertise and time.
return to top of page
Ashen writes: Aided by beautiful
screen-images, we explored our history, first
through the shamanic mentality, the direct
experience, communing through inner worlds. The
serpent (I spotted it again, in the structure of
DNA), the Shaman's polished black mirror
-defocusing, another angle on Ergot in Barley,
mapping, tracking memory, divisions around Abraham,
the raising of stones, the power of sounds - on to
the A-frame, platonic solids, the period of
structuring and ordering the universe through the
priesthood and finally the scientific mentality. It
seems to me that this is not the first time during
our human existence that we are challenged to unite
our inner and outer worlds. Thanks on behalf of all,
Malcolm, I can't adequately convey the richness of
your talk, which was spiced with wonderful stories
and left us with nourishing food for thought.
Note: Malcolm's opus on sacred geometry will be
published in autumn by Floris books. When the time
comes we'll provide a link on this website.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enterprise Day
facilitated by Susanne Harding - 18th April 2009
Thank you, Susanne, for a very focused and
productive day, full of positive energies.
We also enjoyed meeting Robert Simpson and
learning more about 'Soil and Soul'.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sounding with Russell
Stone - 14th February 2009
Our sounding session with Russell touched a deep
ground of peace in us. Like the date, there were
fourteen of us. Astrologically, I heard, and I
sensed, something was aligned in the sky as well,
says Ashen.
To start with, Russell evoked present time, bringing
us into our physicality. His voice unfolded in the
calm bowl of our circle, calling in a resonance. For
some it was like being held in the arms of a loving
mother, earth and sky in harmony. Deeply relaxing
and assuring of our existence in consciousness,
chiming, to the extent we were able to relax and
receive the vibrations in the cells of our bodies. A
state of being centred with what is, deeply and
inevitably tuning with the greater being of our
souls together. We later joined into a collective
voice-tuning, which brought us close in a different
way, with our unique sounds.
Russell has a regular group now at the 'Place of
Serenity' in Buriton, near Petersfield. He also does
individual work.
www.russell-stone.co.uk
Thank you Russell. We would very much like you to
join us again in the future.
-------------------------------------------------------------------return
to top of page
Arch Ventures Enterprise Day facilitated by
Susanne Harding - 17th January 2009
So much energy, so many ideas, such lovely people!
Thank you, Susanne, for setting the frame for an
inspiring, forward reaching session that was both
practical and creative.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Near Death
Experiences with Rahima Spottiswood - 13th
December 2008
|
|
You can listen here to the
talk by Rahima in December 2008 on Near Death Experiences - just click
on the picture to the left to
listen to it now (it may take a
little while to open)
Respectable science gives no credit to the theme,
but its exploration is gaining momentum. In England,
for example, via Dr. Fenwick of the Scientific and
Medical Network -
http://www.expertsearch.co.uk/cgi-bin/find_expert?2033 |
Rahima shared a rich collection of reports re: Near
Death Experiences (NDEs) and out of body states,
from the time since they were recorded. Some
similarities are universal: tunnels, lights,
barriers, meeting guides, people who died. The
evidence of these reports points to a continuation
of consciousness beyond clinical and biological
death. In some cases the experiences fit into
certain traditions, but each report carried its
unique truth of imagination and meaning.
The examples stirred memories of unusual mind-states
among ourselves. It inspired us to allow
possibilities, value the imagination, dreams, and
states of mind beyond the ordinary illusion of day
to day consciousness. We talked of magnetic forces,
resonance, intuition, mainly based on our own
experiences.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ashen says:
We had a rich, experiential afternoon led by Aranth
on the Mystic Manager theme.
The stories we shared are still echoing in my mind.
I enjoyed the warm contacts during processing,
exploring the things we would like to change in the
world, and more specifically, what's in our power to
do so, and what's holding us back.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Dreams and Dreaming with
Ashen Venema - 12th July 2008
… the paradoxical secret of
transformation – it is in fact in and through the
shadow that lead is transformed to gold.
– Carl Jung
'Learning
to work creatively with our dreams is
transformative. Dream sharing is particularly
powerful, since it adds perspectives we cannot
perceive ourselves. And within groups that have
established a resonance, dreams tend to mirrors our
deeper purpose, to which the group can be a mirror.'
Taken from a longer written piece with which Ashen
prepared the ground for our meeting, this extract
reflects aspects of our rich experience of working
together with the dream realm.
Carefully prompted by astute
questions and in a wise space of witness, we shared
wisps of affect, powerful memories of important
dreams from the past as well as practical thoughts
on promoting lucid dreaming and holding dream memory
on awakening. We also had fun with some of the more
creative aspects of our dream worlds. A gentle and
tender afternoon.
From the moment Malcolm started his richly
illustrated talk with a musing on how we dreamed the
world, we were lost to time! Malcolm talked about
dream states, after-images and phosphenes, the
global traditions of using psychogenic plants, the
Delphic oracular practices and how there used to be
competitions in dialogue, poetry and songs as well
as sport. We looked at standing stones, the
landmarks aiding social memory, the division of
territory. We travelled some breathtaking geographic
and cultural journeys, touching on Abraham, Hagar
and Ishmael, Mecca, the black stone, hermit
traditions, the Cisternians, organised and
structured knowledge, the advent of priesthood ...
the power of sound.
Malcolm's personal stories were riveting and his
talk was interwoven with powerful images. We got so
engaged that we forgot about time. And we never
quite got to the scientist. Warm thanks, Malcolm -
we're eager to have you back for more!
The afternoon was a blessing. We immersed ourselves
in the mystical writings of:Teresa of Avila, Julian
of Norwich, Hildegard of Bingen, Ibn Arabi, Rumi,
Hafiz, Shabkar Tsogdrug Rangdrol, Khalil Gibran, Amy
Lowell and Emily Dickinson.
This was lovingly prepared by Khalil, with
interspersed music.
Rob says: Alim introduced us to dowsing with grace
and humility. It was a beautiful and moving
experience to begin to discover abilities that I was
unaware of previously. Dowsing is such a peaceful
and fulfilling activity, not least when led by Alim.
Ashen says: The engagement was touching deeply.
Alim's sensitive interaction with the group made the
afternoon flow like a gentle river. I had not quite
appreciated that dowsing is used for a variety of
divinations: Water, gold, minerals, oil, gas,
finding missing objects, people, detecting geopathic
zones, sexing unhatched eggs (advanced practice),
dowsing stock-markets, dowsing food for harmful
effects, and getting answers from the universal mind
.... We had great fun hiding objects and dowsing
them for each other.
Practising dowsing, using a pendulum, forked branch
or other device, acts like biofeedback, it increases
receptivity and deepens intuition - given sincere
questions and an open heart.
Here are some sites supplied by Alim.
http://www.labyrinthina.com/dowse.htm
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/research/1281661.html
one sentence in that article brought a spurt of
hysterics:
Yet Dowsers Flourish - Like bees unaware they
are too aerodynamically challenged to fly, dowsers
don't let the sceptics get them down.
Pete, with gentle and
sensitive facilitator-skills, helped us to look at our
life as fairy tale. And through tuning as a group into
this level of perception, some poignant writing emerged.
Rob reminded us of our passion for games. Through a
shamanic ritual, he made us engage with our intuition.
We formed two groups putting stakes into feathers and
stones. It gave us a taste again, of the fun and
intensity that comes when we engage with all our senses.
Tree of Life by Rob Leech, written during
Fairy Tale Journeys workshop
Around around walked I the Tree of Life
gazing up the branch-spaces twixt air and twigs.
Around around the bole, reaching out to touch
the rutted bark, drawn into its scratching hardness,
longing to participate in the osmosis of the living
tissue within;
Pulsings, suckings, oozings risings to the topmost
leaves where perch
The eagle and the falcon.
Feeling the thud, the thud, the thud; the treeheart
or perhaps the scampering tread of Squirrel
Rattatosk, carrying insults from Rootdragon to those
noble birds and back again.
Part of the living chain of creation and
destruction, the pulsing sap, the gnawing dragon at
the roots, bleeding roots, the grazing stag along
the boughs.
Around around at last I may begin to climb, scraping
ankles, knees, tender shins, shredding tender ribs,
to be one with this tree, this evergreen lifedeath.
This gnawingsucking, feedingfucking, this
dyinggrowing.
Catching glimpses of falling skies when clinging for
dear life, clawlike, I dare look up.
Longing to pass beyond this treacherous barrier to
the dyingliving dyingliving pulsinghumming
singingheart within.
A
perfect Spring day. The Pit welcomed us with patches
of snow drops and warm sunshine. We had a lively
discussion in the morning, which set the tone for
Aranth's workshop. His basic ideas about leadership
and money are continuously refined, and yesterday
these ideas found a powerful context within the
climate and the contributions of the group.
Aranth's ways of looking at any organisation of
people is in terms of:
1 transcendence, which is tied to vision -
perception
2 transparency, in relation to the structure of an
organisation
3 transaction, which, to be successful, needs the
vision to be transcending and convincing
Our perceptions of money can determine how we deal
with it:
Seen as asset - money tends to be protected
Seen as talent - money can be used towards
expression
Seen as power - money tends to be used to control
Seen as energy - money is released and helped to
flow
We explored what we need to give up to change,
strengthen and realise one or the other perception
we hold. We looked at society, our visions for
change, which brought a fountain of energy into the
room as the ideas were shared.
-------------------------------------------------------------------return
to top of page
The Ocean and
the Drop - with Zohra Sharp 13/01/08
The January 2008 Arch workshop has taken its
inspiration from Hazrat Inayat Khan who offers to
us: ‘The symbol may be said to be an ocean in a
drop.’
The poetry of Yunus Emre (c. 13/14th century)
inspires, too, hinting that the ocean – the essence
of God – is in us, the drop. And then what happens
as that drop turns to the Ocean... ? We find Rumi
spurs us to questions and answers and questions, and
reminds us:
Hey lovers, it’s us and you today
Falling in this deep water
Till we learn how to swim
Prayers come flowing through our Being, and
Archventurers’ writing during the workshop expands
on the line: My innermost prayer is . . . .
And questions and answers come and go: what is my
purpose? When am I shy? When am I scared? What have
I been learning in my life? When have I been silent?
What colour sky do I like? In the school of
oceanology, what would I teach? Who am I?
So who are we? The group can touch on its suburban
archetypal nature in these times, becoming: Arch –
e-types. E-mail all ideas for this new Family of
Arch – e-types to Ruth for this site !
Yunus Emre says: “I came from eternity, clothed
myself with skin and bones and called myself ‘Yunus’.”
Yunus – makes a lively Ocean in a Drop in January’s
Archvenure – who is Ruth – Rob – Rahima – Ashen –
Aranth – Alim – Susanne – Eleanor – Zohra.
-------------------------------------------------------------------return
to top of page
Human
Evolution & Holistic Consciousness - with
Rob Leech & Khalil Green 8/12/07
The story of how we may
have become who we are, and what we may have
lost along the way
Overview of the afternoon by Ashen:
During the afternoon, Rob took us on a roller
coaster through the ages, from mammals, to
primates and monkeys to homo habilis and
onwards. There are aspects of his presentation
I'd like to return to. It had not occurred to
me, for example, that the loss of body-hair
meant that the young could no more cling to
their mother's back, which then required more
sophisticated communication, through gestures,
greater ranges of sound - towards the subtelties
of language. With all our sophistication we
sidelined our direct knowledge of nature,
plants, animals, people, our shamanic ability to
enter the essences of being.
Kahlil reminded that what started with the
Turing machine and brought us to computers is
only resembling party tricks compared to the
workings of the brain. Let alone mind and
consciousness. We touched upon parallel
processes in the universe, retrocausality, and
how many fields of knowledge resonate - that is
- to the open mind.
Return to top of page
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mindmapping the Future
- a workshop with Eleanor Chamberlain 10/11/07
 |
Eleanor gave us a fascinating
presentation and helped us to explore
Tony Buzan's original work on mind-mapping, focusing
on the key disciplines that underpin the
concept.
We
then had a
vibrant and creative session working with the
principles Eleanor outlined for us and then using
them to create a collective mindmap of the future of
Arch Ventures. The resulting map delighted us with
its strength, dynamism and luminosity.
Unfortunately this representation is not
able to show the vibrant colours that
added so much to the final impact
of our creation! |
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discussion on Groups - based on a paper by
Murshid Fazal 20/10/07
We
were inspired by the idea of being individual agents
for the collective group consciousness. Aranth
shared what he developed from talks with Fazal,
incl. Bion's ideas
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jungian
Archetypes - a talk by Rahima 16/09
|
 |
Rahima
shared her fascinating and erudite
insights into the realm of archetypes,
drawing from her deep knowledge of Jung.
Covering a wonderful scope of mythology,
psychology and mysticism, the talk then
sparked a very interesting conversation:
the relevance of archetypes in today's
world; the relationship between
stereotypes and archetypes; cultural
influences on personal archetypal
experience ..
We are
now encouraging Rahima to put the talk
into writing - it will be shared here
just as soon as it's done! |
Return to top of page
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Hero's Journey - NLP workshop with Ruth
Paris 14/07
"Many
thanks to Ruth. Her succinct introduction to
NLP, and the background of her calling to train
and engage with NLP's methology after Fazal's
parting. It brought home why we have come
together in the first place. Many of us,
inspired by Fazal, have developed skills that
built bridges to a deeper spiritual
consciousness. We care about providing the
spaces to serve this process of giving. We also
want to invite new friends to come forward into
that space, and practice their calling.
"Ruth presented a map of The Hero's Journey,
based on the work of Joseph Campell. We used
Logical Levels based on the work of Robert Dilts
and Gregory Bateson to work with this map. The
process was experiential and deeply moving."
(Feedback by
Ashen Venema)
I was very glad to have a serious misperception
corrected on Saturday. Previously, not having
gone into it, I associated NLP with people who
never looked at your face when in conversation
but instead, in what felt like a disrepectful
manner, concentrated on your hand gestures! In
fact, of course, at least as explained and
demonstated by Ruth, NLP is an holistic approach
to being human in the world and offers a clear
and practical multilevel model for this with
techniques enabling the harmonious alignment of
these levels.
The second part of the Ruth's programme I found
particularly illuminating and validating,
integrating the Hero's Journey of Joseph
Campbell with the NLP framework.
For me this is a new perspective which affords
an effective tool for self-reflection and
development." (Feedback by Rob Leech)
Return to top of page
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thalasa's Funeral - Thursday 8th July 2007
Some of us managed to be there when Thalasa's
family laid her body to rest.
%20of%20CNV00003%20(2).JPG) |
Dramatic clouds passed overhead, the
occasional beam of sunshine broke
through, and the breeze was a little on
the cool side for June. But not a drop
of rain disrupted the ceremony at the
lily-pond, or the burial on the plain
with the far views. The testimonies and
tributes of Thalasa's family were deeply
touching, as were the endearing basket
which held her body, the lovely pond
with blooming lilies, and the burial on
the hill with the far view.
|
Return to top of page
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Behind the Mask' - Creative writing workshop
with Evlynn Sharp 09/06
 |
This was a wonderful peaceful space in which Evlynn shared an elegant model for
'character mapping' - revealing the
structure of each person's inner architecture
and processes that feed into the 'mask'.
We then
created and shared writings on various themes
and emergences. Some of these pieces are
represented below, with gratitude to the
authors. |
At The Threshold
My joy is
the sun on the sea – knowing
How I used to look at it in Cornwall
And I
can see again, I can see;
My joy is
an amazing man, from a brief exchange,
And my joy is a decorator,
So I
can do the garden;
I remember
a flying woman, and a child who asks:
“Is she coming back?”
I remember
my daughters coming home
And ending up like puppies,
Falling
backwards into the rose bush;
I remember
a thunderstorm,
Heavy rain,
So
beautiful.
And my joy
is a girl who has brought fairy dust
Into my life;
My joy is
wellbeing –
A breakthrough;
My joy is
listening,
Listening to the surf,
And I
am slow and assured;
And I
remember I saw the distance from Hyde Park –
An ordinary moment that feels special,
I remember the silhouette under a tree, and a
buzzard
Sitting on the ground –
It hung
around for five minutes!
And my joy
is a heart-warming party,
My joy is a bright morning;
And my joy
is the Bosnian people, such an example
Of love,
Of
forgiveness;
My joy is
the dawn –
And I remember the sun, the sea . . .
I
remember how I used to look.
– Group Poem, Arch
Ventures, 9.06.07
The Land wants me back. I came form the land,
and I know the land.
The land knows me.
I can give to the land - as the land gives to
me.
The spirit there - spread like the dew, in every
space - on every stem - the longing
Drenches me, til I immerse like a baby in the
the womb - from whence I spring forth,
To live - the Dream of my dreams.
alim, with love to the world without, with, and
within.
Between my silence and my
whisper is a whole eternity of longing, a raging
waterfall of unspoken love. I feel overcome by
the sheer intensity, as if I staggered under
some irresistible force. My voice, so often
strong and resonant, has become a false friend,
treacherously absent in my hour of need.
In your eyes I have seen the
blue water of a sunlit bay, the dark clouds of a
building storm, the soft light of a bright dawn.
In your eyes I have seen the warm joy of a heart
renewed, the sharp pain of another's hurt, the
slow wonder of a new day. In your eyes I have
seen love.
"You could be" whispered the
wind, dancing in and out of the eaves in the red
sunset;
"You could be" whispered the wind, rattling the
windows in the cold dawn;
"You could be" whispered the wind, playing with
the flags in the lazy afternoon;
"You could be".
Khalil Green 09.06.07
Return to top of page
What is behind my Mask?
Behind my
appearance are others. Masks – each one with an
archetypal task, a process born of eons of
relating, without which you and I would not be.
The masks I
wear are not glued to my skin, don’t compel,
although some features are deeply engrained, and
hard to smooth.
Behind the
smile, which used to be wider, is the yearning
word-smith, which screens embarrassment for
reading well, but expressing clumsily what is
seen. This mask’s bliss is silence. Behind the
word-smith is a core of sadness – isolating
itself from the terror of coercion. Deep down –
the face of a child, mirroring perfection form
another sphere.
Beyond even
the child – a light – a light that desires life
– and in moments I know – all is done, always
done by the light. So, behind the masks is
nothing and all, but the light.
My Footprints
are washed
back into the sea. But my feet walk on, towards
a nameless fragrance beyond horizons, trailing
shorelines round the earth and beyond.
The heart
beats faster seeing its footprint, and wants to
learn the story that is also his, hers, mine –
and yours.
Some land
wants me to come back, that brook, that bluebell
wood, that lake, that tree, holding the memory
of real meetings, of an insight or oversight.
The land
offers stable resistance, but the river flowing
through is never the same. The river calls me,
on to what is nearer to you, always to what is
nearer to you.
I’ve seen the blue sky, the
cool warmth of fulfilment. In your eyes I’ve
seen cherry-orchards and the blossoms falling to
give way to the fruit.
In Your Eyes
In your eyes, I’ve seen the
questions that are mine, too. I’ve seen visions
of completion and dreams to come true. I saw the
pain of loss in your eyes, and darkness falling
across the sun. I saw the small beam of humour
brought on by a beloved fool. In your eyes, the
whole world was affirmed, and allowed to
dissolve. The rose shone in all its fullness,
before the sepals dropped, one by one. An image
holding all other roses, always resurrected, for
ever.
In my eyes, breath was alive
with fresh sight, the twine of branches, light
through the green leaf, revealing its structure.
The mirror of your eyes lives
on, until I and the mirror are one. And one day
that mirror, too, will be gone.
Ashen Venema 09.06.07
Return to top of page
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prisms of Self Expression workshop with Leila
MacMillan 12/05
The body knows what is missing in our
communication. We filter out selected aspects
and expressions of our
personality that we are uncomfortable with.
After a spirited warm up, Leila offered
us a clear structure for the spontaneous
exploration of both, our familiar ways of doing
ourselves, and the unfamiliar, what we hold back
in relating to the world. She gently encouraged
us to listen to our body and let it speak. We
had a delightful afternoon, with personal and
collective insights and surprises. A loveley
sharing of riches. Thank you Leila for your
creative improvisation on the three energies,
active, passive and neutral, based on a many
faceted, ancient map. - Ashen
Such a challenge for one so verbally oriented as
myself! Keeping my mouth shut and putting my
feelings and thoughts into physical expression.
It was like being on the edge of a whole new
universe of meaning and communication.- Rob
Note: For those
who would commit themselves to work on deeper
levels towards harmonising and transcending
personality. Leila wants to make it clear that Gurdjieff
did not use personality types in his concept of
the enneagram. These were
developed comprehensively by Oscar Ichazo.
Return to top of page
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Mystical Manager workshop on 14 April
"Asceticism is not that you should not own
anything, but that nothing should own you".
Ali Ibn Ali Talib (600 - 661)
Some guests joined us for our afternoon
workshop with Aranth Frye, based on his
forthcoming book, The
Mystical Manager. We were inspired to look
at our personal engagement with change, and how
we move from the known into the unknown.
|
 |
Starting
from the constant need to adapt to new
circumstances, and using an exercise based on
the analogy of a bridge between the old and the
new, he demonstrated that everyone manages
change in their own unique way.
Using
examples from prehistory to the present day, via
medieval mysticism and the Enlightenment, Aranth
then illustrated how human perception has
undergone a repeated process of evolution. This
leads to the understanding that there are many
different ways to perceive change, and offers
the freedom to see change differently.
|
Using
the contrasting examples of money and holiness,
he showed how the way in which we choose to
perceive something radically alters how we
relate to it and take action.
Some thought provoking sharing of perceptions.
What's our bridge? Keywords:
Clarity through knowing oneself better, tuning
into the spirit of place and contextualising
insight, bridge of silent exile, wisdom - of
knowing when to take control and when to
surrender, creating space through letting go,
overlapping patterning, balance between work and
community, observation of nature as a model for
life, intuition as the bridge for building the
bridge, rhythm of action and repose and holding
the pregnant space in-between, giving oneself
permission to take a role in ones play,
interplay of dynamic sexuality, holding and
accepting different views in oneself, listening.
Evlynn has
written a poem arising from this day
together. She says, "I loved how Aranth's
workshop encouraged us all to explore and name
our elemental bridges between inner and outer. I
felt renewed by the openness and much inspired
as we crossed over many ways from intuition to
letting go. The poem 'Farewell to No One' began
from that lovely day. With thanks to Ruth for
listening to the bones of the poem, and Ashen
for support in crafting. I offer my gratitude to
everyone for the grace that you bring in your
sharing and devotion. I continue to learn from
you and to find a joyfulness here. I am thinking
of you all with love."
Farewell
To No One
Unforgotten,
The bridge of silent exile
Is an unageing route
Between two shores,
Where the hush of ocean
Signals another.
A dozen
bridges glitter,
Simultaneously,
And migrants re-assemble
By a glance on every side,
Entitled to use that favour
When they go home.
The soul
is wandering
In silence
Within. Exiles pass
A gentle look,
Rise in a moment
Out of heart.
–
Evlynn Sharp, April 2007
Return to top of page
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aspects of Shamanism workshop on 10 March
After the talk we went straight into drawing
and painting, in itself a meditative
state. We shared, shortly outlining the
context, allowing the images to unfold under
everyone's gaze. Truly inspiring.
Some of the images were like snapshots,
or the highlighted detail of a larger
picture. There is no end to the insight
that can be gained from just one image,
and no end to the depth of working
with an image creatively. The real power
of this work resides in the finely tuned
group, which we are very fortunate to
have. Given the depth of process, we may
well continue in this format.
Return to top
of page
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other friends joined us for Rahima's
presentation on two visionary painter/poets,
William Blake and Patrick Hayman. Rahima spoke
movingly, with insight and deep appreciation
of both visionaries, as well as sharing
images, writings and poems by them. This was
followed by a creative
enquiry. Similar experiences sparked Blake
and Hayman to bring their vision into being
and action. They honoured the shadow as part
of their perception. We looked at how the
dichotomy of light and darkness plays
into the process of transcendence if it
comes from a grounded and heartfelt
compassion and devotion to the divine
underlying all cycles of existence. The
event was a memorable one, with unique
contributions, including examples of how
methods of a purely rational approach
can miss the passage towards
transcendence. I was left inspired to stand
in my own hearfelt truth and honour my
creativity.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Return to
top
|
