Journals

Through the Kenyan Kaleidoscope

Goldye W. Meyer, Ph.D. November/December

They call each other “Mama”. This resonates as a mantra sound and triggers for me, a multi-level image source. . . it summons the image of and for hope in East Africa, in Kenya, in Kisumu, and in tribal communities. It is the link to the extraordinary images of African women as I experienced them and it is the link to the predominant reoccurring image I’ve taken from my African trip six months ago.

The top-level image I refer to was not drawn or featured in any of our meticulously organized trip preparation materials. Neither the state departments, embassies, health control organizations, travel agencies, nor the organizing groups for the Conference dropped hints to cushion our surprises. It was barely implied in some of the official research papers describing the status of women and the resulting devastation in HIV/AIDS riddled Africa. It was modestly personified by the few African women we met and spoke to prior to our trip.

This image has physical, emotional, intellectual, and spiritual dimensions; it flashes in vivid color and joyous sounds. In my mind’s eye I see a small cohort of beautiful, bright, energetic, and confident women; they are educated leaders in various fields –law, medicine, business, religion, and others; they are decisive and potentially powerful……and they call each other “Mama"!!! They exude an aura of spiritual joy and model a whole realm of possibilities to the not yet so fortunate women they speak for. These are the “mamas” who are making new pathways for the women who are imbedded in cultural restraints of tribal customs. Several of these ”mamas” were program leaders and spread hope and inspiration to the 200 HIV/AIDS widows at the Springs Ministries Conference making them truly feel like ”Widows of Integrity”. Their messages not only gave spiritual support to the 200 AIDS widows but also gave direction, inspiration, and information for enabling women to convert hope into action for change.

It is not realistic to visualize this level of “mamas” without seeing the 200 participants at this conference – the “Widows of Integrity”- widows of all ages, spanning decades of African tribal and urban experiences. Widows came to the conference from Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, and all over East Africa. They came on foot, bicycles, busses, cars, and planes; their joyous singing, and often dancing, opened and closed every conference day. My heart was touched by listening and working with these women who were so eager to learn more about us and learn more about themselves. I often viewed these women in wonder at their courage and caring.

We were told that about two thirds of them were infected with HIV/AIDS; that most of them were struggling with conflicts between their legal and tribal rulings; that most were on the verge of abject poverty; that their tribal inheritance laws made them and their children inordinately vulnerable to exploitation by in-laws; and we heard repeatedly of their deep concerns for the future of their children.

Center stage in the kaleidoscope of conference images was always the commanding presence of Margaret Auma, Director and Founder of Springs Ministries. She, together with her efficient volunteer staff of leaders and superb instant translators kept the conference workshops on schedule and constantly moving in English and Swahili.

There are more image levels and interwoven dimensions of this memorable trip:

• The contrasts of the beauty and starkness of the African landscape
• The warmth of Kenyan people who greeted and received us with graciousness
• The evidence of political unrest and ever present dangers to western tourists
• The present of armed security guards in our hotels
• The open air street markets and stalls
• The children

I feel enormously privileged and appreciative of Women’s Perspective and Rosemary Williams for making it possible for me to have been a part of a group of four American women who had these first-hand experiences working one-to-one and with small and large groups of “widows of integrity”. Early in the experience we recognized that our “being there” was significantly more important than what we did or say there. This is not to diminish the importance of our messages or the skills we hoped to share. Our presence at their conference – translated into travel time, costs, miles from home, and time away from families and work…these all impacted the conference widows, showing them women of integrity who found alternative ways to take charge of their lives while including special caring for others.

These are some of my treasured memories of special people in their special part of the global community. They gifted us with many profound learnings……and taught us that calling each other “mama” was bestowing a title of deep love, honor, respect and recognition.

Reflections on 2004 Trip to Findhorn

At Women’s Perspective, we have a goal of making a spiritual trip every second year. Two years ago we went to Gampo Abbey in Nova Scotia, and the 2004 trip was to Findhorn Foundation in Scotland.

Findhorn Experience Week is designed to provide first-time visitors with an orientation to this community. Our Women’s Perspective group was drawn from all over the country – California to Connecticut – but reactions to Findhorn Foundation were similar. As Laurie Powell pointed out, "Findhorn Foundation, at first glance, may lead one to believe that the 1960’s have been revived, but there is only a surface similarity. Findhorn Foundation is a very 21st century group of people attempting to live together in community while remaining connected to their individual spiritual core."

The Findhorn Foundation Experience Week was intense, personal and powerful, according to Mary Connors. "Coming to Findhorn Foundation has unfolded to be a delightful and challenging experience. The spiritual pilgrims I shared time with will always be a part of the fabric of my inner world. Their courage to embrace the source of Love and Light with all their human limitations was exciting and exalting. In this community we received and gave the best of who we are."

"I valued the work experiences best," said Joe File. "Working with members of the community in stripping paint or cleaning guest rooms or cooking gave us many opportunities to walk the walk of living spiritually and mindfully and to create personal relationships with members of the Findhorn Foundation community."

Everyone found some aspect of the experience to take home. Heather Williams left with the intention to supplement her spiritual practice. "I am planning to do more daily check-ins with my friends, do a mini attunement with myself and set my intentions for my work, before I enter the building each day," said Heather. "I have learned it is so important to acknowledge all events and emotions as they happen, and not to let them pile up."

Women's Perspective director Rosemary Williams shares this intention to calm her busy life. "I feel very quiet here at Findhorn Foundation, and I want to take this quiet home. The attention to one’s inner state through attunements and clear communication with others through check-ins is a wonderfully supportive process," said Rosemary.

Everyone has plans for extending and continuing the Findhorn Foundation experience in their own way. "I am planning on moving to Honduras for a year," confides Cathie Holcombe. "I have been part of a Habitat for Humanity group that has gone to Honduras for the last several years. I have grown to love the communities we have worked in, and want to be a part of them. Being at Findhorn Foundation has been is just the right experience to have before I go to teach English and live."

Findhorn Foundation and Experience Week

Findhorn Foundation is very open to visitors, and invites interested people to attend Experience Weeks, which are held year round. Our Experience Week group included seven people from Women’s Perspective plus eight others. We were housed in a charming cottage with a turf roof and a big porch for relaxing. We made our own breakfasts, amply provided from the guest pantry.

Throughout the visit we were hosted by Mari and Annette, our focalizers (every Experience Week group has at least one focalizer to help visitors stay focused and centered). The daily schedule began with choosing from a variety of spiritual alternatives, such as Taize singing, guided meditation and silent meditation.

Before every activity we practiced attunement, a method of centering one's self and engaging the unique spirit of those present in the group. Attunement is a guiding life principle at the community.

This was followed by splitting up to work in departments in the morning. Findhorn Foundation is a working community, in which members work 38 hours a week for the community. Our morning activities gave us a sense of that experience, and a chance to meet and work alongside community members.

We ate lunch in the community center, and our group then gathered for an educational experience in the afternoon, a community dinner and an evening session. Afternoon and evening activities included a nature experience at a spectacularly beautiful Scottish waterfall, a conversation with the founder of Findhorn Flower Essences, sacred dance, problem solving using techniques developed at Findhorn Foundation, and meeting with the UN delegate (Findhorn Foundation has just become an accredited NGO to the UN).

People who want to join the Findhorn Foundation community can return to stay for longer periods of time in a sequence of programs. One young member of our group has decided to follow this path, and we were all excited for her.

The Ecovillage Movement

"Would it be an exaggeration to claim that the emergence of the ecovillage movement is the most significant event of the 20th century? I don’t think so," wrote Ted Trainer, Professor, University of New South Wales, Australia.

Findhorn Foundation is one of the largest ecovillages in the world, and a leader in the burgeoning ecovillage movement.

Ecovillages are communities of people who are living as sustainably as possible, and they create new models of how to live in a world of environmental and social threats. Typical ecovillage strategies include:

• Living closely together to create community and spirituality
• Growing organic food within the community or bioregion
• Using local, ecological building materials and indigenous building designs
• Village-based renewable energy systems
• Preserving clean soil, water and air through waste management
• Encouraging biodiversity

Over a hundred people currently make up the immediate Findhorn Foundation ecovillage, with another 200 people living in surrounding towns. The Foundation participates in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture), buying shares in this local organic farm’s yearly output and contributing labor in order to fill the pantry. There has been a wind power generator for over a decade, and they plan to put in four more in order to become self-sufficient using renewable energy sources. Findhorn Foundation’s housing has always been distinctive, and they have pioneered many ecovillage principles. They have developed innovative forms of building insulation and construction techniques. There is the straw bale house, and a group of recycled whiskey barrels that have been transformed into cottages.

In the US, the best known ecovillages are The Farm in Tennessee and EcoVillage at Ithaca in New York. There are ecovillages around the world, each putting its unique stamp on the concept: Crystal Waters in Australia, Huehuecoytl in Mexico, Auroville in India, ZEGG in Germany, Hertha and Munksogaard in Denmark, Tamera in Portugal, Damanhur in Italy, BedZED in England, Tlholego in South Africa, Colufifa in Senegal and the Sarvodaya movement in Sri Lanka.