Farewell Holland

As I prepare myself to go to Mexico next week for the COP16. I also prepare for departing from Holland and possibly to be living in this country for the last time. It is difficult to predict or to make plans, but both me and Maarten feel we are going to be off for some while ad the the journey we are about to begin in month will take us to our future home.

It is a funny feeling t be leaving so soon though, and even if I don't feel much attached to Holland, out house and the life we live here it still feels like a farewell. So I am spending the next weeks wrapping up it all and making sure I had a chance to meet and be with the good friends I have made here in these almost 6 months. After all what we take from the places is always the people we meet and the good moments we spent.

What can I offer to the young?

Here I am now in Jarna, Sweden as a contributor to the Youth Initiative Program (www.yip.se) that gathers young from 18 to 25 for a whole year so can learn and experience practices of social entrepreneurship. The place is beautiful and is considered to be the center for Antroposophy in Scandinavia, so is quite special...

As Jasmine (my mate for this work, whom I met in Copenhagen) and I were walking towards the venue where the training would take place on Monday morning, this beautiful deer came running and crossed our way. It was just amazing and I wonder what was the sign it was bringing for us.

As the week passes by, and we unfold the Chaordic Stepping Stones to the group and they respond to us saying they are really liking it and that it's being at perfect timing, I realize the deer was telling me about having the courage to step up and take leadership to pass on the knowledge and experience that I have. As I go sharing with these youngsters what my journey has been and what I am holding for the future, it grows bigger in me the sense of responsibility to play an active and intentional role in hosting youth in becoming their full potential as well as bridging them with the adult/ elder world.

And I am so grateful for that clarity and for the opportunity to be here now.

ALIA Europe

This afernoon I got in Elspeet where the ALIA (Authentic Leadership in Action) Program is taking place for the first time in Europe. The place is in the middle of a national park and is all covered in snow now, since it's been snowing strongly for the past weeks in the whole Europe.

On my arrival the first person I met was Margareth Wheathley, author of the book Leadership and The New Science and some other around the power of conversations and learning communities. Wow, I said to myself, I am here and having the chance to meet these great thinkers.

As the afternoon unfolded I got meet other very interesting people who are here to attend one of the 5 modules that are gonna take place for the next five days.

I will be attending the one co-hosted by Peter Merry and Dylan Newcomb called Integral Practice of Evolutionary Leadership and Change, which will explore the living and literally embodied experience of new ways of leadership. Dylan is one of the greatest dancers in the world and has been exploring the combination between dance and theories for the new world for the past years. He has developed what is called the 16 Ways (http://www.dylannewcomb.com/Dylan_Newcomb/The_16_Ways.html). Peter is a facilitator for group processes and designs on sustainability, one of the co-founders of the Centre for Human Emergence Netherlands (http://www.humanemergence.nl/en/index.php) and also one of the partners of Engage (http://www.engagency.nl/).

It's now 9pm and I am sitting in my room, quite tired of all the good conversations I had since this afternoon, as I landed in the space and in this group of around 130 people going from one room to the other, from lunch to dinner, introducing myself, telling my story and listening other peoples stories. Wow, I can feel this is going to be a quite intense week, with much to reflect on as the learning journey continues. I can't wait.

This year...

This year I have...

danced through the dawn in New Year's Eve wearing white and flowers in my hair

written many poems on love and life

opened my heart so much that it even hurts sometimes

celebrated abundance and offered worship to Pachamama in the Holy Land of Israel

raved the Islamic world throughout the Middle Eastern countries

loved one man passionately and painfully

danced with the Mevlevi dervishes as I was going deeper into the heart of God

experienced the pain of being kept a part of a beloved land and people

visited the three world famous walls: The Berlin Wall, the Walling Wall and the Israel/Palestine Wall

met dear brothers and sisters with whom to share the journey on Earth

This year I've lived the best in me and shared it all with the world!

(This was written inspired in my friend Filiz's question "What do I celebrate at this time?". Thank you Filiz!)

Cidades divididas

Berlim, Nicosia, Jerusalem. O que essas cidades tem em comum? Sao ou foram cidades divididas, separadas em si mesmas.

Aqui em Berlim, me dou conta de que nesse ano visitei essas tres cidades que tem em comum essa marcante caracteristica. Uma marca, passada ou presente, que deixa todo o seu povo, sua arquitetura, sua cultura e a imagem que o mundo tem delas, marcada.

Aqui me relembro novamente do poder que as pessoas unidas tem, para fazer a mudanca que querem e precisam no seu mundo. Aqui em Berlim, foi assim que o muro veio abaixo e so assim. Depois de 28 anos, quando as tantas pessoas ja tiveram sido morta tentando atravessar as fronteiras impostas pela ganancia por controle, e tantas outras morreram mortas pelo sistema, quando a vida tornara-se quase insuportavel, milhares de pessoas foram juntas as ruas da parte leste da cidade para gritar por liberdade e para fazer acontecer. E conseguiram, no dia 09 de Novembro de 1989.

Isso me faz crer ainda mais que as pessoas de Israel e de Cyprus e das outras cidades que ainda tem seus povos divididos e apartados, facam por onde para que a repressao e a intolerancia acabe. Que facam cair os muros (internos e externos) que tao desumanamente impedem ou coibem a circulacao das pessoas, a troca de informacoes, a manifestacao e regeneracao da vida.

Igual, o encontro em Copenhagen, me fez concluir que a mudanca verdadeira vira com cada um de nos e a nossa capacidade de nos auto-organizarmos em comunidades conscientes e influentes por nossa integridade, valores e perseveranca.

Da minha parte, continuarei a construir comunidades por onde passar e com quem estiver, cada vez mais conscientes e profundas, com intereza e capazes de agir prontamente as mudancas do nosso tempo, para que elas sejam como nos queremos que seja.

Hopenhagen

Ca estou, sentada na janela onde queimam duas velas altas. Ao fundo, la fora, a neve esta caindo sobre a cidade de Copenhagen.

Hoje e dia 15 de Dezembro de 2009. Estamos no meio da Conferencia da Partes para as Mudancas Climaticas 15. Estou fazendo parte do Inner Climate Learning Village. Aqui minha comunidade se encontra para celebrar e praticar juntos da arte do encontro e da conversa com intencao. Aqui encontro irmaos e irmaos, parceiros de vida de todos os cantos desse mundo. Aqui tudo e possivel...

Meu coracao esta em pedacos, machucado, sangrando. A relacao que me trouxe para esse lugar nao e o que eu esperava que fosse. O sentimento de amor e intenso e a necessidade de expressa-lo tambem. Um lugar interresante esse em que me encontro. Um convite para ir mais fundo e alem. Aceitando minha fragilidade e ao mesmo tempo minha coragem de amar. Amar com todo o meu ser, e mais e mais.

Esse amor me trouxe para este lugar. Nao um lugar fisico, mas um lugar de espirito, em que eu experimento ser o melhor de mim e dar tudo que tenho. Um lugar de constante expansao, onde me sinto cada vez mais uma com UM. E sou grata por isso. I am in the heart of God!

La fora tantas e tantas pessoas que talvez nunca tiveram ou terao essa experiencia divina da amor. I pray for them. I wish they get there too!

La fora tantas e tantas pessoas juntas por uma so causa, Climate Change. We are all here because we care! Indigenas, lideres politicos, empresarios, ongueiros, musicos, artistas, ativistas, cientistas, todos juntos nessa cidades porque acreditam que podem fazer a diferenca. E talvez mais do que esperar por um acordo binding and ambitious, que nos esperemos por relacoes de mais confianca e verdade que aumentam os niveis de comprometimento com que nos engajamos com aquilo que e importante para nos e com o nosso planeta. Mais do que esperar e torcer para que os ditos lideres mundiais mudem as coisas, que nos mudemos por nos mesmos, usando a forca das relacoes que estamos construindo uns com os outros.

E viva Hopenhagen!

My shaman friend

It was a sunny day in Jerusalem and I had left home feeling broken hearted and sad, I was tired of being on the road and had many questions to where go next. I left home decided to let myself to be guided in the city, willing to explore an area down town which I did not know much.

On my way to the old city I decided to pass by my friend Ya’qub’s book shop, Olam Qatan (small world). Ya'qub was one of the first people I met in Jerusalem and with whom I created a good friendship. He is Canadian Jew and has moved to the city 19 years ago, where he has been running his bookshop specialized in spirituality books and Arabic music. Ya'qub has had a long spiritual search and after different experiences end up dedicating himself to Sufism.

Ya'qub and I were having our usual cup of tea and talking about my trip to Lebanon, when Manu came in. He was wearing all white and had a hippie look. As soon as he got close to me I could smell the scent of palo santo and that instantly felt very familiar. Well, Manu introduced himself as a shaman who had been sent to the Holy
Land by his guides without knowing why. And that after being there for few days he had been told to he had to perform a ceremony to honor Pachamama, the mother land.
And that he was there to ask Ya'qub to help him to make that happen. After discussing the necessary items to make such ceremony and finding a place to perform it, it was decided we would all perform the ceremony at Maya's house at 3 pm in that same afternoon.

Manu and I left together to go buy the necessary things in the Old City. The connection between us was instant and soon we were laughing and talking as if we were good friends for years. We would speak about spiritual experiences, our life stories, our hopes for the future and share our impressions of the Holy land.

We then met Gracy, a good friend of Manu and left to the ceremony. It was the last day of Sukot, when Jewish people remember the 40 years their people spent crossing the desert when they left Egypt. We were six people offering prayers and positive wishes for the land and the people of the Holy Land. It was all very beautiful and touching.

For the next four days Manu, Gracy and I spent together roaming around the Golden City, visiting, exploring and letting ourselves to be led to the special places we needed to go. We were staying on the Mount of Olives at the Peace Guesthouse. A place run by an arab man called Ibrahim, who has been an ambassador for peace throughout the world and that hosts people in his house for free. At the Peace Guesthouse there is always a great meal ready to be served to all people who come in.

Together we visited the place where Mother Mary was born, the Holy Sepulcher, the Mount of Olives and shared so much. We have shared the wonderful and magical experience of being in Jerusalem offering to it our passion and friendship, our powers and faith.

Jerusalem has brought us together. A friendship which has started with the blessings of the Holy land and is yet to grow bigger and bigger.

Stories of a Journey of the Spirit

 

Phew, I am back on my homeland. Exact 6 months after having left planed to stay for only 5 weeks away, I am back from one of the most incredible journeys of my life!

In total it was 2 months in Europe, mostly spent in Greece, and 4 months throughout the countries of the Middle East.

A journey of the spirit, the body and the mind. A journey which was not a trip, it was life. My life! A journey which opened my heart in ways that I had never experienced before, in terms of understanding of human nature, in terms of the infinite ability to love and most of all, in terms of my relationship with God.

Motivated by the high speed of Love, which stroke me in Istanbul when I met Luke, at the last days of June I decided to exchange my heavy suitcase for a light "only the necessary" backpack and travel into the East...

My first stop was then Istanbul, where I spent one entire month. The magic of the Bosphoros and the Golden Horn holding space for the constant movement of people in that which has always been the crossroads of East and West, filled up my days in the city. To wander in colorful alleys of the Grand Bazaar letting myself being pulled into the numerous shops for a chai and some chit chat with the vendors was simply an activity that could take from one hour to one full day. To sit on the loan around the beautiful fountain viewing the Agia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, watching tourists, vendors, tour guides and local people passing by, enjoying the great view of the most amazing architecture piece of Istanbul, was one of my favorite sightseeing there.

In Istanbul I experienced one of the most touching meetings with a stranger a had ever experienced. It all happened at the shores of the Bosphorus late in the evenings. There we met Ahmet, an old sail man from the Black Sea who lives in his boat and works taking tourists for a cruise on the waters of Istanbul. One night Ahmet took Luke by the hand and started pulling him into his boat. Luke was hesitating and did not really want to follow that strange man. For some reason I felt it was safe and we should give him a chance. He seemed so lonely and in need for some love that I said to Luke we should give it a try and hoped into his boat. We then spent some time there with Ahmet, who promptly offered us some beer and cigarettes. He was so happy to have us in his boat that kept hugging and kissing us. He insisted we slept on his boat and stayed longer. We left then promising we would come back the next day. And so we did. Together with our Turkish friend Filiz we went spend some time with Ahmet again. This time, with Filiz’s presence it was easier to communicate and get to know more about him. I then had the idea of bringing the group who was playing the Flow Game to spend the last round on his boat, flowing on the Bosphorus. We made arrangements with Ahmet that we would come back the next day with a group of friends. The next day though no one from the group could join us, and finally Luke and I came to see Ahmet almost at 11 pm. When we got there he was another man, shaved, wearing his best shirt and trouser and a captain hat. Seeing that put tears in our eyes and left us with no other option than hopping into his boat and accepting the invitation to go for a cruise on the Bosphorus. It was full moon night, the sky was clear and the breeze was blowing gently. There was no movement in the city and we could only see the lights and the silhouette of the buildings and mosques of Istanbul. Ahmet took us for a long cruise, and noticing I had tears in my eyes, he came close and started singing for me. It was a very romantic and nostalgic singing that spoke deeply to our hearts. Right after Luke started playing his guitar and singing loud “Everybody need somebody to love!” and soon the three of us were dancing and smiling on the boat. Back on the dock Ahmet was radiant and extremely happy. We were feeling satisfied and touched with the change we saw him going through. He did not accept any money from us, and surely that cruise was one of the most memorable of my life.

I spend in total one month in Istanbul breathing in the magic of the city and also the beginning of a beautiful loving relationship. There I learned more about Love and giving. I learned a in about overcoming my own prejudice for people I don’t know and opening myself for the gift every person has to offer you in life.

After Istanbul I headed to Cappadocia, where I spent great days with my sister Eliza exploring the extraordinary beauty of that land and being fascinated by the ancient history its carved in those caves. Being in that ancient churches which were built very simply to enable the escaping Christians to worship their God and maintain their cult, is a memorable experience.

From Cappadocia I felt called to visit Konya which is the place where the famous Sufi Mevlana Rumi and other Sufi masters have developed most of their spiritual work. Before going to Turkey I was very little familiar with the Sufi tradition and it was there that a deep sense of respect and curiosity started to grow. Going to Konya was a way to follow this connection and be open for learning more about it. The experience was very strong and helped me to connect even deeper with this place of Love and God. It was the first time I could feel in my heart and my soul that the pure feeling of Love is God and the manifest energy of It in the world. That has opened a whole new and deeper understanding of my relationship with God than ever before. It made me feel closer to It and to want to further this experience. Sufism gave me a simple and yet very profound explanation for God and spirituality.

My next stop was Ankara, the capital city of Turkey. In Ankara I was not in search for any famous monument or place, I was there to meet Aslihan - a wonderful women I had met in Istanbul previously. Aslihan was a very spiritual person who was practitioner of the Islam and Sufism, and I wanted to spend some time with her. She is my mom’s age, has two daughters and runs a clothing shop. Meeting her was very significant for my journey, since she taught me so much about living a life according to one faith and one stream. Since quite young she had a spiritual master who has guided her through life and helped her to grow and develop according to the laws of the Qu’ran and Sufism. She was the first person I met who had fully devotion to one incarnated master and that was all very fascinating and intriguing to me. It made me reflect about such possible choice in my life and to intent more clearly what I want my spiritual journey to be. From Aslihan I learned I need to “ keep doing business with God” and following the signs He is constantly giving, trusting His power and Love.

Sweet blow of the Wind

Aqui estou, decidindo, deixando o vento me dizer para onde virar a proa na proxima mare. Afinal qual eh mesmo a proxima mare? Vai dar onda ou vai dar mar calmo? Que diferenca faz afterall?

Os varios mundos mes chamam. O mundo, mundo todo. O mundo brasil. O meu mundo interior...

Minha respiracao fica agitada e sem fluxo quando chega a hora de eu comprar a passagem de volta para o Brasil. Entao, paro e reflito... E decido deixar o vento me mostrar com o tempo. Ainda tenho tempo. I have all the time in the world!

Estou agora em Tel Aviv aproveitando da companhia da minha querida amiga, companheira de alma, Jasmin. Daqui vou para Jerusalem. E de la embarco para o Chipre.

No Chipre vou literalmente me deixar ser levada... E de la verei...

One word to the Middle East

Hospitality. This is the word I can use to describe the Middle East in one word.
If there is one thing that unites the peoples from this part of the world, it is their natural gift of being hospitable and welcoming to guests. True that it might take a different timing from people to people to open themselves and feel confidence on the strange guest till they invite you to come in their lives.

Throughout all these travels I've been having the great opportunity to meet the most amazing people most of the times very unexpectedly and magically. From Istanbul to Jerusalem people have just been amazing in offering their homes, introducing me to their friends and people who they think could offer to my learning journey.

Arabs, Jews, Muslims, Christians, Kurds, Israelis, Syrians, Jordans, Turks, all have proved to be natural hosts and welcoming people once I have opened myself to be with them without preconceived judgments or ideas, coming in from a place of true learning and will to understand.

And this has proven to be the most necessary thing to cultivate at this time. It has proven to be one of my great learning this trip. Something into which I am willing to be more and more skillful as I get to understand deeper and deeper how we are always on a continuous journey of learning and absorbing.

I now sit on the table where they all play Okay
Rapidly changing the pieces from place to place
Betting, wining and losing

I have arrived few hours back in this city which is the doorway for Mesopotamia
Diyarbakir, land of the tribe of the Beker

Here I meet very cheerful and softly heart spoken people,
easygoing and friendly

A people who have been told they are foreigners in their own land
Land which has been home for more 4000 years
The kurds have been kept a part discriminated by the way they naturally speak and behave

Long time back they were connected to an ancient religion and deep connection to the earth and the divine.
Nowadays most are muslims,
and have left forgotten the practices and belied of their forefathers and mothers

Advised not to come here,
I am now happy I followed that which seemed clear signs to follow the initial call
On the ferryboat from Nemrut Dag to Sivereki with the happy istanbuli family on vacation, wondering which road to take,
one message with Mahmut's contact in Diyarbarkir I got..

Here I meet him,
a young outspoken and very friendlt Kurdish sociologist who has been for the last years accompanying journalists as a translator in the region.

A natural host he is
who welcomes, accompanies, connects, witnesses and help to overcome the barries of the language

For the week being he is hosting a young american journalist.
Nicole has been based in Istanbul for the last 9 months as the local correspondent of an emerging international online newspaper.

The feeling of rightness was completed when I come to know that the host to offer me a room is his house is Han.

Han, the coreian peace worker who has been living in Diyarbarkir for 5 years
A placid, thin, long pony taled hair, 43 years-old man,
who speaks fluent Kursidh and denies himself to learn Turkish.
A man who is now dedicating himself to finding and understanding the unspoiled historical places of this region.

Place that only natives would know about and e kapet protected, in secret.
Veiled, sacred, meaningful and powerful places
just like the black covered woman who walk on the streets of the city.

Just like my soul sister and friend Kevser.
Young, beautiful hazel almond like eyes,
purple and black covered head and body,
who gracefully shared the journey sitting on the back sit of the minibus with me.

Kevser is newly married with her high school love,
currently teaches English for kids in some local school.
But she wants to travel the world

Hazel almond's like eyes which are willing to set gaze on far away landscapes in Turkey and elsewhere.

Pure, genuine and open hearted, Kevser
Who has thought me a little more about the relationship with God
She who has started covering her head and doing five times a day namaz
to be able to be closer to Him.
She who is closer to God
and emanating Him through her eyes and smile

As I step gently and respectful on this land,
wnich is the doorway for Mesopotamia
I have mi heart perched with an deep sense of love
that is blurred with deep sadness.

A story of love and life

Standing at the platform of Ankara’s train station she said: “Keep making business with God. And take this booklet written by Efendi. Shall it be your passport for your journey”.

I have spent three days with Aslihan and her daughter Zaynep in Ankara coming from Istanbul on my way to Mesopotamia. Aslihan is a beautiful mignon lady with the loving hazel eyes who is a disciple of the Sufi Master Ahmet Kayhan for the past 27 years, and who have taught me much about the relationship with God and with life.
At her early 20’s Asilhan went to India and lived in Osho’s Ashram for a total time of one year and a half and there was initiated a disciple of his philosophy. Back in Turkey, young Aslihan got seriously ill. Being keen and open to non-traditional medicine, she went to London to be in the company of her sister and get treated by the different methods (acupuncture, reiki, aurosoma, and so on). Back in Ankara, one day a close friend brought her a message from Ahmet Kayhan, also called Efendi – which in Turkish means Master. Her friend was given the message by Efendi advised to pass it on to the wisest of her friends. Sometime later Aslihan was then invited to go to the Master’s house, where he would host and welcome everyone in need for assistance and spiritual search. Aslihan’s illness was not getting any better at that time, she would be very thin and weak and also unhappy with her life. But despite the doctors freighting diagnosis she says she always knew she was not going to die. Instead, that this was a death-rebirth process she, for some reason needed to go through. Slowly slowly as her visits to Efendi’s house got more and more regularly and she started following his advices, learned from his wise words, re-energized from his powerful presence, practiced the namaz and studied the Qu’ran, young Aslihan found back her health and track into life.

As the years passed she would develop this unconditional love to herself and her Master, trying as much as possible to be in his company. She would consult and inquiry with him on the subjects of spirituality as much as on her daily life decisions and themes. Soon he would tell her that for her evolutionary path it was important she found a partner to be her spouse and that she became a mother. And so she did, after meeting a kind and gentle man who was friend of friends, having the agreement of her Master and most of all, feeling deep inside that was a new step she wanted to take, Aslihan fulfilled what was meant to be her woman destiny, marrying a good man and giving birth to two beautiful girls.

Being in relationship with a man was the next lesson she was meant and willing to have. To being able to share her life with another person, from the opposite sex, loving and being loved as just one expression of the love for God. Marriage was the constant and everyday practice of compassion, forgiveness and understanding of herself through the other, as her mirror… as her own witness… as a part of herself.
Sixteen years later, Aslihan divorced from her spouse to keep her journey with her daughters and since seven years they she has been learning deeper and deeper the role to play in modeling the masculine and also the feminine for them.
“Bearing children, says Aslihan, is fun and it is the most wonderful thing in life!

My little daughters have been my mevlana since I got pregnant from both Both my daughters are gifts of my master… First one is an in-vitro baby on a single trial as I had been diagnosed ‘not able to concieve’ and the second daughter’s conception was right after he came to my house to give us a visit – which per se was already something great – and he said to me, I came here to renew your marriage vows and to gift you with a child”.

Long conversations we had sitting on Aslihan’s living room or at the porch of the outside garden. These conversations all turned around “our businesses with God”, going from the relationship with our mothers and the act of becoming a mother and stepping into one’s motherhood phase, to loving relationships, professional work, Turkish history, Sufi tradition, Islam and the stories of our lives and families.
Aslihan and Zaynep opened their house and hearts to me, offering with incredible love, generosity and tenderness a safe and sacred space for sharing, learning and growth. Together we have created the bounds for a life longing, meaningful and authentic relationship.

Their house, company and energy were a touchstone and an important entry point into the next phase of this journey I am in as I ought to go further into the East. It strengthened my alignment, reassured my soul calling, nurtured my inner child, challenged the letting go of my maiden and blessed my blossoming woman with Efendi’s energy.

There I could make my luggage lighter, as I have been assigned to do, letting go of the material means which have kept me attached to beauty and lust, offering them to other dear women who can take their magic forward and beyond. It was special and magical seeing the bright into young Zaynep’s eyes as I gifted her with oil pastel crayons, the chilly skirt, the orange happy dress and the bubbly blue funky hand luggage. Also powerful was to meet Eda to whom the colorful pair of summer pants, shining blue t-shirt and dancing green skirt will do well and hopefully uplift and bring trust to her wounded spirit.

To all of that I am most grateful and appreciative, to God and the enlightened beings who have brought our paths together at this time and enabled our encounter to be beautiful and generative of life and love.
Ankara 31st of July

Duas irmas, duas jornadas. um relacao para toda a vida

Esse poema e em homenagem a minha irma Eliza que compartilhou comigo partes dessa jornada no Oriente Medio, te pela sua simples presenca me lembra sempre a rir de mim mesma e a confiar nas nossas escolhas, a viajar leve e a usar menos a cabeca...

Duas irmas
Mesmo dia de nascimento
Dois meses diferentes
Cinco anos de diferenca
Um mesmo ciclo de vida
Momento de decisao e mudanca
Ha 6 meses, duas viagens
ao mesmo tempo
com o mesmo proposito, mas em lugares tao distantes
Encontrar-se
Encontrar outra casa
Encontrar-se na casa de si
Agora num mesmo lugar
Duas viagens que se encontram
Duas vidas da mesma fonte
Duas fontes nessa vida
que quando se encontram deixam transbordar de si cumplicidade, amizade
Nessa que eh a nossa irmandade!

Hosting the Flow Game in Istanbul

 

And so we played the Flow Game* in Istanbul to inquiry How to Ground the Call of Action I Want to Take Forward Now?

Five people participated: Basak, Filiz Telek, Aaron Pereira, Luke Concannon and Yasemin and we played it for one day and a half.

Much clarity had emerged as the rounds took place and the cards would be inviting our intelligence and wisdom to be spoken.

Luke hosted us with his music on our check in and check out - as we can see at the video :)


*The Flow Game is a process designed as a board game that creates the space for individual and collective consciousness and intelligence to emerge through reflection, dialogue and interactive learning.

The purpose and intent of the Flow Game is to strengthen and bring flow to the life affirming leadership and actions of the participant. Its aim is to strengthen and bring focus and flow into important area or question in one’s life - be it a project, a future direction of your work or relationships or as part of your personal growth.
For more information: www.flowgame.net

Flowing on the Bosphorus

Series of poems written in Istanbul on July 2009

Flow Game

Being on board
being on the board
of the boat of life and love

Living the intensity of feeling the longing for someone who is yet not gone
And so we traveled on Ahmet's boat
acroos the Golden Horn.

Tears of surrender
to the magic of time and the mysteries of our unplanned life

Melancholic singing of a man apart from his land, his roots, his source
Living on board
being led by the swing of the tied of the Bosphorus
Dormant pain kept by the strength of the raki
Latent wounded and lonely heart
Longing for affection
One touch, one smile
just the tone of the guitar strings resonating

And we sang:
"Everybody need somebody to love!"

The boat going round
Us three dancing
as the waves dance when meeting the stones at the shore

White bubbles
transparent, sweet and salty
filled with compassion and love
flying on the air
towards the full moon
Round, big and undiscriminating
as the Humanity that lied within the hearts of all.

(with much gratitude to Ahmet, an old black sea sail man for having trusted his heart and home to me, hosting, cruising and singing on the Bosphorus. And Luke for trusting the trust of my yes)

Armuts of friendship in Bursa

Series of poems written in Istanbul on July 2009

Armuts of friendship in Bursa

In Bursa the air is lighter and people are friendly
After tasting chocolate and strawbeery cakes with multiple layers of fine dough and soft sweet cream.
we sing. laugh and play the theatre

The responsibility over our shoulders get lighter
as we become friends and witnesses of one another's journey

Telling and sharing stories of our childhood:
the distant village of the Black Sea where people dance around in circles,
the pipe my dad plays so well and that touches me every time I hear it,
the long afternoons spent milking the cows at the so loved family farm.

Where do we come from?
What are the original roots of our ancestors?
Bosnia, Russia, Ireland, Anatolia, Otomans, Brazilian indigenous indians, Africa, United Kingdom, France...

From the upper part of the of town,
we find nature and hospitality on colorful armuts spread on the green fresh grass

JCB is on the road,
being sang and applauded as it goes
as it speaks to us all
Oh oh oh!

(with much love and gratitude to my friends Ozge, Erdinc, Gozde for hosting me so beautifully and delightfully in your hometown; and to my companion of dancing and singing journey Luke Skywalker)

Love light

Series of poems written in Istanbul on July 2009

Expressing from the soul the encounters, feelings and insights had on this crossroad land


LOVE LIGHT

We were born the same
man and woman
light and brown
one to sing and the other to dance
from the heart we shall live
with the power we've got.

Love and light
that we are
that is guide
for decisions.
for the road to be taken forward
in the world

In silence...loving, light

10 anos depois

Bah, salut Valentine! Alors, tu n'as pas du tout changer!

E foi assim que eu voltei a Maisdon Sur Sevre, Nantes, Franca, depois de quase 10 anos apos ter vivido la. A casa continuava a mesma, o mesmo cheiro, mesma comida gostosa. Agora fazia calor e sol, os jardins estavam floridos e as pessoas mais felizes.

Acabou que estive de novo no meu colegio. Encontrei o diretor da epoca que continuava la sentado na sua escrivaninha... Eu me apresentei, ele se lembrou vagamente de uma brasileira que era boa aluna... Conversamos um pouco lembrando dos velhos tempos e as coisas que mudaram na escola. Alguns profs ainda continuavam la, outros se mudaram para outra escola. Foi bom estar de volta! Divertido!

Na cidade de Nantes, um crepe de champignon com queijo e ovo, acompanhado de um copo de cidra. Bem bretao! Fazia um sol lindo e ate calor. Andei pelas mesmas ruas, buscando encontrar meus amigos... Coisa boba, cada um que passava eu olhava bem nos olhos para ver se reconhecia. Mas finalmente nao. Nao encontrei ninguem conhecido...

Tant pit! C'etait trop bien comme-meme!

The boat trip

The journey had begun
My boat is out here flowing in the waters of the streams that are composing the river of life

Out there at the Paradise spot in the lake at their front door
I felt deeply happy and grateful
Great sense of peace and stillness

Listening, learning
from the silence of nature
from the telling of stories
My heart nourishes itself
with joy and pleasure

My heart is full
and my soul is willing to speak from the tears that drop by

It´s good to back in this circle.

(poem after arriving in Silkebourg, Denmark, having gone sailing with Toke and Monica)

Casa de pássaro é vento

Amanhã embarco.

Paris - Billund - Paris - Lyon - Nantes - Paris - Atenas - Delfos - Platania - Amsterdã - SP

Chegadas e partidas. Rumo a aprendizados. Crescimento pessoal e profissional.

Encontros esperados, encontros inesperados.

Lugares conhecidos, lugares revisitados, lugares novos, lugares antigos

Primavera florida. Os parques estarão cheios. As cidades movimentadas e cheia de vida. As pessoas felizes com o prenúncio do verão.

Um voo a mais. Uma experiência voraz. Como buscadora e também polinizadora eu vou. Levar e trazer nas asas da borboleta que voa, voa... sempre.