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...

Hoje e Roshashana aqui em Jerusalem. Judeus aqui e no mundo todo estao comemorando a entrada do novo ano. Para isso reunem-se nas sinagogas de toda a cidade, rezando, cantando e cada um consigo fazendo reflexoes sobre o que fora esse ano passado, quais as acoes e padroes que causaram bem e quais que trouxeram tristezas. E tempo de se examinar, pedir perdao pelos atos cometidos a Deus e ao proximo, rezar para o que quer viver no ano que entra, alinhar-se com Deus e com as pessoas ao seu redor.

E ca estou, sentada no jardim da casa do Avner e Sara, queridos anfitrioes, que estao nos recebendo nestes dias - e outros passados ao longo das ultimas semanas. Logo ao lado, da Sinagoga ressoa os cantos de oracao e prece honrando a chegada do novo ano. Luke esta no quarto ao lado praticando e sua musica tambem preenche o espaco.

Faco as minhas reflexoes. O que foi esse ano para mim? O que me tornei com as experiencias vividas? Quais as mudancas que quero fazer para que este ano seja ainda mais pleno? O que que quero para minha vida no ano que comeca?

Na segunda feira sigo a caminho para o Libano. Em Beirut vou estar pelas proximas duas semanas, oferecendo junto com Hala, conversasoes para a comunidade com quem ela esta trabalhando. Sinto mesmo o comeco de uma nova fase na jornada. A oportunidade de voltar a Israel se materializando com o Flow Game que vou jogar na casa de Tova em duas semanas. A vontade de ficar pelo Oriente Medio ganhando mais corpo e chao.Incerteza sobre os proximos passos e onde estarei melhor servindo. Coracao buscando entender.

Entre isso e aquilo, no geral amando muito e buscando as respostas para as perguntas mais profundas sobre o caminho e o sentido da jornada. Vivendo cada dia de uma vez, entregando-se de corpo e alma a cada encontro e conversas.

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.