Retirement

This picture is of me holding up two checks - social security and pension. The first of both of them came on the same day - shortly following my birthday. This event sent me the message, loud and clear, that I no longer have to "scrape for a buck", "earn a wage", "work for a living", etc. Now, at long last I am free to pursue my wildest dreams, if I so choose. Fortunately, my dreams don't cost a lot of money. They aren't very materialistic. For a period in my life - a phase of my life, in fact, I was part of a magnificent world-wide strategy to create demonstration of sustainable human community. This sweep of the planet, included a demonstration community in every time zone, and "human development zones" around nine - three major areas - of these communities which included surrounding communities, too. Then it was over. The time of radical change was over - those who were devoted to social change had arrived on a plateau. Priorties were changing. As I look back now, I can see that there was in-depth work and social permeation to do before the journey could continue. This ws true for my own life, as well. Today, many are beginning to write about and dialogue about the time arriving, once again, to begin to finish the work begun, beyond the demonstration stage to systems transformation. Some say it is a group effort. I would concur, but only where individuals in those groupings each operate as a Mother Teresa or Greg Mortensen, or lone famous folk singer whose poetry addresses this moment in time again - as each once did. This time, the journey can be pure creative venturing. I hope you will be on this journey, too.

Where do you find yourself ready to leave the plateau of social change?

The Circle of the Dance in Chicago

When I returned from Kenya in 1984, I was wound up into a snarled wad of experiences. I was confused and disoriented. Clearly, I had not taken care of myself, burned out and not yet in remission with a roller coaster relationship with cancer. Most of all I felt very much alone, unbearably so. I can look back at attachments I made in an attempt, I suppose, to be connected socially. I also recall attempts by others to keep me connected with the community. However, I was alone, ever so alone. The heart beat rhythm of Kenya's culture, throbbed through me. I would recall people in traditional costume dancing in lines and circles during celebrations in the villaes - colorful and faces painted in dunting mask like features. There was life inside me, that had no socially acceptable way of expressing itself in this urban, multi-storied building in which I existed for the time being. The building was the North American center of the ICA (Institute of Cultural Affairs). Life went on around me, as if I was a ghost wandering in and through the rooms, offices, and hallways of this nexus. Tired and feeling hopeless all the time, one morning I picked up my cassette player and forced myself to go to the great hall with the intent to "express myself - claim the promise of existing where I was". The hall was totally empty except for grass green carpetting and pilings. I placed a tape suitable for exercise into the player and the music began. "First there was nothing but a slow flowing dream..." and I began to twirl around the room, then as the beat increased, I leapt in circles, continuing for atleast the duration of the tape, although it may have been longer, since I got totally lost in the experience of flying around this great room, imagining myself in a wild flower field under a bright blue sunny sky. Refreshed, the healing began. I continued this daily ritual, adding yoga-like stretching, endurance increasing, and joy returning to my sense of being alive and present in this place and time. Eventually, I could turn to evaluating priorities and creating new dreams to make reality, Becoming a new person was where I was headed. It was a long journey, but it had begun in that great hall in Chicago. Since then, the dance continues in the spiral of every change, of every return to the present moment where Soul creates dance, where healing begins.

What is your ritual of renewal?