The Labyrinth of Inner Transition from Omagh
Inner Transition Omagh Style
Well when we (Transition Omagh that is) heard about this Inner transition thingy there was a general feeling that we should do something about it. Nobody seemed too sure what it entailed, thinking that perhaps there was a course, or a speaker we could bring in that would enlighten us. We resolved to give it a go.
We thought it would be a good plan to introduce some of the “touch feely stuff”, as it was euphemistically described by one of our not so “touchy feely” male members, at the end of Powerdown sessions. It was to be nothing too radical you understand, on second thoughts maybe that sentence should be replaced with, nothing too radical for the small group who were enthusiastic enough to want to introduce, explore and implement the concept of inner transition to a somewhat conservative audience. With hindsight, perhaps it was just a tad beyond some peoples comfort zone.
Setting the scene, we have as a group just moved from the screening of the fourth Powerdown video, a dark space filled with a thumping base beat accompanied by flickering jarring imagery, the pace of these films could be described as business like and vigorous. One leaves them with fists clenched, pulse racing and signs of early development of male secondary sexual characteristics.
We are moving to a round room with glass walls lit only by the soft light of a myriad of tea lights set out at measured intervals on the ground, around the edge of a cloth labyrinth. Painstakingly and lovingly stencilled in purple, the labyrinth has been laid out on a large piece of white heavy cotton cloth measuring forty feet by forty feet. In the back round appropriate soft music plays and there is the whiff of incense lingering in the air. At the centre of the labyrinth there is a sort of an alter on the ground, sensitively and artistically arranged with, flowers, leaves, coloured scarves and candles.
The stark contrast between the two rooms seems to tangentially illustrate the masculine and the feminine, further amplified by the natural dispersal of the group, as it breaks up into smaller knots of people. For some of the group this is the first time that they have experienced anything like this and the inner discomfort around what they perceive they are about to do is mirrored in their actions both outside the room and on their entrance into the room. Some seem to be lost in animated conversation with a neighbour and words like powerdown, energy descent drift in through the door, now and again an anxious glance is thrown in the direction of the altar. These mostly make up the male element of the species.Others take themselves off to the toilet maybe just to gain a little time or simply to attend to nature, who knows and yes you have guessed it are mostly female. There are exceptions of course.
Others like me bend down and begin to remove our shoes. We are the early adaptors or the suck it and see mob. As I crouch down that loud inner voice is setting up numerous infallible reasons as to why I should not do this “I dont want to be the first, what if I go the wrong way? Why am I feeling so self conscious about this . I wonder who is watching me and have I the right expression on my face, should I look prayerful, maybe a bit spiritual, do I walk slow or fast, what should I think about, probably not about that load of laundry I forgot to hang out before I came here! Why did I have to wear those socks with the big hole in the heel anyways?” Wanting to get it over I launch myself out on to the highways and byways of the my own personal labyrinth.
Next come the seasoned campaigners like my friend Joan, you know her she is utterly reliable, she would turn up for anything and everything including the opening of an envelope, never bats an eye and just gets on and participates as usual, should it be fire walking or a needle work class. She quickly undoes and deposits her shoes, picks up an angel wish from the bowl at the entrance to the labyrinth, pauses momentarily to read her intention and proceeds out onto the labyrinth like a ship in full sail.
Then the early laggards arrive. These make up about forty percent of the gathering. They have long since removed their shoes and actually made it into the room, but delay their entrance onto the labyrinth in a number of ways, either by seeming to be exceptionally interested in the literature on the table, or by bending down to inspect the tea lights, or by quietly engaging with the facilitator on a certain aspect of the activity.
By now a certain hushed expectancy has settled on the room and a suitable mood prevails. More and more people walk out on to the labyrinth. Looking up I see that within ten steps I am going to meet someone coming from the other direction the next few moments are fully preoccupied with wondering how we are going to pass each other. Is it the same as driving a car I idly wonder, do I juke to the left and her to the right? Oh dear she is coming closer and closer and so commences our precisely timed beautifully choreographed labyrinth dance, I go left she goes left, I go right, she goes right. In the end we gracefully pass, not making eye contact and continuing on our separate journeys.The late laggards have been hanging about just outside of the room and suddenly have arrived at the simultaneous decision that its now or never. Entering in a slight rush, one briefly even forgets to take his shoes off, they join the rest of us. These are shy walkers, anxious not to upset by their late arrival, but also aware that now that they are started must make up for lost time. Their progress through the labyrinth is swift, culminating in a later traffic jam at the centre.
Gradually the early starters begin to complete their journey and exit from the labyrinth. Moving to the outer room, people hang about in groups speaking quietly, some shrug into their coats as the room is cold preparing to go out into the early winter evening. Some are still on the labyrinth not quite finished, the evening feels solemn, church like and still, no one quite knows what to say.As I exit the labyrinth I notice that about two percent of the group are missing, it is of course the recalcitrants who have long since left for the pub.
4 images with kind permission from Valerie Whitworth
marella's blog www.myresilientworld.com
I really enjoyed reading this
15 November 2011 - 12:33pm — Jo HomanI love the idea of the early adaptor, suck it and see mob. Really witty. Also loved "One leaves them with fists clenched, pulse racing and signs of early development of male secondary sexual characteristics."
I am wondering how people found it though. And what are the 'angel wishes'? I get the sense that you might how thought "and??" at the end of that? Perhaps you should try more direct group work. Sometimes it helps if there's an explicit purpose rather than just trying to be touchy feely - addressing an unspoken problem / celebrating a success etc.
One interesting exercise I did recently went like this: One person makes a statement that doesn't have to be their own opinion (e.g. not everyone in this group is pulling their weight) and then people stand next to them if they agree with it and far away if they don't. Then someone else makes a different statement and so on. There's no discussion about where people are moving or judgement, people just watch carefully. It's a great way to get the temperature, as it were.
I really enjoyed reading this
17 November 2011 - 12:58am — Marella FyffeHi Jo
I told the story as I observed human behaviour, deliberately choosing not to make any deep reflections or draw any conclusions, letting the individual actions speak for themselves, whilst keeping a light hearted, somewhat tongue in cheek approach. Sure I could describe various reactions and opinions or whats happened since. Let you know that a heart and soul group grew out of that event. I decided instead to simply capture one of those "in camera" moments of "Transition Anywhere" in action . Thanks for the comment :-)
in camera moments
17 November 2011 - 10:14am — Jo Homanas I say, I really enjoyed reading this. Keep up the good work!