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Philosophy of the gathering

Why this gathering?

We believe that personal and spiritual growth quite naturally results in responsible action in the world. Some however people limit their growth process to inner reflection and contemplation, and if they do that too long the growth process may come to a standstill at a certain moment. There is a time for everything: a time for contemplation and reflection, and a time for action. At a certain moment in one’s life reflection might be the most necessary and fruitful process, and at another action might be. But in the end there should be a balance. Action without reflection might result in routine, ineffectiveness, inner emptiness and/or fanatism. Reflection without action in ego-centeredness, alienation and isolation. In both cases, if in the end the balance is not there we live a life unfulfilled.

We believe that the world needs responsible people. People who have the ability to respond: who have an answer to what is needed and know what they can do. Who prefer to be a part of the solution to the worlds problems, rather than be part of the problems themselves. Who are leaders, in their own environment and at their own level. Who rise to their own level of excellence. Who express the highest vision of who they are and become. We think that many of the problems in this world - ecological problems, conflicts, terrorism, war and hunger - are the result of not dealing effectively with our own fear. This happens on all levels of society, from top to bottom, and the other way around. We all are afraid of something: of the future, of our own or another’s pain or suffering, of illness, of death, of violence, of losing our beloved, of losing our job or money or what, of not being re-elected, of being excluded or just of being visible and taking a stand.

That’s why we have to confront our fear, not suppressing it but embracing it, so that it becomes known and not so threatening anymore. In other words, we need to live with our fear. It is said that fear is a poor advisor, but that is only true if we give it power. If we just live with fear, we don’t have to be it's victim. Another guide then takes it’s rightful place: love. It may show itself in the form of care, compassion or forgiveness. In stead of reacting to what triggers the fear in us, we start creating the world we want. Reaction becomes creation. It all depends on how you ‘c’ it. That is what this gathering is all about. It stimulates you to be a spiritual warrior, to have the courage to know yourself and to surrender to your inner guide. To go and stand for what is essential for you - beauty, harmony, peace - and to let go of the attachment to apparent securities that is based on fear. The process may not always be easy, but the rewards are great: inner peace, contentment, fulfilments. And you will enter the worldwide community of people who want to make a difference. Join the club and be supported with hope. Be a leader in your own right.

How this gathering works

We wil learn not only by the content of what is presented, but we will learn experientally. Partly through the exercises and processes offered to us by the presenters and workshop leaders. However, we will also develop what we call a learning community. This will happen quite naturally. The conference staff will maintain certain values like confidentiality, openness, inter-personal respect and personal freedom. Under these conditions, and due to the depth of the material presented a community will develop, in which everyone feels safe and free to express him- or herself. After only a few days you will be amazed how personal, deep and close contacts you will have even with strangers in the gathering. This in itself will catalyse your growth process and make you feel at home in the gathering. When you arrive in Vaeshartelt, you will register first. There you will be given a conference folder in which you will find all the information you need. Also you will given the keys to your room(s). Before dinner you can make yourself comfortable. After dinner you will meet in your home groups, groups of about eight people that you will meet in every day during the gathering during three quarters of an hour.

These groups are facilitated by the gathering staff. They form your safe space and home base from which you enter the gathering and to where you return. Here you can ask questions, share your concerns and experiences. In these groups language will not be a problem, because if necessary there is ample time for translation. Later that first evening there will be a plenary opening address. (See elsewhere on this website). The staff that you may need during the gathering will then be presented to you. During the week, plenary sessions will be alternated with smaller workshops. Before breakfast there will be wake-up programs of choice: meditation, aikido, bodywork.

There will be lots of entertainment, but nothing is obligatory. You may want to attend every session, but you may also want to go out for a walk (there is also free time however). The only thing you have to do is take care of yourself (as long as you don’t disturb others). Intensive experiences will be the Council of all Beings, the Compassionate Listening (where Isaelis and Palestines will try to reach a common understanding and reconciliation and will try to lead all of us in this experience), and the Trannsformation Game. The Peace Table in which we will cook our national dishes for each other will be both fun and create a brother- and sisterhood of men and women.

For the children there will be separate programs. These will cover all official program time. For small children there will be kindergarten. For older ones (6-11 years) there will be a special program of play and fun, but also already a little bit of the conference stuff on an elementary level (art, story castle, role playing). The 12 year and older will create their own program under guidance. They may want to participate in some of the plenary activities, or to have some free time (they have to stay in contact with the children’s leaders however), or may work with one of the facilitators. During the week all children will create a perfomance, which will be presented on the last evening to the whole gathering.

For all of us it will be a time of joy and sadness, of thought and feeling, of work and play, and of charge and discharge. It will be a time of acceleration of change, and that may be uncomfortable at times. But if we stay with it, in the end we shall reach a point of love and inner peace and we shall go out in the world with a new perspective, refreshed, inspired and peacefull.