It’s important for us to remember that we fear most what we understand least. With that in mind, I encourage those who are tempted to direct their anger at Islam, to consider undertaking a bit of investigation into the spiritual principles of this amazing religion.  I recommend The World’s Religions by Huston Smith.

On my visits to local Mosques during my seminary studies, I was always welcomed by warm and caring women and men, eager to demonstrate the vast tenderness of their beliefs, something that is not often seen on the evening news.

It is good for our humanity to remember to hold each other as individuals sharing a common experience here in this lifetime … vulnerability, desire for love & acceptance, seeking meaning in situations that make us feel insecure and fragile.

The Charter for Compassion below was born as the wish of Karen Armstrong when she won the TED Prize in 2008. The Charter was officially launched into the world on November 12, 2009 and is being enthusiastically adopted by Interfaith Councils around the world.

Please, read it and consider adopting it as your personal Charter for meeting others in life. If you are fortunate, they will be looking at you through the same compassionate eyes.

CHARTER for COMPASSION

The principle of compassion lies at the heart of all religious, ethical and spiritual traditions, calling us always to treat all others as we wish to be treated ourselves. Compassion impels us to work tirelessly to alleviate the suffering of our fellow creatures, to dethrone ourselves from the centre of our world and put another there, and to honour the inviolable sanctity of every single human being, treating everybody, without exception, with absolute justice, equity and respect.

It is also necessary in both public and private life to refrain consistently and emphatically from inflicting pain. To act or speak violently out of spite, chauvinism, or self-interest, to impoverish, exploit or deny basic rights to anybody, and to incite hatred by denigrating others – even our enemies – is a denial of our common humanity. We acknowledge that we have failed to live compassionately and that some have even increased the sum of human misery in the name of religion.

We therefore call upon all men and women ~ to restore compassion to the centre of morality and religion ~ to return to the ancient principle that any interpretation of scripture that breeds violence, hatred or disdain is illegitimate ~ to ensure that youth are given accurate and respectful information about other traditions, religions and cultures ~ to encourage a positive appreciation of cultural and religious diversity ~ to cultivate an informed empathy with the suffering of all human beings-even those regarded as enemies.

We urgently need to make compassion a clear, luminous and dynamic force in our polarized world. Rooted in a principled determination to transcend selfishness, compassion can break down political, dogmatic, ideological and religious boundaries. Born of our deep interdependence, compassion is essential to human relationships and to a fulfilled humanity. It is the path to enlightenment, and indispensable to the creation of a just economy and a peaceful global community.

For more information, or to affirm the charter, go to http://charterforcompassion.org/share/about

I don’t know why dreams so frequently present information in such interesting disguises.  I’ve never been able to find an answer to this question.  What I have discovered though, through my studies of metaphysics, wisdom traditions and world religions, is that the dream world is universally regarded as the realm of the Divine.

Dreams, dreamers, and the ability to interpret dreams are respected and honored worldwide … across religious, cultural and ethnic boundaries.

Many people report that they don’t dream, and feel shortchanged.  The truth is, medically speaking, that if you sleep – you dream.  The ability to remember dreams is often a latent talent that can be awakened with intention and attention.

But even if you are one of the very few who, despite the effort cannot recall your dreams, fear not!  The ability to “day dream,” to side-step your conscious mind and allow your subconscious imagination to flow unrestrained, is just as valuable a tool that leads to immense new personal insight.

Dreamwork is a dynamic, fun, creative, healing and inspiring process that is effective either individually or in small groups.

Individual dream work typically takes place in a one hour session that includes a brief grounding meditation, an assessment of which dreamwork technique is most appropriate, an exploration of the dream, and time for reflection on the information that is revealed through the process.

It is common for someone who has never really explored their dreams to discover that those nights of wild images that feel chaotic, surreal or even disturbing, when looked at with new eyes, are actually valuable messages that lead to healing and growth on a multitude of levels.  One soon discovers that the wisdom and encouragement that arrives by bypassing the conscious mind is a gift to be treasured.

I wouldn’t dream (no pun intended) of just ignoring a night’s romp through some surreal scene.  And I am constantly expanding my toolbox of dreamwork techniques, discovering new creative and dynamic methods to extract every ounce of wisdom from this other dimension.

I have been successfully helping people improve their lives by using their dreams for over 20 years!

Dreamwork can be done in person, through email, over the phone … I’ve even done it on the radio!   If you’d like to take advantage of this exciting technique for expanding your life, email Karen@ChangeHealGrow.me and we can decide together how to best bring all of your buried treasures to the surface.

Here’s what some say about working with Karen:

“Karen is a daring dreamer.  I trust her work because she stays connected to Spirit.  Her creativity and playfulness opens my imagination to new possibilities.”
Elizabeth G., RN, Rosen Method Practitioner

“Karen broke through the superficial layers of typical dream interpretation into the depths of archetypes, soul relationships and barely conscious material.”
Cam M.

Usually, somewhere in the midst of coping with our up and down feelings, we wonder if we’ve done the right thing. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed, and natural to want to abandon the process and either “get back to normal” or “just get on with it.”

Fortunately, neither is possible. There is no such thing as going backwards; that’s not really what we want anyway.  And rushing the outcome, even if we could, would only result in having to repeat our efforts later on. This transitional phase – the liminality of change – is where the richest personal growth takes place.

It’s this uncertain territory between the old and the new that feels unbearable at times. Thankfully, there are some simple things we can do to help ourselves cope with the chaos of the middle ground:

• Spend time with someone who is willing to be supportive.
• Practice gratitude.
• Open your heart to someone who needs your support.
• Turn down the drama level.
• Meditate or pray.
• Exercise and get plenty of rest.
• Be easy on yourself.

These suggestions may sound either too simple to be effective … or too hard to be possible. But give it a try. You might be surprised to discover that you feel healthier and more able to keep your cool.

Here is an excellent “De-Stress Kit for the Changing Times” from Doc Childre, Founder of the HeartMath Institute.

Check it out … and surf the waves of change like a pro!

Africa was just that … all that I anticipated and so much more!

I had imagined the experience of “foreign teacher.”  But being completely immersed in the Zulu culture and isolated from all things familiar brought a wealth of experience that I am still unpacking, waiting to see just how it will inform my life and work.

During the six weeks I spent in KwaZulu-Natal, I experienced:

• A tribal elder’s death and funeral rites
• Three separate occasions of young women begging me to bring them to the US
• Bird songs in the air night & day that kept me from feeling lonely
• A 15 year old girl’s self-induced abortion of a 5 month fetus
• Intentional starvation of children as a means of controlling their behavior
• The most incredible red dirt on earth
• The tragic death of a 7 year old boy struck by a car as he walked to school
• How 60% unemployment kills hope
• Using music to alter behavior in a heartbeat
• A village in terror when their school is struck by lightning
• Wild monkeys invading my living space
• Superstitions of the witchdoctors taking precedence over well established medical data
• Making a speech at a teacher’s conference on HIV/AIDS in rural schools
• Amazing hugs from hundreds of kids who are so hungry for love
• A proud 12 year old boy holding his new toothbrush over his head like a prized treasure
• Being asked to speak at a government workshop on child literacy
• The best and the worst of race relations
• 1st & 2nd graders voluntarily staying late after school to practice their letters & numbers
• Running for my life with tears in my eyes

I took in a LOT in six short weeks.  Much of it I don’t even have words for yet.

I haven’t given up my passion for working with women and children.  In fact, I understand the need to help in a much deeper way.  And I am convinced that I got exactly what I asked for: an experience beyond my wildest dreams.

In the few short days I’ve been home I have already talked for endless hours, just spilling all the stories that I couldn’t share in my blogs.  Not knowing exactly who may have been reading my journal, I was careful not to write anything that could have been perceived as culturally insensitive. Not how I would have intended it, but it was challenging to truly understand the cultural sensitivities.

What I notice most so far is that the experience is much broader than I was able to take in ‘in the moment.’  Teaching the children was the dangling carrot that lured me to Africa, but the bulk of my learning comes from being completely immersed in the Zulu culture. Isolated from all things familiar and without the freedom of movement and distraction, I sense that I have come home a changed woman. I expect to be unpacking the new me for quite some time.

I looked at all my photos last night, for the first time, and just cried at seeing those little faces that say so much without any words.  I miss them terribly.  I also miss going to sleep at night to the sounds of the animals … the hadidas, bullfrogs, roosters and monkeys.  It’s so quiet here in Walnut Creek.

My experience is deep and profound, and will no doubt continue to unfold in me for quite some time. And in the belief that all human connections in life are for mutual growth, I trust that the there is equally profound learning left behind in Africa.

Thank you for all your emails of support … you warmed my heart. I’ve picked myself up out of the dark hole of ‘failure’ and feel relatively certain that whatever led to my expulsion is not personal … other than the fact that I am white.

After receiving the news that I was leaving at the end of the school day on Thursday, I was shunned in the same way that I witnessed them treating others – and it hurt. They gradually quit speaking to me, stole my food, and gave me “non-existent” status. The same people who were so kind and protective six weeks ago turned on me in a heartbeat.  It’s been incredible to experience.

I’ve learned a lot from this adventure … not the least of which is that cultural barriers are so hard to dismantle.  I’m sure there will be more understanding of all the events, pleasant and unpleasant, as time goes on and the purposes of it all makes its way into my consciousness.

It seemed pretty clear before I left home that this journey was meant to be … there were very few obstacles to overcome, and my night dreams kept pointing me to the next step.  It seems equally obvious that it’s time to come home.  About a week ago I started having dreams of being back at home, grieving with my friends.  And … contrary to typical airline practices, my airline rearranged my travel plans without any charges.  I feel held closely in grace.

I will be back in San Francisco on Monday, just in time for St. Patrick’s Day and Easter.  I can’t wait to collect all the hugs you’ve promised !!

Then this afternoon the principal and my host teacher sat down with me after school and told me that there is some political unrest happening here in the village and surrounding area as a direct result of my presence.

Their communication style is indirect, at best, but the bottom line is this: they will not let me come to school for one more day and my host teacher is not willing to house me any longer.  I still feel safe at the moment, but fear that my well-being could be in jeopardy if I stay on.

So … I will be leaving on the first available plane out and will be home in time for Easter.  My heart hurts so bad though … I didn’t get to say goodbye to the kids.  I am so sad, I can barely see through my tears.

Thank you all for your support and encouragement.  I’m trying my best to know that this doesn’t mean that I’ve failed … but please continue to hold good thoughts for me as I make my way back home.

Literally!

Out of curiosity, we had all examined the padlock before the event was over.  And because we had touched the place where lightning struck, before going to our classrooms we had a cleansing ritual to wash away any evil spirits that may have been lingering on our bodies.

The elders found a big bucket, collected some wild herbs from the hillside to add to the water, and one-by-one we filed past the bucket to wash our hands and faces.  And with our spirits cleansed … school was on!

We are all relieved to have a break from the suffocating heat and can finally relax … even the monkeys and birds are quiet now.

They say winter is coming early and there will be snow in the mountains just to the west of us, near Lesotho, by the middle of April.  I’m enjoying watching the African change of seasons.

The party was thrown by Mr. and Mrs. Langa, friends of my host family.  The Langas were celebrating the grand opening of their new shop in town:  “Quality Caskets and Coffins of Pietermaritzburg.” Their business has been booming lately, and they are proud to have a new showroom on a prestigious street in town.

Our day began with a mass at St. Vincent’s Catholic Church to give thanks for the blessing of abundance God has bestowed on this family.  Then we proceeded to the showroom for a short blessing service and then on to the coffin and casket factory for a service to bless all the workers.

And this is where we partied … on the factory grounds … eating and dancing among the coffins and caskets in all their various stages of completion.  There were even a few of the finest on display under the main tent, complete with the opportunity to purchase one on the spot if anyone cared to plan ahead.

It was a perfect example of the incredible contrasts that are abundant everywhere I look.  This particular contrast highlighting the tragedy of the AIDS epidemic vs. the need for employment opportunities.

There are inexhaustible examples that demonstrate the complexity of life here.  It is so tempting to rush to judgment, and I struggle to remember than I can sincerely celebrate with the Langas this week, and mourn with another family next week.