Second Notes from India
January, 2007
Report
for friends and supporters of our grass root project of Teaching Wenlido (a system of personal safety for womyn) in
You may find all reports
since 2001 on our Wenlido website (www.wenlido.org).
Moments after the last
report was sent, 9 of us jumped into a taxi that took us to our next Phase One
(Advanced Wenlido) Training. Six hours later we
reached quiet and beautiful Nandigram, where the
first
The training started in
the morning before breakfast and went on until 9 or 10 pm.
By day three 'needs based
understanding' was introduced and womyn were
encouraged to use the skills throughout the training as a way to stay connected
to what was alive in them and be connected to others. Closeness, understanding
and trust were created early on in the group and the sharing of needs and
feelings was rich with learning for all.
There was spontaneous
traditional dances and songs shared often late into the night. A couple nights
all 26 of us slept in the training hall, which made for creative showering
solutions in the morning. Fortunately, the wood fires used in heating the water
for our bucket baths was stoked by the staff at Nadigram,
which was a daily ritual.
There was an outdoor
kitchen and eating area that looked out onto food and flower gardens that were
began 25 years ago, an array of vegetables grown on site were served along with
home made chutneys, pickles and sometimes a surprise desert.
One night we created a
dream circle arranging our heads pointing to the center of a circle. We set our
intention to meet in our dreams on a horse drawn chariot being over an ocean.
The next morning many shared they had in deed seen us together in the chariot.
Advanced Wenlido training started on day three and continued through
the end. The participants stayed enthused despite the long hours and collection
of aches and pains that were supported through homeopathic treatments, Reiki,
massage and tender loving care by one another.
Day five and six was the
introduction to translating trauma, defining trauma, the signs and symptoms of
trauma, and how this is different from stress. Many exercises and role plays
were used to explore a deeper understanding of pain in relation to trauma. The
pain body metaphor from Eckart Tolle
was demonstrated. Including a pain body shadow dance in which Gitta pretended to be a shadow of pain that followed Anita
around and each time she made statements that were blaming or self shaming, the
shadow, (Gitta) would jump on her back, emphasizing
visually the weight and tenacity of trauma to stay put unless awareness is
shined on it. Many personal stories unfolded through the hours of sharing and
exploring with one another. Through the use of empathy and supportive
witnessing a sense of hope and healing was experienced. There were many womyn who shared their real fears of dying as the result of
violence in their homes. These womyn seemed to leave
with confidence and a new way of seeing how they can be powerful in their
lives.
For many participants
this was their first personal development experience. The focus of the next phase
of training was explained and there is sadness that not all womyn
can be included in completing the
For the last day we
wrapped up in the afternoon as the womyn decided a
trip to the ocean was just what they needed to celebrate, play and say their
good byes. This was quite the site watching all the smiling faces and waving
hands as they packed themselves into the back of a small open bed truck. They
were singing as they left and we could still here their song as they drove
towards the waiting sea.
In four days phase two
will start in Bhaje, Maharashtra.
We anticipate 16 participants from both phase ones. Two trainers will join the
group for the last two days one will come to give input on teaching to
children.
I value the beauty and
peace of the location of this training at the Buddhist retreat center and see
this supporting us all with learning together. I hope there will be a balance
of study with movement breaks that are fun and discussions that are lively and
stimulating.
Hope you are enjoying
ease and peace in the West, as we are off to catch a two day train through
several states back to the North of India.
Gitta and
Anita