Chapter 5. Closing and Opening Anew: Paradigm Shift
Here we were again, gathered in our little women’s circle of four. It was always great to catch up on each other’s life and work stories, share books and information and whip up a tasty potluck lunch with the dishes we had each brought. This time, though, something felt different for me. As I drove up to the house where we were to meet, I wondered what would be next, where we were heading. It was always uplifting and rewarding to be together and our gatherings had been of immense value to me, but were they still? Was our circle still serving my and our evolution? Were we still learning or, sweet as it was, had we settled into a rut?
I shared my thoughts in the circle: either it was time to end our shared journey of many years, or we had to dive deeper to sense afresh the next phase of our collective purpose. I spoke rather reluctantly – it was almost unthinkable that we might not gather again, as we had done for so many years. Nevertheless, my proposal struck a chord with the others, and we decided not to make a new appointment unless one of us sent out a new invitation. We parted feeling somewhat disoriented, but calm and quiet.
That was the end of our shared journey; no new invitation was ever sent. We never came together again in the same way. The group had served its purpose, perhaps reaching the end of its potential. This experience was a lesson for me in conscious closure (a term I learned later from Vanessa Reid). If you stay tuned to the subtle levels and future potential, you too will perceive when something is over, with no need for struggle. Done.
The new form, with a different purpose and potential, came into being with the Women Moving the Edge gatherings. In my little Flemish women’s group, we had learned along the way what it means to be fully present. Now the road opened to another purpose and another potential: how to be truly co-creative and generative. This was a different journey altogether.
It is a big shift.
A different paradigm.
A great transition.
In so many ways,
at so many levels.
Next: 5.2 A new human capacity as beyond paradoxes
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The parting of ways in such a subtle easy manner struck a chord. There have been many times in my life when I should have ended something or just walked away if I had just listened to myself! I believe that being present allowed you to tap into your inner conscious of knowing the group had served its purpose and it was time to move on. Bringing
it to the front probably made the others aware too. Very interesting!
Thanks for your reply Deb! I truly think it is an art we all have to develop these days.
With love,
Ria
I am intrigued with this concept. For many years I participated in a gathering of Fluent communicators for an overnight on a boat where we would share and receive Sourced Guidance for many years. It was clear as we approached the time of completion that we were serving and being served impeccably. As with your group, the feelings as we parted were similar. And, in form, we never met again. Several years later I was asked to sit with one of the four who was passing to source answers to her long held questions about her life and what it had all been about. At the completion of our time together she passed peacefully.
This year a meditation group that had been together for several years came to conclusion. The process felt natural and easy. With practice we are able to feel the deeper sense of flow that guidance creates naturally, like a gentle hand on the back pressing us in new captivating directions.
I have long wondered how Fluency would become a common language among human beings and am now beginning to feel the Presence of this beautiful spoken/unspoken communication beginning to percolate.
Thank you for the Truth and Beauty of your work in the world.
Thanks for your words Marilyn!
[…] and institutions. They exist and we expect them to endure for all eternity. I spoke before about conscious closure as an important part of the natural cycles of life, including death and birth – a natural […]
[…] also want to link back here, within this frame of theory of change, to the concept of conscious closure. Organisations and businesses, too, are ever-changing, complex evolving systems, while most people […]