During the Connections Gathering in Badger, CA on October 9th, 2016, Robert Mertens held a sharing circle at which he invited everyone present to declare a possibility for themselves which might contribute to the health of Subud.
Some of the possibilities declared created points of connection, either within the room or in subsequent conversations, which are noted in italics. The possibilities fell into several categories, as grouped here:
- Connect Subud to Communities
Lael Belove: Bring Subud culture into the world through a SICA-sponsored peace day in cities around the world, making SICA a face for inner and outer peace in the world and opening hearts through the arts.
Marwan LoMele: As individuals, volunteer for local projects that matter to our local communities, such as mitigating impact of drought on local forests.
Joshua Horst: Provide family and community with wholesome, natural and nutritious food developed in a sacred manner. Rahman asked if Joshua is open to teaching young people how to do this, and he answered yes
- Act Courageously
Elna Cooke: Find the courage to combine her talent for fashion and desire to support sustainability to work on a project which is both infused with the latihan and of benefit to the larger community.
Mary Wold: Meet the challenge of holding the Subud USA Chair role with courage and allow that courage to inform action with lightness and joy
Sulfiati Harris: Find ways at our gatherings to specifically work on developing courage. Have courage to see something to the end and have courage to send the latihan out and let it flow. The visit of the wider Subud community has helped bring the SJV group together. “It helped those of us in the group to see ourselves in a new way and respect our own group more.” The conversation “allowed me to communicate my vision and passion for what I am doing and allowed others to express respect and appreciation for that work, which was healing for me.”
3. Support Older Subud Members
Arthur Barrett: Facilitate access to latihan for elderly members by finding spaces for latihan at senior communities which can also be open to any Subud members. Develop a national ombudsman to develop a network of such locations for latihan throughout the US. Mary suggested contacting Mardiyah Tarantino to connect this with the Elderberry project.
Joshua Horst: There may be a possibility to create a place for elderly Subud members in the Badger area. Young people are being encouraged to have courage to be themselves at Camp Badger.
4. Strengthen Subud Centers
Briana Breen: By the summer, Subud Marin will be the host location for people celebrating meaningful events in their lives, including events for Subud Members. She recommends that centers engage Leo Horthy for a visioning activity to generate inspiration and bring groups together. The Marin Center might be a location for a future Poems for Peace Day event for Marin County
Rahman Schionning: Find a place in Orange County where there can be a regular latihan
Farah Hess: As more possibilities come forward, the healthier our centers will be and more able to develop enterprises and wake up the world by being visible.
5. Develop New Connections
Susannah Rosenthal: Enable Subud members to find each other and connect re new projects by: 1) creating a directory of all Subud Centers in the world with an efficient mechanism for collecting Center information and 2) creating an app for access to Subud expertize, drawing on LinkedIn for content.
Dennis Oliver: support growth and access to the latihan by releasing an app which will show the time for latihan in all centers, as a way for isolated members and elders to align themselves with latihan with various groups.
Lael Belove: Pando Populus is a grove of trees which share a common root. All possibilities have the potential for interconnectedness, and we support each other by acting to make connections. Subud members and groups can play “the Game” as a way to get in touch with possibilities. Lael has been invited to bring the Game to Marin
6. Develop through Latihan
Bustami Pollard: In LA, something has changed as the helpers have the willingness to share and talk about the latihan. The growth of Subud is within all of us, helpers and members, if we have the willingness to share the latihan.
Sjarifuddin Harris: Discern our choice of action by receiving what to do rather than by thinking about it. Find ways to “scramble the mind” to break the log jam of logic.
7. Encourage Harmony
Meldan Heaslip: declared the possibility of working toward harmony and encouraging others to do so.
Hasan MacNeil: Each possibility expressed energizes and harmonizes with the others. We understand and value a harmony with the world that includes those who suffer or are without, and increasingly experience harmony with all that is.
Malama MacNeil: Use “The Way of Council” as a tool for developing harmony, among Subud members, in our presence in communities around us, and with non-human lives. A Way of Council session was held later in the day where participants shared about the aspects they value in the communities they participate in. SICA USA has provided funding for Malama to travel to CA centers who invite her to hold the Way of Council and plans to hold Council in Sacramento are under consideration.
This conversation built on the possibilities declared at a sharing circle held during the Subud CA Regional Congress in May 2016 as captured here.