XR Red Rebels
Active Hope: how to move beyond COP26?
Fertile ground for our boldness and brilliance!
I am sitting in my small eco house, in the midst of the Findhorn Ecovillage and Spiritual Community in Scotland. It is November 2021, COP26 is just finished, and has raised the awareness in the world of the reality of the Climate Emergency. Whether it is through the politicians or the many activists out on the streets, no one can pretend nothing is going on.
So: What's next?
What is Active Hope?
Informed by mythic journeys, modern psychology, spirituality and holistic science, Active Hope offers a FOUR-PART strengthening journey structured around the spiral of the Work that Reconnects. We engage with both inner work and group work around the themes of Gratitude, Honouring our Pain, Seeing with New Eyes, and identifying Next Steps.
Image: Spiral, by Dori Midnight
Five essential aspects of the Active Hope journey
1. Experiencing the Power of Presence
One of the first steps in dealing with any topic is to become really present. That may sound easy or obvious, yet in the type of world that many of us are living, being present is not a given. With our endless distractions, mobile phones and messages, being on call almost 24/7, and our various responsibilities in life, presence and quality time is beginning to seem like a luxury. Presencing is the action or process of summoning up the presence of something; the action of making present. It is often used to describe the process of really being here, present in your body, on your chair or wherever you are, with your thoughts and emotions, without being tempted away by any distractions. We bring our mindfulness to the here and now.
2. The best way to Know Yourself
During the Spiral of Active Hope, we move through several stages. It is designed to bring into focus specific aspects of our being. When we engage with the 1st part: Gratitude, we connect with the radical act of gratitude. What can you be grateful for? Who are you grateful to? It creates the state of mind where we see the glass half full, instead of half empty. To focus on this, even if it is just a few minutes, helps to boost our immune system, which we also need for the next phase: Honouring our pain for the world. Here we give space to our pain, not in order to hang on to it, dwell in it, move into a downward spiral! The reason is to give it space. Instead of holding on to uncomfortable feelings, either by pushing them away, or externalising them outward with sometimes disastrous effects, we simply notice them. We observe, give space to them, and acknowledge them. We may articulate them, and breathe through, thereby liberating them by giving them space.
3. From isolation to interconnectedness
We usually do the Spiral in a group. There may be times to connect with one or two other people, and there is time in a larger group. The sharing is usually focussed on specific themes, for example completing a specific sentence. Both the speaking of our own truths, witnessed by others, as well as listening to the experiences, feelings and perspectives of others has a profound deepening effect. It brings a richness and diversity in the space. It gives us the feeling of not being alone, the awareness that someone else, on the other end of the planet, has very similar experiences as ourselves. Or we may appreciate a completely new and different reality from our own. It generates a feeling of interconnectedness.
4. Are you engaging with a Spiritual practice?
For some people their spiritual practice is their life line, which gives purpose and meaning. Others will find their sources of resilience in other areas, for example in nature. No matter to which of these you belong, or maybe you have some of both, it usually helps to have access to something beyond yourself. No matter if it is a meditation practice or prayer, a walk in nature or a yoga, or reading an inspiring book: they all help us to expand our awareness, tapping into less visible resources.
5. What happens when we move into action?
We all have a need for both being and doing. Times of reflection and introspection are usually followed by times of outer action. Now let me clarify: action can mean any activity! Action does not only mean going out on the street for a demonstration or blockade! Those are excellent and very necessary actions. Yet I would connect it to a much wider range of activity. It includes our daily choices of which apples we buy, how we teach our children, Do we use the bike, bus or car, which bank we have our savings: ethical or not. With more awareness and intention, we can make any action in our lives meaningful, and develop it into an act of service to our surroundings, to humanity and our planet.
Fertile ground for our boldness and brilliance!
I am sitting in my small eco house, in the midst of the Findhorn Ecovillage and Spiritual Community in Scotland. It is November 2021, COP26 is just finished, and has raised the awareness in the world of the reality of the Climate Emergency. Whether it is through the politicians or the many activists out on the streets, no one can pretend nothing is going on.
So: What's next?
- Do we wait for the politicians and those in traditional positions of power and authority to make decisions about our lives on planet earth?
- Or do we want to engage with this more personally as well?
What is Active Hope?
Informed by mythic journeys, modern psychology, spirituality and holistic science, Active Hope offers a FOUR-PART strengthening journey structured around the spiral of the Work that Reconnects. We engage with both inner work and group work around the themes of Gratitude, Honouring our Pain, Seeing with New Eyes, and identifying Next Steps.
Image: Spiral, by Dori Midnight
Five essential aspects of the Active Hope journey
1. Experiencing the Power of Presence
One of the first steps in dealing with any topic is to become really present. That may sound easy or obvious, yet in the type of world that many of us are living, being present is not a given. With our endless distractions, mobile phones and messages, being on call almost 24/7, and our various responsibilities in life, presence and quality time is beginning to seem like a luxury. Presencing is the action or process of summoning up the presence of something; the action of making present. It is often used to describe the process of really being here, present in your body, on your chair or wherever you are, with your thoughts and emotions, without being tempted away by any distractions. We bring our mindfulness to the here and now.
2. The best way to Know Yourself
During the Spiral of Active Hope, we move through several stages. It is designed to bring into focus specific aspects of our being. When we engage with the 1st part: Gratitude, we connect with the radical act of gratitude. What can you be grateful for? Who are you grateful to? It creates the state of mind where we see the glass half full, instead of half empty. To focus on this, even if it is just a few minutes, helps to boost our immune system, which we also need for the next phase: Honouring our pain for the world. Here we give space to our pain, not in order to hang on to it, dwell in it, move into a downward spiral! The reason is to give it space. Instead of holding on to uncomfortable feelings, either by pushing them away, or externalising them outward with sometimes disastrous effects, we simply notice them. We observe, give space to them, and acknowledge them. We may articulate them, and breathe through, thereby liberating them by giving them space.
3. From isolation to interconnectedness
We usually do the Spiral in a group. There may be times to connect with one or two other people, and there is time in a larger group. The sharing is usually focussed on specific themes, for example completing a specific sentence. Both the speaking of our own truths, witnessed by others, as well as listening to the experiences, feelings and perspectives of others has a profound deepening effect. It brings a richness and diversity in the space. It gives us the feeling of not being alone, the awareness that someone else, on the other end of the planet, has very similar experiences as ourselves. Or we may appreciate a completely new and different reality from our own. It generates a feeling of interconnectedness.
4. Are you engaging with a Spiritual practice?
For some people their spiritual practice is their life line, which gives purpose and meaning. Others will find their sources of resilience in other areas, for example in nature. No matter to which of these you belong, or maybe you have some of both, it usually helps to have access to something beyond yourself. No matter if it is a meditation practice or prayer, a walk in nature or a yoga, or reading an inspiring book: they all help us to expand our awareness, tapping into less visible resources.
5. What happens when we move into action?
We all have a need for both being and doing. Times of reflection and introspection are usually followed by times of outer action. Now let me clarify: action can mean any activity! Action does not only mean going out on the street for a demonstration or blockade! Those are excellent and very necessary actions. Yet I would connect it to a much wider range of activity. It includes our daily choices of which apples we buy, how we teach our children, Do we use the bike, bus or car, which bank we have our savings: ethical or not. With more awareness and intention, we can make any action in our lives meaningful, and develop it into an act of service to our surroundings, to humanity and our planet.
Did you know you are a miracle?
Thank you for reading as far as you did! And thank you for all the positive contributions you are making in your life and in the world. You are a miracle!
If you would like to refresh your connection with Active Hope, I would be delighted to engage with you!
If you are curious, please check out any next course, currently all of them are online and easily accessible.
Upcoming courses:
Active Hope, a Journey of Awakening we move through the Spiral in one day. Saturday 20 November
Winter Solstice, Coming alive in times of uncertainty a virtual retreat, including the Spiral.17-19 December
Discovering Your Personal Power during a Climate Emergency, supporting you next steps, from 22 January 2022
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Blessings to you, and to our planet.
Margo van Greta
Margo van Greta is a pioneer of holistic spirituality, and a facilitator of transformation. She trained with Joanna Macy, and offers Active Hope courses. She lives in Ecovillage Findhorn since 30 years, supporting people with their spiritual and personal development, and is a qualified guide of the Game of Transformation. She is a Buddhist practitioner and teacher. She deeply loves nature and her daily walks on Findhorn beach.
Thank you for reading as far as you did! And thank you for all the positive contributions you are making in your life and in the world. You are a miracle!
If you would like to refresh your connection with Active Hope, I would be delighted to engage with you!
If you are curious, please check out any next course, currently all of them are online and easily accessible.
Upcoming courses:
Active Hope, a Journey of Awakening we move through the Spiral in one day. Saturday 20 November
Winter Solstice, Coming alive in times of uncertainty a virtual retreat, including the Spiral.17-19 December
Discovering Your Personal Power during a Climate Emergency, supporting you next steps, from 22 January 2022
I am looking forward to hearing from you.
Blessings to you, and to our planet.
Margo van Greta
Margo van Greta is a pioneer of holistic spirituality, and a facilitator of transformation. She trained with Joanna Macy, and offers Active Hope courses. She lives in Ecovillage Findhorn since 30 years, supporting people with their spiritual and personal development, and is a qualified guide of the Game of Transformation. She is a Buddhist practitioner and teacher. She deeply loves nature and her daily walks on Findhorn beach.
