Dear Friend,
I am writing to you today to invite you to get involved in Peace Activation, a Soul-centered movement for sustainable peace and freedom through transformation.
I launched Peace Activation, in the aftermath of the Oct 7 events in Palestine, Israel.
This initiative is an invitation to those within and beyond the conflict to dare to go beyond polarization and choosing sides. An invitation to individuals (and in a parallel process organizations) to speak the unspoken, to discuss the trauma and the emotions of helplessness, powerlessness, shame, and guilt inherent in any conflict.
And, it is an invitation to both individuals and organizations to find agency and transformation within the increasing feeling of helplessness and hopelessness. We chose not to ignore what is happening, not to sit in silence, not to blame, but to face the reality of what is happening without denying the narratives of the other, without denying the essence of the other.
Since then, and for the past 6 months, we have held a safe space weekly for anyone who needed to share, express and question what was happening. There was no counseling, no comparing, no advising. Just deep, heart-centered listening. The results have been exceptional. While our hearts were breaking with the escalation of violence and loss, they kept expanding.
Spirit meets us at the point of action.
In addition to our weekly online gatherings, we have held a 7-week Peace Activation Training. We have offered several in-person and online workshops, several individual counselling and trauma healing sessions.
Lastly in April, we gathered 10 individuals—peace activators, Palestinians, Israelis, Palestinians and Jews from the diaspora, as well as international activists—for a powerful workshop retreat in Mani, Greece, centered on cultivating resilience, inner peace and transformation, and collective liberation strategies.
This 3-day retreat laid the groundwork for a network of mutual support and equipped participants with leadership skills and tools. It was held in a nurturing environment that created space for trauma work, compassionate processing, and meditation.
We discussed the root causes of the conflict with compassionate inquiry. Explored what leadership tools we have available. How our victimhood plays into a drama triangle, and how to move into a triangle of presence. And we delved deep into the 5 wounds of the human soul…abandonment, rejection, humiliation, betrayal, and injustice.
I deeply believe that recognizing our 5 wounds is the first step to accepting them and finding our answers updated according to the reality of our life, our suffering, and our failures… to succeed in no longer locking ourselves within the same limits. Embracing this reality and ourselves with grace entails understanding that having challenges to overcome is a fundamental aspect of being human. We are not flawed individuals simply because something continues to cause us pain.
This is what one of the participants shared with us, “The retreat …. Supported me to see how I can expand my capacity to hold space to all the Greif in times of war and uncertainty while having my family in Gaza. Being able to witness the grief of others, too. Witnessing my own process around peace from within and how much it does influence outer peace when it is aligned with a physical and spiritual body...inner peace and collective liberation are interweaved... Meeting with different people, creating spaces to share and to listen and heal collectively”
The retreat was conducted in a supportive setting that allowed for trauma healing, empathetic reflection, and mindfulness. It opened a safe space to uncover solutions updated to reflect the truth of our existence, our pain, our setbacks, to break free from self-imposed constraints.
Now, it is time to scale.
It’s time to bring this work to the next level.
We are looking for other humans interested in diving deeper into bridging the divide. Creating practical solutions that bring us together as a whole, with all our parts, our shadows, our “flaws”.
That’s where you come in.
We all strive for a more harmonious world. We all seek belonging and connection. Each of us plays a part in creating a vision for a more interconnected world. A world where we all belong and are free.
Join us in our Soul-Centered Community, where we share a strong commitment to peace and freedom.
If this resonates, we need support from passionate and compassionate people like you who are motivated to invest time, energy, effort and potentially funding into this initiative.
We are organising a 4 days Retreat for Jewish, Israeli, and Palestinian peace builders in the diaspora alongside peace builders from around the world. This retreat aims to broaden our reach and impact in promoting peaceful solutions. It is a crucial part of the ongoing efforts among various peace activist groups to address these challenges and to empower peace activators to assume leadership roles.
The retreat will take place 24-29 June 2024 at the Zen Rocks retreat centre, beautifully situated by the sea in Mani, Greece, about 3 hours from Athens airport. It promises a transformative experience by the sea surrounded by olive trees.
We are seeking support to enhance the visibility of our on-the-ground work. Engage with Jewish and Palestinian communities and collaborate with diaspora organizations interested in joining our initiative.
Individuals who are passionate about peace building and conflict transformation are invited to become part of our Peace Activation community through this unique opportunity to contribute their skills and compassion to a meaningful cause.
Moreover, we need funding to facilitate individual counseling and trauma healing sessions, as well as logistical expenses for the retreats. Your support will also enable participants affected by the conflict to attend, who might otherwise be unable to do so. If you are curious to learn more about our project proposal and funding plans, please email me, and I will reach out with details.
My heartfelt gratitude for your interest in the Other Narrative and in creating a more peaceful world together. I am grateful to count on your support as we strive for humanity, compassion, and transformation.
Together we can build a more peaceful and free future for all.
In Peace and Freedom
Eva