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A Path for Warriors for the Human Spirit
An offering from Margaret Wheatley and Companions
Warriors for the Human Spirit are awake human beings
who have chosen not to flee. They abide.
They serve as beacons of an ancient story that tells of the goodness and generosity and creativity of humanity.
You can identify them by their cheerfulness. You will know them by their compassion.
When asked how they do it they will tell you about discipline, dedication
and the necessity of community.
U.S. woman applicant, 41+
******
A Warrior does not forsake the world.
South African woman applicant, 61+
2 A Path for Warriors for the Human Spirit Warriors for the Human Spirit is a one-‐year cycle of trainings that includes three on-‐site trainings (5 days each) and robust interactions during the interim periods. Our intention is to develop individual skills in the context of a strong community. Trainings occur in Cohort groups of about 36 people, either at Zion National Park, Utah or Schumacher College, Devon, England. The year-‐long cycle is designed to form the identity of a Warrior for the Human Spirit, provide the skills required of this role, and create a strong community of companions who can be relied on for support far into the future. These Trainings are intended to strengthen leaders, activists and community workers to remain actively engaged in the world, supported by new capacities and a strong community, in devoted service to the human spirit. My personal journey into warriorship Who do we choose to be in service to this time? I have asked this question of thousands of people in many different places for the past few years. It’s a question I had been asking myself for many years, as I struggled to discover ways I could serve that also would give me the ability to persevere. Now, after many decades of working in the world, I feel I have discovered my answer to this question by naming myself a Warrior for the Human Spirit. I felt the need to become a Warrior for the Human Spirit as I witnessed what is happening to people in organizations, communities and nations everywhere. In far too many places, people just don’t matter. Our great human capacities of generosity, caring and creativity are ignored or denied. And people themselves don’t remember their own capacities as they withdraw into fear, aggression and self-‐protection in response to this frightening time. Too many leaders grasp for control and self-‐interest, making short-‐term decisions that destroy both human potential and the future. My initial response to this increasing degradation of the human spirit was to work harder, to speak more insistently, to write in a voice of warning–but this only led to exhaustion and despair. Often I was overtaken by disabling emotions of anger, grief and sadness. As I talked with many people, I learned that these were common reactions. And I discovered a community of people intent on doing good work, trying to keep their hearts open, wanting to make a meaningful contribution, aspiring to stay and be of service even as situations became increasingly more difficult and disheartening. Caught in these emotions and witnessing things disintegrating at an increasing pace, I became aware of the role of warriors. Throughout history, they appear in many cultures, always as a small group of people who commit themselves to defending the kingdom, the faith, the tribe. They train with great discipline and diligence to develop their skills which they willingly offer in selfless service. I studied the role of warriors in Japan, India, Tibet, Native American nations and in the U.S. military. It became clear to me that this was the role I knew would benefit myself and the community of people I had discovered. I am learning the profound benefits of following this path. I am learning how to deal with the overwhelming emotions of grief, sadness, anger and depression. I am learning how to work with my mind and respond more sanely in situations that previously triggered my ego. I am learning how much discipline, diligence, and support are required to develop these life-‐saving skills. I am learning that I stand on the shoulders of warriors throughout time who have trained to be of service. And as a consequence of what I’m learning, I can stay engaged with the world with an open, breaking heart, in service to the human spirit.
3 Vision and Purpose A Path for Warriors for the Human Spirit is based on the understanding that good leaders and engaged activists now require a very different kind and quality of training if they are to persevere in their work as effective leaders for their organizations, communities and causes. It is increasingly difficult for mature, experienced leaders and younger, engaged activists to do their work without falling victim to exhaustion, overwhelm, cynicism and despair. These leaders do not need any more training in how to create adaptive and resilient organizations, or how to advocate for their causes, or how to engage their communities. What they need is an entirely different category of skills and capacities so that they can act wisely and well and stay in their roles, using their influence and power to offer sane and life-‐affirming responses in this time of constantly increasing challenges to the human spirit. Participation in these Trainings requires a one-‐year commitment to attend three on-‐site trainings of five days each every six months, and to actively participate in learning and practicing as a community in the interim periods and beyond. The Trainings develop in-‐depth capacities and skills in three areas: 1. Discerning leadership that leads to wise action 2. Personal skills to maintain a stable mind and true presence 3. Developing as a member of a strong, reliable community Who is a Warrior? A Warrior is simply a decent human being who aspires to be of service in an indecent, inhumane time. We want to be of service without adding to the confusion, aggression and fear now so prevalent, so we train ourselves well and form as a strong, supportive community. Through discipline and dedication, we develop our confidence, skillful means and compassion. We learn to see clearly into the nature of situations and practice with enthusiastic perseverance to cultivate our own wakefulness.
Warriors do not leave the scene. Our commitment is to stay engaged with those in power, to work inside our organizations, communities and families. We are committed to act in ways that make it possible for people to experience their human potential. We aspire to be a discerning, compassionate, sane presence in the most difficult circumstances. Yet we also realize that no matter how much mastery we have attained in our professional and personal lives, we need different skills and perspectives to meet the ever-‐increasing challenges we face. This is why we dedicate ourselves to training. As Warriors, we willingly offer our compassion and sanity:
◊ We have unshakable confidence that people can be kinder, gentler and wiser than our current society tells us we are. We rely on human goodness and offer this faith as a gift to others.
◊ We offer ourselves not as activists to change the world, but as compassionate presences
and trustworthy companions to those suffering in this world. We embody compassion without ambition.
4 ◊ Our confidence, dignity and wakefulness radiate out to others as a beacon of who all
humans are.
◊ Our confidence is not conditioned by success or failure, by praise or blame. It arises naturally as we see clearly into the nature of things.
◊ We create an atmosphere of compassion, confidence and cheerfulness with our very
presence.
◊ We create a good human society wherever we are, whenever we can, with the people and resources that are available to us now.
◊ We rely on joy arising anywhere, knowing it is never dependent on external circumstances
but comes from working together as good human beings.
◊ We encounter life's challenges with a sense of humor, knowing that lightness and play increase our capacity to deal with suffering.
The Skills and Capacities of Warriors: The Training Curriculum
1. Discerning Leadership That Leads To Wise Action
o skills for dealing with situations of high conflict and polarized positions o skills for dealing with situations of high volatility and strong emotions o perceptual tools to access the richness of information available in any situation o systems thinking skills to reveal relevant interconnections and potential consequences
of policies and actions o skills to create sane solutions to complex problems by analyzing well the multiple
causes and conditions of the situation
2. Personal Skills To Maintain A Stable Mind And True Presence
o Skills to maintain composure and stay present in difficult situations o Practices to cultivate a stable mind that enables less reactivity and wiser responses o Practices to act with compassion and insight rather than aggression and fear o Practices to transform negative emotions (e.g. anger, grief, sadness) into energy for
intelligent action o Identity formation as a Warrior for the Human Spirit that strengthens the ability to act
with clarity and integrity in all situations o Confidence to step forward as a role model and mentor of the best human qualities,
such as generosity, insight, patience, compassion
3. Developing As A Strong Community
o Developing new insights and competencies for effective leadership that always arise from participating in a community of practice
o Using the loneliness and stress inherent in activism and leadership as motivation to do the hard work of creating a strong community of support
5 o Employing training processes that simultaneously develop individual skills and a
community of trusted allies and companions o Strengthening the personal capacity to persevere because we are supported by a
community o Thriving on moments of clarity, joy, grace that always appear when humans work well
together no matter how difficult the external circumstances Demographics: First Three Cohorts There are 130+ Warriors who will train in three different cohorts (two at Zion National Park, Utah; one at Schumacher College England). The first Cohort begins training October 23rd. Cohorts Two and Three begin next April and June. They are a diverse group:
• 20 countries representing all continents (except Antarctica) • Age range: 28 -‐ 85 • 73% women; 27% men
o 65% are women over 50 • Range of professions:
o Public Service, government o Education o Healthcare o Political Officials o Multinational Corporations
§ Financial § Mining, Gas and Oil
o Arts Leadership + Artists o Women Religious o Consultants, Coaches o Social Activists in:
§ Restorative Justice § Environmental Policy § Environmental Education § Healthy Community § Global South NGOs § Suicide prevention § Emerging Leaders § Hospice § Youth at risk § Women in poverty § Alternative health
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Warriors for the Human Spirit are not the ones who will bring the light, but rather those willing to stand in the "in-‐between"
to hold off the darkness as long as possible for those who are to bring the light. Our battle is not "winnable" but still we stand
knowing that for us there will be no glory, no stories of triumph, just the quiet satisfaction of doing what we know is ours to do.
U.S. woman, 51+
A Warrior is a person who has the courage to face
the dark forces threatening our world and to grieve for what is being lost especially for future generations.
Her insight into the present world situation energizes her, deepens her compassion for those suffering from oppression and
motivates her to live in a way which brings peace into each situation she encounters. She is strengthened by comradery with her fellow warriors.
U.S. woman, 81+
A Warrior for the Human Spirit is simply someone who doesn't lose faith in people, no matter what they do."
South African woman, age 61+
8 How Participants Defined Themselves As A Warrior For The Human Spirit A Warrior for the Human Spirit is one who serves by exhibiting the best qualities of the human spirit in the most difficult of situations with and for those who suffer. She or he does so with grace and joy, lifting all in the process. The warrior brings sanity and stability to every situation and releases outcomes to goodness. She or he offers their gifts in all environments and evokes the gifts in others. U.S. woman, 61+
As an organization development consultant, I worked for 25+ years to effect change and create inclusive systems–I was motivated by rage based on experiences as the daughter of migrants. I spoke truth to power, denounced injustice, raged and tired and detached. Five years ago, after breast cancer, I began a different journey and way of being. I am re-‐engaging work but with a different vision. Warriors have an abiding commitment to all of humanity and persevere in the face of unfathomable obstacles. Warriors are steadfast, deeply committed, and devoted to living an engaged life. They see through the veil of our culture and oppressive systems and are not intimidated by power or status. They are selfless, joyful and trustworthy. Warriors are generous, humble, patient, kind and not driven by ego or attached to outcomes.
U.S. woman, aged 61 + The commitment to learn to cultivate a breaking heart surrounded by community is a level of vulnerability, surrender and commitment I am eager to bravely face. My definition of Warriors is that we cultivate the courage, through sustained discipline, to bear the enormous tragedy we are facing in the world today while at the same time bearing the enormous beauty of everything humans can be. Warriors are committed to cultivating the right conditions for true humanity to arise but are completely free of ambition. Canadian woman, age 31+
I come from the Islamic tradition and was contemplating on the ways of the Sufis: "Blessed are they that mourn, the bringers of joy are children of sorrow. Every blow we get in life pierces the depths of the heart and brings forth springs of compassion." Then I read in your description that we will learn to "Embrace sadness as the path to an open, peaceful heart." India, man, age 41+
A Warrior for the Human Spirit is a person who can hold both the deep suffering and the immense humanity of the people at the same time, who knows both realities, feels them intensely, and is still able to act wisely in service to the people, the community. The Warrior can hear the story of grief and hold that pain while also holding the story of healing, and trust that both are present. U.S. woman, 61+
I am often referred to as a world leader in my field, yet I feel huge gaps in my skills with each new challenge. Working in Greece, teaching lawyers how to resolve conflict, I found
9 a lost generation of young people, desperate for support in finding an alternative to the overwhelming self-‐obsession and ambition of this time. British woman, age 51+
A Warrior has survived personal and stressful challenges. It is from this depth of understanding, or acceptance of what can't be understood, from which power is drawn–power in the form of wisdom, strength, selfless determination, compassion and humility. Warriors provide comfort to the suffering, peace to the fearful and reassurance that they will no longer be left alone. A Warrior is a symbol of peaceful perseverance bringing forth skills that are lacking in our modern times, yet measurable by loyalty. U.S. woman, age 51+
I currently work as a public servant in equity, diversity and human rights where daily I am witness to the fear and hatred of difference and its impacts. I wish to be of service to those suffering with their own fear and hatred as a compassionate and trustworthy warrior. I consider this my life's journey and am seeking a community in which to grow and contribute. Canadian woman, 41+
My role in helping to nurture wiser community leaders, and as a community leader myself, is in service to others "to support our best capacities of generosity, compassion, altruism, curiosity, creativity and caring." I am humbled and inspired by the people-‐-‐and also horrified by the destruction of the human spirit that I see daily. I am yearning for training and community support to help me stay "fully engaged with an open, broken heart." Australian woman, 51+
I have spent my career in the public service but lately worry that I am doing more harm than good by being part of a system that has strayed so far from its original values. This program allows me to give up railing against the system and the crazy making restrictions and people who seem to care only for their own entitlement. Instead I can focus my energy on nurturing in myself and embracing in others the fundamental decency and resiliency of the human spirit. It means I commit to using the influence I have to further the value of human dignity and not for my own gain or entitlement. Canadian woman, age 51+
I work in one of the world's largest Global Financial Services companies and have tried to argue my way out of seeing that I'm meant to be there, that this is where my vocation is. It's a huge welcome to think that right where I am might be where I can be of most service. It feels powerful and liberating. British man, 51+ For some time now I have felt alone and unsure about whether I can continue my justice
activism; I know it is time to make a shift and I long to do this with others in a supportive, trustworthy, sustained community. I believe we are consoled and strengthened by being together and I am committed to staying in the world as a spiritual warrior.
U.S. woman, 61+
10 I have devoted my life to serving people at risk of suicide or bereaved by suicide, working toward systems change from "within the system." Now, at 60, I have hit (and I mean HIT) the limits of that approach. I'm not sure what to do and I hope communal wisdom-‐-‐and power-‐-‐will illuminate the Way. U.S. man, 60+
Attracted to the slivers of light that shine in the darkest places, I am struggling to reconcile the vitriol in the world. I am seeking a shift in the way I interact with the world to return to a place of joy and confidence. It is time for me to challenge my perspectives and assumptions, and to acquire new tools to operate beyond fear. I aspire to connect with others in service. U.S. woman, 41+
A Warrior is someone that can harness the traditional knowledge and wisdom of our ancestors for the future of our people and planet. The rock in stormy seas, the beacon in the dark, the mule carrying the heavy load, the poem that inspires and lifts the spirit, the catalyst in the chemical reaction the connector that makes things more than the sum of their parts. They do all of this yet ask for nothing in return and leave no footprints on the earth. Welsh woman, 51+
I'm drawn to being in community, building discipline, being of service. Additionally the emphasis on "warriors do not leave the scene" is powerful. I'm encouraged by the opportunity to build not only a community but discipline in order to serve the world in a loving and non-‐aggressive way. U.S. woman, 31+
A Warrior is anyone who hears the call for greater humanity in our world and responds. A person who hears and sees through the noise and distraction that isolates and dehumanizes us. It is not a warrior's job to liberate others but rather to relentlessly trust in people's ability to choose their path of liberation and walk that journey with them. U.S. woman, 41+
A Warrior for the Human Spirit is a human being who will spend the rest of his life as a beacon for truth, decency and peace in a world that seems to go a little darker each day. U.S. man, 51+
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DEFINING A WARRIOR FOR THE HUMAN SPIRIT A WORDIE FROM 140 APPLICANTS
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