FINDING SOPHIA'S GIFT - WHAT ARE WE DOING NOW?
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From: Bruce Schuman
Date: Friday, October 31, 2008, 3:35 PM
Subject: Finding Sophia's Gift - What Are We Doing Now?
Reply to: 265600
ID: 265601

Ok, this is an open discussion. So, let me just reply to your concern, Sharon.

It is my opinion that most of the difficulties here in this Sophia context are caused by sheer confusion (and inexperience). Yes, there was a leadership breakup, and that was a bit difficult. Maybe it will be resolved. But problems of "censorship" and "patriarchy" are not real issues here. As I see it, they are just distractions that are injuring the project. In my opinion, it would be very helpful if people could begin to understand this, and move forward.

And yes, it is true that the original way that these various email lists were created was a little confusing -- also mostly due to inexperience. We simply did not know exactly what we were getting into -- and when we discovered that important business people involved with this project were getting messages concerned with "the shadow" -- or directly attacking the leadership of Sophia 2010 -- it was very clear that this was inappropriate and had to stop. So, more or less what happened is: we had to stop this flow of inappropriate messages, and people who did not understand what was happening saw this as "censorship" and "patriarchy", and decided to get outraged. Maybe this was handled this a bit ineptly -- but this is what happened.

The Sophia 2010 project has a proposed budget of $5 million. People concerned with development at this level are likely to be much too busy to want to wade through 100 complaining email messages that are belittling the Sophia leaders they are trying to do business with. This point should not require a lot of explanation. It's obvious. So -- this point alone should settle this issue. Let's move on, can we?

You may be right in that "it is important not to deny the shadow" -- but it is also true that a lot of people involved with the Sophia project do not want to receive tons of email messages on psychological issues. So -- everybody needs to let that be ok, instead of insisting on their right to post these kinds of messages to people who don't want to receive them. Is there something confusing or repressive in this?

The way I see it is -- what we really need to do is stop spreading misinformation and confusion, and start getting accurate. If people want to use this Sophia Alliance space as a place to "talk about the shadow", then so be it. There is nothing to stop that. But there are other aspects of project development where these kinds of messages are not appropriate. This has nothing to do with "denial" or "patriarchy" or "censorship". It has to do with the facts of life in a busy world.

And if these important leaders you are talking about are being misled by this confusion, I'd say that is unfortunate. If this talk about "censorship" could kindly stop, maybe something constructive would emerge. As long as people keep posting misguided information, the fog of confusion is likely to remain. That's just the facts of life in the world of email.

For me -- the bottom line is: we can sit here for the next six months and send each other email messages on group therapy. Or we can put our professional hats on, and start working on building a conference. Six months from now, will this Sophia Conference be taking shape -- or will we still be working on psychological issues -- that some of us see as a necessary preliminary? I myself feel that it would make a lot more sense -- and, in fact, be far more "healing" -- if people would simply step into the light, and tell us what they want to do -- instead of waiting for somebody else to do something, and being upset when they don't.

*

As regards "women who are no longer on this list" -- all they have to do is show up, and they are in. There is nothing more to it.

--- On Fri, Oct 31, 2008, in msg265600, Sharon Mijares wrote ---

Thanks for the clarification, Bruce, as I'm sure more than Tanya and myself have no idea what is going on with women who are no longer on this list.

You (and others) should know that some very significant women are very much aware of what we are doing here. Your comment on the "good wolf" still implies you're not really understanding what we are saying. Many of us are communicating with these long-time leaders in the women's movement and they totally understand and support what's being said.

Your concept of healing and truth seems to be very ungrounded as "go with the light" and "good wolf" still has that denial element and the diminishment of the voices and expertise of the women on this list. I suppose I've had a lot of training in the middle road (Buddhism and Taoism, Jungian philosophy, Sufi alchemy, etc.) and I know how important it is to not ignore the shadow... I remember my primary influence as a psychologist, Stephen Gilligan, author of Courage to Love and highly respected therapist and international teacher, always taught that whenever a client (or wherever this applies) shows up in a particular personality/emotional state, etc., to ask oneself "where is the opposite" as someone who shows up as all light and goodness typically is hiding the shadow (which has strength). The opposite also applies.

Luckily I have received very good guidance, inwardly and outwardly (from my teachers), in my life. Truth and Compassion makes good mates.

Sincerely, Sharon

--- On Fri, Oct 31, 2008, in msg265599, Bruce Schuman wrote ---

Just one more point of clarification. The original larger mailing list for this Sophia project includes many people who do not want to receive messages on leadership issues, or other emotive questions -- business people in Bulgaria, UN officials, etc. That original list is now reserved for official announcements. The "Member Forum" is now more or less oriented towards people who want to present constructive energy for the Sophia 2010 project, and is "moderated" (and nothing has been posted there for a some time) -- and this discussion is a wide-open project with no rules or control, open to anyone or any subject. Yes, it's taken a while to create the right kind of discussion framework(s) -- but we have the kind of system we need now, with three different kinds of discussions. This one -- could become powerful and a vital creative force -- if people simply step up and go for it -- that's all it takes. "Leadership", as I see it, will respond as the energy becomes interesting....

If we can get past this notion of "censorship", and let be ok that "the original five leaders" are not (yet?) directly working together, and start building something interesting (what DO you want to do? Let us know!) -- that will help open up the energies for everything else. Go with the Light -- that's where the power is. IMHO. The so-called good wolf....

--- On Fri, Oct 31, 2008, in msg265597, Sharon Mijares wrote ---

Dear Tanya and all:

The same thought came to me this morning. I was wondering if we're a select group and our posts go no further than the 21 listed. Remember before this issue came up there was about 119 or more. So our messages (unless someone copies and pastes them on other lists) are not seen by others.

I know I'm sure in favor of following a feminine path of resolution and healing (this will truly empower the venture), whereas any hypocritical behaviors will create a shadow at the core. This is why our voices are so very important. We are also coming from a true heart place with integrity and this can open doors.

Many blessings, Sharon

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Dear Sophia Alliance,

I would like ask this question to the larger group, but know my words would be censored if I tried. (I am still surprised to write a sentence like that!)

I am still connected to Sophia by email, but not much else. I have been sad, frustrated, confused, angry, hopeful, unsure. On good days, I am happy to hear some voices of wisdom still coming from this group, and also in emails I have seen offline. But, I have not seen any real ACTIONS of change, which is what so many are watching for to see if this is real and is developing in a way we can support and trust.

My question is, is there ANYTHING happening in the circle, or behind the scenes, that would SHOW there is an interest in creating a Feminine Model and respecting the input of ALL the women in the circle? Do YOU still have an interest in this?

What is happening now?
What needs to happen now?

I am attending a large gathering this Sunday afternoon and this topic will definitely be discussed. I am wondering how to respond when I am asked about Sophia.

Thanks, Tanya

PS My gathering on Sunday is about our power to create unity and change!

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