Walk your walk and talk your talk...

Track as our Ancestors did.

With Spirit,

Heart,

Compassion,

Respect

And Honour for all things.

My response to a thread on a forum entitled 'where have all the men gone'.

Hi Guys.

This has been an interesting thread some very relevant points have been made and some not so very relevant. I would like to bring it back to the original point by simply summarising this thread and I trust we will all see the point, which is if you can help no matter how small then why not take the risk and reach out to those who can personally benefit from your experience in order to help them find their way back to their path.

There are four people in a team.

Their names are Everybody, Somebody, Anybody and Nobody.

There was an important job to be done. Although Anybody could have done it, Everybody was asked to do it, but eventually Nobody did it. Somebody got angry about that because the job had been given to Everybody. Everybody knew that Anybody could do it, but Nobody realised that Everybody wouldn’t do it. It ended up that Everybody blamed Somebody when Nobody did what Anybody could have done.

Where have all the men gone? I found one...

A while ago I wrote a small piece on ‘Where have all the men gone’ and posted it on a forum, it was regarding our young men of today and how they may have lost their way and what can we as men do to help and our we as men failing them.

The response I got to it was quite unbelievable to say the least only a few people understood what I was trying to say some of which were women. The majority tried in various forms to absolve responsibility by taking it either personally or handing it over to the powers that be or coming up with some crazy suggestions like ‘gas them all’.

It was not intended to be a personal attack on anyone rather a general statement about us men asking way it was that we are not stepping up and teaching our young men what it means to be a man.

I may be completely wrong here in which case I apologise, but I do feel that we (men) are failing our youth today it is not just down to the government, youth organisations or even women to guide and support our young men. I believe it is down to us men and it does not require a lot from us either. I would like to compliment and congratulate those of you who are doing something towards guiding our young men of today of which I am sure there are a few.

I would like to introduce you to a good buddy of mine some of you may know him, namely J.P. (John Paul). J.P. has decided to do try and make a difference and he has reached out and grabbed the bull by the horns. He has a young man under his charge and since working with him he has been able to encourage to try different approaches to how he leads his life, it is early days yet but already he has stared to change things in his life, even some of his mates are coming onboard because of the way J.P. is approaching it. He is trying to create a healthy community of which the young men he encounters can take ownership of; thereby they are making the choices and doing the work with his guidance. This is a shared experience which in my view is a more holistic approach rather than standing there and telling them were they are going wrong for example in programmes like ‘Boot Camps’.

***

When J.P. entered into the mentoring programme in Essex, during his induction he became very aware that out of the twenty or so volunteers there, that there were only two men of which he was one, he has just informed me that the other man has since left the programme.

J.P. believes, as do I that our society is rapidly losing or has lost compassion and respect for nature's wonders and that it is up to us as responsible adults to help make our world a better place. Providing bushcraft tutoring for youth groups such as the Scouts, Guides and Army and Air Cadets and for MIND and more recently the Open Door mentoring scheme, J.P. is already making a difference and I salute him and respect him in what he is doing.

His priority is to guide our youth closer to nature, by helping individuals from every walk of life to step back from the stresses of the modern world. He encourages their understanding and respect for Mother Nature not by just teaching them how to survive, but how to thrive and spend time comfortably in the outdoors, being able to observe the daily pattern of nature's wonders as they unfold. J.P. uses nature and bushcraft as a therapeutic tool and as a volunteer for Open Door which helps children in care, young offenders and potential offenders to deal with the problems that today's society throws at them, by teaching them Nature's Ways.

This is close to JP's heart and he always has time and a helping hand for any enthusiastic budding naturalist or Bush-crafter. So, if you need some help or would like to know more about mentoring why not give him a call I know he would love to hear from you.

This charity is based in Grays and according to J.P. they are in desperate need for male role models for mentors, so if you're Male and live in Thurrock or any other area for that matter please contact them through the link above or why not give JP a call on 07927232152 or get in touch with your local volunteers organisation.

Since 1976 Open Door has been involved in many innovative projects in Thurrock, including a low cost accommodation project for young people, Information and Advice sessions, school Outreach and Youth-line to name but a few. As a charity they rely on grants and donations to enable them to help the people they work with. Open Door employs 24 paid members of staff with a further 21 volunteers and Management Committee of 8. In 2005 Open Door provided help and support to over 13,500 people in Thurrock.

In conclusion I know that people have very busy lives today as mine is very busy also, however every little bit helps, helping for one hour can be just as important as a lifetime of volunteering, if you are able to help one young man to get themselves back on their path through some advice or shared life experience you have had.

I feel sure many people will disagree with me and that is your right just as it is my right to express my views and feelings, what I would say is this, why not turn your views into action. I would be very interested to hear about your experiences working with young people which I would be very happy to post on here for the inspiration of others.

Best wishes to you all and a safe journey.

Nature Awareness - Plant Meditation.

I thought that I would share with you the experiences of two people who were attending a rehab centre and who had taken part I a Nature Awareness session. Both had an experience with an individual leaf from the same dandelion, during a Plant Meditation. This is their account of that experience and how they related it to their addiction.

(Names & Dates have been changed to protect confidentiality)

*** *** ***

Mary (Government Official) Thursday 20^th March 2008

At 14:00 hours on Thursday 20^th March 2008 together with the group of about 18-20 people I joined in a plant meditation exercise with Geoff. We all sat round in a semi-circle and he explained the object of the exercise to us. We were asked to sit with our eyes close3d and both hands held out open in front of us, he would then make his way round to each person and place a part of a plant, any variety in each persons hand.

I recall to my left was Wendy and Leslie was sat on my right. He explained that when we felt the plant/leaf in out hand we were to concentrate and go through a thinking process of what type of plant, can I eat it, is it poisonous, etc.

As soon as I felt the leaf in my left hand I felt uncomfortable. I immediately did not feel safe with it and thought it was poisonous. I could hear Geoff saying things like ask the plant questions “are you good for me”? “Can I eat you”? He continued with, “Make the plant grow in front of you, see if you can climb into it, does it make you safe”.

I had negative thoughts about everything he was asking me to do; I can’t emphasis enough how uncomfortable I was holding this plant. After a while he asked everyone to open their eyes and for us to describe our feelings. When it came to my turn, I gave him an account of how unsafe and negative I felt with the plant. Geoff asked me what my addiction was and I explained it was alcohol (pacifically wine). He explained that I was holding a dandelion leaf which could be used in the process of making wine.

This statement had an impact on me but I did not till later how big it would become. I put the leaf in my pocket and the exercise finished about 15:30. Along with the group I made my way back to the main building. I had till 15:45 for my next step group. I was waiting around and a few times glanced at my watch that read 15:10 hours all of the sudden was aware of being alone, everyone had gone. I was approached by David who said the group were waiting in the lounge to do my step and it was 15:50.

My watch still showed 15:10 I was but did my step then had a sudden realisation that I still had the leaf in my pocket and a compulsion to get rid of it. I threw it in a bin I looked at my watch to see if I could get it going but it started immediately and I put it to the current time. It has worked well ever since.

I have thought deeply about the above incident and my interpretation is this. By throwing the leaf away I am accepting Steps 2 and believing that a higher power would return me to sanity i.e. believing the leaf to represent a bottle of wine. To me, my watch stopping from when I gained possession of the leaf and starting as soon as I threw it away means that with drink/alcohol I do not have a life but without it I do.

My mum died a year ago. I believe her to be my higher power. I believe she is watching over me and responsible for me having this wonderful spiritual experience. I have never experienced anything like this before and am thankful to Geoff for enabling me to receive this spiritual gift, to carry in my heart always.

*** *** ***

Val (Adolescent) Thursday 20^th March 2008

My Re-birth.

It all started on the 3^rd of April. It had started by doing something strange at first. I hugged a tree when I was feeling home sick. I got this warm feeling inside my body. My sadness was up lifted and I had high hopes for my recovery. About a week and half later I was walking a long the front lawn (in rehab) when I came across an egg.

This small, fragile blue egg gave me hope. I tried to think from my brain hard why Nature has given me this gift. I could not see why so I shut my head up and used my heart. When I started to do this it came to me. Could this symbolise the re-birth of recovery?? I thought I will keep it warm and explain to the group and Geoff my amazing experience. From that day on I knew I was lucky to know that nature was my higher power.

17^th April nature group! I was really looking forward to the group because I always get so much out of it. I was feeling really happy and not taking things very seriously at the start. We all had to close our eyes and Geoff had to put a plant in the palm of our hands. Our task was to ask the plant if it was poisonous or not to us humans.

The plant I was given was a dandelion, but I did not know this at the time because I had to have my eyes closed. I got this really heavy feeling in my body, like I needed to help someone. But the plant gave me this feeling that I could eat it.

When we were aloud to open our eyes I expressed what had happened but I wasn’t sure who was asking me for help. I only realised after the group had told me that it was myself. This felt quite strange and I was worried because I find it so hard to ask for help.

Later on before I went to sleep, I put my egg, plant and shell that I received from peers on the floor and sat down. I thanked my higher power for helping me see sense. Also what I found out about the dandelion was that it had something to do with the liver and kidneys. This was very strange because in acupuncture the pin that went into the kidney spot on my ear sprung out and flew across the room. The kidney represents emotions, nervousness and trust and he liver pin was throbbing.

After my meditation with my higher power I went to sleep. I was trying to get to sleep there was this force that wanted me to let go. So I decided to wear my hair down the next day. This was quite a big thing because I haven’t worn my hair down in about four months.

I had a really positive day and I was really happy as well. Later on after dinner I went into my room because I wanted to do more meditating with my higher power and also to say thank you for my day.

As I got into my room I could not find my egg or plant, it had been thrown away in the bin by the cleaners. I was so devastated and I started crying and I could not control myself. I left my room and walked to the gym. I found a girl and told her what happened. She helped me to calm down, so I went back to my room and went to sleep.

All night I was thinking what I should say to the cleaners, so in the morning I went and found the cleaner who clean my room. I told her I was upset and that it was something that meant a lot to me and my recovery. She said she was sorry and that it was all that could be said.

Later on in the morning the girl who I went to see about my egg and plant was in the IT cafe. I said to her that we should go outside and relax before the next group she grabbed yesterday’s paper and went outside. When we sat down she turned to the back page.

And there was this picture:

I couldn’t believe my eyes!

I will explain what it means. (Picture to follow)

1 + 8 = 9 = Completion (egg cracking) & Transformation (angel)

Yoke = Surrender (yellow/orange)

Green = Emotion. I am done with crying.

This is my transformation my re-birth.

I was so amazed and felt connected again to my higher power.

The cleaners were the ones who threw my egg and dandelion away. This symbolises the cleaning out of my old behaviour. I feel very lucky because I have this strong connection with my higher power. I get a very warm feeling inside and I feel safe, this is how I know I am in touch with nature.