Holding Space as Subtle Activism, Part One: Serving Through Stillness and Presence
Ram Dass, in the acknowledgements section of his 2004 book, “Paths to God: Living the Bhagavad Gita,” thanks a woman who he says “loved this book into being” as a “‘Keeper of the Heart’ – someone whose task it is to hold an open, loving space no matter what is going on around her.”
At Science of Mind church services, one will see Religious Science practitioners “holding the high watch,” as they sit, one on each side of the congregation, in meditation.
And every talkcast program of the Gaiafield Center for Subtle Activism (GCSA) is supported by “vessels of peace” – women who are silently present on the calls to anchor energy for 1) the call’s purpose, 2) those participating in the fulfillment of that purpose, and 3) the larger field of consciousness that has evoked that purpose.
Each of these is an example of holding space, but they are not all examples of subtle activism: activities of spirit or consciousness offered to support collective healing and social change. The first one technically does not meet the test of being a subtle activism practice because it was offered on behalf of an individual’s project, which is, one could argue, more for supporting individual spiritual growth than collective healing and social change. The second example involves a group event, but again, the purpose is more to support spiritual growth, both individually and within the collective of that spiritual community. Only the third example – the GCSA talkcast program – would be considered holding space as subtle activism, because it was offered for the purpose of facilitating collective healing and transformative social change.
Holding sacred space may be the subtlest of subtle activism practices – and the most common, yet least understood. It is easier to see the ways we have held space for individuals. For example, I too, have been a keeper of the heart for the book projects of friends, and when my daughter birthed her first child, I was her doula – a woman who has given birth herself and whose presence brings comfort and emotional support. I also held space for the dying process of my mother – and a decade before that, she and I held space together as her mother made her transition.
But I now understand that since 2001, I also been practicing the holding of space as a subtle activist, serving through stillness and presence at private and public gatherings, both in person and via teleconference, to support humanity in birthing a more peaceful collective consciousness on this planet. I had called this work being a vessel of peace, but when asked what it is that a vessel of peace does, exactly, I often struggled in how to respond. How does one describe a form of service that seems to have no form? How does one name something that relies on that which is nameless for happening at all? It took me seven years to discover a form that could make this practice "visible," and that I feel will enable it to eventually become more valued as a community and world service. For the function of space holder is as real and necessary as any other form of service or activism that assists in healing and transforming self, others, the world, but our culture does not place much value on such intangible actions. When I first read the words “subtle activism,” however, a welcome breeze blew through my mind and heart, and I exclaimed, “That’s IT! Subtle activism puts a name to what I and all these other women have been doing all these years!” It’s amazing how immediately the understanding comes now, when I tell people that a vessel of peace is a subtle activist in service to humanity. They get it – and that expands the possibilities for how we can serve.
It likely will not surprise anyone reading this that most space holders, in my experience, are women. Holding space is, at its essence, feminine, and while every human being is born with the potential to offer this gift to others, women – for a variety of cultural, physical and spiritual reasons - can more easily access this potential within them. Holding space arises from the energy of yin, the feminine. It requires receptivity and stillness … a willingness to open to surrendering … a deep listening - both from the heart and from the “gut,” the womb space, if you will. Holding space requires a loving acceptance and attention without expectations, so that a sense of containment is created which is secure yet spacious enough for what Spirit wants to occur within it.
For quite some time, humanity has been driven more by the energy of yang, the more masculine energy expressions of acting and speaking, of moving and deciding. But if we look to nature, we see that both ways are needed, and that when things are in harmony, there is a balance, a beautiful natural dance of the two. In order for new life to arrive and move into the outer world – whether it be a child, a flower or a paradigm-shifting idea - it first has to be held in stillness and safety, in patient waiting and unknowing, while it is nourished and given time to evolve. Whether it is the earth cradling a seed in its soil or a lioness carrying a cub in her belly or a person cherishing a dream in his heart, there is a need for the One who is the cradler, the carrier, the cherisher. And when we hold space, we open to that Oneness, creating a container that embraces inner and outer, spiritual and secular, the ineffable and the tangible …
It is time for humanity to remember and recommit to this important practice and service that women, in particular, are being called to offer to people and to the earth. I am holding space for that time when seeking out keepers of the heart and vessels of peace will become commonplace. I envision a day when non-profit organizations and business enterprises will have holders of space present at their board and staff meetings to support their intent to reach agreements for the highest good of all. I envision a day when keepers of the heart will sit in Congress and be silently present at Cabinet meetings as our government leaders make decisions and resolve crises. I envision a day when a vessel of peace routinely will be asked to hold space for peace negotiations between countries or groups in conflict. And I envision a day when holders of space will not only be routinely present at times of birth and death but in operating rooms and ERs and cancer treatment clinics and refugee camps.
Based on my experience with Vessels of Peace, I don’t believe there will be any trouble finding women willing to be trained to offer this service. This sharing from one of the Vessels of Peace women who has held space for GCSA programs says it all:
“Nothing before in my life has met that need to serve in me like holding space does…. [It] has given me the means to fulfill a lifelong yearning to be of service ... It is a privilege.”
~~~~
Note: Part Two of this blog series will explore how you can enhance your practice of holding space. And for an introduction to subtle activism, see David Nicol’s blog, Subtle Activism – What It’s All About? at http://gaiafield1.ning.com/profiles/blogs/subtle-activism-whats-it-all)
For more about Vessels of Peace, go to: http://www.vesselsofpeace.com/
At Science of Mind church services, one will see Religious Science practitioners “holding the high watch,” as they sit, one on each side of the congregation, in meditation.
And every talkcast program of the Gaiafield Center for Subtle Activism (GCSA) is supported by “vessels of peace” – women who are silently present on the calls to anchor energy for 1) the call’s purpose, 2) those participating in the fulfillment of that purpose, and 3) the larger field of consciousness that has evoked that purpose.
Each of these is an example of holding space, but they are not all examples of subtle activism: activities of spirit or consciousness offered to support collective healing and social change. The first one technically does not meet the test of being a subtle activism practice because it was offered on behalf of an individual’s project, which is, one could argue, more for supporting individual spiritual growth than collective healing and social change. The second example involves a group event, but again, the purpose is more to support spiritual growth, both individually and within the collective of that spiritual community. Only the third example – the GCSA talkcast program – would be considered holding space as subtle activism, because it was offered for the purpose of facilitating collective healing and transformative social change.
Holding sacred space may be the subtlest of subtle activism practices – and the most common, yet least understood. It is easier to see the ways we have held space for individuals. For example, I too, have been a keeper of the heart for the book projects of friends, and when my daughter birthed her first child, I was her doula – a woman who has given birth herself and whose presence brings comfort and emotional support. I also held space for the dying process of my mother – and a decade before that, she and I held space together as her mother made her transition.
But I now understand that since 2001, I also been practicing the holding of space as a subtle activist, serving through stillness and presence at private and public gatherings, both in person and via teleconference, to support humanity in birthing a more peaceful collective consciousness on this planet. I had called this work being a vessel of peace, but when asked what it is that a vessel of peace does, exactly, I often struggled in how to respond. How does one describe a form of service that seems to have no form? How does one name something that relies on that which is nameless for happening at all? It took me seven years to discover a form that could make this practice "visible," and that I feel will enable it to eventually become more valued as a community and world service. For the function of space holder is as real and necessary as any other form of service or activism that assists in healing and transforming self, others, the world, but our culture does not place much value on such intangible actions. When I first read the words “subtle activism,” however, a welcome breeze blew through my mind and heart, and I exclaimed, “That’s IT! Subtle activism puts a name to what I and all these other women have been doing all these years!” It’s amazing how immediately the understanding comes now, when I tell people that a vessel of peace is a subtle activist in service to humanity. They get it – and that expands the possibilities for how we can serve.
It likely will not surprise anyone reading this that most space holders, in my experience, are women. Holding space is, at its essence, feminine, and while every human being is born with the potential to offer this gift to others, women – for a variety of cultural, physical and spiritual reasons - can more easily access this potential within them. Holding space arises from the energy of yin, the feminine. It requires receptivity and stillness … a willingness to open to surrendering … a deep listening - both from the heart and from the “gut,” the womb space, if you will. Holding space requires a loving acceptance and attention without expectations, so that a sense of containment is created which is secure yet spacious enough for what Spirit wants to occur within it.
For quite some time, humanity has been driven more by the energy of yang, the more masculine energy expressions of acting and speaking, of moving and deciding. But if we look to nature, we see that both ways are needed, and that when things are in harmony, there is a balance, a beautiful natural dance of the two. In order for new life to arrive and move into the outer world – whether it be a child, a flower or a paradigm-shifting idea - it first has to be held in stillness and safety, in patient waiting and unknowing, while it is nourished and given time to evolve. Whether it is the earth cradling a seed in its soil or a lioness carrying a cub in her belly or a person cherishing a dream in his heart, there is a need for the One who is the cradler, the carrier, the cherisher. And when we hold space, we open to that Oneness, creating a container that embraces inner and outer, spiritual and secular, the ineffable and the tangible …
It is time for humanity to remember and recommit to this important practice and service that women, in particular, are being called to offer to people and to the earth. I am holding space for that time when seeking out keepers of the heart and vessels of peace will become commonplace. I envision a day when non-profit organizations and business enterprises will have holders of space present at their board and staff meetings to support their intent to reach agreements for the highest good of all. I envision a day when keepers of the heart will sit in Congress and be silently present at Cabinet meetings as our government leaders make decisions and resolve crises. I envision a day when a vessel of peace routinely will be asked to hold space for peace negotiations between countries or groups in conflict. And I envision a day when holders of space will not only be routinely present at times of birth and death but in operating rooms and ERs and cancer treatment clinics and refugee camps.
Based on my experience with Vessels of Peace, I don’t believe there will be any trouble finding women willing to be trained to offer this service. This sharing from one of the Vessels of Peace women who has held space for GCSA programs says it all:
“Nothing before in my life has met that need to serve in me like holding space does…. [It] has given me the means to fulfill a lifelong yearning to be of service ... It is a privilege.”
~~~~
Note: Part Two of this blog series will explore how you can enhance your practice of holding space. And for an introduction to subtle activism, see David Nicol’s blog, Subtle Activism – What It’s All About? at http://gaiafield1.ning.com/profiles/blogs/subtle-activism-whats-it-all)
For more about Vessels of Peace, go to: http://www.vesselsofpeace.com/
Tags: holding space, lynda terry, subtle activism, vessels of peace
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