Truth is local

 At the beginning of the Ottawa workshop (with Bert Hellinger), which was called “Ways of Knowing, Pathways to Reconciliation”, William Commanda, a First Nations elder, did the honor of performing a traditional ceremony of prayer and purification. We were also honored by an introduction by Douglas Cardinal, one of the foremost First Nations architects in the world, the designer of the Museum of Civilization, the location where the workshop was being held. He welcomed us all to the space. With this ceremony and welcome, you were able to respond with an amazing introduction to the workshop, which captured the essence of the reconciliation means.

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The next phase of your journey in Canada brought you to Birch Island, where you lead a powerful workshop exclusively for First Nations people. You were able to stay in a cabin on a secluded island, deep in nature and experience the energy of the northern Canadian landscape, of the wind, the water, the trees, the rocks. The immensity of the landscape was mirrored by the immensity of the work that was done. The name of the workshop was ”Honoring Ancient Voices”, which we did, and the lesson you taught is crystal clear – There is a time for honoring  ancient voices, and there is a time for letting the past be past, allowing the ancient voices to rest in peace with full, loving acknowledgement of their difficult fates. Your steered us towards the present moment, where we have the ability to choose life and move forward.

Hans Burgschmidt, from Around the World in 80 Seminars. In Honor of Bert Hellinger on the Occasion of his 80th Birthday, by Carl-Auer (Publisher), 2005

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