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Breathing together to re-member who we really are – and who we can evolve to become. Short Film from Jude Currivan.

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«Nuestros sueños son los que la Tierra sueña a través de nosotros» Brian Swimme Celebramos el solsticio. Fuimos convocados por la organización Atmanway, por cuarto año consecutivo, a un diálogo de sabiduría. Este …

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Dear Viviana,

Thank you so much for your email. It means a lot to me.

It also meant a lot to be able to participate again in the Wisdom Dialogues. You all do an extraordinary job bringing together people from the most diverse worlds, each with a specific weight within their culture or tradition, to the same time and place. It's possible that deep down, all the voices are the same voice. And yet, we need infinite nuances of that voice to listen attentively, anew, and as always.

Following these dialogues, I began to think about the ways we can all unite in the absence of a center. Then I thought of the starlings and their murmurations, something I understand to be a common sight in Rome. Starlings, aside from possessing great agility and speed, follow three fundamental rules so that these extraordinary clouds can maintain their grace without collapsing: first, each bird stays very close to its neighbor, but not so close that it might bump into them. Second, each bird cares only for those in its immediate vicinity. What happens on the other side of the cloud doesn't exist for him. Third, and perhaps most importantly, each bird responds affirmatively to its neighbor's movement, without contradicting or opposing it. Over time, I've discovered that the people who have lived the most interesting lives are those who have always said yes to the most unexpected invitations. All worlds begin with a yes. Perhaps it would be worth learning to move like starlings.

Indeed, I would love to think there are other possibilities to explore, to continue working together.

All my best, Ee. (Enrique Enriquez)

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https://youtu.be/FYHgyIGfNy4?feature=shared

Song: The Fruits of Silence

Composer: Pēteris Vasks

Info (written by Alex Burns - link below):

The Lyrics

The fruit of silence is prayer.

The fruit of prayer is faith.

The fruit of faith is love.

The fruit of love is service.

The fruit of service is peace.

The Music

Described by the composer as a “very silent meditation”, The Fruit of Silence takes the five lines of text from Mother Teresa and imagines them in the modern day. Vasks uses his own unique point of view to create a hauntingly beautiful atmosphere that slowly develops over the course of the piece. Opening the piece is a solo piano, whose elongated opening statement leaves the listener on tenterhooks as to when the voices will enter.

https://classicalexburns.com/2021/12/17/peteris-vasks-the-fruit-of-silence-the-voice-of-mother-teresa/

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During Wisdom Dialogue Day a turtle came with her medicine to Girona.

This is the first time that happens this year in Girona’s coast..

Let’s see how this message unravels.

To me it felt like a sign of a prophecy. Hehe

And I hear the message…

“Y cuando de la mar se alce la tortuga, surgirá una nueva generación que cambiará el mundo, para elevarlo en una nueva conciencia de comunidad, tribu y conexión.”

"And when the turtle rises from the sea, there shall emerge a new generation that will transform the world, lifting it unto a higher consciousness of community, tribe, and sacred connection."

https://www.catalannews.com/society-science/item/loggerhead-sea-turtle-lays-101-eggs-on-costa-brava-beach

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Una tortuga careta ha nidificat a la platja de Sant Feliu de Guíxols amb 101 ous. Un operari que feia tasques de neteja de la sorra ha vist la tortuga i ha alertat els serveis de protecció de fauna. Els experts s'han desplaçat fins al lloc per identificar la tortuga i fer-ne seguiment abans que tornés al mar. Elena Abella, del Centre Tecnològic BETA de la Universitat de Vic, ha detallat que s'ha senyalitzat el niu amb un tancat i cartells i hi ha una xarxa de voluntaris per protegir-lo durant el període d'incubació: "En un mes i mig sabrem si la posta és viable". És el primer niu detectat aquest estiu a la Costa Brava i és el segon cop que la tortuga careta nidifica al litoral gironí. La primera vegada va ser a Begur el 2023.

"Fins aproximadament d'aquí a un mes i mig no sabrem si els ous estan fecundats o no i, per tant, hem de ser prudents. Però esperem que així i sigui i puguin néixer moltes tortuguetes aquí, a Sant Feliu de Guíxols", ha afirmat Abella que remarca que ja és tota una fita que la tortuga careta hagi escollit aquesta platja per fer-hi el niu. De fet, és el segon niu detectat aquesta temporada de cria a Catalunya, el primer el van localitzar el cap de setmana passat al Delta de l'Ebre.

A més, el Departament de Territori, Habitatge i Transició Ecològica remarca que és el segon cop que la tortuga careta nidifica a la Costa Brava. La primera vegada ho va fer a Begur el 2023.

Cap a les cinc del matí, un operari de Sant Feliu de Guíxols que feia treballs de neteja a la platja ha vist la tortuga. Abella remarca que el treballador s'ha adonat de la importància i ha alertat els serveis de protecció de fauna. A partir d'aquí, han activat el protocol de seguiment de nidificació que coordina el Departament i del qual formen part els Agents Rurals, el Centre BETA i la Fundació CRAM. A Sant Feliu, han comptat amb el suport de l'Ajuntament.

Els experts que s'han traslladat fins al lloc han pogut comprovar que el niu té 101 ous, que es mantindran tots a la platja perquè consideren que reuneix els requisits necessaris per al període d'incubació. Quan han arribat allà, a més, han pogut col·locar un dispositiu de seguiment satel·lital i un xip a la femella. Després, la tortuga ha tornat al mar.

Durant els pròxims 50-60 dies, fins a mitjans d'agost, el niu estarà protegit amb un tancat de protecció i cartells informatius. El Servei de Fauna i Flora de la Generalitat també compta amb una xarxa de voluntaris que podrien fer custòdia si calgués, ha explicat Abella, que afegeix que també és important fer pedagogia entre la població perquè sàpiga com actuar en cas de detectar un niu o una tortuga a la sorra.

"És molt important no molestar-la, no trepitjar el rastre i trucar ràpidament al 112 per poder avisar el personal expert per gestionar el niu de manera correcta", ha remarcat.

La temporada de cria de la tortuga careta arrenca a principis del mes de juny i es perllonga fins a finals d'octubre. Segons informa el Departament, les mares solen fer els nius entre mitjans de juny i finals de juliol, i les cries comencen a emergir a partir de principis d'agost fins a mitjans o finals d'octubre.

La nidificació de tortugues careta a la Mediterrània occidental va començar fa uns 10 o 15 anys, el que indica un canvi de comportament motivat probablement pel canvi climàtic. Històricament, hi havia hagut presència d'exemplars de juvenils i subadults que s'hi alimentaven, però fins llavors no havien vingut femelles a reproduir-se.

A Catalunya, entre l'any 1972 i 2023 s'han detectat 57 esdeveniments de nidificació, dels quals 29 han estat nius i 28 intents de nidificació sense èxit. L'any passat es va detectar només un niu a la demarcació de Tarragona.

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Una tortuga babaua pon un centenar d'ous a Sant Feliu de Guíxols

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L'animal ha arribat de matinada a la platja de Sant Feliu

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While scribing during the first round of the Wisdom Dialogue Day, this beautiful Dove came to my window. She came with gentleness, curiosity. I enev thought she would fly into the room.. I wonder what medicine was she bringing?? Hehehe

✨🐦🤍☮️♾️✨

Thank you thank you thank tou

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We are Nature

Diving Essence

Cinnecting

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The sweetness of connection imbues us with the LOVE that unites.

The Joyful heart reveals itself through the hands, creating expansion

To raise Peace you need to grow Peas.

weaving from the clouds of silence

the truths of consciousness

Into the enlightened void

Amour

Shelter the voiceless among us in the world

Singing to silence, the quality of finance.

We honour peace 🕊️

and we salute the peas!🫛

Ancient trees and the stars, waiting for us to join in their love

Collective Poem written by participants in the Listening & Sensing Circle Round 4, WDD 2025.

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Unstoppable force meeting an immovable wall

hold the middle for me

Loving flexibility birthed by the presence of this group   Gratitude flows and triumphs over contraction

Let the world be you beloved

the opening and expansiveness of our time

echoed in the quality of this circle of hearts

HOPE is emerging & coming alive

I am reflection of the whole / The whole is reflection of a dream / The dream is reflection of me --- We are woven into this world and onto each other -- as invisible pebbles jumping on the ocean's surface - here we go, again

to making sound with my voice.

Are we dreaming or being dreamt? Dreaming a unique breath, breathing love and peace. Only one conscious breath is needed to connect to all.

It's the height of anticipation awaiting your responses, awaiting your beauty to show me who we are together

Birth of a Galaxy

The spider that weaves in the thin boundary between void and light in a thread of rainbow.

Vibrating Technicolor Awakening of Consciousness

The quality of the force, and its likeness in stillness, the distaste of thirst, and the quality of the spin

feeling gives depths and textures of love in light and dark

To be or not to be alone

is that the question or a dream?

Is reality real

Am I the dreamer

All I know

is that I know nothing

Bliss!

I love expressing the joy that emerges from the inner Peace, that’s found by opening the door to my heart.My voice starts singing, my heart starts rAdiating. I envision the co-creation of hearts, expanding the reach and impact of our sacred hearts, beating in the heartbeat of the universe.

Thank you for all ! Love and peace on the earth. ❤️

Collective Poem written by participants in the Listening & Sensing Circle Round 3, WDD 2025.

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Drawing by my daughter Aubelle Perreault, the title: The Courage of Empathy brings Inclusion

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What it would be like?

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In the Studio Recording the Song "Peace in the World"....for the Wisdom Dialogue Day

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A dialogue from the head with a feeling of seeing the light ahead of acceptance and healing.

The root of pelvic bones and muscles and the spine which holds the head which mirrors the disease into the head and spoken from the space of the head

The synchronicity of words we tell ourselves and especially listening heartfully to the wisdom and feeling the vibrations and tingling in the body at the root of healing and connection.

I felt like I was in both rooms - but was in the head room. A beautiful dialogue and space, wish we had longer to recieve the energies and continue the connections of healing.

Haafeza, UK, A WDD Participant sharing her experience from a breakout room in the Listening & Sensing Circle.

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I am consciously aware of the guides and spiritual electricity that I have been embraced with in this space of dialogue and rest-occurance. Silence creates space in the oesophagus to breathe and inhale within the openness as the tree trunk welcomes the roots to nourish and the petals to blossom from the stories that rot in the soil. The wisdom of air is serendipity in spaces of creativity tangible by the breath that blows like the wind that scatters the seeds for population of wild flower with the breath of the hollow time and space.

Haafeza, UK

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PEACE in the World

Peace in your heart

Peace in your hands

Peace in your land

Peace in the world

We’re elevating peace

Through the air we breathe

Silently within

Peace is here

The power’s in our hearts

Our minds crystal clear

Uniting hands and  prayers

Peace is here

(c) 2025 Patricia Pattinama ~ www.medicineofpeace.com

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Peace in the World_Song by Patricia Pattinama

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I am Love in Pure Presence, I am held, I am Trust. • Silence creates the doorway to the origin of life with full potential • The Wisdom of Air holds me and directs my compass towards the right path.

Mario Pereda, Spain

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Just to thank you and the whole AtmanWay team for all your hard work - also to Paolo - his closing words in our session about radical love touched me deeply, as did the whole session - there was such an obvious connection to Spirit.

Sending much love, a big hug, and gratitude.

Tina Lindhard, Wisdom Speaker, WDD 2025, Netherlands.

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In am Peace (Listening Sensing Song for Wisdom Dialogue Day)

Here and now

I find my peace

Here and now

I am peace

In the silence I can breath

In the silence I am free

In the silence I am peace

Just breathe

In the silence

(by Patricia Pattinama ~ medicineofpeace.com)

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I am peaceful.

Silence creates space to listen.

The Wisdom of air is sacred.

Fiorella Oldani, USA

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Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

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An eyeglass into Wisdom - Artwork: Mario Pereda

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Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

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Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

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Awakened Authentic Trust in a fall of surrender into the place of pure peace where it all begun.

Bubbling joy,

I touch the City around me, soothing the hearts of our so called leaders, remembering them about our Oneness

Together, oneness, community, presence, prayer, connection, surrender, smile, happiness.

I feel the other, I dance the other, therefore I am. May I learn to slow down to listen for the dance of the other.

Less mind more emptiness

Unified in the longing for peace and we-ness🕊️.

My heart overflows with love and peace

can I embrace the distress?   I think I know I'd love to, but .   .   .   .   .     .     .

The power of silence and emergence.

Nothing holds purpose,

Purpose holds us in its hands

We are together.

The hands as extensions of the heart

healing yourself to heal the world.

I am the hands seeking the aches -- I am the back calling the hands --- I am the space between the hands and the back - singing, calling, praying, for peace in the world, in the bodies and all around...

Holding onto peace, staying with that golden thread. That is what matters.

Love in action, from a deeper inner peace, we create ripples of love through our eyes, hands, hearts and minds… Love in action.

I feel revived by listening and experiencing the shared purpose of others, walking similar pathways to Peace.

Openness and light,

Nature metaphore an owl that can see great in the darker night….

Through the notions of worries is a healing within the depths of the echo's of words that inspire the headspace to pause in creativity and healing ✨️.

How dense and impenetrable the fog between mind and heart appears to be. How ephemeral it actually is.

Collective Poem written by participants in the Listening & Sensing Circle Round 2, WDD 2025.

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I AM Illustration • Silence creates space for magic to be seen • The Wisdom of Air is informing and present in thoughts, words and deeds.

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I Surrender

I am Alive

I am Free

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I am a growing energy. Silence creates space and knowlege. The wisdom of air is endless and for ever.

Ulrika Antonsson, Sweden

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Take care and be gentle to yourself.

Sending you all a special thank you to all of you, feel free to share it🙏

Thank you for creating this beautiful space I'm grateful to be a part of this sacred dialogue. Where silence became our teacher, air our messenger, peace our shared breath, and love the thread that wove us together.

In stillness, we listened.

In presence, we remembered.

Each word, each pause,

was a doorway into something greater.

May the silence we touched continue to speak within all of us.

May the breath carry peace into all the spaces we move through.

And may love, ever subtle and true, guide our way home, home to the heart.

With heartfelt gratitude, I send you all my blessings.

Grandmother Helené

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A collective poem from Dialogue Round 1, Listening & Sensing Circle:

Saying yes to what life offers

wholeness supersedes duality

inter-connection-ing

I Am PEACE Becoming PEACE in a journey towards peace

Heartfull

Owl

Thank you for joining and creating together in this time

I am love touching love - I am hands touching hands - I am air breathing air - Mauku - 5 fingers - hi five to life

May my heart become long, loving and wise

Surfing

The past, the present and the future belong to the air.

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I am love touching love - I am hands touching hands - I am air breathing air ---- Mauku - 5 fingers hi Five to Life

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We let open the windows of our known world so that moya can lead us Home

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Find love in Breath - find Peace in Love

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I am a practitioner. Silence creates wisdom. Wisdom of air is connection.

Zoltan Cser, Wisdom Speaker, WDD 2025

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I am grateful. Silence creates space. Wisdom of air is light and ever changing.

Nora Csiszár, Hungary

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I am a still point in a turning world. Silence creates a space where truths can rise. The wisdom of air is gentle, essential and always in flow.

Susan Taylor, Wisdom Speaker, WDD 2025, Netherlands

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I am grateful to be alive.

Silence creates possibilities.

The Wisdom of Air is flexibility.

Caroline Sherwood, Participant, WDD 2025, UK

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#10 Peace is Purpose

Peace is to be in alignment with the Sacred Dream. It is knowing that everything that comes our way delivers wisdom toward balance and alignment—and it is our response-ability to receive it or not, and to Live it.

Everything we experience supports the Sacred Dream. With appreciation and gratitude, we welcome all as medicine to heal, to become more balanced and aligned with the purpose of existence.

#WisdomDialogue #ElevatePeace

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#12 The Prism of Peace

When People Come around something that matters,
Everything is Possible.

And we do.
We go and come back.
We expand.
We contract.

We Breathe.

And our voice matters.
And when we all come together,
Beyond the illusion,
of separation,
We are One.

When we listen to
All the voices,
We hear One.
When Head,
Heart and Hand
Align,
We are One.
We are Light.
We are Peace.

From the White Light of oneness, we are born.
We expand into the wide spectrum of the rainbow,
To come back together, through the central prism
to remember we were always One.

And when we are weary,
When the light feels dim,
We can rest in the knowing
That we are held,
In this breathing,
In this coming and going,
In stillness,
Peace,
and Beauty.

And we are always breathing around something that matters....

LIFE.

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Expanding into the Inner Diamond.
A journey Back Home.

Converging our light
Through the Prism
Into Oneness.

Togetherness.

Head, Hearts
and Hands
All Aligned
for Peace.

Peace in our Thoughts,
Words and Actions.

Giving space to all voices
Together Weaving Oneness.

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#11 The Bell of Peace

Peace sings out loud,
Like a huge bell vibrating
Life's song all across the universe
from the high realms of yourself.

Hear the songs of beauty.

You are Whole.
You are Complete.

Close your eyes.
Pull the rope of the Bell
of your highest tower
and touch your skies
With elevated vibration
and from there sing
sing to yourself
sing,
sing
SING.

Peace and Love.
Sing with the universe,
The song of Peace.
Feel the joy of peace,
feel the uplifting sense of wholeness.

Stop following carrots,
on an endless journey.
Stop!
Stop, stop...
Stop running.
Stay still.
Quiet.
Silence.
Listen...

It is.

Listen to your inner bells.
Remember...

You are whole.

You are complete.

You Are,
I Am.

Those that sing from the highest place of You know peace.
The highest place of life.

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#9 Spiraling to the Center

From oneness we come,
In oneness we live,
To oneness we are born.

And even if we feel separation,
Peace, Silence, and Love,
Hold us together.

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#8 Peace is Discipline

Caress by caress,
Drop by drop,
I practice.

Stroke by stroke,
Step by step,
I become.

I am Free.

With patience
and repetition
I transform.
I flow,
I grow.

Discipline makes me free.
Peace is an intentional drop
At every moment, I let go.
And I let go, I let go.
With love and dedication.
With openness, I let go.
And appreciation, I let go.
Leaving traces of Beauty, I let go.
Transforming the body, I let go.
So that more particles may touch
the love of thin air and light.

The art of letting go
Allowing the body to form,
and through the flow of life
Transform.

Like the Sun,
shining equally for all,
Free, dedicated to life,
I Am.

In Peace,
I shine.

With the medicine of the Air,
that opens and connects us all–
In one breath,
one flow.

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#7 The Gravity of Peace

Peace calls me to the center
to flower together eternally.
And I move,
I go.
Into the unknownness I flower,
growing beyond comfort.
I open,
I flow,
Listening to the song.
To the emerging silence
all along.

Peace as the force that holds all together
and the force that impulses everything to grow,
to expand beyond the known universe.

It seems dual and it is one.
Contraction and expansion are not separate—
a breathing of existence itself.
When I contract,
I expand into myself.

Today I felt this opening
and simultaneously the call to center.
A moment I want to make eternal,
incorporating it from mind into body,
from knowing into being.

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You may shoot me with your words,
You may cut me with your eyes,
You may kill me with your hatefulness,
But still, like air, I’ll rise. - Maya Angelou

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Peace is Love.

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Peace : sharing with all in silence the beauty and magic to live on earth

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#6 Connection and Openness

A few days ago, while on a ladder hanging mosquito nets, a large insect flew toward me with persistence. In that moment of vulnerability and tension, fear took over, and I pushed it away. Only later did I feel the sadness of a missed connection, a touch that to my brain never occurred—that actually did, as I am here today. It reminded me of a similar moment months ago with an octopus that also approached me with intention, and again, fear won over curiosity.

I forgot that I am life, and as such, I am also death—the natural cycle. Life loves me, and I love life in its full rainbow expression. And if it stings me, bites me, or I die... what happens...?

In this, I want to awaken Peace.
The peace of living, the peace of dying.
Ancestral wisdom says, when an animal bites you, it's gifting you its medicine, its essence, awakening its power within you.

A message to wake up from the dream and live true to reality.

Connection and openness, knowing that life always supports life and that life is an infinite spectrum of possibilities, and all of them are available at every step.

For several days, the beetle has reached out to my dreams. Flying towards me with intention and will. My children found a golden one dead. I found another one on the ground. We saw another large one with a horn.

A symbol of transformation, renovation, and reincarnation.
A navigating companion that brings the power of resilience, adaptation, and remembering the essential role in the ecological environment. They help to decompose, control plagues, pollinate, and aerate the ground.

Air to my body,
That wants to fly
In the realms of spirit
May we glide
Let go,
Trust.
Come with me,
Let's fly.

Beetle took me
With joy and beauty
through the cycles of life,
Took me through change
and transformation.
Helped me grow pain into virtue
Lifted me up on the path
To reclaim the beauty that is—
in its brutality and difficulty—
to look and see reality as it is.
To trust.
To open.
And help me thrive
With Love,
Power and Light.

Thank you for coming,
I embrace your magic
and your wisdom.
And to the next animal that approaches—
I AM Open.

They say the third time's the charm...

What animal will come?

Peace is the doorway to the mysterious magic of life. Opening to the infinite realms of wholeness and beauty.

And here I am. Vulnerable, Sensible, in Love.
Continuously awakening peace.

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#5 Spaciousness

The vastness of none.
The eternal realm of space.
The void.
The silence before, in the middle of, and the after.
The space between notes and words.
The ungravity that lives in the middle of inhale and exhale.

Spaciousness.

The nothing that holds everything in Peace.
And in that nothingness, in that silence, that void, we are all Peace.

Peace that informs, and forms that we are all whole and complete.

We are Peace emerging from the thin spaciousness of every particle.
We are Peace in the heart of every cell.
We are Peace in every word, every thought, every deed.

We are Peace.
Peace that connects us all,
through the thin air we all breathe.

In that silence, that expands,
Across all our being and beyond...

We Are.

I am.

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#4 Peace is Dynamic. Peace is Balancing.

Peace needs space to fly, to BE. It is the perfect balance that lives in continuous motion. Trust in your inner compass—your multiple, superintelligent organs that constantly speak to us, sharing their wisdom. We simply need to listen, learn to translate, and do what they ask of us. They are deeply rooted in life and always seeking Peace... as we are. Yet we can disconnect. And it is our responsibility (response-ability) to re-connect, re-member, and re-balance.

⚫ Today, I woke up from my dreams with a blurry image. It was like a stain before my eyes. As I focused on it, it gently transformed into a pigeon.
Banner of Peace, the dove, flies, guiding us to the divine.

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#3 Peace as a spiraling pathway to the center emerging from itself.

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May Peace Prevail on Earth.

Imagine my surprise walking through my local neighbourhood in St Albans, UK and discovering this beautiful peace pole outside the cathedral.

More about the Peace Pole project can be found here:-

https://www.worldpeace.org/peacepoleproject/

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UN Secretary General António Guterres' message marking the 100 day countdown to the International Day of Peace on 21st September,

"Peace can't wait - and it starts with us. We all have the power to help silence guns, build bridges, and plant seeds of lasting change."

How are we doing to forge a more peaceful world, together?

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“I took a deep breath and listened to the old bray of my heart. I am. I am. I am.” — Sylvia Plath, Poet

Image: Pablo Picasso, Painter

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The soul’s mycelium is a metaphor that embodies what we in Re-Conectando have experienced with our work in Colombia as the essence of the human spirit—resilient, interconnected, and continually evolving on the journey of healing and self-discovery.

Like the mycelium in dark soil, it represents the intricate, invisible network of experiences, emotions, beliefs, and spiritual connections within and between us. Just as mycelium extracts nutrients from decomposing matter, the soul’s mycelium extracts meaning and growth from life’s traumas and challenges.

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The soul's mycelium is a metaphor that embodies what we in Re-Conectando have experienced with our work in Colombia as the essence of the human spirit-resilient, interconnected, and continually evolving on the journey of healing and self-discovery.

Like the mycelium in dark soil, it represents the intricate, invisible network of experiences, emotions, beliefs, and spiritual connections within and between us. Just as mycelium extracts nutrients from decomposing matter, the soul's mycelium extracts meaning and growth from life's traumas and challenges. It embodies the non-linear journey of healing, where diverse pathways lead to personal and collective transformation, empowering participants to move forward, supported by a shared sense of Active Hope. This metaphor celebrates diversity, fluidity, and adaptability, highlighting our ability as humans to thrive and evolve despite adversity.
From the Ashes of War: Re-Conectando's Origins
In 2012, the Colombian government under President Juan Manuel Santos and the FARC, the world's oldest and largest guerrilla group, initiated peace negotiations in Cuba, aiming to end a war that had raged for five decades. The four-year peace process that ensued was a period marked by tense calm, imbued with both hope and uncertainty, following numerous failed attempts in the past.

Amidst this backdrop, a Colombo-Dutch team launched workshops in 2014 titled "Deep Ecology and Peace Construction," rooted in the Work That Reconnects (WTR) methodology. Although relatively unknown in Colombia, this approach resonated deeply with the country's ancestral wisdom. The team believed that introducing WTR to grassroots leaders could foster resilience, renew alliances, and inspire creative visions in the world's second most biodiverse nation. Their goal was to support the peace process by bringing together people from diverse backgrounds, including many victims, and creating safe spaces where the pain of human suffering, war, and environmental destruction could be interwoven and transformed. The extractivist model, exacerbated by the armed conflict, was causing significant harm to Colombia's environment and communities, making it one of the most dangerous places in the world for environmental leaders.

When peace negotiations concluded in 2016, President Santos, feeling optimistic, decided to put the internationally acclaimed peace agreement to a public vote. This agreement aimed to end decades of atrocities committed by paramilitaries, the army, and guerrillas, which had resulted in up to 800,000 deaths (with 80% being civilians), over 120,000 missing persons, the forced displacement of nearly 9 million people, and widespread environmental devastation.

However, the plebiscite held on October 2, 2016, saw 50.21% of voters rejecting the peace agreement. This outcome raised questions: Did Colombians desire to prolong the war indefinitely?

A revised peace agreement was eventually signed in November 2016, but the plebiscite revealed deep polarization within the country. Even among those who supported the peace process, many viewed the agreement merely as a procedure for disarmament, neglecting the beliefs and identities forged during the war and embedded in the collective and individual psyche, including those who had not taken up arms. Recognizing this, it became clear that the peace agreement provided an ideal opportunity to create spaces for what would later be described as regenerating the soul's mycelium, harnessing its transformative power to transition from a nation perpetually at war to one beginning to imagine peace.
Accompanying the Truth Commission
One of the commitments established by the Peace Agreement was the creation of a Truth Commission (TC) as an entirely autonomous state institution. Formed in 2018, the TC included members from various sectors of civil society and was led by Francisco de Roux, a well-known Jesuit peaceworker. The TC was given a four-year mandate to address three ethical challenges: 1) clarifying the truth, 2) recognizing the victims and the individual and collective responsibilities, and 3) promoting coexistence, "Buen Vivir," and non-repetition.

By this time, we had conducted twelve workshops, and Francisco de Roux, who had participated in our first workshop in 2014 and was convinced of the transformational power of our work, invited us-among many other allies-to support their challenging mission. To our knowledge, this was the first time the Work That Reconnects (WTR) methodology was implemented and funded at an institutional level. It was also the first time a Truth Commission incorporated a non-anthropocentric approach, recognizing nature as a victim of conflict.

Our team had grown to include several Colombian colleagues from the fields of theater, nature rituals, and peace work. A few months later, our deep ecology initiatives were rebranded as "Re-Conectando: Laboratories of Truth and Reconciliation in the Womb of Mother Earth." From its inception, Re-Conectando was viewed as a crucial ally in enriching the soil for the Commission's work in the regions and preparing participants for the process of truth-telling and encounters with their perpetrators in subsequent events organized by the TC.

Given the depths of personal and collective traumas, our intention was to continually alternate WTR, with its collective and transcendental approach, alongside theater, rituals, and more personal, nature-based healing and regenerative soul work. We recognized that these elements were inextricably interwoven, much like the mycelium network, to foster a holistic healing process.
Unlikely Dialogues in the Womb of Mother Earth
During the work of Colombia's Truth Commission (2018-2022) and in spreading its legacy thereafter, Re-Conectando traveled extensively across the country. It was crucial for our team to find in each region a "womb of Mother Earth" that provided a safe space for our healing work, allowing participants to express long-silenced truths without fear. We sought nature reserves not just as picturesque settings adorned with jungles, caves, waterfalls, and mountains, but as territories that had been stigmatized by violence and were now healing themselves and their communities through meaningful ecological initiatives.

Selecting participants from these polarized and fragmented regions was equally vital to the process's success. This selection took 6-8 weeks, involving research, patient conversations with potential candidates-often initially suspicious and exhausted from decades of war and peace work-and careful collaboration with civil society and state organizations, particularly the Houses of Truth established in 28 territories. Many participants were direct or indirect victims of unimaginable violence, including forced displacement, massacres, assassinations, kidnappings, torture, and rape. Some were ex-combatants from various sides of the conflict seeking reintegration into society through restorative justice. In our invitations, we acknowledged the violence inflicted on Mother Nature by our lifestyles, driven by a schizophrenic sense of separation from nature, even in Colombia, the most biodiverse country per square meter on the planet.

This approach created ideal scenarios for the "Unlikely Dialogues" the Commission hoped for, inspired by the pioneering work of John Paul Lederach. These dialogues, especially when set amidst the untamed beauty of nature and enriched with "wild conversations" with other-than-human beings, gave deeper significance to the concept of the soul's mycelium. Colombia's diversity is reflected not only in its vast ecosystems and species but also in its rich tapestry of ethnic cultural expressions. Just as mycelium thrives on diversity, interactions among individuals from various backgrounds brought a multitude of perspectives, insights, and experiences to the group dynamic. This diversity enhanced our discussions, sparked creativity, and fostered critical thinking, leading to deeper understanding and personal growth for each participant and the communities they represent.
A Rite of Passage: Reweaving the Social Fabric
We understand that a peace process involves much more than laying down arms. The hearts and minds of former combatants-and all participants-need to be disarmed, and these broken individuals must be rewoven into the fabric of the community, primarily through the power of ritual.

Participants begin their journey with Re-Conectando by physically leaving their everyday environments and entering the nature reserve. This departure symbolizes leaving behind former roles, identities, and conflicts. Guided by our activities, they engage in rituals that mark the start of their transformative journey, entering a liminal space-a threshold between their old lives and the potential for new growth and healing. This liminal phase is characterized by uncertainty, vulnerability, and openness to change. Drawing on the concept of sacred time and space and propelled by the Work That Reconnects (WTR) spiral, the rituals conducted in often breathtaking natural settings evoke a sense of sacredness and reverence. These rituals invite participants to transcend their individual concerns and connect with something larger than themselves.

Men and women who previously carried weapons and faced the harsh choices of killing or being killed for their ideology now learn with humility to make offerings of gratitude or ask permission before entering a wild sanctuary. Victims, activists, and ex-combatants see a lush forest with new eyes, a place where they can feel safe and be received without judgment, allowing themselves to be touched by its healing beauty.

In a country where nature has often been the backdrop for hiding enemies, assaults, bombings, torture, detaining hostages, and mass graves, and where gorgeous rivers have carried poisonous mercury or dismembered bodies, these rituals open up a mutual process of healing and care.

One participant, who spent 35 years in the jungle after being kidnapped at age 11 as a child soldier by FARC guerrillas, shared his experience:

"I was kidnapped by the guerrillas when I was 11, but then I decided to stay. I lived in the jungle for 35 years and didn't come out until the peace agreement. When we arrived and you told us to ask permission to the river before crossing it, I wondered where the hell I was. But now, after this whole experience with Re-Conectando, I realize that even though I lived in the jungle and never cut down a tree or killed an animal unless I needed food or shelter, I never saw nature as I do now. I feel more respect and see it as a living being with the same rights as we humans have."
Identity Unknown
When participants first arrive at the laboratories, they are unaware of each other's backgrounds. This is intentional, ensuring that interactions are not influenced by identity positions that could spur enmities or hinder genuine encounters. The initial phase of the WTR spiral, "Coming from Gratitude," helps create a safe container, what we call "the membrane of trust," for the new ecosystem we're building together. Delegates from the House of Truth explain the immense task and opportunity the country faces with the peace agreement.

Theatrical games are introduced to encourage creativity and free expression. Mistakes are celebrated, viewed as sources of growth and learning-nourishing rather than embarrassing experiences.

An essential part of building trust is the "Farmer's Market of Care for Life." This activity allows everyone-even those who have committed atrocities-to share how they are working towards peace, restorative justice, and "Buen Vivir" in their communities. We are often astonished by the love, care, courage, and creativity hidden within these individuals. This process gives everyone a dignified place and role in our village. Some participants exemplify the Re-Conectando principle: "the medicine is next to the wound."
Fostering Trust for Truth-Telling
The Truth Commission has emphasized the importance of fostering trust as a fundamental condition for truth-telling, addressing one of the main losses left by war. This trust is crucial for revealing not just a mechanical truth, often repeated by victimized people or perpetrators who have given testimony countless times, but a healing truth, welling up from the deep waters of their wounded souls.
Francisco de Roux, president of the Truth Commission, states: "We do not want a truth that deepens hatred and feelings of revenge, but a truth that opens us to compassion for what happened to us as a country, with our 9 million victims. We need a truth that can help build a new country together."
During our laboratory, the mission of the TC comes alive with a 40-minute recording of a personal message from Father Francisco, who recounts the suffering of many victims he witnessed during the peace negotiations in Cuba. His straightforward yet compassionate stories awaken painful memories in most of us.

Following the viewing of the video, we engage in the "Museum of the Unspeakable," an image theater exercise inspired by Augusto Boal's Theater of the Oppressed. Statues and frozen scenes represent the horrors of war locked within our bodies. As we "visit" the museum and project our own memories onto the statues, we uncover the many faces of suffering and begin to embrace the complexity of Colombia's history. The images are polysemic, allowing us all to project our own experiences with the war onto them. This ocean of projections creates a deeply embodied way to enter the Truth Mandala.

Among the various WTR-practices offered, we discover - not surprisingly - that the Truth Mandala takes on essential meaning for the work of the Truth Commission. It begins with the truth of participants' deep traumas and pain, which have rarely been addressed. To explore this deep suffering, we need to feel safe. The sense of containment produced by the group, the ancestral Mother holding us, and the metaphor of interdependence carefully woven through every moment of the process all contribute to the practice of care as an embodied principle that upholds trust among the group.

It seems only normal that we put our shields up to protect ourselves from feeling the pain, especially the warriors. Vulnerability is often seen as weakness - or shame holds us back. But then we discover that vulnerability is an extraordinary source of power and strength. Because it shows our heart, our pain or shame. And we accept that rather than hiding it away, we offer it as a gift.

From Wounds to Reconciliation
At this moment, participants often learn about the groups to which others were associated. Former guerrilla members, paramilitaries, and soldiers face both their victims' truths and their own sorrowful and regrettable actions. Likewise, victims learn about and are exposed to the vulnerabilities of their perpetrators, creating a horizontal relational ground and fostering connection. These transformative moments of deep understanding occur because participants feel safe.

In a laboratory held in the Magdalena Medio region of Colombia, two victims expressed distrust toward a former paramilitary member's sharing in the Truth Mandala. "I felt that he did not speak the truth. Something stopped him from opening up to us and he just told us what we wanted to hear", Diana, one of these victims, said after the Truth Mandala had taken place. The facilitators formed a new circle for the two women to speak directly with the ex-combatant. After hearing their fears and concerns, he responded:

"It is very difficult to know that one is sitting here practically as a representative, because at the beginning I said: I come in representation of a group of ex-combatants, but I never said what group it was. Why? Because of fear. Right now you see me as an ordinary person. I was no longer the man with the armband, the rifle, who was looking at you and you had to lower your gaze because uh huh. No, not anymore." He explained that he felt ashamed, because, as he recalled: "80% of the atrocities that you just narrated has to do with the paramilitary".

After being able to explicitly say who he had been, the group showed a renewed willingness to listen to stories of his present life, his processes, and the challenges he faces in reintegrating into civil society.

Although Re-Conectando presents itself as Laboratories for Truth and Reconciliation in the womb of Mother Earth, we do not offer any incentives for asking forgiveness or working toward reconciliation. We understand that these actions are meaningful only when they come from the heart and are born out of the empathy created through deep listening in a non-judgmental and safe space, free from pressure or expectations.

"What struck me about Re-Conectando is that participants are not told what to do or what to believe. They aren't given instructions on what is good or bad, what should be, or the only way to do things. Instead, they are presented with doors that open and pathways to explore. This approach sparked a significant reflection on the possibility of choice and responsibility, which I believe is fundamental to the spiritual dimension of peacebuilding."
Laura Cifuentes, a participant from one of the Houses of Truth in our Sumapaz laboratory, noted in an interview:
"Eduardo, my words are not going to give you back the parents and family that you lost as a child and that those same circumstances led you to make mistakes in life; but, today I want to ask for your forgiveness from the bottom of my heart and invite you to be that light for those who do not have light, because who else than you and I can tell the world that we can, Eduardo? And I will say it again, forgive me, forgive me a thousand times for the damage we caused."
In our Uraba laboratory, several high-level ex-combatants from opposing sides of the conflict - guerrilla and paramilitary - participate, creating a space for deep listening and "unlikely dialogues" amidst the nurturing embrace of nature. Through shared experiences of awe, wonder, play, and interconnectedness, participants develop a greater sense of empathy for each other's suffering and a deeper appreciation for the sanctity of all life. This environment naturally fosters the need for sincere forgiveness, as seen between ex-paramilitary commander Dario and ex-guerrillero soldier Eduardo:

(Dario - Harvest circle September 4, 2019).

After several days the former high level Farc commander Francisco is taken by surprise by what unfolds in the village between "us and them": "I think this village, what we call Re-Conectando, is what I needed to heal my wounds. I never imagined I would be able to hug a paramilitary, someone from a group that killed my family. But look, where is the revenge? It's in smiles, in eating together, like brothers. I wish for all of us to reconnect, for all of us to belong to this village, to all of Colombia."
"With this PEACE that we will achieve, with these rifles we consign to oblivion - rifles that took away mothers and children - with this peace and harmony, we will help the communities that have suffered and heal their wounds. Let's join forces and build this peace together!"
At the end of the gathering, Francisco invites Dario to join forces for peace:
"That's how it is, brother. God bless us, and I will visit you soon!"

Dario responds while lifting Francisco in his arms:

Dario concluded in an interview afterwards:
The Soul's Mycelium: A Source of Collective Healing
"I do not believe in the kind of forgiveness that a judge orders you to do: "Go ask the victim for forgiveness", because that is a mechanical forgiveness, people are not even prepared for that. Real forgiveness is what we did this week, that came from the heart, that is the true reconciliation that this country needs." (Dario, interview in labo - September 2019).

At Re-Conectando, we understand collective trauma as the psychological and emotional impact experienced by a group of people who have undergone shared traumatic events. This trauma profoundly affects the collective identity and memory of the group, often manifesting as widespread grief, loss, fear, and mistrust. The communities we work with have been directly and indirectly affected by war, extreme violence, environmental disasters, and systemic oppression.

In our laboratories, we have observed that the scars of collective trauma can persist for generations, influencing cultural narratives and social behaviors. Our goal is to contribute to collective healing, which involves processes and practices that help a community come together to address and recover from shared trauma. We focus on creating safe spaces for dialogue, acknowledging and validating the experiences and emotions of the group, and fostering unity and support.

We employ rituals, storytelling, communal activities, and eco-psychosocial interventions to facilitate healing. Collective healing transforms pain and suffering into resilience and strength, ultimately rebuilding the social fabric and promoting reconciliation and hope within the community.

Just as mycelium extracts nutrients from decomposing matter to aid in the growth and regeneration of ecosystems, individuals can experience post-traumatic growth, drawing meaning and growth from difficult experiences. This nourishment supports spiritual and emotional well-being. By engaging in this process collectively, we cultivate the possibility of collective healing.

This healing process of the soul inspired Diana Forero, former FARC-combatant and poetess, to write these words in the crystalline waters of the Jüegar river in Lejanias, after having honored her pain:

RECONECTANDO

You know you're dying

you feel burst

your insides

You bleed

lost in delirium

and the memory

Life

at the end of the day

always achieves

break through

And you end up vomiting

thank heaven

the corpse

that you were dragging

stubborn

in the deepest

of your tired belly

You stop clinging to the void

and that's how you manage to find yourself

In the boiling bed

of a sulfur river

Like the caterpillar that bursts

giving birth to colored wings

You break the shell

that clung to fear

and you start groping

but with sure step

around the world

Without more light

May the light of your soul

Your old scabby skin

finally comes off

to pieces of your face

You will never be again

the terrified girl

that hides

Of her self

behind the mask
Seeing with New Eyes: Re-Connecting with Nature
of her own hatred

Proposing care for our shared natural world and ancestral Mother transforms into a powerful source of inspiration on the path to peace and reconciliation, not only among humans but also with the living body of Earth, as many ancestral communities in Colombia have long practiced.
The Game of the Elastics: Experiencing Interbeing
In the same laboratory in Uraba, beside the Caribbean Sea with its unique and healing energy, the group - after cleansing their "inner beaches" in the Truth Mandala - was spontaneously drawn to a collective act of material and symbolic restoration, gathering all kinds of debris from the beach. Standing proudly behind many filled garbage bags, facing the sea turning orange with the setting sun, the participants burst into singing Re-Conectando's jingle: " Está pasando, nos estamos Re-Conectando! "

An impactful practice we have developed to experience interbeing and the theory of living systems is what we currently call the Game of the Elastics. Each participant receives a closed elastic band, long enough to form various shapes by stretching it with different body postures. The elastic represents qualities or "medicines" that each of us carries within. Gradually, participants are invited to join their bands with others to create increasingly complex shapes until all the bands are intertwined into a single network. At this point, we ask them to describe what they see. Common responses include words like "brain," "community," "entanglement," "spider web," "ecosystem," and "mycelium." This sets the stage for a reflection on what might happen to the human and natural ecosystem if current trends continue.

Then the facilitator begins to separate parts, unlinking the participants one by one. At this point, they no longer represent themselves but are seen as parts of an ecosystem being devastated. Having researched the specific socio-environmental conflicts of the territory beforehand, the facilitator makes cynical, harsh comments during the disconnection process:

"This is a river contaminated with mercury from gold mining, now lifeless, but who cares!" "This is a mountain being decapitated for its mineral wealth, but who cares! There are thousands of mountains in this country!" "This is an indigenous community driven to extinction, taking with it a unique cosmogony, language, and art, but who cares? They're just obstacles to progress!" "These are orchids no one has ever seen, now vanished, but it doesn't matter." "And you, the social leader making a fuss about all this, we'll disappear you too. You're just a troublemaker, always arguing and complaining, doing nothing useful... and nothing happens, because we are all afraid."

As the "unraveling" progresses, some participants start to resist the dismemberment, reflecting the real-life struggles in Colombia. The facilitator responds with increased determination to make them disappear, cruelly mirroring the harsh reality they face. Eventually, the network is almost completely unraveled, leaving only a few participants loosely connected by their elastics, while the rest lie disconnected on the floor.

At that point, we ask the participants how they feel about what has happened. They usually express feelings of desolation, hopelessness, and pain for everything that has been lost, realizing the deep impact it has on them. We sometimes comment on what remains, sharing facts such as only 17% of animals left on Earth are wild, 75% of birds are chickens, and almost 60% of mammals are cows. This prompts reflection on what these changes mean for the planet and humanity.
Widening Circles: Re-Connecting with Causes
Next, we invite participants to consider what they can do or contribute to prevent the remaining parts from disappearing and to regenerate life. As they name the qualities they bring to the ecosystem (e.g., "protect the rivers," "reforest," "raise awareness through art", they reconnect their elastics with the surviving network. This process continues until the network is fully restored, giving rise to a new, interconnected system.

This dynamic is rather painful yet clarifying, serving as a perfect introduction to seeing our interconnectedness in the web of life through new (or ancestral) eyes, regardless of the role or place you occupy in this web. Often, we proceed by reconnecting participants to the causes they defend through the beautiful Work That Reconnects (WTR) practice: Widening Circles. This involves working on their ecological self, cultivating passion and compassion, and opening up to new identities.
Acuerdo de Paz: A Walk Towards Peace
We invite participants to create small theater scenes in evocative natural settings, which themselves become actors in the performance. This exercise helps to strengthen the muscle of imagination and allows participants to fully embody the experience. Amidst liberating laughter or while holding their breath, the audience witnesses scenes where a victim takes the place of a perpetrator, a former combatant embodies a child of the future, or an indigenous leader represents the CEO of the mining company destroying his land. This approach creates a transformative space for participants to confront past traumas, articulate emotions, and reconnect with their inner selves and a larger, collective purpose. Through forum theater, participants also practice agency by intervening as "spect-actors," exploring new, alternative approaches to these complex issues.

Throughout all our activities - whether in heartfelt conversations amidst nature, during moments of playful interaction, or in the profound silence of our Gaia refuge - we recognize that the soul's mycelium is weaving together our past experiences, emotions, and beliefs. This intricate process shapes our present and future selves, integrating these elements to foster a sense of wholeness across our life journey. To deepen our experience of integration and interbeing, both personally and collectively, we are now preparing for another ritual within Re-Conectando. This ritual is inspired by the Peace Agreement, " el Acuerdo de Paz" in Spanish. " Acuerdo" comes from the latín verb " accordare, meaning "to unite hearts." It symbolizes for us the " cuerda," the cord that can guide us along the arduous path toward peace.

The Peace Walk has emerged as a pivotal activity, symbolizing various facets of our national journey from conflict to harmony with ourselves and the natural world. Participants are guided to a rugged, untamed natural environment, brimming with challenging terrain - rivers to cross, towering rocks to scale, dense bushes, precipices, dark caves, mountains, diverse vegetation, and fallen trees. In silence and blindfolded, participants traverse this terrain, one hand resting on the shoulder of the person ahead, the other holding a soft wool thread symbolizing the "Acuerdo de Paz" concluded in 2016. Intuitively, each person decides where to grip the cord - leading the way upfront, amidst the group, or following behind, sensing the movement of the thread guided by those ahead. Guides assist when paths grow too perilous, facilitating a journey into the unknown.

This collective trek serves to bring the unconscious into consciousness and reveal the unseen barriers within our spirit, heart, and body. It navigates uncertainty toward the horizon of peace and reconciliation-with oneself, others, and the Earth. Questions arise: What do I need for healing? What must I release? Can I trust those beside me?

The Misak people of northern Cauca have imparted a profound teaching: we move forward by tracing the footsteps of our ancestors. Moving forward does not mean forgetting the past or the ongoing challenges, but rather, learning from those experiences to prevent their repetition and honoring the pain endured by humanity and all living beings. Moving forward entails reconnecting with the ancestral wisdom of indigenous peoples, listening to the Elders who have always understood the deep interconnection among all beings on Earth. As we walk, one hand rests on the shoulder of the Elder before us, while on our other shoulder, we feel the hand of a child from the future. Together, we hold onto the delicate cord of peace, which at times breaks when someone stumbles or when the tension becomes overwhelming - prompting us to pause, reconnect, and then continue our journey towards peace.

We often utilize traditional tales as rich forests of symbols, embedding ourselves in collective rites of passage. The Borneo story of "The Half Boy" has been a guiding narrative for us on many occasions. This traditional initiation tale illustrates the journey from childhood (incompleteness) to adulthood (wholeness), culminating in the community's joyous celebration upon the return of the fully initiated boy to the village. During our peace walks, we immerse ourselves in the boy's trials of initiation from this timeless story. Each participant confronts their fears, pains, feelings of abandonment, vulnerability, fear, and the necessity to trust others for survival. At one point, we invite participants to pick up heavy rocks symbolizing the emotions or narratives that hinder their personal growth. Uphill, we carry our traumas, pain, resentment, desires for revenge, fears of authenticity, and more.

On other occasions, we pause by the river, using colored clay to mark our bodies with the stories and wounds life has inflicted upon us: feelings of inadequacy, shame, regret, fear, violence, illness, and destructive addictions. Each person engages in a self-generated ceremony, adorning their body with these marks. Then, with this marked skin, we proceed towards a waterfall or flowing river. When ready, we immerse ourselves, asking the waters to wash away the old skin we wish to shed, allowing us to emerge renewed, cleansed, and ready for a fresh start-a rebirth of self.

Emerging from the waters purified and rejuvenated, as if reborn, we are welcomed into a new village where we sing and celebrate one another. We commit to embracing a new life and nurturing a country at peace with itself and in harmony with nature.

In our laboratory in Sumapaz, something extraordinary unfolded. Former FARC combatants and individuals who had suffered violence at the hands of the FARC and the national army, notorious for their atrocities, came together. Among them was Mario Calle, a retired member of the Armed Forces, now wheelchair-bound due to an anti-personnel mine planted by the FARC.

Initially, over the first two days, many harbored resistance, distrust, and even anger toward Mario, symbolizing what many considered "the enemy." However, as they listened to his profound suffering and learned how he now dedicated himself to making wheelchairs for victims of anti-personnel mines regardless of their affiliation, a process of humanization began to unfold.

As we prepared as a team for the Peace Walk, the challenge arose of how Mario could participate, given the wheelchair-accessibility issues on the path. To everyone's surprise, three participants-among them a victim of the army and a former FARC commander-stepped forward. They took turns carrying Mario on their shoulders, becoming his legs and enabling him to partake in this symbolic gesture of peace.

This act became a powerful manifestation of mutual care that naturally emerged, fostering healing not only for Mario and his "carriers" but for the entire group.
"If we had established a Ministry of Re-Conectando in our country and given every Colombian the opportunity to undergo this transformational experience, we would all be much better equipped to collectively build peace-and it would have cost significantly less!"

Laura Cifuentes, a participant from one of the Truth Commissions' Houses who took part in our Sumapaz laboratory, expressed in a subsequent interview:

One of the significant contributions Re-Conectando has made to the Truth Commission is the recognition of our deep ecological connection, our innate belonging to Earth's living body. As Miguel, a member of a local Truth Commission House in Norte Santander, shared after his experience in 2019: "We were really touched by Re-Conectando's ability to reconnect us with Earth as a living, suffering, sentient, wise, and healing entity." According to Miguel, the Commission needs to include nature as an active participant capable of narrating the war's effects, the pain it has inflicted, and pathways to collective healing inspired by nature's resilience.

Thus, Mother Earth is acknowledged as a central source for understanding the human tragedies experienced by different regions. This understanding is interwoven into several chapters of the Commission's final report, notably in "When the birds did not sing", "Nature wounded by violence" and the Ethnic chapter focusing on Colombia's indigenous peoples' resilience: "Resistance does not mean mere endurance." It is gratifying to know that Re-Conectando has been able to contribute, albeit modestly yet profoundly, to fostering this awareness.

In the Final Declaration of the Commission titled " Convocatoria a la Paz Grande ", the metaphor of Colombia's wounded body is employed, emphasizing that to heal this body, all its parts must be healed. This shows how the Commission has integrated the principles of interdependence and interconnectedness in all of her analysis.

"We call for the healing
of the physical and symbolic body,

pluricultural and multiethnic,
that we form as citizens of this nation.

A body that cannot survive

with a heart infarcted in Chocó,

arms gangrenous in Arauca,

legs destroyed in Mapiripán,

a head severed in El Salado,

a violated vagina in Tierralta,

empty eye sockets in Cauca,

a ruptured stomach in Tumaco,

crushed vertebrae in Guaviare,

shredded shoulders in Urabá,

a neck slit in Catatumbo,

a face burned in Machuca,

lungs pierced in the mountains of Antioquia
Navigating Colonial Legacies
and the indigenous soul ravaged in Vaupés."

Re-Conectando acknowledges the complexities of operating in a nation with a colonial past, particularly in terms of respecting indigenous knowledge and traditions within The Work That Reconnects. Upholding indigenous sovereignty, advocating for self-determination, and fostering ethical partnerships are foundational to our approach.

Creating inclusive ritual spaces in a predominantly Catholic and evolving Christian society, especially in rural areas, poses significant challenges. Sensitivity is paramount to prevent practices from being perceived as disrespectful or disruptive to established traditions.

Our pancultural approach integrates diverse traditions and symbolic content through self-generated ceremonies, allowing participants to craft rituals tailored to their life transitions and spiritual beliefs. This fosters self-awareness and personal growth through practices like fasting, solitude, meditation, and prayer, aligning with individual paths and intentions. These ceremonies offer opportunities to confront shadows, fears, and weaknesses, gaining clarity on life paths free from judgment or conformity.

Colombia's diverse cultural landscape, including numerous indigenous groups and Afro-Colombian communities, presents both opportunities and obstacles. These communities maintain strong cultural identities and rituals that have been pivotal in their resistance against historical marginalization. Introducing new practices may face resistance if perceived as undermining cherished traditions.

Despite these challenges, they have spurred meaningful dialogue on the enduring impact of colonialism and the imperative of integrating local wisdom and ancestral practices into Re-Conectando's work. Participants from diverse backgrounds are encouraged to share and learn, fostering mutual respect and enrichment in our collective journey.
The Soul's Mycelium: A Legacy Beyond Truth
We recognize that not everyone may fully engage due to personal beliefs or challenges in connecting with the ritual's energy. Rather than criticize non-participation or resistance, we validate these experiences as meaningful explorations of self-awareness and personal boundaries. Integration post-ritual encourages participants to reflect independently and evolve their meanings over time, supported by community resonance and personal storytelling.

Years of collaboration with the Truth Commission have yielded an unexpected, yet potent, harvest: the Seeds of Re-Conectando. These community leaders, once participants in our laboratories, have become enthusiastic stewards of our methodology. They are cultivating the mycelium of empathy and understanding within their own organizations and territories.

This grassroots movement extends beyond physical borders. Our online community of practice, and our "methodological laboratories," have fostered a vibrant space for knowledge sharing and leadership development. Seeds of Re-Conectando are not only interested in learning but some are now facilitators themselves, offering laboratories in their regions with the help of more experienced Re-Conectando facilitators acting as mentors.

Fundación Re-Conectando, as we are formally establishedstablished, is now transitioning leadership to some of these very individuals. We are actively seeking funding to ensure our work continues beyond the Truth Commission's mandate.

Our vision is clear: a flourishing network of "souls" embodying empathy, compassion, and interconnectedness. We identify and empower these leaders, equipping them with practices that cultivate these values. They then become catalysts for change within their communities, inspiring others through their actions and creating a tapestry of like-minded individuals.

As these networks expand, they weave the fabric of a more soulful society. Workshops, discussions, and collaborative initiatives become the threads of transformation, leading to a visible shift in social cohesion, environmental stewardship, and overall well-being.

Finally, just as mycelium adapts and thrives in diverse environments, so too will our approach. Continuous learning and collaboration between leaders and communities will ensure sustained growth and impact, mirroring the resilient and expansive nature of its namesake in the natural world. The soul's mycelium, once planted, holds the potential to transform Colombia's future, one connection at a time.

Helena ter Ellen

Liliana Moreno

Hector Aristizábal

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Re-Conectando: Weaving the Mycelium of the Soul for Peace in Colombia - ImaginAction.org

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The Mycelium of the Soul: A Guiding Metaphor The soul's mycelium is a metaphor that embodies what we in Re-Conectando have experienced with our work in Colombia as the essence of the human spirit-resilient, interconnected, and continually evolving on the journey of healing and self-discovery. Like the mycelium in dark ...

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The song "Prayer of the Mothers", was born as a result of an alliance made between singer-songwriter Yael Deckelbaum, and a group of courageous women, leading the movement of “Women Wage Peace”. The movement arose on summer 2014 during the escalation of violence between Israel and the Palestinians, and the military operation “Tzuk Eitan”. On October 4, 2016, Jewish and Arab women began with the joint "March of Hope" project. Thousands of women marched from the north of Israel to Jerusalem in a call for peace. A call that reached it’s peak on October 19th, in a march of at least 4,000 women half of them Palestinian, and Half Israeli, in Qasr el Yahud (on the northern Dead Sea). The very same evening 15,000 women protested in front of the priministors house in Jerusalem. The marches were joined by the Nobel Prize for Peace winner Leymah Gbowee, who lead to the end of the Second Liberian Civil War in 2003, by the joint force of women. In the song, Yael combined a recording of Leymah, sampled from a youtube video in which she had sent her blessings to the movement.

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Combatants for Peace is a grassroots movement of Israelis and Palestinians, working together to end the occupation and bring peace, equality, and freedom to our homeland.

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Sarah McLachlan and students of the Sarah McLachlan School of Music come together to share this Prayer of St Francis

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"My drawing represents the land that binds us and unites us." 

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Humans are woven together. Drawing by Anja Rosen, a 13 year old primary school student in Slovenia. Chosen from over 600,000 children globally to create a piece of art to show what peace looks like. Anja is the winner of the international Plakat Mira competition.

"If someone gives us, others fall. We are all connected to our planet and to each other, but unfortunately we are little aware of it. We are woven together. Other people weave alongside me and my own story; and I weave theirs." said the young designer.

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Peace is to accept what the elements are showing us about life

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Museum of the Ara Pacis, Lungotevere in Augusta, Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

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Museum of the Ara Pacis, Lungotevere in Augusta, Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

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Museum of the Ara Pacis, Lungotevere in Augusta, Rome, Metropolitan City of Rome Capital, Italy

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Commissioned by Emperor Augustus in 13 BCE, the Ara Pacis (Altar of Peace) symbolizes Rome’s era of peace and prosperity.

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Ara Pacis Museum Entrance Ticket | GetYourGuide

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Discover ancient Rome at the Ara Pacis Museum! Skip the line, enjoy flexible hours, and immerse yourself in timeless history and art with our open ticket.

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Ephemeral drawings in sand

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#2 Peace Lives within, and through Vigilance, we can expand it across the universe.

As a Lighthouse, emotions and tensions warn us about the rocks that might threaten Peace.

At a certain point in your journey, it doesn't matter that much how your environment is; when you live present adn vigilant, and keep returning to Peace, that is the space that grows.

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Head, Heart, and Hands, Aligned, Together as ONE In the Air we Breathe.

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#1 Elevating Peace: Peace is Born in the spaciousness of Silence.

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Stillness of a leaf on the surface of water.

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Peace Salute

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Experience Success Systems with Kurt Krueger

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Seed of Peace - Semilla de la Paz