The material presented
here is not Al-Anon Conference Approved Literature. It is a method
to exchange
information, ideas, feelings, problems and solutions on a personal
level.
Several years ago, I learned that a certain tribe in a small village in Africa would deal with the offenses of a villager by placing the offending person in a circle. The entire tribe would circle the person whose offenses were of grave concern to them. Then, each villager would take a turn telling the person in the circle all that he or she remembered about that person that was positive from birth on. The villagers would not leave the circle or allow the person in the circle to leave until there was a change that the tribe could see in the person on the honor seat. Once they were aware of the change and in agreement, the treatment was ended and all villagers returned to their own homes. The offending villager was now restored to health and the matter promptly forgotten. Everyone was free to get on with their lives again peacefully in the village.
Sometimes I think that Al-Anon and MIP operate in a similar fashion. The affirmation, the confirmation, the encouragement, the support, the sharing of stories - they all seem to help restore us to peace if we're open to it. And I notice that many people stay and stay and stay offering a hand to those who need it year after year. Kind of like refusing to leave the circle until many are healed and restored to their own villages. We might have no campfire to share or food to pass or mats to sit on together, but we seem to have formed a village circle of sorts and what a big difference it makes.
-- Edited by grateful2be on Tuesday 4th of February 2014 08:33:25 PM
THat's beautiful Grateful, thank you for that share. At the face to face meeting I go to, the group representative was speaking about the power of the circle. It's powerful being surrounded in fellowship, understanding and love, that's for sure.
Great thought and example G2BE. I agree completely
When I traveled to Turkey, we toured an ancient mental hospital where the patients were treated in a similar fashion. In addition, they were given affirmations and assured over a intricate intercom system, that they were healing, getting better, growing stronger and it worked.
No one was coerced, shamed or punished and were simply given positive thoughts and energy Just as our alanon tools suggest
I love this circle! I sit in it, without my shoes on, with a warm cup of java, or a glass of tea, on a relatively soft couch, and I look around it and I see people like you grateful2be, just across from me in it, and people like hotrod, to my left, and yanksfan to my right... and I can visualize us in that circle, holding hands and saying the Serenity Prayer in a voice of unity that is so beautiful that the angels smile at us in harmony, and then I see us praying in the circle but as individuals for those just stepping over the threshold into Al-Anon and those who are on their way.
John
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" And what did we gain? A new life, with purpose, meaning and constant progress, and all the contentment and fulfillment that comes from such growth."
I love this too .. there are many I wish I could throw into our circle with the lot of us surrounding them Refusing to let them leave lol .. but in truth, I'm thankful to be one who chooses to be in the circle .. thanks for sharing this .. beautiful ..
