The group that went out with Rajendra and some members of the community with the horses returns happy. They had a wonderful day out in nature. With a swim in the river and a lot of humor, their day became a joyful community experience. It is always moving to see how close pain and joie de vivre are here, always ready for surprises.
We meet the Consejo in the evening. Here I feel the burden of the current situation again. The emotional burden is growing and the community is getting smaller and smaller. They can hardly protect the various lands belonging to the community as they are threatened everywhere. More and more of their small settlements in the mountains are being occupied by others. Illegal clearances for cattle breeding, road construction for the removal of illegal mining and much more are the reasons for this. The Comunidad de Paz experiences a lot of envy because they have good partners for the purchase of cocoa, which is currently at its highest price for a long time. In a way, their lives are constantly in danger. Due to the lure of money, more and more farmers in the region are switching to the paramilitaries or cooperating with them, perhaps also because they are powerless against them individually without a community. The people here want tourism and to buy small fincas, all this is in their interest and the community is a nuisance to them.
German repeatedly emphasizes that they will continue on their path: „They can continue to kill individual people, but what they can’t kill is our ethics and the spirit of the community, which is what we stood up for.“ He looks tired but determined.
Arley speaks movingly about the need for the right education for young people. He talks about the difficulties posed by new technologies and social media, even here in the community. The cell phone culture is becoming more and more prevalent. They would like to send people to Tamera when there is a meeting for youth trainers. They would also like to send people to Tamera if there is going to be some kind of summer university.
Of course, we are also asked: „When are you coming back? It strengthens us and gives us a lot of courage when we are together!“
Rajendra and I are asked to make another film about their role in protecting biodiversity in the area and to approach the government and relevant bodies with it.
They make many suggestions as to how we can support their situation. One very central wish that they have often mentioned: They would like more international presence. How can we support this? In our view, a certain fearlessness, knowledge of Spanish and people skills, as well as an understanding of the principle of non-violence, are a prerequisite for visitors to really be a support for them. At the same time, Arley tells us about examples where people who had hardly any idea simply came to them and learned very quickly.
Tamera is very important to them. They repeatedly emphasize how important the connection to our community is to them and that they wouldn’t have been able to make it this far without us.
So my thoughts also revolve around Tamera and the situation here. I am thinking of a political summer, where we invite our cooperation partners and reflect on the next steps of our common path.
Monday, November 11
Departure day for me. Also the day of the Ring of Power on the theme of „sacred masculinity“.
In the morning meditation, I once again absorb the vibrations of the place and feel the reality of our original vision of the healing biotopes, but also see what a path still lies ahead of us to activate the manifestation powers of the sacred matrix in us and in the world.
It is necessary everywhere to get to the core where we can activate the source within us.
I thank all the men on this earth who have decided to go their way in the service of life, to leave the old male image of toughness, heroism and also the warrior, instead to give care and direction, to use thinking power, precision and compassion to make visible a vision for a different way of inhabiting this planet.
I am grateful for the men in my life who have also given me the courage to embrace and discover my true femininity, which has nothing to do with heteronormative notions of masculinity and femininity. These are pure sources that we can discover within ourselves.
Our morning meditation together, where we repeatedly read the „Sources of Love and Peace“ or Delon’s new text, give us strength and orientation.
I would like to emphasize the commitment of Indra, who, as a peace activist and peace journalist, uses all his know-how to be able to act effectively in the media. He made sure that we quickly implemented the Consejo’s request and completed the short film on biodiversity before we left the community. I am impressed by his quick and precise approach.
We leave the Comunidad de Paz de San José around midday. All my comrades from Tamera and also Elisa remain in the peace community, I am the only one who, together with the „Defend the Sacred“ Alliance (DSA) and two members of the community, embark on the second leg of the journey to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta to the Arhuacos in the north of the country.
„Send trust ahead …“ is my power phrase, because I have completely stayed out of the organization of this trip. It starts quite chaotically and we take it with humor.
During a final lunch with our Tamera group in a restaurant in Apartadó, our companion from the Comunidad de Paz realizes that he has forgotten his passport in the photocopier. A moto-taxi brings him just in time. At check-in, we realize that the wrong passport number has been entered on my ticket and that my name is incorrect, but this is all easy to sort out. Our flight is delayed and we spend the time having lively conversations. Shortly before departure, we find out that our plane is landing at a different airport than originally indicated.
Despite these difficulties, we keep our sense of humor. Helena turns out to be a „born tour guide“, although this is not her original role. She is always in a good mood and ready to translate and I always see her on duty.
In the evening, it is already dark, we land in Medellín. A cab picks us up and takes us to a restaurant. What a change into the world of noise, so-called culture and consumption.
We are welcomed by the hosts and they tell us all about the advantages of the place where we will be staying.
It is late evening when we arrive at this place outside the city where many ceremonies take place, in a way a „freak wellness retreat“. The temperature has dropped dramatically and we have to adapt to the new climatic conditions. Small huts are available as rooms for us. Simple and a little cold.
Helena and Indra take great care of me. They make sure that we get a good place to stay and Helena insists that I move into a room for myself, which was originally intended for two people.
Above all, I am tired and exhausted and my soul continues to work. She is looking for answers to the question of how we can bring about protection for the peace community. Rajendra is also very preoccupied with this question and keeps saying: „If we can help here, that is my top priority.“ We are prepared to interrupt our trip at any time if, for example, Gloria in Bogotá wants to arrange important meetings for us.
Rajendra is of the opinion that in the next 10 years we will face water shortages and increasing water disasters, and that in addition to all human rights issues, the „water rights issue“ will play THE central role, and that there will therefore be a great global need to join forces.
I fall asleep around 11 p.m., tired and exhausted but also ready for everything to come.
Tuesday, November 12
Early in the morning – I have just finished my morning meditation – Indra comes to me. He is looking for contact. He tells me that Rajendra had called for help during the night and that they had taken him to another room before dawn.
He was very short of breath and Indra is outraged that the organization didn’t make sure the elders were well looked after early enough. In their tradition, that is the top priority.
I sense that this will be a day of many emotional movements. New people are arriving, some of whom I have never met before, while at the same time a group of us are still digesting the many impressions of the last few days. May we be well guided.
I am helped by the power sentence from the sources of love: „The divine is always simple, everything else is complicated.“
I’m off to breakfast and am looking forward to the „waves“ of this day.