Connection and Cooperation
by Patricia Broersma
When any of us assents to ride into the mythic life, to do so effectively we need to join with others. As the community strength of the church has diminished, other kinds of
supportive communities have arisen to meet the need, sometimes called
teaching-learning communities. A large group is not necessarily required for
this.
As Margaret Mead is famous for noting, "Never doubt that a small group of
thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it's the only
thing that ever has." Weekend workshops and periodic teleconferencing abound
for joining with like-minded others. In many communities there are numerous
writers' groups, book groups, therapy groups, dream groups, and men's or
women's groups for individuals to support one another's efforts to make changes
in their lives and in the world.
The Millionth
Circle Initiative, founded by Jean Shinoda Bolen, encourages people to gather
for any of a multitude of purposes to "encourage connection and cooperation
among their members and inspire compassionate solutions to individual, community,
and world problems."
The millionth circle refers to the circle whose formation
tips the scales, shifting planetary consciousness for the better. The phrase
was inspired by the Hundredth Monkey Effect, a parable that has sustained
social activists to continue their efforts when conventional wisdom has said
that nothing (certainly not ordinary people) could deter negative forces such
as the nuclear arms race between the superpowers or war efforts in other
countries. In this phenomenon, once a critical number is reached, a particular
learned behavior spreads instantaneously from one group of animals to all
related animals in the region or the world.
In India
I heard the story that a few monkeys in southern India began to learn to pry the
foil tops from milk bottles that sat on doorsteps after morning deliveries.
Within a few weeks, monkeys in the entire region had learned this behavior, and
once it reached a critical mass, monkeys in other parts of the continent, and
even in other countries, suddenly had learned to pry the foil tops from milk
bottles.
As Rupert
Sheldrake posited, this phenomenon points to morphic fields of resonance
strengthened by behavior until they reach a critical mass. The morphic fields
of social groups connect together members of the group even when they are many
miles apart, and provide channels of communication through which organisms can
stay in touch at a distance. They help provide an explanation for telepathy.
There is now good evidence that many species of animals are telepathic, and
telepathy seems to be a normal means of animal communication....Telepathy is
normal not paranormal, natural not supernatural, and is also common between
people, especially people who know each other well.
Thus, when we join
together with others for a common purpose, our actions and intentions have a
reach far beyond the immediate circle of our company.
 This article is reprinted from the book:
Riding
into Your Mythic Life
by Patricia Broersma. ©2007/2008
Reprinted with permission of New World Library, Novato, CA. www.newworldlibrary.com
or 800/972-6657 ext. 52.
For More Info or to Order this Book.
About the Author
A certified therapeutic riding instructor, Patricia Broersma
has founded and directed therapeutic riding programs in San
Antonio, Texas, and Ashland, Oregon.
She has been a certified instructor with North American Riding for the
Handicapped (NAHRA) since 1977. She is currently president of the Equine
Facilitated Mental Health Association. She lives in Ashland, Oregon.
Her website is www.trishbroersma.com.
More articles by this author.
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