Our core belief is that humanity needs to evolve beyond our selfish sectarian polarized situation toward a state where we know how to peacefully coexist with each other, and within ourselves. We further believe that this evolution is a spiritual one. The commitment of Miriam's Well is to support this evolution by offering educational experiences that initiate and sustain this for those of us who are on this "conscious spiritual evolutionary" path.

Our theme for 2007 is:

Hope and Darkness: A Journey of Awakening
"...Inside human beings is where G-d learns"

2006 was our most challenging year, and we've learned a lot about ourselves and the evolution of Miriam's Well. After 5 years of what seemed like growth and abundance, we came face to face with our own version of apocalypse and cataclysm. We almost gave up. And in a way we did.

If abundance is an illusion, than so is apocalypse. And we face 2007 with a maturity born of the fire of transformation, and a surrender to what is.

So our theme for 2007 is Hope and Darkness: A Journey of Awakening which is about holding the paradox of opposites. Holding the devastation of war and the hope for peace; Blue states and Red states; selfishness and generosity; poverty and wealth. We are faced with many choices. And we hold them noticing our judgment and anger, our polarization and rejections, without allowing our reactivity to fuel our actions. Being in relationship with all that is in order to awaken to Reality and the business of being a human being. True awakening and spiritual activism can arise from here. There is a wonderful Rilke poem that we read during most of our weekends.

Just as the winged energy of delight
Carried you over many chasms early on,
Now raise the daringly imagined arch
Holding up the astounding bridges.

Miracle doesn't lie only in the amazing
Living through and defeat of danger;
Miracles become miracles in the clear
Achievement that is earned.

To work with things is not hubris
When building the association beyond words;
Denser and denser the pattern becomes–
Being carried along is not enough.

Take your well disciplined strengths
and stretch them between two
opposing poles. Because inside human beings
is where G-d learns

(Just as the Winged Energy of Delight, Rainier Maria Rilke - translated from the German by Robert Bly)

This last stanza explains why we do what we do. For example, we do Dialogue to allow diverse passions to play out within the circle and the container holds. We explore Projective Dreamwork to stay in intimacy with a reality that transcends our limited waking thoughts. We study the first century to embrace the consciousness and the possibility that Jesus embraced; the possibility he shared with many of his fellow Jews. And we continue to explore and honor the profundity of the human experience.

This year you can come to us or we'll come to you. We will be bringing the Miriam's Well wisdom to Texas, California and other places around the country. Our mission remains the same: small group transformational experience. We welcome all who want to join us in creating new life out of the darkness.

All our love and blessings for a wondrous 2007:

Susan & Richard Rosen