Unexpected and challenging companions on the road to transformation

On this day we studied the adventures of life as transformative spiritual practices. With stories by J.R.R. Tolkien, Rachel Naomi Reman, Sufi masters and, of course, the grand stories of God, we learned that no transformation of life is possible if we do not face seven challenges. They are in fact our friends, not our enemies. Thus, we sought to makes friends with the challenge of resistance, gradualness, integration, desire, expectations, perseverance and attentiveness.

The day opened to us the deeper meaning of Tolkien’s own words from »Lord of the Rings«:

»All that is gold does not glitter

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes, a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king. «