Dear heroic one,
Over the next couple of weeks we’ll be sending out commentary on aspects of the Hero’s Journey retreat and the technique that we use. This is to help you understand why it is like it is and become more proficient in the application of the technique.
The retreat synthesises two components. The ancient method of self enquiry used within an intensive retreat setting in conjunction with the dyad communication cycle. Todays instalment is part one of the back story in to how it all came about.
The technique itself was innovated by Charles & Ava Berner who ran a healing and growth centre in 1960’s California, at a time where there was a huge intermingling & cross pollination of ideas, from philosophy, psychology, Eastern spirituality & psychedelia and a proliferation of new methods of personal growth and self realisation.
After reading Philip Kapleau’s Three Pillars of Zen, Berner was introduced to the idea of the Zen sesshin retreat (sesshin means to search the heart) within the Rinzai Zen tradition, where students faced one another whilst working with a koan, a question used to bring about an insight into one’s self nature. You may recognise such weird questions like ‘What is the sound of one hand’ or ‘What was your original face before your grandmother was born?’, as well as the more approachable ‘Who am I?’ & ‘What am I?’.
During such retreats the cheek by jowl proximity and presence of another amplified the process and there were regular interviews with the master, where the student would need to present their understanding. The impending interview helped keep the intensity of focus needed for breakthroughs to occur whilst the contact with the live presence of the master and their skilful means helped bring about this new change of perspective.
The second component was the dyad communication cycle. Charles had seen time and again that honest communication was a key element in helping people resolve personal problems and realise their hidden potential. He had concentrated his efforts on helping others become more able to express themselves truthfully and be good listeners. Ava was interested in everything to to do with health & relating and between them they inspired & supported one another.
Together they developed new formats for improving communication, one of which they called the dyad. The word comes from the Greek dyo, ‘consisting of two’. A dyad is two people seated facing one another, each taking turns listening whilst the other speaks. Ava came up with this in 1965 as a way of people helping one another that couldn’t pay for individual sessions.
In their dyad groups anyone could come for a nominal fee and with a little guidance pick a partner, sit down in a structured format that provided safety and talk honestly with someone who would listen. One person would give the other an instruction such as ‘Tell me a goal you have in life’ or ‘Tell me a problem you’re currently having’. The communicating partner answered as honestly as possible and the listener listened without interruption. After a prearranged time had passed they swapped roles.
People liked dyads as they’re a rare opportunity in life to be given time and space to focus in on an important aspect of life and to express and communicate without being judged, talked over or sidetracked.
More tomorrow on how it all came together and evolved. I hope you enjoy these.
Luke & Mat