June 2009

It is the dry season
the time of seed bearing
when pod-laden trees
rustle in cold northern winds
singing the potential of new life
to the clear blue winter skies
 
The tree of life team were invited to a far corner on the eastern border mountains of Zimbabwe
where a chief and the people of his clan live on the steep sides of a fertile valley
the mountain that holds the graves of 4 generations of chiefs
the people of the Flying Ant totem - ****
The place of an ancient mountain crossing
a path where ‘one-by-one’
people journey back and forth to Mozambique
-for ancient paths pay little respect to political boundaries.
 
Over the last 25 years a shift of energy has entered this valley
the abundant water held in the body of the mountain
has been channeled to each thatched homestead
and swathes built along contours,
and permaculture, and rotation farming and tree planting
has restored the land
they are surrounded by sugar cane and bananas
and rape and lettuce of every kind and beans and peas
and pawpaws and tomatoes and sweet potatoes and maize and herbs of every kind
 
They have looked at conflict resolution
and HIV/AIDS
The responsibility of sharing
and the sharing of responsibility
and of community caring for orphans and elders
They have looked at culture and spirit and meditation
and called forth the essence  that is needed to hold them in place
with dignity
A place where peace is being made with land
and between the 6000 people who live there
 
We travelled with representatives from the two urban communities
*** and *** – who have been battered and beaten
grass roots to grass roots
a sharing of what life has been
and what life can be
 
We did the Tree of Life circles with community
and they spoke of old unspoken wounds from their childhoods
of old hurts and the need to repair damage in their families
“I never thought I could tell of happened to me when I was a child”
one elderly woman said
“I thought I would be a laughing stock
but now I have said it, and I was heard, and I am free of that old pain”
The old man
bent knees,
clouded wise eyes
brother of the chief who has been the leader of the people
takes the stone in the circle
“the lessons you have brought us will stay in our hearts
our people will grow”
 
And the lessons of these remote people
of their courage, and openness, and their work towards peace and their love of their land
are lessons that will stay in our hearts
 
The seeds are sown
may they grow.