Jordan: the mountains, the colors, the sand, the sunlight, the stars, and the silence – everything is breathtakingly beautiful, rugged, and impressive. The people are exceptionally hospitable, especially the Bedouins in the desert, who are truly unique. The country suffers in terms of tourist numbers due to the wars in neighboring countries, yet it manages to remain a kind of oasis of peace and safety. That’s how it felt: safe.
Exactly two weeks after leaving Amsterdam, Jan Jacob and I are now sitting at the airport in Amman, waiting for the return flight. I’m reminiscing, watching the memories replay in my mind like a film in slow motion.
About a year and a half ago, the idea came up to organize a Movements of Transformation program in the desert, in Wadi Rum, Jordan. It was planned for November 2023. However, due to the situation in the region after October 7, some people dropped out, uncertain about the safety. Because of this, we had to postpone it, even though we had a strong feeling of “we have to do this.”
November 2024: here we are, Jan Jacob and I, along with eight other adventurers.
Every MoT program – also in the Netherlands – is an adventure, not a journey. With a journey, you can plan and have a general idea of the destination. An adventure, on the other hand, is unpredictable. For us, adventure is inseparably linked to the evolutionary force. It’s about letting yourself be taken by what life wants from you, or with you. It’s renewing, but also confrontational and raw – not just a walk in the park.
For over a week, Wadi Rum became our ‘home’ and our workplace. We slept and worked in a ‘camp’ with Bedouin-style accommodations. We worked each day with a view of the mountains and sand dunes, with shutters that opened upwards, bringing in air and light. What a wonderful gift!
It was intense and demanding for all participants, each in their own way. It wasn’t an easy ride. And it was only possible because of the elements of the program and the ‘membrane’ we created. The membrane is incredibly important and valuable to us in our work. It forms the foundation of everything we do. It creates the setting where exploration and learning can take place. Where we refer to “explorer” and “companion,” instead of client and facilitator. Where we are no longer merely trainers but share our knowledge and experience from person to person. A space for what’s over, or coming to an end and for “new.” Sometimes that “new” is something like fresh insights, an expanded perspective, or a different inner place. Or dealing with old familiar patterns and creating new ones. And sometimes, it’s transformative – both professionally and personally.
And yes, the desert environment contributes to this. Or perhaps it even challenges it. The metaphorical rocks that some people have to climb in a transformation process are right there, “in your face.” Here, you couldn’t escape; at best, you could temporarily look away. All the adventurers came here for a reason. Each of them was able to take something from us, from each other, and from the desert.
Deep down, there’s a kind of belief in me that “it ís possible.” Not in the sense of “if you just try hard enough,” but a different kind of belief. It’s based on a willingness in people to explore and change, on the ‘grounded’ systemic reasons why things are the way they are, and on a deep curiosity about that. Sometimes people think I’m crazy, like pulling a stubborn horse. So be it; I just accept that.
But hey: what seemed like an impossible adventure a year ago, turned out to be possible! I look back on it with immense gratitude.
~ Dees
Newsletter
"*" indicates required fields
Contact
© Transitionstudio
