This is a painful topic to read about, to think about, and to experience.
I am a Gestalt therapist, and Friz Perls once very honestly described
himself as 'half son of God, half son of a bitch'
I think most of those in leadership positions have this mix of genius
and some kind of madness. The genius is a gift, going down the
generations. The madness needs to be identified and sifted through.
At the time Fritz worked, he (as with others in the field) slept with
clients, and chain smoked through sessions.
Bert is no different in the sense that I appreciate his genius, and
am very grateful for it. HIs own version of madness is no surprise,
though nevertheless of course disappointing.
Of course we are all miini versions of this - our own strengths and
contributions, and our crazyness.
I am also a part of a spiritual organisation, and the issues are the
same, especially visible after the death of my guru. In distress, at
one point I asked a very wise person in the organisation what to do
when I saw people I otherwise respected in the organisation acting in
what I considered to be bad ways. I liked his response - 'look to
that in others which inspires you, and emulate that; look to your own
defects, and rectify them'.
I do think it important to name what goes on. I do also appreciate
your sitting at the sidelines Chris, to see this stays an airing of
personal truths and views, rather than a descent into a particular
kind of collective madness which groups can go to when confronted by
the shadow of the leader. And I do apprecaite hearing people take
risks to share their inner thoughts and experiences, which may
otherwise be 'not okay' due to a prevailing group ethos to not
rubbish the leader.
Vinay Gunther
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Northern Rivers Gestalt Institute
15 Coleman St, Lismore,
NSW, 2480 Australia
Ph/Fax (02) 66 213 911
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Perceive all conflicts as patterns of energy seeking a harmonious
balance in a whole."
Dhyani Ywhoo, Etoway Cherokee
* GESTALT training in the Northern Rivers:
http://www.gestalt.org.au
* GANZ (Gestalt Australia And New Zealand):
http://www.ganz.org.au
* Prout - an alternative socio-economic vision:
http://www.prout.org
* Follow your life-dream - excellent support from Barbara Sher:
http://www.barbarasher.com
* Health and Healing in Cebu:
http://www.amwellness.org
* Online Gestalt course:
http://www.zurinstitute.com/gestaltcourse.html
