Dubrovnik Conference 2002
  

Letter from Director

Dear Peacemakers,

In 1991, shortly after the U.S. began a bombing campaign against Iraq, I left for a six-month stay in Yugoslavia. Within three months, Croatia and Slovenia seceded from Yugoslavia and civil war erupted. Heartbroken by the carnage of both hostilities, I wanted to know the causes. I studied the history of Yugoslavia from different perspectives and asked questions continually. But I soon discovered that this type of inquiry led to biased answers and even superficial slogans. If I really wanted to know the causes of these or any wars, I had to ask more fundamental questions. These fundamental questions became the catalyst for the Dubrovnik peacebuilding inquires.

In agreement with Riane Eisler (author of The Chalice and the Blade), I believe the cycles of war and violence are wedded to a worldview that promotes dominator systems of social and political organization. Consequently, any inquiry that addresses underlying causes of war must take on the sacred cows of a culture. Whether this is an inquiry into economics and money systems, gender and leadership roles, denial and scapegoating, race and ethnicity, or religion and spirituality, we are challenged to face our blind spots and unquestioned beliefs. If we are serious about eradicating war and manifesting cultures of peace, we must open our hearts and minds.

Though we know of very few states that maintained peace for prolonged periods of time, the city-state of Dubrovnik was such an example. Always focused on diplomacy, even amidst warring neighbors, Dubrovnik was a culture of peace for nearly six hundred years. We don't learn about Dubrovnik in history books because Dubrovnik didn't conquer, plunder and amass territory. We don't study the history of peacebuilding. What does this say about our values? What does this say about the type of culture and heroes we honor?

In this conference, we will focus on the process of transmuting the 'base' patterns of war and dominator systems into the 'gold' of inner and outer transformation. We will examine our own shadows as well as the collective shadows that emerge in the outer world. We gather to expand our sense of 'the possible' and to confirm the need to think, and ultimately act, outside the box.

Bringing together some of the leading thinkers and practitioners of our time, we are dedicated to building a body of knowledge that will inform a more conscious way of living. Our daily newsletter will connect and integrate ideas from all participants so that every voice is part of a collective body of knowledge. We have limited the number of invited speakers to allow for greater participant involvement.

Amidst the serene beauty of Croatia's Adriatic coast, we are removed from the distractions of everyday life. Dubrovnik is unencumbered by the chains of the modern world (i.e., no hotel chains, no fast food chains, no boutique chains!). In such a setting, inner peace is restored to our beings and cynicism dissolves with every breath. In such a setting, we are free to begin the Praxis of the Great Work. As the alchemists of old say, "as above, so below." Or, as within, so without. Worldly states reflect states of consciousness --- and transformation, whether personal or societal, is an alchemical process. Please join us for this unique and inspiring meeting of minds, hearts, bodies, and souls!

In Peace,
Georgia Kelly


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