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The
Story of Our Logo The Logo of the Gaia Foundation is of six geese, flying in a V-formation, across a circle surrounded by a stylised double spiral. Each of these elements has symbolic meaning for us in the Gaia Foundation. Why a Circle? The Circle has been used for eons as a symbol of the Earth - Gaia itself. It represents the great circle of the horizon that we carry with us wherever we go. As one wise man has said -
The Gaia Foundation is exactly such a circle of circles. Each project is conceived in a "dreaming heart circle", building a vision and making important decisions. Each project goes through a cycle of four stages
This proceeds then through the Karabirrdt Song-Line "planning chart", identifying the sequence of tasks and activities required to make their project outrageously successful; people them move into supporting each other through to success, and finally coming together in circle in a concluding celebration. And as a circle of circles, we make the changes, as we go. Why a Double Spiral? As we dance the sacred circle, we find that the end is really the beginning.
As we move through our projects so we ourselves are transformed, and the circle becomes a spiral. But at its heart of hearts, where theory and practice are indistinguishable, where the self and the world become one, there magic enters. From this source of empowerment, the spiral is in fact a double spiral - spiralling into the centre and out from the centre, simultaneously. It is not for nothing that it is a double spiral that lies in the DNA molecules at the heart of every living cell in our bodies. It is not for nothing that the double spiral is traced in the paths of stars of the great island galaxies that move forever through the depths of space. At the heart of the edge of Chaos one finds the fractal spirals feeding upon other spirals into the heart of the mathematical nature of the universe. Why Geese? The Foreword to "Insight and Action: How to Discover and Support a Life of Integrity and Commitment to Change", by Tova Green, Peter Woodrow and Fran Peavey, presents "Facts About Geese" from a talk given by Algeles Arrien to the Organisational Development Network in 1992. It goes as follows "Milton Olsen (the Naturalist) said it's very interesting that, particularly with geese, we have a lot to learn about collectives. Fact One: As each bird flaps its wings, it creates an uplift for for the birds following it. By flying in a V-formation, the whole flock adds 71 percent greater flying range than if the bird flew alone. Many indigenous cultures recognise that there is a lot that I can do by myself, but the power of what can get done with a collective is quantum. It's a mega step, a mega movement. The lesson from this fact: people who share a common direction and a sense of community can get where they're going quicker and easier because they're travelling on the thrust of one another. That's a universal collective lesson. Fact Number Two About Geese: Whenever a goose falls out of formation it suddenly feels the drag and resistence of trying to fly alone and quickly gets back into formation to take advantage of the lifting power of the bird immediately in front. Lesson: If we had as much sense as a goose, we will stay in formation with those that are headed where we want to go and be willing to accept their help, as well as give ours to others. Fact Number Three: When the lead goose gets tired, it rotates back into the formation and another goose flies at the point position. An invaluable lesson for us to apply in all group work. It pays to take turns doing the hard tasks of sharing leadership. Lesson: With people as with geese, we are interdependent on each others' skills and capabilities and unique arrangements of gifts, tallents, resources, or what indigenous societies call the "good, true and beautiful. Fact Number Four: The geese in formation honk from behind to encourgae those in front to keep up their speed. Lesson: We need to make sure that our honking from behind is encouraging. And not something else. In groups where there is greater encouraement against great odds, the production is much greater - the power of encouragement. Now I love the word encourage because it means "to stand by one's heart, to stand by one's core" - that quality of honking. Fact Number Five: When a goose gets sick, or wounded, or shot down, two geese drop out of formation and follow it down to help and protect it. They will stay with it until it is able to fly again or dies. Then they launch out again on their own with another formation or catch up with the flock. Lesson: If we had as much sense as geese, we too will stand by each other in difficult times as well as when we are strong. And I think it is important that one of the things that indigenous cultures have done for years is that they look to nature as an outer mirror of one's own internal nature. And so as we begin to learn about collectives of animals and their patterns, perhaps we have some tools, techniques, methodologies about community and about collective work and group work." And as Mary Oliver has written
Wild Geese |
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