Year 2012 - the year of Transformation

Today is the first full moon of the Chinese New Year which began on Feb 04. 

Speculations and predictions run rife about the Year 2012 and what it has in store for us.

These beliefs range from the spiritually transformative to the apocalyptic. Sharp peaks and troughs, uncertainty and possible end of an order to mark the beginning of a new age - all such and many more (possibly self-fulfilling) prophecies are afloat everywhere.

According to Chinese Astrology 2012 is the year of a Black Dragon, Water Dragon or Black Water Dragon. Since Water of 2012 comes with Dragon it implies Water from the sky makes a dam overflow. Dragon is a legendary animal and is coated with mysterious color. It is considered that the dragon is unpredictable, untouchable and people cannot see its head and tail - the beginning and the end - at the same time.  

Numerologically Year 2012 has inherent in it the energies of number 4 and 8 (when factorized, 2012 gives  a prime number of 503 and 4) - supposed to be a fatalistic combination. The year also has a predominance of number 3 energy - the energy of , being the the 12th year of the 3rd millennium and of the 21st century, and the 3rd of the 2010s, which denotes integration and wholeness and relates to expansiveness and learning through life experiences. In combination with the energy of number 8, this could mean gathering insights from unexpected events into  karmic influences, dawning of systemic wisdom and opportunities for spiritual growth through expanded consciousnesses.

Whatever this means, whatever ominous suggestions one may carry in one’s mind, this year, to me, calls for being grounded while embracing transformation as a natural process. Which also means co-existence of many births and deaths, beginnings and ends, calling upon the ability to see them simultaneously (the head and tail of the dragon) and flow with the process (the water).

To me, this year being a year of systemic corrections, also calls upon listening to subtle messages and responding with conscious reversal of certain energies which we would have unconsciously set into action in the past and now showing its negative impact to individuals as well as in the immediate contexts. Needless to say, above all, it calls for undeterred faith in the Supreme Will, the Tao or the Law of Existence.

The other day, while reflecting upon the possible energies that one could experience this year, I came across this powerful message from The Book of Mirdad, which not so coincidentally seems to be a wake-up call to come out of fatalistic speculations and redefine our approach to deal with uncertainties and the associated fear. 

More devastating than the flood of Noah shall be the flood already raging on. An earth engulfed in water is an earth pregnant with promises of Spring. Not so an earth astew in her own feverish blood.

Have no fear for the Earth. Too young is she, and too overflowing are her breasts.More generations shall she suckle yet than you can count.Nor have anxiety for Man, the master of the Earth, for he is indestructible.

Yea, ineffaceable is Man. Yea, inexhaustible is Man. He shall go into the forge a man but shall emerge a god.

Be steady, Make ready. Keep your eyes, and ears, and tongues on fast so that your hearts may know that holy hunger which, once appeased, leaves you forever full.

You must be ever-full that you may fill the wanting. You must be ever strong that you may prop the wavering and the weak. You must be ever ready for the storm that you may shelter all the storm-tossed waifs. You must be ever luminous that you may guide the walkers in the dark.

The weak are burdens to the weak. But to the strong they are a pleasant change. Seek out the weak. Their weakness is your strength.

The hungry are but hunger to the hungry. But to the full they are a welcome outlet. Seek out

the hungry. Your fullness is their want.

The blind are stumbling blocks to the blind. But they are mileposts to the seeing. Seek out the blind. Their darkness is your light.

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Transformational Coach - a bodhisattva?

"It is not coincidental that businesses today, in course of recovering from the aftermath of the recession are looking for coaches who can partner with the hi-potentials to take organizations to next level. Somewhere, somehow, we all are sensing the need for a systemic and sub-systemic transformation. And looking for transformational agents who can accompany in the process, which besides everything else, is by default painful. The good news is that there are many who come with the good intent and certified ability to hand-hold individual and institution through the journey of transformation. The not so good news is that not too many are there to do this as a response to their calling, driven uncompromisingly by their values of compassion, commitment and power. Which is where the crux of transformational coaching lies.

It is not so much about capability that makes a transformational coach effective. It is about a certain calling, a commitment and a wellspring of compassion founded on the faith of humanness that makes transformational coaching happen. It’s a process of healing that does not need the dexterity of surgeon but the heart of a healer to enable the process."

An extract from the article, Ready for Transformational Coaching, published in the March 2010 issue of Management Next Magazine.

The way of a transformational coach is that of a Bhakti Yogi. He, in the process of enabling transformation of the other does not impose any prescription or pathway but like a true Bhakti yogi embraces the pathway of the protege through unconditional compassion.

Its quite likely that the protege, knowingly or unknowingly has taken the path of a Gyan yogi, seeking knowledge relentlessly and through a process of denial moving towards attainment. Or it could be that the protege has preferred to follow the path of dedicated action (the pathway of a Karma yogi) and waiting to realize the fact the actor is a mere instrument of creation.

Any which way, whatever path the protege has chosen, it does not matter to a transformational coach. As a true Bhakti yogi his natural accepting presence does not discriminate or even consider any pathway. What he does, through his healing presence and participation, allays the stress of relentless seeking and striving thereby making the journey more joyful and engaging. History has instances however, of Karma yogis and Gyan yogis getting influenced by the para bhakti of their masters and very naturally adopting that path to experience magical leap of faith. No wonder the contemporary definition of the role-responsibility and style of a transformational coach is very similar to that of a bodhisattva – someone who has unconditionally dedicated his life to deliverance of all sentient beings.