Balance
Description:
Each member is encouraged to participate in Balance at least once in their lifetime, with no limit to the number of times they might participate. Balance begins when members of Love (Water) and members of Power (Rock) temporarily swap places with each other, akin to a student-exchange program. Balance affords members the opportunity to expand their understanding of the Novel Universe by directly experiencing the opposite side of the River.
Let’s say that three Citizens of Love, all from the Ribbon-River Dancing Community, would like to temporarily experience the lives of those in a Tribe. Luckily, three members of the Monster Truck Tribe are also interested in undergoing this pilgrimage (if they were not all from the same Tribe, the Sages would find three willing members of any number of Tribes for this exchange). For a time, these members switch roles and locations with each other, symbolizing the Novel Universe Model’s energy theory of Signature-Frequency Sets swapping through Quantum Transience in “bound” groups. At least one River Sage, and voluntary guides within each Tribe and Community, will assist these members in their transition, where they will “replace” their counterparts, while absorbing the knowledge and novelty of a new, temporary home. Practically speaking, however, the Ribbon-River Dancers may never repair a truck, and the Monster Truckers may not successfully learn any dances, but ideally, everyone should leave with new connections and expanded horizons.
Furthermore, in this scenario, Citizen Jeff, of the Ribbon-River Dancing Community, is never fully able to make a comfortable transition, and decides to quit Balance– the only way to “fail” the pilgrimage. To be reconsidered for Balance, Jeff must wait a minimum of two years, and receive the endorsement of three River Sages. Jeff must also have a Sage relay his decision with Bella, the Monster Trucker he initially swapped with. Jeff must take into consideration that failing his pilgrimage affects more than his own journey, but Bella’s as well– Bella currently resides with Jeff’s Family Sphere, occupying Jeff’s role in his community. Bella is presented with the following choices: she might also quit Balance, be assigned a new willing exchange partner to start over with at day one, or be assigned a Ribbon-River Dancing Sage as her exchange partner, given new accommodations within the Community, and continue her pilgrimage alone. Should she quit, however, she’ll not be required to undergo the waiting period and reapplication that Jeff incurred, as she is not considered to have failed the pilgrimage. With this in mind, there’s no limit to the number of times Jeff might retry Balance throughout his lifetime, only that he meets those qualifications with each attempt.
After the temporary switch runs its course, the pilgrimage culminates in a shared meal and reflection on the experience at a site between the Community and Tribe. The nature of the one-to-one swap should hopefully afford a deep connection between the swapped members of those Tribes and Communities; or, in Bella and Jeff’s case, a stronger understanding of the self by dealing with Jeff’s choice to abandon the pilgrimage. Balance highlights the flexibility of affiliation, that we can switch frameworks at any time, any number of times, whether in life or the beyond-life. Some members might be invited to stay in their new home, choosing never to switch back, or expand their sense of home, and from time-to-time, live in either place. Our freedom to change our minds, like the infinite nature of the Instrument, never expires.
Practices:
Exchangees spend between one and three tzolk’ins living in each other’s homes, experiencing each other’s group, coming to understand and appreciate a different way of doing things. A tzolk’in is the Mayan “short” calendar’s thirteen day “week.” We use the Mayan’s short calendar to enhance the pilgrimage by adding a “personal” dimension. Each of the 260 combinations between the day number and twenty glyphs has a unique set of associated ideas, that, like reading tarot cards or divining the I Ching, is dependent on individual interpretation. For instance, 7 Ik. Day 7 is associated with completion or spiritual awareness, and “Ik” represents new beginnings, wind, and communication. A valid interpretation might be that 7 Ik is a perfect day to craft a new, spiritual beginning (friendship) through the Internet (communication), but it differs for everyone; an equally valid interpretation is that it’s the day to build a wind turbine. While use of the Mayan calendar is optional, we include it as a magical way to make every day of the pilgrimage count.
Members apply to participate in Balance, are assigned a volunteer Clade or Sphere from the opposite side of the River to swap with, and travel to the Body with their Sage to negotiate living accommodations, a plan of development within the Body, and a baseline regiment of interaction. They will also be assigned a Guide, or member of the Body, responsible for directly assisting with the minutia of life in an unfamiliar culture. Both Guides and those members swapping Bodies are encouraged to reach out and begin the process of acclimation as soon as possible– so much can be accomplished in the days leading up to Balance. Ideally, before the pilgrimage kicks off, each member has a substantial idea of their duties and responsibilities, and, at minimum, met their Guide and family (Clade / Sphere) in-person. Guides may be changed at the request of the pilgrim, family, Guide, or Sage, as long as it is done in collaboration, with Sage-approval.
During Balance, each member swaps with the other in a one-to-one fashion, spending their time engaged, to the best of their abilities, as if they were the member they have traded places with. However, this level of engagement is not intended to be total, including individual idiosyncrasies, but limited to functionally replacing their counterpart’s itinerary of responsibilities to the Body.
At the end of their time, the entire group from the pair of swapping Bodies meets up at the end of the last day for a special ceremony and meal. Members can invite their Guides to join, but are not obligated to do so. The meal takes place in a previously agreed upon River site.
The ceremony starts with a special, two-cycle Circle Study, beginning with the Rock Body followed by the Water, where participants highlight the relationship between NUM and what they’ve learned about the other’s Body.
The entire group participates together in one to three rituals or practices particular to each participating Body’s form of Love or Power.
A formal statement of gratitude / value for both Bodies are presented in appreciation for each sharing with the other their time and inviting the pilgrims into their space. If Guides are in attendance, they may be asked to speak as well.
A communal potluck dinner, with appropriate, beloved menu items from both Bodies, is held.
After the meal, members exchange handwritten letters, homemade crafts, or other cherished items as keepsakes for those whose homes they shared.
Officially ending the pilgrimage, each pilgrim announces their future intended association with both Bodies.
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