Frouk Riemersma

This also means that working together and listening to each other’s differences is not easy. It almost seems as if this is precisely what we are meant to learn on this continent: to grow from the young Europa, who was abducted by Zeus in Greek mythology, into a wise, mature woman. It requires practice to listen to each other’s viewpoints with understanding, respect, and flexibility, and to come closer together. To leave the self-centered ego behind, in order to perceive and nourish the greater whole. To give shape to peace, instead of polarity.

During the ceremony, we practice this on a small scale. The 51 states on the European continent are blindly linked to the 51 golden puzzle pieces. Puzzle piece number 52 is linked to all continents. Together, they form a puzzle 4.5 meters in diameter. The countries are named one by one and, with the golden puzzle piece, are placed spirally within the whole. When all the puzzle pieces are in place, we shake hands and let all impressions and countries flow through us in a clockwise circle. Together, we allow this movement to grow into a large torus around the earth.

At every ceremony, participants are amazed by the simplicity of this ceremony, and by the realization that we indeed have the potential to step out of our polarity and give form from a place of wholeness. The form/vortex that ultimately remains possesses an incredible power that people can physically experience for a long time after the puzzle pieces have been cleared away, even if someone feels they are not sensitive to it.

In some ceremonies, alongside a country, we also add a note regarding a quality of the heart. This makes it easier for the participant to connect with the country in question from a place of wholeness and avoid falling into sympathy or antipathy.