The human heart can go the lengths of God.  Dark and cold we may be, but this is no winter now.  The frozen misery of centuries breaks, cracks, begins to move; the thunder is the thunder of the floes, the thaw, the flood, the upstart Spring.  Thank God our Time is now when wrong comes up to face us everywhere, never to leave us till we take the longest stride of soul men ever took.  Affairs are now soul size.  The enterprise is exploration into God.  Where are you making for?  It takes so many thousand years to wake but will you wake for pity's sake?

'A Sleep of Prisoners' — Christopher Fry

The 'secret' core of "The Project" has been bubbling away in our hearts for many years.  The motive comes from a knowledge that if we as a species carry on the way we are going then, at best, we face an uphill struggle against the results of the damage we are doing to the planet on which we depend for our existence; and, at worst, possibly total annihilation, causing a re-start of this pattern being worked out here.

I would like to think we can turn it round and create the potential Heaven on Earth which we have in our grasp at this time. . .

CRISIS = OPPORTUNITY

My hope is in the increasing numbers searching now for 'Another Way' than the materialist, short-term, fear-driven, 'me first' attitude prevailing today.

'Another Way' is a multi-faceted, not-for-profit project with no particular philosophical or religious affiliation, dedicated to:
  increasing the awareness of the inter-connectedness of all life;
  the underlying pattern which drives this world;
  the consequent reduction in disharmony which flows from attempting to live life from the wider view, embracing the spiritual, and not just the material viewpoint, leading to a more responsible attitude to "others" and the planet.

All traditions seem to carry the same message at their core, and that which is overlaid must not be allowed to obscure this fact.

We have had the opportunity over many years, to experience, learn, filter and discard the offerings of many 'ways'.  This has taken a long time and I feel that the privilege should be repaid in offering to others the chance to see some of the 'jewels' we have encountered on our journey.  Emphatically NOT to say 'this is how it is', but rather 'this is how we think it may be', based on our experience to this time; and also to possibly help them to avoid some of the pitfalls of the world of 'seeming' ('all that glitters' etc.).

The answer at this stage to 'How' is to present a balanced view of the possible avenues to discovering the truth of the Ancient Wisdom and allied topics (since each will find their own way).  We do not wish to impose our view, but only to offer the option to explore to those who are saying, "there must be more than this".

Certainly, looking at the world, the time is drawing closer when the moves must be made (if it is not already passed), and our hope is in those who are 'switching on' increasingly, and in all walks of life.

In my work from day to day, I have noticed a need for somewhere that 'seekers' can meet, experience, discuss; away from the isolation they feel, in other areas of their lives.  Another tenet of the work we have done in this field over the years is 'no labels' — as soon as a label is placed on a group or individual, this excludes many others from interacting with them.  Both the seeker and the group may be in earnest, although their 'ways' do not converge at that time.  Until the 'Oneness' begins to take over, no barriers must be raised through the intellect, to the dawning awareness in one who would learn.
I honour the place in you where the entire universe resides
I honour the place in you of love, of light, of truth, of peace
I honour the place within you where, if you are in that place
in you and I am in that place in me, there is only one of us.

'Namaste' — Eastern Blessing

Until we have a place, only that which is moveable can be done — through hiring halls, etc.  I was told 'start small – but start', having seen the failure of many well-intentioned projects over the years, through starting in too grand a way.  From its beginning in 1997, 'Another Way' has grown into many areas, and continues to serve a wider community.

The vision of place is probably best encapsulated in the following quote from a Zen master whose work is close to my heart.

'Each of us needs to 'belong to' a place such as a retreat centre or a monastery, where each feature of the landscape, the sounds of the bell, and even the buildings are designed to remind us to return to awareness.  It is helpful to go there from time to time for several days, or several weeks to renew ourselves.  Even when we cannot actually go there, we need only to think of it and we can feel ourselves smile and become peaceful and happy.  The people who live there should emanate peace and freshness, the fruits of living in awareness.  They must always be there to care for us, console and support us, help us heal our wounds.  Each of us must find a Spiritual Homeland where we can retreat from time to time, much as we ran to our mothers for refuge when we were young.'

'Establishing a Spiritual Homeland' — Thich Nhat Hanh

As we travel together, our watchwords will be integrity, honesty and peace.  You are welcome to join us if you can?