Deep in our unconscious minds we have profound fractures. These fractures are present in us all and reflect two often hidden parts of our minds that are in conflict. Mostly we identify with one side and then go to war with the other side. This dynamic locks us in a world of conflict and therefore duality and this duality we see acted out in our world on a regular basis. We all recognise the more evident dualities like male and female, light and dark, good and bad just to mention a few. However today I want to talk about one I have been working on and one I see reflected so obviously in my world.

This is the great war of oppression and revolution, so starkly played out for us in Syria where conflict has now lasted for as long as the Second World War in
Europe. As in all conflicts there will be no true winner and if someone claims that place they will inherit a sea of rubble, and a traumatised and brutalised population. This will necessitate years and years of healing and forgiveness.

It is easy to see this dynamic throughout the Middle East where the conflict between oppression and revolution has become a reality in many countries. I for one usually identify with the revolutionary side but I am also aware that I have been the oppressor. Many couples we speak with voice this dynamic, one partner being oppressive, controlling and dogmatic and then the other partner balancing them off by being the quiet or not so quiet revolutionary. They are fighting a subversive war which the oppressor is (mostly) blind to, yet so few things seem to work out well in their family or their careers.

Many of us feel helpless when we hear about what is happening in Syria. We feel there is not a lot we can do to help, and yet this is a place we can all begin to clean up the fractures in our minds. A frank and honest discussion with your partner or your family or even your co-workers about who feels oppressed and who feels like revolting would be a great start.

Looking into these deep crevasses of our minds takes courage and honesty but the rewards are great if we choose to heal and all healing starts with communication. In truth we have been both sides of this war; recognise that we might start as the revolutionary but end up as the oppressor, as in Cuba and Zimbabwe.

Once we can accept, forgive and integrate these two parts of our minds we can reach a place of harmony and all that comes with that: success, happiness and peace.

With love