Letter to Contexts, re Foulkes Lecture & Study Day

This year the format of the study day was different: we had 3 large groups, one of which started with a kind of panel ( integrated into the circle).

It was the first time that the setting felt perfect for me: 2 large circles which made it possible for me to see everyone and to hear everyone. As I sat down, I felt contained.

What a difference to my first experience of a large group at the symposium in Bologna, where we could not hear each other nor see who was speaking – people were saying that this is what it is all about. I was not impressed.

Then Dublin, not much better. This time people said it was about experiencing our psychotic part. I thought this was an insult to those who suffered psychosis.

This study day, 2025, came after the Foulkes lecture by Teresa von Sommaruga Howard with a response from Anando Chatterji.

Teresa spoke about the history of Large groups, and of the way she thinks about her working in large group contexts. This approach makes more sense to me , as it is about the power of dialogue , finding our voices and staying with uncomfortable feelings.

It reminds me of Jeffrey Sachs speaking of our loss of skilled Diplomacy, and that we succumb to war instead, the war that never brings peace. “Diplomacy is about speaking to your enemy, not to your friends,” he said.

Anando’s response was unusual, encouraging us to let our mind wonder and speak without preparation. I wished that our focus would have been less on the fact that he had not prepared, but more on his thoughts in response to Teresa’s talk.

On my way back to Devon the next day, and specifically in response to our last third large group, I realised how satisfied I felt: a feeling of completeness, presence and relief. I had been able to say everything I needed to say, I had felt dialogue, and I thought that everything lurking around had found a voice, with all different shades of feelings.

A very good feeling.