When we founded PTCI some 19 years ago, our purpose was to encourage and stand in support of you and other fellow-seekers who want to deeply engage their transformational journey to wholeness. Over the many years of PTCI’s existence, we have touched many hearts and minds, and we have been inspired and transformed by your loving work. It is with gratitude and a renewed commitment to our original mission that we reach out to stay connected and to re-inspire each of you to continue your inner work especially during these times of challenge and opportunity.
We thought it would be appropriate to “begin again” with a short explanation of our logo – the sea turtle. In addition to the turtle having a personal significance in my life, Mark and I chose this powerful symbol as a metaphor of the universal journey to wholeness. In addition, the sea turtle represents some profound paradoxes which are foundational to our organization and its courses.
This ancient creature is on a constant journey, traveling far distances, and yet it carries its home wherever it goes. In our journey toward wholeness, we may at times find ourselves “at sea” facing the inevitable challenges and opportunities that life brings to us. The message of the sea turtle is that we do not have to look far for the truth of who we are. Through personal transformative work, we have come to know and trust that our “home,” our personal ideal, is always by our side and stands ready to be our constant guide.
The sea turtle lives harmoniously both on land and in water, using its innate wisdom to navigate both worlds. We too, are invited to fully participate in two realms of reality – the realm of spirit and the realm of material existence. These levels of existence are not opposites, but rather dimensions of consciousness that intersect, inter-are, and deeply affect each other. Through meditation practices, we gain the clarity and understanding necessary to live simultaneously and harmoniously in two, deeply interconnected realms of experience, bringing the wisdom of the spiritual world into manifestation in our daily, physical lives.
Protected by a strong and sturdy shell, the sea turtle can glide almost effortlessly and with great freedom among the waves of the ocean, diving deeply to navigate challenging currents and storms. We too, can build capacity to engage our authentic power—healthy will force – and use it skillfully to navigate the upheavals and challenges of our lives. It is this same power that enables us to experience love, joy and a deep connection to all that is.
We are ever grateful for your personal transformation work. Each one of us is called upon to do our work of personal transformation which can then help to heal our families, communities and even the world at large. For each of us, the experience of traversing the great ocean of existence can bring us home to our authentic power, that inner space of awareness, connection, love and infinite wisdom.
Mark and I look forward to staying in touch with you in the upcoming months and sharing some of the treasured PTCI concepts and theories that will help you to “remember” the sea turtle in you!
