The Living Bridge Philosophy

In north-east India, high in the mountains of Meghalaya, the summer monsoons are so heavy that the rivers running through its valleys grow wild and unpredictable, making them impossible to cross. Centuries ago, the villagers came up with an artful solution. They planted a strangler fig on the riverbank, and begin to coax its raveling roots across the river until they took hold on the opposite side.

Through a slow process of binding and weaving the roots together, the villagers created a sturdy, living bridge that could withstand the deluge of the summer rains. Because it is a labor that cannot be completed in any persons lifetime, the knowledge of how to bind and tend to the roots, has to be transmitted to each of the younger generations, who keep the practice alive, contributing to what is now a thrilling network of living root bridges throughout the valleys of Meghalaya.*

                                           (*Adapted from the writings of Tokyo-pa Turner)

We take the living bridge as a metaphor for connection and community, for  belonging and the need for inter generational connections. We can imagine our selves stranded on one side of a dangerous river, longing to connect to something greater than ourself just beyond our reach. 

We ask you to consider if our longing to belong  to community and connection is actually a place at all? What if belonging is a set of skills that we, in modern life have lost or forgotten? What is the wisdom of women from the experience we share, that like the living bridge, we can coax, weave and tend to the roots of our separation?

Ken Wilber, a prescient thinker in todays world says “ what humanity needs is wisdom skills.”  We at CAW agree.  What is wisdom? How can we cull it, share it and teach it?  Our first thought is by listening to each other.

Sharing our stories, is how wisdom has been shared for generations!

We offer an “Institute of Wisdom” that will provide many different ways of learning and sharing, opportunities for personal growth, support and connections to weave our own “ living bridge” for all ages and stages of the journey of women on the path.