About Light and Sanctuaries
Newsletter from January 29, 2026
Hi dear student,
The sun is back in all its promising glory after being hidden for full two months by the mountains surrounding my home close to the Arctic Circle.
I have been hiding/hibernating as well here in my secluded and safe part of the world but promised myself to write a newsletter again once the sun would have finally returned. You know me by now, no AI for my newsletters, which means I rather take a break, recharge my batteries, go into silence until I feel the inspiration again to be able to inspire (driven by HIS = Human Soulful Intelligence instead).
I am just like you, deeply concerned and puzzled about the political, social and environmental developments on our precious planet. The dark daily news can surely paralyze us and dampen our enthusiasm to jump out of bed in the morning and have us doomscrolling for the newest information and unfathomable developments.
So, what to do? My personal approach remains undeterred: keep doing what I do best and focus on that which I have an impact on, staying informed but not going down the rabbit hole of frustration, bitterness or even anger. It might be easier said than done. But this is where our discipline and determination, humor and optimism will save the day. We have countless opportunities every single day to balance out the darkness with our light, may it be at home, in traffic or at the checkout counter in your local supermarket. Yes, cry and scream for a while if it helps, then show up where it matters to make your voice heard and most importantly keep the flame of loving kindness alive and burning. Light remains the only way to drown out the shadow.
Let’s create sanctuaries of integrity, creative kindness and peace, at home, in our communities and at work. I am so grateful for our online student community, which has become a sanctuary for so many including me; focusing on our creative empowerment, the soulful and clever artistic expression that not only prevails, but clearly can be seen, heard, touched and felt in those dire days.
Puppetry, Theater, Dance, Music, Literature and visual Arts have so often been a beacon of encouragement and hope throughout history. So, if you have any creative inclinations, please don’t doubt the power resting in you waiting to be released, don’t you believe for a second that your artistic voice is less important than that of a scientist, doctor or politician!
I have been performing a lot over the last two months, and my van is already packed to visit another school tomorrow. Another great opportunity to make a difference in some children’s and their teacher’s lives. I truly experience these performances as such beforementioned sanctuaries. Then I will be meeting my online students in the afternoon, another very special sanctuary.
So, I will play with puppets tomorrow and I am sure you will do what you do best. Together we have it covered, we keep the flame burning.
Sending warmest regards from the Whalefjord in Iceland,
Bernd
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