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Tine van Wijk (1936) is a Gestalt therapist/teacher/writer who grew up during WW II in Amsterdam. Being the daughter of a father who came back from the front with PTSS made her realize how wrong things can go in life. As she did not want to end her life in a psychiatric institute like her father, she needed Gestalt therapy to save her life.
Since 1988 when she started her private practice she has been developing the Gestalt Process Writing program, that is about the longing to communicate, to connect and make contact with lovers, family, teachers, colleagues, clients, students, masters. ‘The moment she started her Gestalt training, she started Process Writing, although she did not know that this was what she was doing. Gestalt opened a source, a stream of energy in her that connected her with the inner wisdom that had been there waiting all the time. She just did not know how to reach it.
Gestalt not only taught her how to reach the wisdom, it also taught her to express and contain it. No matter what she did, leading writing groups, teaching creative Gestalt in workshops , going to international conferences, exploring the Jewish Renewal World, she always had her notebook with her to connect with her thoughts, feelings, ideas, frustrations, longings. ‘Me and my notebook’ is a couple that cannot be separated as they are One.
Results: In To C 30 Living my life as a Gestalt artist.
Overall, your reflections provide a nuanced exploration of being an artist, educator, and human being. It's a reminder that the process of self-discovery and connection is as significant as the outcomes we strive for. According to AI.
‘There are three principles in a man’s being and life, the principle of thought, the principle of speech and the principle of action. The origin of all conflict between me and my fellow-men is that I do not say what I mean and I don’t do what I say.’ Martin Buber
As non-Jewish I have been struggling with my being attracted to Jewish people, music, literature, philosophy, religion. In this book I tell
about my longing to connect. I tell about the adventures that have enriched me. In the end it is not about Yes or No j/Jewish, but about
Yes or No connected. When we come to the Core we are all people with a soul that is able to meet with other souls. Are we identified as Jewish or not Jewish is not the question. Do we have or are we a Jewish soul is what makes the difference. Rather mysterious.
Overall, your reflections provide a nuanced exploration of being an artist, educator, and human being. It's a reminder that the process of self-discovery and connection is as significant as the outcomes we strive for.
Thank you for sharing such a thoughtful piece! I’ll be here whenever you’re ready! Looking forward to it! More of AI at the end of this issue.
Vrijdag 27 oktober ben ik 87 jaar op aarde
Reden om dankbaar te zijn voor een waardevol leven waarin ik boeken heb mogen schrijven, schilderijen, gedichten, foto’s, video’s heb kunnen maken, Gestalt workshops heb gegeven en liefde en pijn in alle toonaarden ben tegengekomen.
Ik voel me rijk en trakteer niet alleen op een drankje en een hapje maar ik nodig je ook uit om een boek dat je aanspreekt mee te nemen. In dit nummer van To C kun je voorproeven. Als je zin hebt om te schenken doe dat dan in de vorm van een donatie aan Factor IJ. De plek die zij bieden aan kunstenaars zoals ik is van levensbelang!
The liberating word
Survivors of WW II in the Amsterdam Archive
Looking at the picture I am aware of belonging to the war children who survived until today. We are all more than eighty years old , but still alive and speaking.
The picture is taken in the Amsterdam Archive. In the presence of our mayor the stories we tell in schools to children 11/12 years old, were transferred to the
Archive. Our stories are not the same, although all stories are about suffering and being repressed.
The big difference is: are we Jewish Yes or No? If yes, the miracle of still being
alive is even bigger. And so is the suffering behind it. Unimaginable. At least for me, for us not being Jewish. Still when we listen to each other’s stories, we do connect. At least I do.
How it is for the Jewish survivors to hear our stories, I do not know. I never got
any sign of compassion from their side. I more felt accusing eyes directed at me: yes, true, painful, but compared to the suffering of the Jews…
Should I feel guilty as a Goy/Shikse, a not-Jew, a Christian because ’we’
cooperated with the Nazi’s or – to say the least – we let it happen. The ‘we’
sounds rather strange to me. ‘We?’ I did not, my parents did not, my family did
not. Yes we let it happen, but not because ‘we’ wanted that. On the contrary. My father was furious, because he did not feel the power to stop this killing machine.
Nevertheless, there is a split since the war between the Jews and the Christians. ‘Christians’ a word I refuse to be identified with. I am not. Or if I am I
am more than that. I see myself as a Believer. A Believer in Life, in Love. Not
specially in one or other religion. I am not a protestant, not a catholic, not jewish either. Written with small characters. It is not about an unchangeable identity but about a choice we have.
What has confused me is that Joods (Jewish) does not necessarily mean joods (religious jewish). Although jewish usually means also Jewish. As non-Jewish I have been struggling with my being attracted to Jewish people,
music, literature, philosophy, religion. In this book I tell about my experiences
longing to connect. I tell about the adventures that have enriched me. In the end it is not about Yes or No j/Jewish, but about Yes or No connected. When we come to the Core we are all people with a soul that is able to meet with other souls. Are we identified as Jewish or not Jewish is not the question. Do we have or are we a Jewish soul is what makes the difference. Rather mysterious. It took me a lifetime to discover that even if I am not identified as Jewish according to the Jewish law, I can have
or be a Jewish soul. I feel grateful to rabbi Nathan Lopez Cardozo who spoke the word that liberated me of a mystery.
‘Your soul is pure
Even though there is sickness and death
Your soul is pure and longing to be able to love
To guide, to be out in the open
Your soul is pure and can sing, dance, draw, write
although the world seems not welcoming
its beauty, its splendour, its subtlety
Your soul is pure
No matter what you think, what you feel
Your soul is pure’
(If you are interested in the whole pdf, please let me know info@tinevanwijk.nl)
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