I helped assess hundreds of Muslim survivors of torture during my 10 years working for the Vancouver Association for Survivors of Torture. My bosses were the late Frances MacQueen and Dr. Mashid Esfandiari (two of the great and compassionate women…). In my initial assessments at Vancouver’s Bridge Clinic (1999),  I started with this question: “What kept you going…how did you survive?”  I received, in general three responses: (1) “My God”; (2) 'My family"; (3) "But what else can we do, but to keep going?"  

These three answers convey the great motivations for what keeps us going forward on the hero’s journey. (1) The higher power. (2) Those we love and are committed to…and (3) The mystery of "keeping on while keeping on", no matter what odds.

Persons are endowed with archetypal energy to survive, out of humility, out of commitment to loved ones, and also the great msytery for which there may not be an immediate answer.  The Creator and the wisdom of the Creator’s creation is indeed great! These wisdoms are our inheritance, often need to be mined, and we can access them in times of trouble, sometimes with a little help.

I’m now back in Newfoundland, in private practice as a counselling therapist. Some of efugee services here in Newfoundland include The Refugee Health Clinic (located in my old St. Johns "Mundy Pond" neighborhood), as well as The Association for New Canadians, located on Military Road in St. Johns.