The Book of Abstracts - Jivacareer.org

Message from Conference ChairCareer: A celebration of lifeDear Colleagues,Welcome to India, to Bangalore and to the IAEVG-Jiva Conference!Does anyone know the author of this poem? It arrived one day in my inbox and has since profoundlyinfluenced my view of myself and my world. It begins with:"So you too were on the journeyTo the EastWhere mysteryIs the stuff of the feast..."For some of you that's what the Jiva Conference may be - a journey to the mysterious East. And for allof us career counselling could be a journey that celebrates the mystery and the wonder that is thehuman being.The same poet presents us with the intriguing phrase, "infinity in small places." A contradiction interms? Infinity by definition is limitless. Yet, when I take the interest and trouble to see the world fromtheir point of view, my clients have taught me that infinity does indeed dwell in small places. Partneringsomeone's self-discovery and empowering the self-mediation of their futures is, for me, discoveringinfinity in small places.“Wisdom reigns in hidden symmetry,And colours are but charmed invisibility.What lingers in the soulOften bypasses the eye..."...says this poem as it draws to a close, bringing to my mind's eye, elemental forces that disperseinvisible light into a brilliant spectrum, glorious in a limitless sky. Sensitive career counselling could bethe prism that unveils uniqueness against the fabric of the universal. A phrase uttered in passingduring a counselling interaction could indeed linger in the soul. Careers work that searches for andrecognises patterns and symmetries could evoke insights that bring harmony between the self and theworld around.It is with these sentiments - integral to ways of life in the East, that the Jiva Conference has beendesigned. Jiva means life in most Indian and many Asian languages. This Conference explores careeras a celebration of life and the dynamics of the individual's fruitful engagement with the world.The Jiva Conference celebrates the poet, the romantic, the storyteller, the psychologist, teacher,economist and psychometrician, along with the sociologist and historian, all of whose qualities, makeup an effective career counsellor....and, if you do know this poet, I would be very glad to hear from you!Gideon Arulmani, PhD.,IAEVG-Jiva Conference Chair,Director,The Promise Foundation.Bangalore, India.2IAEVG-Jiva Conference, India, 2010