Truth Telling

Feature article from our May 2025 Newsletter

Last year I was introduced to the The White Roots of Peace, an old Iroquois story, upon which some of the US constitution was originally formed.

Originally told over days and days, the abridged version tells of a person named The Great Peacemaker and his journey as he carries a divine-given message of peace, to warring tribes.

When we say 'divine-given' this means it comes from something larger than what we are as people.

To some it could be Goddess, God, Allah, Great Spirit, Universe, Source, The Divine, Magical Realm, The Stars, Awareness, Connection, The Force, Love..., let me know what it is for you.

When you think of something larger, even if you are an Atheist, non-believer, Star Wars devotee (I had my turn of writing Jedi on the consensus - I see you, friend) , Agnostic, Political Scientist, Nuclear Physicist....

When you think of 'something larger'... what do you call it?

The Great Peacemaker's message was comprised of three parts:

Righteousness (or Justice), Health and Power (or Authority).

Each part of the message had 2 'roots' or strands, which I understand as being of the 'self' and of the 'communal'. And which, when in balance, together, make up the ingredients for Peace, both internally and externally.

Therefore the entire story could be taken as a metaphor for 'inner peace' - the warring tribes symbols of our internal parts - or for 'world peace'.

There's one fabulous character, Tadodaho, the most stubborn of those who refuse to allow the message of peace to prevail. He has snakes in his hair, his body is hunched and agonised, his voice eerie and scary. I think we've all got at least one of those in us, don't we? That one that is the cynic, the inner critic, the aggressor, the dark one that laughs or screeches at the idea of hope and trust? The obstacle. The one we all try to hide, but who is so powerful it is the last to accept any kind of healing. Another name for Tadodaho might be Shame. The one we don't want others to see or know is there, as then our integrity would come under question and we might be judged as 'a bad person'.

In the story a tree is planted by the Great Peacemaker from which white roots grow out in all 4 directions, East, North, West and South, carrying the word of peace, whilst nourishing it at the same time. For me the tree is a powerful symbol of 'the truth of peace' - a living organism with vulnerability to earthly forces and with a need for tending - and when thriving, the tree is tall and strong, a provider, or protector.

The tree is what is true, or trustworthy. The tree asks us, remember what you stand for? What happens to this seed of peace when it is planted in your heart? What is the truth of you? Including your Tadodhos? Where do your roots grow?

Having read the book, the weaver in me became a little bit obsessed by the roots and directions. After hearing the story told by a camp-fireside, I couldn't hold back any longer and had to weave this concept. I collected up some discarded (incidentally white) tent ropes and bits and pieces from the communal camp, and began to try to understand the white roots of peace. The only thing to weave on, that I could see, was an enormous old dead tree, (of course). This is the picture above.

Unfortunately, the camp ended abruptly in personal disaster, and I didn't finish it... which I am sure has some meaning. I reasoned that perhaps others would continue to weave it, add to it... a communal weaving. I'm thinking about it now... wondering if the white roots of peace are still there, still being woven.

Interestingly, when I was playing with the weave, I came to knots in the ropes, and gently undid them or went around them, I came to realise they were the 'Tadodaho's' in the otherwise clear ropes of connection; Obstacles. And to ease them out, they needed tending, sensitivity and commitment, more so than any other part of the weaving. That is also how the Great Peacemaker and his friend, The Mother Of Nations, eventually approach Tadodaho in the story... they sing to him and comb his hair! Offer him some lovely down-regulation so he remembers his heart, his truth, and is then able to see clearly.

At the moment, I am fascinated (obsessed) with the branch of peace that is Justice. I've had so many clients lately, and my own life-experience, working with deep, dark, full-on trauma. Abuse, in so many forms, which boils down to the misuse of power by people who then gaslight their victims by asserting they are 'good'.

And oh my goodness, the damage it has caused to people's lives! The outrage, the sadness, the suffering is real. Inner-peace seems like a far-fetched dream. And these beautiful souls, with their sense of worth so wounded, in their own unique ways, seek repair. They ask 'what can I do to fix this?'. How can I repair myself and the world? How can I restore Righteousness, Health and Power? How can I undo these tight-knots?

By speaking the Truth. Being the tree. To ourselves and to each other. Remembering what 'I' stand for; what roots feed us.

And perhaps more interestingly, we might ask 'what if I can't fix this?' What if this rupture just stays ruptured?

Justice and Repair can be the same thing. Not justice as revenge, but justice as a safe act of 'truth-speaking' to a powerful deep listener. Justice could also be a safe enough world, that the Tadodahos can be speak their truth, where they bravely lean into deep listening and clearly recognise the suffering they have caused, and allow themselves to feel and be weak, small, pedestrian.

All the truth-speakers - I think they'd be surprised by the abundance of compassion available to them.

I wonder, so often, about these White Roots of Peace.

In therapy I have witnessed profound moments of alchemy where clients bravely and vulnerably speak their truth. And find peace, trust, hope... even though there has been ridicule, shame, pain, shadow, torment in the past.

Here, in this safe space, there is trust that a sensitive person speaking their truth, is actually the voice of JUSTICE , embodying a POWER that comes from a HEALTHY soul. One that knows of Peace.

There is an assumption woven into this whole story. That we all have an inner-knowing of what is right. Such a beautiful foundation, as it points to an idea that there is no person that is actually 'bad' or 'evil'.

So.... the May challenge is (it is Star Wars month after all) speak it. Speak the truth. YOUR truth. Start small if you like. Just to yourself, or to others, or to trees. Not just the voice of emotions (those can be good, that is expression), but the real kernel underneath.. the soul-voice. The soul-truth. The voice the anger or jealousy has been guarding. Or if speaking is too hard, write it down.

As Claire Dunn would say "write yourself a dangerous letter of truth".

May the fourth be with you.