The evening after Nova’s Annual Conference came to a close earlier this month, I sat outside under the deep blue vault of the night sky in a state of wonder at all that I had heard from the many inspirational speakers. Just above the horizon, I could make out the stars of Orion, and further to the north the Big Dipper, as my eyes searched for the line to Polaris, the North Star. I felt such a sense of reassurance, hope, and love. A tumultuous year is drawing to a close, but across the globe there are amazing people and communities following their own North Star — seeking renewal, transformation, and new ways of thinking, being, and taking action.
This extraordinary meeting attracts heart-centered “doers.” Their efforts touch physical, mental, emotional, social, economic, and environmental well-being, and they are resolutely focused on working toward enduring solutions, even when daunting obstacles seem to block the path.
In these moments, I often think back to my studies of traditional Chinese medicine, which is rooted in the concept of the flow and movement of energy across internal and external factors. Disruptions to that flow causes dissonance and imbalance, often in the form of tension, pain, or disease. But life is made up of cycles and seasons and, by embracing and directing that flow, we can promote renewal and transformation.
As a physician, I learned to apply these ideas across my practice. I took a broader view of pain, recognizing that a headache or persistent low back pain might be a sign of something deeper. In these cases, healing required far more than a prescription; it required a fuller exploration of a person’s life circumstances. I knew not to interrupt as someone sitting on the exam table described their symptoms, and I learned to listen as they were tying their shoes or preparing to leave the room. The most compelling information often came when they had their hand on the doorknob, and turned back with an offhand, “This may be nothing, doc, but…” At this point, the aspects of their life of most importance to them emerged, and a journey of deep understanding and healing began.
The people who gathered for our conference came from all sectors of our society, not just from medicine, like me. Whether they are economists, academics, educators, farmers, or artists, they are all listening. They are all asking what inner and outer forces are at work. They are all committed to shifting our consciousness and realigning our values. And, ultimately, they are all recognizing that the flourishing of people, places, and planet is not individual or time-limited work. Even in the depths of winter, we can prepare the soil and plant the seeds of change for a new world to emerge in the spring.
Gary Zukav, the bestselling author and a keynote speaker at our conference, describes an epic transformation that, over several generations, will help humanity see our world with a clearer understanding of love, vitality, and purpose. As he explained: “It’s not a transformation that is happening to us or in us. We are the transformation. You are the transformation. What you do, what you say, what you call into being, with your actions and your choice of intention is significant.”
This was the right message for our conference and for our community — a hope-filled reminder of the renewal happening all around us, all the time. As we build momentum toward 2025, thank you for the transformation you are calling into being.
Professor Brian Berman, MD
President and Founder, Nova Institute for Health
Professor Emeritus, Family and Community Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine
