When I watched both the deep respect and regard each of the Grandmothers had for each other, and the lightness, humour and fierce protection they exhibited around the grandchildren -- anyone's children -- I could see the torus in action.  In our human families this was always how it was meant to be:  the elders give their wisdom, their stories, their protection and their fierce and demanding love to the youngers.  In return, the youngers give play, energy, fresh eyes to the world, their love of learning and their unconditional love to the elders.  If anything, the doughnut we have now has a true hole in it, rather than the regenerating power of the torus. Perhaps this is the making of the elder -- to have survived life's trials for long enough to gain compassion, to have collected enough that now there is enough to give away, to have achieved enough that now there is the desire to help others achieve, to have seen enough and witnessed enough that eyes become clear, the heart becomes strong and the focus becomes the service to all life.  And the task of the elder is to help the human family rebuild the circle once again, so that the honouring and respect of life is at the heart of all we do. We need more Grandmothers -- and Grandfathers! -- to step forward.  We need less focus on "what's in it for me" and more on "who are we together?".  We need to move