We began in Sept 2020 with a group of eight. About half of us were experienced with the Spiral of Joanna’s work and the others were interested in exploring how this wisdom might be woven together with our Sufi practice and sustain us in caring for the Earth. We all stretched to create experiences that drew us deeper and closer by volunteering to guide our monthly zoom meetings. By and by more friends joined and we continue to journey through the spiral of gratitude, grief, and outrage to come to a clearer vision of the world we want to see and how to transition there. Through our shared leadership, we witness and applaud each other’s passions and see through each other’s eyes.
Here is some of the wisdom that has emerged for our times.
These point the way and inspire us with hope:
Circles of inclusiveness
Attitudinal change
Reduction of isolation through earth connection
Restoration of humanity to the whole of creation
Concern and love of people everywhere
Recognizing our diversity and difference is foundational
Caring about restoration is foundational
Open circles that include music and dance.
Relationship to the land is a psychological root to bridge to the shadow.
Reciprocity – the Importance of thinking about what we do to, and what we still need to learn from the non-human world.
Going forward from here we plan to take up a free multimedia online course by Chris Johnstone, who co-authored Active Hope with Joanna Macy. We will have a combined focus on Joanna Macy’s work that reconnects (WTR) and how it intersects with our Sufi practices and our passion for Earth care. We will work through the modules which might be two hours of reading and viewing monthly and choose parts to focus on together. This will be a framework for our meetings starting in 2022 even as we continue to rotate leadership. Here is the link for those interested: Active Hope
And leaving you with Joanna’s Five Vows. We are truly blessed!! Happy to hear from you, kalama@embarqmail.com.
- I vow to myself and to each of you to commit myself daily to the healing of our world and the welfare of all beings.
- I vow to myself and to each of you to live on Earth more lightly and less violently in the food, products, and energy I consume.
- I vow to myself and to each of you to draw strength and guidance from the living Earth, the ancestors, the future beings, and our siblings of all species.
- I vow to myself and to each of you to support you in your work for the world, and to ask for help when I need it.
- I vow to myself and to each of you to pursue a daily spiritual practice that clarifies my mind, strengthens my heart, and supports me in observing these vows.