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 By Stephen Dinan, founder and CEO of The Shift Network
We're blessed with an abundance of inspiration this month to live a life that is passionate, on purpose and delightfully green!
The Inspiring Women Summit just got rolling yesterday with 30 of the most amazing women we know (registration still open here) who are blazing a new kind of sacred path for women that is joyful, wise, and committed to making a difference.
We're also midstream on our 9 weeks of Action for the Spring of Sustainability. Already, we've focused on changing the dream, feeding the world, and saving vanishing species, with weeks still to come on clean water, climate change, transforming corporate control and more. You can still register here.
So today's issue of the Catalyst showcases inspired green pioneers leading the way to a new era, from Carolyne Stayton sharing about the transition towns movement to David Korten's article on how we shift to a new economy. The Pachamama Alliance tells us how Food Shift is addressing the issue food waste in the United States and the tireless Vinit Allen article connects us with Earth wisdom.
Our featured video comes recommended by Chief Phil Lane, Jr. and highlights the deep concern Native Americans have about the Keystone KL tar sands pipeline. Our second featured video highlights the powerful work of The Pachamama Alliance, an organization that also offers journeys to the Amazon (see Movement News). Also, take a particular look at our member profile highlighting KiVo — an inspiring model of combining circle, dance and environmental restoration.
With drought-fed fires in California and recent news of the inevitable melting of Antarctica ice leading to a 4 foot rise in sea levels in the next 100 years, it's key that we must remember that being conscious in today's world means being green and learning to live more lightly and lovingly on this planet we've been entrusted with, not only for our own sake but our future generations and the millions of species that depend on it.
We ARE the generation that needs to turn things around and reach a point of mature, sacred relationship with our planet's ecosystems. Join us in making your own life more joyfully green this spring!
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The Cowboy Indian Alliance
On April 22nd, 2014 a group of ranchers, farmers and tribal communities from along the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline route, called the Cowboy Indian Alliance, rode into Washington DC and set up camp near the White House to tell President Obama to reject the pipeline. To learn about and support this initiative, click here. |
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The Pachamama Alliance Up to Us Educational Initiative provides training, information and inspiration for participants to take bold effective action in concert with others, replacing feelings of resignation, apathy or overwhelm with individual and collective empowerment. Learn more, click here. |
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 The Transition Towns Movement
By Carolyne Stayton
What if local actions CAN change the world?
I first saw evidence of this when Transition Sebastopol in California (part of the international Transition Towns Movement) organized a Reskilling festival at a local farm. Various peer-to-peer workshops were happening simultaneously: tool repair in the barn; mushroom cultivation in the yard; compost-building under the oak tree; and making Granma's brine in the outdoor kitchen. When those completed, another set of sessions rotated into being. Following a lunch of fresh farm greens, pots of vegetable soup and trays of fresh corn bread, more sessions filled the afternoon . . . [read more]
 A New Story for a New Economy
By David Korten (published in Yes!)
David Korten's new essay connects the work of finding a new sacred story with the effort to build a new economy.
Those who follow my work are aware that I believe a viable human future depends on navigating a deep cultural and institutional transformation grounded in a story of unrealized human possibility. For the past two years, I've been on a quest to frame a story that reflects the depth and breadth of human knowledge and points the way to an essential cultural and institutional transformation of our human relationships with one another and Earth.
The quest has led to a simple self-evident truth with deep roots in traditional wisdom cultures:
We humans are living beings birthed and nurtured by a living Earth in a living universe. To survive and thrive, we must learn to live as responsible contributing members of the whole of Earth's community of life.
Obvious as this truth might be, we currently organize ourselves as if we are money-seeking robots inhabiting a dead Earth in a dead universe. This potentially fatal error explains why we are in deep trouble.
To read more, click here.
 Food Waste in the United States
From The Pachamama Alliance
Food waste and food distribution is a huge problem in the United States. Collectively, we throw away 40% of the food we produce. Meanwhile, 50 million Americans don't have enough food to eat. Fortunately, individuals like Dana Frasz, founder of a food recovery organization in Oakland, California called Food Shift, are doing something about food waste in the U.S. . . . [read more]
 Earth-Based Wisdom: Organizational Guidance from the Great Mother
By Vinit Allen
I'm throwing in the towel . . . and humbling myself to learn a completely different way of working.
As a sustainability educator, I have spent the last 10 years summarizing and packaging a great deal of information (in books, courses and events) from many experts that I consider to be essential to know — for any citizen who cares about the fate of the planet, of other species, and of how we treat one another.
I fund the work myself, and spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to promote this work — how to get people interested in learning about what we can and must do, given the huge environmental and social challenges before us . . . [read more]
For submissions and recommendations, email editor@theshiftnetwork.com.
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 The Singing Tree - Africa KiVo Project
By Lis Addison
The sacred forest was lush and green and Kenya's ubiquitous red earth puffed beneath my steps. A thin Chuka woman grabbed my wrist with disarming strength and pulled me into a circle to sing and dance a welcome beneath the trees. I fought back tears. I'd only been in Kenya one night and already, was home.
In the days to follow, we would sprout seeds; grow seedlings and plant and water trees, singing all the while to help them grow, just as I do at home. Later, the women and children of the Kamba community would also welcome me with a circle song/dance I'll never forget . . . [read more]
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Film festival premiere of Awake: The Life of Yogananda will take place at the Seattle International Film Festival, which plans to screen the movie on the evenings of May 18 and May 19. Follow this link for tickets, click here. The film will be screened on Friday, May 30 at 9:00 am at the Illuminate Film Festival in Sedona. For information and tickets, click here. To learn more about the film and future screenings, click here.
A Pachamama Journey Makes National Geographic Traveler's "50 Tours of a Lifetime" List – The journeys offered by the Pachamama Alliance are purposeful travel immersions that go far beyond conventional eco-tourism and adventure travel. The participant is invited into a deeper relationship with the people and lands visited, with a rare opportunity to connect with indigenous communities, traditions, and wisdom; and experience profound connection with the natural world while being held in a mutually supportive community. To learn more, click here.
The RIGHT Way to Communicate with Your Teenage Son – a free teleseminar on May 20th, 7–8pm (PST) by Dr. Mark Schillinger. He gives parents access to information that helps them to have more respectful and productive relationships with teenage sons who are difficult, defiant or oppositional. To learn more, click here.
Alliance for Peacebuilding Annual Conference – May 21 to 23, 2014: Convening the Field for Collective Impact. This year's conference will explore new frontiers in peacebuilding. Over the course of three days, the Conference will explore issues of cross-border criminal violence; new approaches to complexity; how the technology revolution is changing the practice of peacebuilding; and how we more effectively use storytelling in peacebuilding. To learn more, click here.
Search for Common Ground – 2014 San Francisco Bay Area Reception – June 8 at 11:00 AM–1:00 PM; featuring President John Marks, Senior Vice President Susan Collin Marks, Ex. VP Sandra Melone and a video message from President-Elect, Shamil Idriss. This is an excellent chance to introduce your friends, family and colleagues to Search for Common Ground. All guests need to be registered. To learn more, click here.
PeaceNow.com invites you to a free private screening of the celebrated 20-minute film for peace – Admissions, which stars Academy Award nominee James Cromwell and has won 25 international awards. Wednesday, June 11, 2014. Ann and Jerry Moss Theater in Santa Monica. Live panel with John Viscount, Creator of Admissions, Ms. Lekha Singh, Executive Producer and Co-Director of "Beyond Right & Wrong: Stories of Justice and Forgiveness" and Jess Larsen, Director of Corporate Partnerships, Arbinger, and Founder of ChildRescue.org. To learn more, click here.
The Fourth Annual Afterlife Conference! Portland, OR. June 5–8, 2014 – Learn about the world beyond death from mystics and mediums, ministers and medics, all under one roof during one amazing, life-altering weekend! To learn more, click here.
Breath Immersion – From Science to Samadhi – August 24–29 – Breath Immersion to explore leading-edge research and learn how to integrate and advance the power of breath into our modern world. Those new and experienced in breath practice are invited to participate in building a healthier world together. To learn more, click here.
Help Take Taiko to Bethlehem in Palestine – Bringing a week of Taiko drumming workshops to Bet Lahem Live Festival, building to performances by a local community group & professional duo performance. This project is sponsored by Peace Ambassador PJ Hirabayashi. To learn more, click here.
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2014 Catalyst: (#10, 5/18) (#9, 5/4) (#8, 4/20) (#7, 4/6) (#6, 3/23) (#5, 3/9) (#4, 2/22) (#3, 2/8) (#2, 1/26) (#1, 1/12)
2013 Catalyst: (#22, 12/14) (#21, 11/30) (#20, 11/16) (#19, 11/3) (#18, 10/20) (#17, 10/6) (#16, 9/21) (#15, 9/8) (#14, 8/25) (#13, 8/4) (#12, 7/21), (#11, 7/7), (#10, 6/16) (#9, 6/2) (#8, 5/12) (#7, 4/28) (#6, 4/14) (#5, 3/24) (#4, 2/24) (#3, 2/9) (#2, 1/26) (#1, 1/13)
Birth 2012 Catalyst: (#15, 12/9) (#14, 12/1) (#13, 11/22) (#12, 11/10) (#11, 11/3) (#10, 10/20) (#9, 10/6) (#8, 9/16) (#7, 9/8) (#6, 8/25) (#5, 8/16) (#4, 8/4) (#3, 7/28) (#2, 7/21) (#1, 7/14)
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 Harnessing the Power of Dreamshifting: Shamanic Secrets to Transform Your Life and Our World. John Perkins shares the promise of Dreamshifting, which builds from thousands of years of shamanic practice and translates it into a modern context. Wednesday May 21st at 5:30PM PT
 Living Christ Consciousness with Andrew Harvey. Andrew helps us decode and understand the ancient map of spiritual transformation that Jesus left us and to live into Christ consciousness NOW. Saturday May 24th 10:00 AM PT
 Success in a State of Flow: Doing More with Less Effort By Accessing the Power of the Field. A 7-week course with Latin America's most popular human potential trainer, Gabriel Nossovitch. Begins May 20
 The Self-Care Solution for Radiant Health. A 49-day Program to Manifest Your Full Potential for a Thriving Life with holistic healing expert with Dr. Robyn Benson. Begins May 27
Authentic Awakening Advanced Intensive. A 6-Month Transformational Practicum for Living An Enlightened Life in the 21st Century with Renowned Mystic and Spiritual Teacher Thomas Huebl. Begins May 28
 A Course in Courage: Living a Life of Purpose, Passion & Power. A 7-Week Training with Global Activist, Author and Teacher Julia Butterfly Hill. Begins May 29
More Upcoming Events: (all subject to change)
June
• Summer of Peace
• Sacred Awakening Series
• Enneagram Global Summit
• Enneagram 10-week course
• John Perkins 7-week course
• Andrew Harvey intensive
• Lion Goodman & Carista Luminare 7-week course
• Oscar Miro-Quesada intensive
• Devaa Haley Mitchell course
July
• Shakti Summit
• Lisa Schrader 7-week course
• Bill Bauman 7-week course
• Dawson Church 7-week course
• Saniel Bonder 7-week course
• Robert Moss 7-week course
• Joey Klein 7-week course
August
• Future of Yoga mini-summit
• Laura Cornell 8-week course
• Sally Kempton 7-week course
• Bill Bauman intensive
September
• John Perkins 9-month intensive
• Miranda Macpherson 8-week course
• Lisa Schrader 9-month intensive
• Enneagram 9-month intensive
• Tim Kelley 7-week course
October
• Enlightened Business Summit
• James O'Dea 6-week course
• Andrew Harvey 7-week course
• Bill Bauman 7-week course |
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The Pachamama Alliance's mission is to empower indigenous people of the Amazon rainforest to preserve their lands and culture and, using insights gained from that work, to educate and inspire individuals everywhere to bring forth a thriving, just and sustainable world. To learn more, click here.
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Shimshai
By Eleanor Tara
Shimshai is a young mystic, a seeker of truth with the voice of an angel. His music is a journey into higher consciousness that leads us back to the depth of our hearts. He sings ancient Sanskrit mantras, age-old Hebrew prayers, traditional folklore of South America, as well as his own divinely inspired original works. His most recent creation, La Ventana, a collaboration with his partner, Susana, is a gorgeous collection of their favorite sacred, healing, traditional and ceremonial songs of the South. My personal favorites are "Con mi tabaco" and "Kunyaq." And if you're new to Shimshai, you won't want to miss his earlier classic, Deliverance, or his duets with Tina Malia on Jaya Bhagavan. To listen to Shimshai's music, click here.
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