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 By Stephen Dinan, founder and CEO of The Shift Network
As we approach the holiday season and the New Year, I am deeply moved by the significance of this time of year.
Jesus has been a vital source of sacred inspiration for me because of his embodiment of deep realization and his loving action for the betterment of others. I see this as the essence “Christing” or the process of divinizing our lives and healing our world. This process goes beyond religious beliefs into the co-creative task of birthing a new and divine humanity. (See my article in Featured Articles)
And we all know from the news, which has been quite dark this fall, it is vital that more and more of us awaken spiritually and get involved in sacred and meaningful action that betters our world.
In that spirit, we invite you into an important journey this season to face and help heal one of the deepest shadows of humanity — the genocide of Indigenous Peoples.
As highlighted in the past few editions, Jean Fleury, Chief Arvol Looking Horse, Percy White Plume and other Indigenous leaders are organizing “Healing our Hearts at Wounded Knee” ceremonies around the 125th anniversary of that massacre. They have created ways for all of us to participate in this historic event and to help heal wounds in other locations. There are over 100 healing events taking place on December 29 around the world at that time. (To learn more, visit Healing our Hearts at Wounded Knee – click here.)
We invite you to join in a free online Wounded Knee healing ceremony that Devaa Haley Mitchell will guide with people like Jean and Flordemayo to take place on December 29, 2015 at 11:30am–1:00pm CST / 9:30–11:00am PT. Click here to learn more.
We have dedicated several recent editions of The Catalyst to Indigenous Wisdom, including beautiful articles about Wounded Knee – click here.
In this edition of The Catalyst, we are sharing inspiring articles about Christ Consciousness and love in action.
Emily Hine shares a beautiful and authentic article about how Jesus led her to working on compassion and peace. Emily is a co-lead faculty for the Peace Ambassador Training 2.0 which will start in January 2016.
The Peace Ambassador Training 2.0 is our commitment to helping create a more peaceful world from inner to international levels. I highly encourage you consider enrolling in Peace Ambassador Training 2.0 which has been upgraded with mindfulness and compassion practices – click here.
We also have articles by Kurt Johnson, Sister Jenna (Peace Ambassador Training 2.0 guest faculty) and Andrew Harvey. Our Member profile comes from Daneen Burk, a Peace Ambassador graduate helping to teach “Be Peace.”
We would love to hear your voice: How would you act if you knew everyone and everything was sacred? Please post a few sentences on this topic on our Facebook page and read what other Shift Network community members are sharing too – click here.
In our Featured Media, we have an inspiring video about Prime Minister Justin Trudeau opening Canada’s hearts to the Syrian refugees; and, a profound piece by Dadi Janki about love. Our Featured Artist is Annie May Willis offering beautiful songs perfect for the holidays.
Finally, for Shift Philanthropy, we are staying focused on the campaign to support the 125th Memorial of the Wounded Knee Massacre. We thank all of you who are supporting the campaign and invite others to join us in standing with our Indigenous family at this important time.
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From Christian to Christing
By Stephen Dinan
People sometimes ask me if I’m a Christian, and I have to say the answer is not simple.
The truth is that, for me, Jesus has been my most important source of inspiration, guidance and wisdom on the inner levels.
To read more, click here.
 Don’t Throw the Baby Jesus Out with the Holy Water
By Emily Hine
Like many people, I was raised in a very religious family, a Catholic family to be specific. I have twelve years of private school and plaid uniforms under my belt. Also, like many people, there were aspects of the religion I embraced and aspects that made me want to leave the church as soon as I was deemed an adult. Ultimately, I did leave the church, but I did not give up my relationship with Jesus. He just kept finding me and it’s largely because of him that I am so committed to global peace and compassion education. Let me explain.
To read more – click here.
 Christ Consciousness
By Kurt Johnson
Christ at the Grass Roots: An immense global shift has occurred in recent decades regarding these words: “Christ” and “Christ Consciousness.” In so many places in the world right now, many would proclaim -- “Hey, it’s not just about one man; it’s about all of us!”
To read more – click here.
 You Matter. Choose Love.
By Sister Jenna
The word, "Love" has been used so much that often its power is diluted. We use it as the right thing to say in a speech or the right weapon to use when you want someone to submit to us. Perhaps the real power in the word is that Love is so large. Which might lead us to question, "Why do I play so small?" Love is large and it has the capacity to remove any limitation of race, creed, religion, or language.
To read more, click here.
 10 Ways to Reclaim the Power of the Divine Feminine in Your Life (& why it’s so important you do)
By Andrew Harvey
What does the feminine have to do with the future of our world?
Everything.
I truly believe that the well-being of humanity depends on how richly, passionately and radically we can imagine, invoke and enact the laws and vision of the sacred feminine in every aspect of reality.
To read more, click here.
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 Be The Peace
By Daneen Burk, Peace Ambassador
When I took the Peace Ambassadors course, I was living in Costa Rica and heard Rita Marie Johnson talk about the BePeace Practice. I contacted with her the next day and went to visit the following week.
To read more, click here.
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 A Sacred Pilgrimage into the Soul of India — 14 Days on the Banks of the Holy Ganges and into the Heart of Joy, Yoga and Devoted Service — February 29 to March 14, 2016. Join His Holiness Pujya Swami Chidanand Saraswatiji, Sadhvi Bhagwati Saraswati, Stephen Dinan, Devaa Haley Mitchell, Philip Hellmich, Sandra de Castro Buffington, Karuna Ashley, Kurt Johnson, AmyJo Mattheis, Julia Maryanska and other Shift Network community members. In this journey of a lifetime, we will be participating in the International Yoga Festival, Kumbh Mela, Holy Arti Ceremonies, service activities and more. To learn more, click here.
 The Spiritual Life TV Channel features free wisdom teachings from many spiritual traditions and gives a practical focus that shows how a person can use these teachings to live a more spiritual life. New videos feature: James O’Dea, Edgar Mitchell, Barbara Marx Hubbard, Marilyn Schlitz, Gleen Mullin, Stephen Dinan, Philip Hellmich, and more! To learn more, click here.
Give Peace for the Holidays: Off the Grid Into the Heart and Off to Work are groundbreaking meditation CDs for those on the move, by Sister Jenna (Esteemed Guest Faculty for the upcoming Peace Ambassador Training 2.0 and Member of the Summer of Peace Wisdom Council).
Sister Jenna: “As technology continues to accelerate our lives, sitting still and reflecting on what matters most can be difficult. We bring so much more to our experiences and relationships when we make time to think in a powerful way. Those who are busiest are the ones who are most in need of a break. Off the Grid and Off to Work will magically return us to our inner world, where true power always resides — they are about moving us into meditation while staying on the move. To learn more, click here.”
 Dr. Joseph Michael Levry: Four free music downloads as our gift to you. May they shower you and your loved ones with blessings of love, health and happiness – click here!
 Alliance for Peacebuilding: Free Resource: What’s Happening in Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) Policy — This is a digest of recent statements, activities, and commentaries on CVE policy happening in Washington and around the world. We will update this list periodically as CVE discussions and actions take place. To learn more, click here.
 Tell A Story Of Abundance: Send Abundant Water To Nepal — In April–May 2015 earthquakes hit Nepal, killing around 9,000 people and causing around $5 billion dollar’s worth of damage. Clean water is running out for families, cholera is spreading and people are dying. Abundant Water (a non-profit organization) has the means to help — a team of potters in Laos who have developed ground-breaking water filter technology and a village-business program appropriate to Nepal. Help Abundant Water train Nepali women potters to make and sell clay pot water filters to supply clean water and help their communities recover from the earthquake. To learn more, click here.
 Iran! Splendors of the Persian Empire — April 3–16, 2016 — Tehran, Kerman, Yazd, Shiraz, Persepolis, Isfahan and Kashan. Join Cross Cultural Journeys on an odyssey to the Republic of Iran, commonly called Persia by the West. A multicultural nation with many ethnic and linguistic groups (mostly Shi’ites), this ancient country straddles Eurasia, Western Asia, the Caspian Sea and the Indian Ocean. Iran has played a vital role in the Islamic Golden Age, producing hundreds of influential scientists, scholars, artists, and thinkers. To learn more, click here.
 Just released: Positive Peace Report 2015 — Positive Peace is a transformational approach to achieving development, resilience and peace. It offers an alternative perspective to identify and measure long-term investments that create an optimum environment for human potential to flourish. The Positive Peace Report 2015 analyses the factors that build sustainable peace, and includes a statistical analysis of Positive Peace in 162 countries, covering 99 per cent of the world’s population. It is the first global, quantitative approach to defining and measuring Positive Peace and is based on the social factors that have the strongest statistically significant relationships with the absence of violence.To learn more, click here.
 Awake: The Life of Yogananda — DVDs available with subtitles in Spanish, Portuguese, Italian, German, Dutch and Japanese. Plus there are new film showings in Australia and United States! You also can bring Awaketo your yoga studio or community. To learn more click here. (The filmmakers were interviewed in the Yoga Day Summit, the recording is available for free.)
 World Peace Library — Free Resource — Be sure to take advantage of the World Peace Library, a wide-ranging resource on peace newly compiled by the Shift Network: It contains more than 300 inspiring talks and mini-workshops from individuals such as Archbishop Tutu, Nobel Laureate Jody Williams, Jane Goodall, Deepak Chopra, James O'Dea, Karen Armstrong, Chief Phil Lane and many more. With neuroscientists and lamas, faith-based activists and political leaders, this Library offers something for all in their peacebuilding efforts. The Shift Network has made the World Peace Library a free resource for all and encourages its use to promote peace in your families, schools, and wider community.
If you have an announcement to share, please write: editor@theshiftnetwork.com.
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2015 Catalyst:
| (#25, 12/20) |
| (#24, 12/6) (#23, 11/23) (#22, 11/08) (#21, 10/25) |
| (#20, 10/11) (#19, 9/27) (#18, 9/12) (#17, 8/30) (#16, 8/16) |
| (#15, 8/2) (#14, 7/19) (#13, 7/5) (#12, 6/20) (#11, 6/7) |
| (#10, 5/24) (#9, 5/10) (#8, 4/26) (#7, 4/5) (#6, 3/21) |
| (#5, 3/15) (#4, 2/22) (#3, 2/8) (#2, 1/25) (#1, 1/11) |
2014 Catalyst:
| (#26, 12/28) |
| (#25, 12/14) (#24, 11/30) (#23, 11/16) (#22, 11/1) (#21, 10/19) |
| (#20, 10/5) (#19, 9/21) (#18, 9/14) (#17, 9/01) (#16, 8/17) |
| (#15, 8/3) (#14, 7/20) (#13, 7/4) (#12, 6/15) (#11, 6/1) |
| (#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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Join the Healing our Hearts at Wounded Knee free online global meditation on December 29, 2015. To learn more, click here.
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 Shamanic Journeying for Guidance & Healing
Opening to Love, Beauty & Wisdom Through Sacred Ceremony & Community — A 7-week Program With Shamanic Teacher
Sandra Ingerman.
A powerful opportunity to develop your ability to use shamanic practices to access hidden dimensions, unseen allies and healing wisdom for your life and our world. New Live Training Starts
Tuesday, January 5, 2016
God, Sex & Enlightenment
Healing Body & Soul Through Tantric Revelation — With Pioneering Contemporary Spiritual Teacher
& Internationally Renowned Mystic, Scholar-Activist
Andrew Harvey. New Program Starts Tuesday, January 5, 2016
 Indigenous Wisdom for Compassionate Living & Unified Action Healing Ourselves, Our Relations & Our World — With Hereditary Chief Phil Lane, Jr.
Receive profound Indigenous wisdom in a sacred circle for healing, ceremony, teaching, sharing and co-creating. New 9-week Virtual Circle Starts
Thursday, January 7, 2016
More Upcoming Events: (all subject to change)
January
• Winter of Wellness Summit
• Caroline Casey 7-week course
• Jean Shinoda Bolen 7-week course
• Peace Ambassador Training 12-week course
• David Crow 12-week course
• Devaa Haley Mitchell 6-month program
• Shift Leadership Academy 1-year program
February
• African American Wisdom Summit
• Body Intelligence Summit
• HeartMath 7-week course
• Terry Patten 7-week course
• Miranda Macpherson 8-week course
• Anodea Judith 7-month program
March
• Transforming Aging Summit
• Enneagram 7-week course
• Andrew Harvey 7-week course
• Luisah Teish 7-week course
• Ron Pevny 7-week course
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125th Memorial of the Wounded Knee Massacre — 2015 marks the 125th anniversary of the Wounded Knee Massacre that took place on December 29, 1890. The Shift Network is committed to standing with our Indigenous brothers and sisters to create healing ceremonies on this historic occasion. We invite you to join us in unity and determination to end massacre. Let us use this unique opportunity to collectively begin a great and momentous turning. Come heal with us in spirit at Wounded Knee! Click here to learn more.
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Healing Our Hearts at Wounded Knee —
is a focal point for leadership in healing ceremonies and modalities to heal essential and ancient wounds of humanity. Healing Hearts at Wounded Knee will ignite this process of healing for Indigenous and non-Indigenous communities alike. To learn more, click here.
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Annie May Willis
By Eleanor Tara
Annie May Willis is a singer-songwriter who writes catchy, deeply healing songs that are impossible not to sing along to. They have the unique quality of sounding unlike anyone else, yet feeling so familiar to my heart that I'm convinced I've heard them all before. Each tune is channeled straight from Annie's luminous soul and expressed exquisitely through her powerhouse of a voice as she openly shares her own journey of spiritual awakening and growth through feeling it all and being present with all that arises. It's hard to play favorites when every song is so brilliant, but "Mountain Tall" is an instant classic, while "Turiya La Rue" is hauntingly beautiful, and "Learning to Let Go" is touchingly vulnerable and resonant. This album, Steady On, is perfect for the holidays as it offers something that everyone can relate to and it is guaranteed to open your heart. Listen Annie’s Steady On, click here.
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Canada prime minister welcomes wave of Syrian refugees 
Dadi Janki — Love 
Your Voice: How would you act if you knew everyone and everything was sacred? 
