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 By Stephen Dinan, founder and CEO of The Shift Network
Heaven on Earth is humanity’s oldest dream — to create a world that works for all.
We all have momentary experiences of “Heaven on Earth,” times in which our lives are filled with so much beauty, love, generosity and grace that we feel deeply fulfilled — even transcendent.
In these moments, we tap into our soul’s essence of peace, joy and wisdom. We sense our oneness with all of life and can glimpse what is possible — a thriving global family, united in a peaceful, sustainable civilization.
At The Shift Network, we are committed to helping more and more people (you) to awaken to their innate divinity and to take meaningful and practical action to co-create Heaven on Earth, starting in their families, schools, businesses, community and/or, world at large.
We know Heaven on Earth can seem like a far off dream, especially when the news is filled with stories of local, national and global crises, hatred, polarization and violence. This is why we are inspired to bring to you the Co-creating Heaven on Earth Summit (November 1–3), featuring Stephen Covey, Sister Jenna, Claire Zimmit, Tim Kelley and many more visionary social change agents who are blazing the trail to a better future. We want to thank Martin Rutte for creating and co-hosting the Co-creating Heaven on Earth Summit with me.
We are also excited to be partnering with the Global Oneness Day which starts tomorrow, October 24. Steve Farrell and the Humanity’s Team have done an exceptional job of pulling together an impressive line up of speakers, including Deepak Chopra as the honorary chairperson. I am delighted to be presenting in the Global Oneness Day.
We are very excited about these tandem free online events as we see Heaven on Earth and Global Oneness going hand-in-hand!
We would love to hear from you: What would Heaven on Earth look like to you? To share with our Facebook Page community, click here.
In this edition of The Catalyst, we have wonderful articles about Heaven on Earth and Global Oneness. We also have a powerful piece about the upcoming 2nd World Parliament on Spirituality that will take place in Salt Lake City, Utah (November 17–20, 2016)! We strongly encourage people to attend the 2nd World Parliament on Spirituality which will be launching a Global Peace Initiative. (There is a SHIFT Network Community special price of only $35 for the entire four-day event; or only $15/day. Enter this code: WPS35.) (Click here to learn more).
Our member profiles are two powerful stories, one about Orion Strong who inspired the creation of a Peace Camp and Learning Center for young people. The second profile is by Shannon Kring who is creating a film about How to be a Strong Woman: Wisdom from the Women of Standing Rock.
Our Shift Philanthropy is Orion’s Peace Camp and Learning Center. Our Featured Artist is Ness Gomes.
We also are delighted to announce our next Shift trip, A Sacred Pilgrimage to into the Soul of India — 17 Days on the Banks of the Holy Ganges and into the Heart of Joy, Yoga and Devoted Service — February 21 to March 9, 2017. This sacred pilgrimage will visit sacred sites in and around Rishikesh, India, the birthplace of yoga. It will include time at Anand Mehrotra’s Sattva Retreat and then the International Yoga Festival. Plus, you will learn about how to apply deep yogic principles in sacred service. My beloved wife Devaa and I went on this trip last year and we cannot say enough about how powerfully transforming it is to be on the banks of the holy Ganges River in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains! I strongly encourage you to consider this trip of a lifetime! (To learn more, click here and see Featured Media and Movement News.)
Finally, the next Global Shift Meditation will be November 1, 2016 at 12:00pm Pacific, featuring Rev. Deborah Moldow sending special prayers for the US elections. We also want to congratulate David Nicol, the Gaiafield Project and friends on the launch of The Liberty Bell Minute — a spiritual call to action to invoke wisdom, joy, and compassion in the United States of America at a vital historical moment. You can join thousands of people for a minute of silence every day leading up to the elections at 6pm Pacific. (See Featured Media)
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 Featured Video: Shift Trip — A Sacred Pilgrimage into the Soul of India
Join the trip of a lifetime: 17 Days on the Banks of the Holy Ganges and into the Heart of Joy, Yoga and Devoted Service — February 21 to March 9, 2017. Discover a new template for grace. For holiness. For service. For Spirit. For finally experiencing a real “Heaven on Earth.”To learn more, click here.
 The Liberty Bell Minute is a spiritual call to action to invoke wisdom, joy, and compassion in the United States of America at a vital historical moment. From early October and continuing through the US national election, join thousands of people worldwide for a minute of silence each day at 9:00pm Eastern. To see the inspiring video and to sign up, click here.
 Global Shift Meditation — Join Free Event — 1st of Every Month
Join The Shift Network, The Gaiafield Project and people around the world for Global Shift Meditations the 1st of each month – click here to register free. We will feature Rev. Deborah Moldow on November 1, 2016 to help us prepare for the US elections. (Free recording is available after the meditation – click here)
 Your Voice:
We want to know: What would Heaven on Earth look like to you? To share with our Facebook Page community, click here.
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  Can You Make Heaven on Earth Real? 3 Questions to Ask Yourself + Marianne Williamson's Answer
By Lee Doyle
Heaven...
Imagine all the people living for today... Imagine there's no countries… Nothing to kill or die for and no religion, too… Imagine all the people living life in peace... You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one. I hope someday you'll join us and the world will be as one.
— John Lennon
Do you believe in Heaven?
For many, heaven is a view of humanity and our planet in which all unnecessary suffering ends, everyone’s needs are met and we are truly thriving individually and collectively — a world guided by love, rather than fear.
To read more, click here.
 Global Oneness Day — Turning the World Right Side Up
By Steve Farrell
What if the world as we know it operates on a false premise, a premise that everything is separate from everything else? What if ultimate reality is something different than what we believe in the mainstream? What if we can create Heaven on Earth by simply living as who we really are?
Global Oneness Day was created precisely to address these things.
To read more, click here.
 Seeing the Divine in Life. Standing in the Shoes of the “Other.”
Theme and Practice for Global Oneness Day 2016
By Anna-Mari Pieterse
“You never really know a man until you understand things from his point of view, until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.”
—Harper Lee, To Kill a Mockingbird
Up to now, as human beings we have done very well to understand, appreciate, and to live in separation and disconnection. This is evident in the ongoing wars, violence, greed and poverty in the world. At this time too however we find that we are at an actual stage of development that reverses this condition, and during which we are able to look at all of the separate parts of life in such a way that we can actually feel the Oneness with ‘the other’ which is What/Who we really Are.
To read more, click here.
  2016 World Parliament on Spirituality
By Dr. Yugandhar, GR (India) and Dr. Paula Fellingham (U.S.)
The goal of the 2016 World Parliament on Spirituality is to converge the collective wisdom of diverse spiritual thought across the planet and unite to create a Global Peace Initiative and Master Action Plan for Peace for the purpose of increasing the level of love, prosperity, and peace in the world.
To read more, click here.
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 Orion's Peace Camp & Learning Center: a Global Movement
By Written for Susan Strong Morgan (Orion’s Grandmother) and Kharma Strong (Orion’s Mother)
“Together, we can make a difference” was Orion Strong’s motto. His grandmother Susan Strong Morgan says, ‘Supporting my daughter, Kharma, as birth coach, I watched him emerge, wide-eyed, into the light and felt an energetic transmission that blew my heart wide open, deeply and forever expanding my capacity for love.’ Orion was a champion hugger, lover of animals, voracious reader, deep thinker, and friend to all mankind. Naturally empathetic, he would comfort anyone who appeared to be in distress and could always elicit a genuine smile.
To read more, click here.
 How to be a Strong Woman: Wisdom from the Women of Standing Rock
By Shannon Kring
You’ve seen the headlines. What you may not know is that the women of Standing Rock are the backbone of the #NoDAPL fight.
I was sitting in a coffee shop in Tegucigalpa, Honduras, the night it hit me: I had to go to Standing Rock to document all sides of the ongoing #NoDAPL fight. This has happened before, a film choosing me, rather than my choosing it. Also familiar was what happened just four days later, when I realized that the story I had set out to investigate wasn’t the one that needed to be told.
To ready more, click here.
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Please join Global Oneness Day 2016, our Earth Day for awakening humanity! The program is on Monday, October 24, 2016. Featuring over 50 inspirational speakers with Deepak Chopra as the honorary chairman. You can register free – click here.
 World Parliament on Spirituality — November 17–20, 2016, Salt Lake City, Utah. We invite you to participate in a glorious Global Peace Initiative whose mission is “to increase the level of love, prosperity, and peace on Earth.”
For our Shift Network Community there is a special price of only $35 for the entire four-day event; or only $15/day. Simply register for the $97 event and near the end you will enter this code: WPS35 to receive your discounted ticket.
The Global Peace Initiative will be launched at the Parliament. Nine Regional Peace Directors and 196 Peace Ambassadors (expatriates from nations worldwide, now living in the U.S.) are being chosen from 196 nations. They will help implement our Peace Master Action Plan (Peace MAP) in their nations in collaboration with National Peace Ambassadors, individuals, and organizations in country. To learn more, click here.
Shift Trip — A Sacred Pilgrimage into the Soul of India — Join the trip of a lifetime: 17 Days on the Banks of the Holy Ganges and into the Heart of Joy, Yoga and Devoted Service — February 21 to March 9, 2017. Imagine for a moment the fulfillment of a life-long dream in which you experience a soul-filled adventure that takes you not only into the depths of India — one of the most magical countries in the world — but also into deep and lasting communion with the Divine. A true pilgrimage of the heart. That dream can be yours with A Sacred Pilgrimage into the Soul of India, a journey undertaken with supportive allies, wise yogis and sacred friends. Discover a new template for grace. For holiness. For service. For Spirit. For finally experiencing a real “Heaven on Earth.” To learn more, click here.
New Book by Stephen Dinan: Sacred America, Sacred World is Infused with visionary power, it’s a manifesto for our country’s evolution that is both political and deeply spiritual. It offers profound hope that America can grow beyond our current challenges and manifest our noblest destiny, which the book shows is rooted in sacred principles that transcend left or right political views. To order your copy, click here.
Join Stephen Dinan for live book events and radio/TV interviews. Stephen will be on the East Coast of the U.S. again next month for his book Sacred America, Sacred World — Click here for his schedule as it finalizes.
 Gandhi Searches for Truth: A Practical Biography for Children chronicles the path that led Gandhi from childhood to Mahatma-hood in 12 beautifully illustrated stories. Each chapter sheds light on a lesson about the power of nonviolence. For children and adults alike. Author Stephanie N. Van Hook is the Executive Director of the Metta Center for Nonviolence and is trained in Montessori Early Childhood Education. To learn more, click here.
 Available in Paperback: Subtle Activism: The Inner Dimension of Social and Planetary Transformation. David Thomas Nicol introduces the concept of “subtle activism” to describe the use of consciousness-based practices like meditation and prayer to support collective transformation, such as global meditation directed toward peaceful resolution of a conflict. Subtle activism represents a bridge between the consciousness movement and the movements for peace, environmental sustainability, and social justice. It is not a substitute for physical action but rather a potentially crucial component of a more integrated approach to social change. To learn more and order a copy, click here.
The California Women’s Conference — Long Beach, California — December 7–8, 2016. This 2-day event will feature some of the world’s top speakers, entertainers, entrepreneurs, and thought leaders. It’s an event that is designed to inspire and connect you with other empowering women who are making great change in the world. It takes place once every two years! Reserve your seat now and connect your journey with women who are making moves around the globe. To learn more, click here.
Inaugural Peace Leadership Conference – India — February 17–19, Aurovalley Ashram Rishidwar, India — created by the Deeper Leadership Institute (DLI) in partnership with the International Leadership Association (ILA) to bring together global peace practitioners, academicians, educators, and other interested parties in the broad area of peace leadership. Experience fellowship, collaboration and connection! Confirmed speakers include Richard Barrett, Susan Taylor, Ram Nidumolu, Philip M. Hellmich, and Sandra de Castro Buffington. Note: This experience is limited to 125 participants so please register early to ensure a successful registration: click here.
 Awake: The Life of Yogananda — Now available on Netflix, Amazon and other livestream programs. Plus, 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 Awake to 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.)
The Global Peace Index 2016 was released. The Global Peace Index, which ranks 163 countries on their peacefulness, has helped shift the world’s conversation about peace to a positive, achievable and tangible measure of human well-being and progress. Highlights from the report:
- Global inequality in peace has widened in 2016 as least peaceful countries spiral into increased violence
- The world became less peaceful in 2016, reinforcing an underlying decade-long deterioration in world peacefulness driven primarily by increased terrorism and higher levels of political instability.
- The economic impact of violence on the global economy totalled $13.6 trillion or 13.3% of gross world product, equivalent to 11 times the size of global foreign direct investment.
- The economic impact of violence was $137 trillion over the last decade — greater than global GDP in 2015.
- Refugees and displaced persons have risen dramatically over the last decade, doubling to approximately 60 million people between 2007 and 2016, nearly 1% of the world’s population.
- Iceland is the world’s most peaceful country, followed by Denmark and Austria.
- Syria is least peaceful, followed by South Sudan, Iraq, Afghanistan and Somalia.
To read the report in its entirety, click here.
 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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2016 Catalyst:
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(#18, 10/23)
(#17, 10/2)
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(#16, 9/11)
(#15, 8/28)
(#14, 8/14)
(#13, 7/31)
(#12, 7/17)
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(#11, 7/3)
(#10, 6/12)
(#9, 5/29)
(#8, 5/1)
(#7, 4/17)
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(#6, 4/3)
(#5, 3/13)
(#4, 2/28)
(#3, 2/14)
(#2, 1/31)
(#1, 1/17)
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2015 Catalyst:
| (#25, 12/20) |
| (#24, 12/6) (#23, 11/23) (#22, 11/8) (#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) |
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 Opening to Boundless Love:
How to Live in Unity Through the Practice of Unconditional Acceptance —
A Free Virtual Event
With Spiritual Teacher Miranda Macpherson.
Discover the Power of Unconditional Acceptance
to Access True Wholeness and Abiding Peace.
October 26, 2016 at 5:30pm Pacific
 What The Bleep Is Going On?:
Powerful Practices to Stay Centered & Help Bring Sanity to the World —
A Free Virtual Event
With Peacebuilding and Social Change Activists Philip Hellmich and Emily Hine.
Discover proven practices to remain grounded in the midst of chaotic circumstance and inspire healing and harmony.
October 29, 2016 at 5:30pm Pacific
 Rumi & The Way of Passion:
Igniting the Divine Fire in Your Heart —
With Contemporary Spiritual Teacher and
Internationally Renowned Activist-Scholar
Andrew Harvey.
An unprecedented opportunity to discover the radiant gems of wisdom hidden within the beloved poetry and life of today’s most popular poet in order to birth yourself as a divine human and begin creating heaven on earth.
New Training Starts Tuesday, November 1, 2016
 The Hakomi Method Essentials Program:
Applied Mindfulness & Micro-tracking Techniques for Embodied Transformation —
A 10-week Online Training
With Hakomi Pioneers
Manuela Mischke-Reeds and Rob Fisher.
New Training Starts Thursday, November 3, 2016
The Power of Shamanic Communication:
Creating True Intimacy, Serenity & Connection With Life —
A 7-week Course With Respected Shamanic Teacher and Bestselling Author Lynn Andrews.
Develop Your Shamanic Abilities to Communicate with Guiding Spirits, Power Animals and Ancestors and Create Greater Connection, Peace and Healing for Yourself and The World.
New Live Training Starts Thursday, November 3, 2016
More Upcoming Events: (all subject to change)
October
• Alison Armstrong 8-week course
• Jessica Dibb 11-week course
• Lisa Schrader 9-month program
• Margaret Paul 9-month program
• Devaa Haley Mitchell membership program
November
• Enlightened Business Summit
• Mingtong Gu 7-week course
• Anodea Judith 8-week course
• Mirabai Starr 8-week course
• Miranda Macpherson 10-week course
• Peace Ambassador Training 12-week course
December
• Rabbi David Ingber 7-week course
• Hank Wesselman 7-week course
• Raphael Cushnir 7-week course
• Patricia Albere 12-week course
• Stan Grof 24-week course
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The Shift Network is delighted to invite you to support Orion's Peace Camp & Learning Center — a multifaceted program and international movement that will engage thousands of youth and adults year-round. Through residential summer peace camps, school and community programs, on-site and online classes and workshops, positive parenting programs, newsletters, and more, our goal is to empower others to create and grow their own peace camps and programs, inspiring an outbreak of peace around the world. To learn more, click here.
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Humanity’s Team is an international spiritual movement whose purpose is to communicate and demonstrate the timeless truth that We Are All One, with the Divine and all life — caring for each other and the world we share — so that people's actions reflect this profound understanding within a generation. We believe that living this truth is essential to solving the most chronic and acute world problems and vital to creating a sustainable world of peace, harmony and happiness. To learn more, click here.
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Ness Gomes — Diamonds & Demons
By Tara Divina
Ness Gomes is a British singer-songwriter who creates witchy, healing folk music that sounds beautifully modern. Her debut album, Diamonds & Demons, caught my attention when I saw that she had raised close to $50,000 through her first crowdfunding campaign, a remarkable feat for an "unknown" musician. It turns out she has been opening up the hearts of truth seekers for years by sharing her emotionally evocative, heartfelt and honest songs in intimate settings. Her much anticipated album is now finally released (and well worth the wait). It is a gorgeous journey from the shadows to light, from loss to love, and gracefully navigating the rich terrain in between. To listen to Nessi's music, click here.
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