By Lindsey Wise, host of the Conscious Kids Summit

Imagine if every young child was given the opportunity to develop courage, compassion, and inner knowing. What if all children were equipped with the intellectual, emotional, and spiritual tools they need to meet the demands of their own hero’s journey?

Our goal is to make this vision a reality. In fact, we believe it’s imperative.

It’s time for a new story of childhood — a new way of growing up, developing consciousness, and learning about oneself and the world. And it’s time for a new story of parenthood — a story of modeling love and presence, of teaching and being taught. It’s time to make a massive shift by giving children and parents the practices and wisdom they need to step forward with courage.

We’ve designed the Conscious Kids Summit to nourish the body, mind, and spirit, giving families practical resources for navigating life’s uncertainties. We’re featuring inspiring speakers, conscious movement practices and music, guided meditations, and uplifting stories that will point the way to what is possible.

This is our opportunity to create something meaningful that will nurture the next generation of conscious change-makers. This is our chance to give parents the ideas, inspiration, and understanding they need to raise the resilient, creative, emotionally intelligent beings that our world needs.

The Shift Network has brought together a group of world-class thought leaders, visionaries, and change-makers to provide an online summit experience that will guide parents and children at this critical point in life’s journey.

Be sure to check out my inspiring conversations with Adriana Ayales, Grandmother Flordemayo, Ibu Robin Lim, Sandra Ingerman, Puma Fredy Quispe Singona, Mona Delfino, the Brothers Koren, and so many more.

Together, we can be the change we wish to see! You can register for the Conscious Kids Summit for free here.

The uplifting stories in this issue’s “The Nicest Thing” section come from summit host Lindsey Wise and summit speaker Kate Reardon.

Finally, we’d love to hear your answer to the question, When did you realize that your child or grandchild was more self-aware than you expected? To share your thoughts in our Facebook Page community, click here.

When you’re able to respect the unfolding of your child’s particular journey, you teach them to nurture their own inner voice and simultaneously honor the voice of others.
— Dr. Shefali Tsabary

A Personal Invitation to the April 12-16 Conscious Kids Summit From Your Host, Lindsey Wise

Hello, my name is Lindsay Wise, and I am so excited to be inviting you for The Shift Network’s first offering for children and their families. This is an incredible summit, the Conscious Kids Summit. It’s a free offering, and it will be from April 12 to 16, featuring yoga, dance, music, and incredible pearls of wisdom from thought leaders like Adriana Ayales, The Brothers Koren, Ibu Robin Lim, Puma Quispe, Grandmother Flordemayo, and so many more from around the world.

To watch this 1-minute video and read the rest of the text, click here.

In this special video series, prominent authors, thought leaders, and others answer the question, “What is the nicest thing a non-family member has ever done for you?”

Lindsey Wise’s Story
Mother, musician, doula, and host of the Conscious Kids Summit

EXCERPT: We were at a little cabin in the woods, up in the mountains, up above Santa Cruz, off Highway 49. When we were up there, it became very clear to our midwife that I was going to need to go to the emergency room. Yet, I sent the first ambulance away. I said, “No, it’s okay. I’m going to be all right. I’m visualizing that this is fine. I want a natural home birth.” Yet, I actually had an experience of flatlining and of dying, and I needed to go to the emergency room, and they used electricity to resuscitate me and to bring me back to life.

To watch the video and read the transcript of Lindsey’s harrowing 5-minute story about returning back to life after the birth of her first child, click here.
 

Kate Reardon’s Story
Founder of Natural Instinct Healing and a featured speaker in the Conscious Kids Summit

EXCERPT: I sat next to this mother and she had four children. So I had one seat and she had the other seat with four children. So she had two children on each leg. And I was talking to her in my very broken Spanish. And I will never forget, she had one bread roll. Because, at the time, and still to present day, a lot of the local Bolivian people live below the poverty line. And way back then, I’m not sure exactly what it is now, but the poverty line was one U.S. dollar per day, per family, to live on.

To watch the video and read the transcript of Kate’s sweet 5-minute story about the kindness of strangers, click here.

Spring Equinox Attunement
By Bronwyn Ayla, a provider of holistic medical arts, and a featured speaker in the Conscious Kids Summit

A healthy lifestyle includes living and acting in harmony with the seasons and the cycles of nature. Spring is upon us and is presenting an amazing opportunity to replenish ourselves. The season itself represents the energy of fertility, newness, and growth, as nature flourishes all around us. A large part of this transmission comes from the wisdom teachings of Liu Ming.

Equinox means that yin and yang have become equal. This delineation indicates a special kind of harmony that does not mean the same amount, per se but points to a state of equality in quality. This is a time of huge change in the botanical world, wherein insects that previously stirred beneath the ground, are now beginning to surface. In a sense, Heaven and Earth have swapped roles.  To read more, click here.

Whatever You Think or Feel, the Universe Says “Yes”
By Shift faculty Robert Moss

Before you walk into a room or turn a corner, your attitude is there already. It is engaged in creating the situation you are about to encounter. Whether you are remotely conscious of this or not, you are constantly setting yourself up for what the world is going to give you. If you go about your day filled with doom and gloom, the world will give you plenty of reasons to support that attitude. You’ll start looking like that cartoon character who goes about with a personal black cloud over his head that rains only on his parade. Conversely, if your attitude is bright and open to happy surprises, you may be rewarded by a bright day, even when the sky is leaden overhead, and surprisingly happy encounters. To read more, click here.

A note from Rev. Dr. Aliah MaJon, Chief Inclusion Officer for The Shift Network:

How many times have we heard the words, “Children are our future”? I believe this is true, and if you’re reading this because you’re interested in the concept of creating “conscious kids” and/or will be attending our first-ever Conscious Kids Summit, it’s likely that you believe this too.

The complement of this thinking is the understanding that we — parents, grandparents, educators, and anyone focused on the welfare of children — are being invited to take on the responsibility of guiding, growing, and grooming the young people in our lives as future leaders who will have the big job of stepping forward motivated by the urgent calls for equity and healing around race and racism. That is what this section is being provided to support.

So please check out what you find here, commit to using what may resonate, and feel free to share these resources with others. The world is letting us know that positive change can happen and, in fact, is underway. Let’s encourage our children’s ability to be change agents and future-builders. We need that now more than ever.

Kids Talk About Race & Racism
Inaugural National Youth Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman

Hosted by Amanda Gorman, this half-hour PBS program features authentic conversations between real children and their parents and includes content from the PBS KIDs shows, “Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood,” “Arthur,” and “Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum.” The show looks at race and racial justice-related topics in an age-appropriate way and offers viewers ideas to build on as they continue these important conversations at home. Click here to watch this 28-minute video.
 

Talking With Children About Racism, Police Brutality & Protests
Aha! Parenting Blog

Dr. Laura... In the past few weeks, I have had several conversations with parents, both in person and through social media, about whether we should talk with our children about the deaths of black men and women at the hands of the police, and if so, how? My community of parents are different races (and genders and sexualities), but we are all feeling devastated. Our questions are: At what age can we start to talk with our children about this frightening, complex issue? When are children old enough to handle such an intense topic? For children who are old enough to discuss it, how can we talk about it with them? (Most of us have elementary-aged children.) To read more, click here.
 

How to Talk To Your Children About Race

Parents are often unsure of how to talk to young children about race. But it is real and it is everyday – and an important opportunity to do right by our children. Parents should talk about race. Here’s how to start the conversation. To read more, click here.

Talking Race With Young Children
NPR Podcast

Even babies notice differences like skin color, eye shape, and hair texture. Here’s how to handle conversations about race, racism, diversity, and inclusion, even with very young children. Click here to listen to this 20-minute podcast.
 

How to Talk to Kids About Race
Video from The Atlantic’s “Home School”

“The worst conversation adults can have with kids about race is no conversation at all,” says author Jemar Tisby. “Talking to kids about race needs to happen early, often, and honestly.” In a new episode of “Home School,” The Atlantic’s animated series about parenting, Tisby offers advice on how to have a conversation with children about race, from experiential learning to watching classic animated films. Click here to watch this 3-minute video.

A Crayon For Everyone
Scholastic News video

Scholastic News interviewed 9-year-old Bellen Woodard, the world’s first crayon activist and founder of More Than Peach — a movement that creates crayons to help kids feel included while celebrating their differences. Click here to watch the 3-minute video. Click here to visit Bellen’s website, “Bellen’s More than Peach™ Project.” Click here to read the Scholastic News article on Bellen, “A Color for Everyone.”

Note from Dr. Aliah: This beautiful photo touched my heart. This is how I want to see our kids!

Sandra Ingerman on Shamanism and Mental Health

Popular Shift faculty Sandra Ingerman, MA, a featured speaker in the Conscious Kids Summit, had a spiritual awakening as a child and has experienced three near-death experiences. At seven she was struck by lightning, as a teen in Mexico she had to be revived after nearly drowning in the ocean, and in her 20s she accidentally drove her car off a cliff. Through her own healing journey, she found the importance of connecting to her creativity and nature, and finding meaning, passion, and purpose in life. Click here to watch this 3-minute video.
 

Healing-Prayer/Blessing, With Song
Grandmother Flordemayo, a featured speaker in the Conscious Kids Summit

This series of video clips from Grandmother Flordemayo includes a 2015 Healing Blessing/Prayer, with song, given at Parliament, along with some extra photos and clips of some of the other International Indigenous Grandmothers. Click here to watch this 6-minute video.

Felicia Lenee Williams in Memoriam

Felicia Lenee Williams (Fe Love) was the Emcee of the "Arts Stage" for the Shift Summit & Music Festival. She said of the experience: “I loved the opportunity to highlight the voices of artists, especially those from various backgrounds, socio-economic status, diverse mediums, and just a wide spectrum of demographics sharing their authenticity as it relates to the vision of the arts going forward."

This video is a tribute to a trailblazing soul who championed peaceful change through art. Fe died very young, but left a huge legacy of positive change. We will miss her bright light and contagious enthusiasm. Click here to watch this 5-minute video.

Together Is Better Festival

Johny Dar’s Jeans For Refugees initiative returns with “Together Is Better” – a virtual music festival streaming worldwide at 7:00pm BST on April 17. Click here for more information and to purchase your ticket.

Jeans For Refugees already involves more than 130 celebrities, who have all donated their jeans to be hand-painted by Dar and sold to raise funds for refugees. Gigi Hadid, Orlando Bloom, Harry Styles, Jessie J, Scarlett Johannson, Elton John, Ryan Gosling, Salma Hayek, Kate Moss, Cameron Diaz, Naomi Campbell, Victoria Beckham and Emma Watson are among the international roster of participants who have donated their denims for the cause.

True to their name, the “Together Is Better” team are collaborating with refugee organizations Choose Love, The Worldwide Tribe, and Care 4 Calais, to bring a range of initiatives and storytelling into the spotlight. Alongside the diverse lineup of DJs and musicians, the festival offers a virtual showroom experience and online shop, where 60 pairs of celebrity-donated hand-painted Jeans For Refugees will be available for purchase.
 

New Moon Cafe presents “Black Jaguar Returns”
Monday, April 12, 5:00-6:00pm UK / 9:00-10:00am Pacific

The New Moon is a time to slow down and go within. The sky is dark and all is quiet, it’s the perfect time to peek beyond the veil and listen to the messages from spirit. This month, Black Jaguar, Guardian of the Mayan tradition, returns to take us even deeper into our dreams and visions. Come along to reset your energy, release the old, and dream your new cycle into being. Tap into the medicine of Black Jaguar, and awaken the Goddess within. For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.
 

In the Midst of Things
By Darrell Calkins

This collection of letters and essays offers readers enduring, invaluable insight on a comprehensive range of universal themes, including presence, compassion, intimacy, and more. Darrell Calkins delicately weaves together threads from a diverse range of disciplines and schools of thought including philosophy, psychology, Asian and Judaic spirituality, and Christian mysticism, elucidating ancient and contemporary wisdom for our lives today. To order your copy, click here.

For several years, The Shift Network has hosted Indigenous leaders from around the world and invited them to share their sacred knowledge, rituals, and practices to guide us in a way of living that is sustainable, healthy, and just. We’re thus delighted that the Global Indigenous Wisdom Library makes this “virtual council” of leaders and their wisdom available for everyone, everywhere for free. The Global Indigenous Wisdom Library is a collection of audio and video interviews featuring Indigenous leaders from around the world sharing prayers, sacred songs, prophecies, spiritual teachings, and pathways to healing, as well as concrete examples for birthing a new era — one in which all members of the human family are treated with respect, understanding, compassion, and justice. This sacred wisdom is important medicine for us all.

The production of The Global Indigenous Wisdom Library is a gift from The Shift Network, designed to inspire, inform, and involve you by highlighting the voices and important messages of Indigenous leaders from around the world. We want to give a heartfelt thanks to Hereditary Chief Phil Lane Jr. (“Brother Phil”) for his partnership in helping create this Indigenous Wisdom collection. And we thank all the speakers who have contributed to this body of knowledge. To discover more, click here.

World Peace Library. Designed for the layperson and professional peacebuilder alike, the World Peace Library has over 425 audio and video interviews with some of the most remarkable, inspiring peacebuilders in the world available to you at NO COST. You’ll find hundreds of hours of inspirational, peacebuilding, compassion-spreading talks and trainings at your fingertips with this FREE global resource. There’s no way you can’t come away from the World Peace Library deeply inspired, transformed — and part of the solution. Click here to find out how to take peace to the next level — and help co-create a global culture of peace that leaves a legacy of good for our children, our children’s children and all of humanity and life on earth.

Book by Stephen Dinan: Sacred America, Sacred World. Infused with visionary power, Sacred America, Sacred World is 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.

If you would like to submit something to The Catalyst, please see the submission guidelines: click here.

Yayasan Bumi Sehat

Yayasan Bumi Sehat was founded in Bali in 1995 as a nonprofit. “Yayasan” means “not for profit.” “Bumi” means “Earth mother.” And “Sehat” translates as “healthy.” Thus, we are the Healthy Mother Earth Foundation. We operate three Community Health and Education and Childbirth Centers within Indonesia.

At our clinics, we offer a comprehensive range of allopathic and holistic medicine, as well as pre and post-natal care, breastfeeding support, infant, child and family health services, nutritional education, prenatal yoga, and gentle, loving natural birth services. Each baby’s capacity to love and trust is built at birth and in the first two hours of life. By protecting pregnancy, birth, postpartum, and breastfeeding, we are advocating for optimal humanity, health, intelligence, and consciousness.

Click here for more information.
Click here to make a donation.

Discover Yourself as One With the Cosmos Through Shamanic Journeying — A free video event with Peruvian maestro curandero, psychologist, and author don Oscar Miro-Quesada. Tap into your starlight origins through a shamanic journey to activate the Merkabah (light-spirit-body) of your soul — and access expanded awareness and healing. Wednesday, April 14, at 5:30pm Pacific

Soul Regression and Channeled Wisdom for a Peaceful, Meaningful and Love-Filled Life — A free video event with BLSRt (Between Lives Soul Regression therapist) Rob Schwartz and channeler Liesel Fricke. Experience a guided mini life review to uncover one of your Divine Virtues — and glimpse your pre-birth plan as you boost your capacity for joy and self-love. Saturday, April 17, at 10:00am Pacific

A Doorway Into Oracle Arts — With visionary, ritualist, and educator Isis Indriya, founder of the Academy of Oracle Arts and co-founder of Ritual Community. Explore the healing wisdom and rituals of the ancient mystery schools and oracle arts — to activate your innate intuitive senses, access spiritual realms, and co-create the life you’ve always wanted. New 7-Week Live Video Training Starts Monday, April 12

Next-Level Radiant Lotus Qigong for Women — With renowned Qigong teacher and author Daisy Lee. Learn sequential Qigong movements that culminate in the transformative Radiant Lotus Long Form to build stable energy and a deeper sense of flow. New 9-Week Live Video Training Starts Monday, April 12

Catalyst Back Issues
Click here to see all previous issues of Catalyst.