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 By Stephen Dinan, founder and CEO of The Shift Network
It is for times like this that The Shift Network was created: to help all of us express our highest consciousness in practical, tangible actions to help one another and the world go through difficult challenges.
The United States election has stunned Americans and the world at large. So many people are reeling, coming to grips with the election results. As a progressive Democrat, I have wept myself multiple times. And I recognize this as a call to stand even more clearly for the evolution of our culture.
It is time for the profound, long-term work of healing the United States and our world, which includes building bridges between left and right. We need to heal collectively and find a way, somehow, to be united again, treating our neighbors respectfully as fellow Americans first rather than enemies.
Whether you supported Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump or another candidate, or whether you live in the United States or another country, we must learn to understand one another, move beyond stereotyping and demonizing “the other” and work together to co-create a world that works for all. Otherwise, we’ll continue further into civil war.
In partnership with many leaders, we have mobilized a large Day of Healing and Reconciliation taking place today at 12–2pm Pacific/3–5pm Eastern/8–10pm GMT. If you are in Washington, D.C. please join us live at Unity of Washington, D.C.
We’ll share in powerful music, healing conversation, inspiring media, and words of wisdom. Our current broadcast lineup bridges left and right, including Marianne Williamson, Dr. Oz, Dr. Ben Carson, Rev. Al Sharpton, myself, Rich Tafel, Sister Jenna and many more, including J. Ivy, the Ganda Boys, Kristin Hoffmann and more. To get your free ticket, including the American Citizen’s Summit package, click here.
You also can join a live local event in your area as part of the Day of Healing and Reconciliation, and we encourage you to take actions all Sunday.
I want to give a heartfelt invitation to everyone in our Shift Network community from countries other than the United States to join the Day of Healing and Reconciliation. The United States will need the international community all the more to help us live into our sacred potential of E pluribus unum (Out of many, one) and to be a beacon of liberty and justice for all.
In this edition of The Catalyst, we have deeply insightful post-election messages from James O’Dea, Sister Jenna and Stephanie Van Hook.
We also are reprinting an important message from Chief Arvol Looking Horse to remind us about our brothers and sisters at Standing Rock and the bigger picture of healing that the world is facing — our relationship with one another and Mother Earth.
Our profiles are from Philip M. Hellmich, our Director of Peace, and Cilla Utne, CEO of Cross Cultural Journeys, who recently returned from The Shift Trip to Iran. We created the Iran trip to help build bridges between the United States and Iran, a relationship that is critical to the longer-term peace in the Middle East and the world. I want to give a special thanks to The Shift Network and Cross Cultural Journeys members who went on this Iran trip and who were exceptional ambassadors of peace.
My beloved wife Devaa Haley Mitchell recorded a guided meditation to help you navigate the post-elections experience. (See Featured Media). We also would love to hear from you: Post Elections: How can you help America heal, starting with yourself, your family and your community? To share with our Facebook Page community, click here.
Our Shift Philanthropy is Convergence Center for Policy Resolution. Our Featured Artist is Fia Forsström and comes to us from Sweden. Congratulations to Fia on her recent album release - "Made of Stars".
We also want to remind you that 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. I strongly encourage you to consider this trip of a lifetime! (To learn more, click here and see Featured Media and Movement News.)
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 Prayer for the Soul of America
By James O'Dea
Let light prevail in America — the kind of light in which we see our oneness.
Let harmony prevail in America — the kind of harmony in which we celebrate our great diversity.
Let the Way of Nature prevail in America — the kind of Way of Nature that restores the health of air, oceans and forests.
Let Peace prevail in America — the kind of peace that breathes freedom and true justice for all.
To read more, click here.
 Post-Election Message
By Sister Jenna
Greetings of peace,
Today, we begin to process the results of this elections. Whether you are numb, angry, afraid, or maybe even celebrating I call everyone to be concerned about the wellbeing of every American citizen in this land. Please listen to my post-election message.
Today, on America Meditating Radio I engaged in a conversation with Whoopi Goldberg on, " Healing after the Vote," tune in by clicking here.
A conversation on the Shift Network with Stephen Dinan on, "Creating Heaven on Earth." which couldn't be more timely! Click here to listen.
I wish you all well and please join me at Unity Church, Sunday November 13th at 3pm–5pm for Healing and Reconciliation. As we gather ourselves to work hard and make our lives, country and world better.
Om Shanti,
Sister Jenna
This letter is republished from Sister Jenna’s update of November 9, 2016.
Sister Jenna is a spiritual leader, author, radio host and TV personality, renowned speaker and founder of the Meditation Museum I & II in metropolitan Washington, DC. Selected by EBW2020 as one of the 100 most influential leaders for 2015, her mission is to decode critical current issues and offer a perspective for folks to find clarity, power, and insight. To learn more about Sister Jenna, click here.
 An Important Message from Chief Arvol Looking Horse
By Chief Arvol Looking Horse
A Call for United Prayer at Sacred Sites to Heal Mother Earth
This article is directly related to an unfolding battle taking place right now, with Native Americans in North Dakota gathered together to protect their sacred sites from an impending oil pipeline. The Standing Rock Sioux Nation has been joined by thousands of people making this protest the largest gathering of Native Americans in over 100 years. The contentious oil pipeline is a 4 billion dollar project that would disrupt a sacred burial ground and threaten water supplies. Thousands of people from across the U.S. and Canada have set up camp on the site and the cause has brought over 60 tribes together, reuniting the Great Sioux Nation. Chief Arvol Looking Horse, a spiritual leader of the Sioux Nation, is involved in the protection action.
To read more, click here.
 Lessons from Our Bodies
By Stephanie Van Hook
When the body is harmed, there is a system in place to repair what was cut/bruised/scraped, and there is also a memory packet in the brain that files away the knowledge of what happened and what we can learn from it. None of this is passive — the body just makes it look easy. But these complex vehicles our mind and spirit ride in are the epitome of a perfect machine. As a vast network of seemingly separate bodies, we have yet to learn fully the lessons that our own bodies humbly present to us!
To read more, click here.
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 Birthday in Tehran: 7 Surprises from Iran
By Philip M. Hellmich
Last week I celebrated my birthday in Tehran. It was a joyous occasion capping off a 14-day trip in Iran that profoundly opened me to a new understanding about one of the oldest civilizations in the world and its people who received our group with open hearts.
This journey to Iran began in September 2015 when Stephen Dinan and I, along with other friends, met with Congressman Jared Huffman in Petaluma, California to encourage him to support the international nuclear agreement with Iran. During our conversation the idea of organizing a trip to Iran was born.
To read more, click here.
 Perceptions Of Persia: Travelogue From A Culture Of Peace – Part I
By Cilla Utne
The air is hot and dry, but not as hot as I had imagined. In the distance, sharp arid mountaintops formed long before humans walked the Earth: dusty, sandy, red and brown. We’re speeding down the modern highway on our way from Shiraz to Isfahan; two cities known for their poetry, love and beauty. We are discovering Iran. Together with my nine co-travelers on Cross Cultural Journeys’ 14-day odyssey across this most misunderstood of Middle Eastern cultures, the stereotypes we all have carried with us from the outside are slowly, but very surely, dissipating, one by one. To read more, click here.
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Day of Healing & Reconciliation — Reuniting Our Country After the Election — Sunday, Nov. 13, 3–5 pm EST. After an election season of unprecedented bitterness, we are calling upon our country to come together in a spirit of unity, forgiveness, and solidarity so that we can better address the challenges our nation faces. To join free, click here
2016 Common Ground Awards: The Faces of Peace — November 17, 2016 at 6:30 PM – 10:00 PM — Essex House, New York City. The Awards will honor people of extraordinary courage and grace who make peace in some of the hardest places in the world. Be prepared to be inspired. To learn more, 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.
 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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(#19, 11/13)
(#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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Unity of Washington, DC is hosting the Day of Healing and Reconciliation live event in the nation’s capital. It is a church center for spiritual growth and dynamic transformation, where people discover the joy of living, loving, and serving through the understanding and application of the Spiritual Principles of Truth. To learn more, click here.
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Fia
By Tarvo Nurmeots
Fia is a singer-songwriter from Sweden with a unique voice, exquisitely beautiful melodies and heart opening words which inspire and supports us in being and expressing our authentic selves. Anchoring divine wisdom and sharing it in a clear and powerful way that goes straight to the core, she reminds us of who and what we are beyond our limiting beliefs, wounds or stories. Fia's songs guide us back home to ourselves and each other.
Tune in and let yourself be moved by these soundscapes. Accept the invitation to open up, embrace and surrender to all that is...finding that what we are looking for is already here and that we are worthy of life's gifts and treasures, remembering that in any moment we may choose to open our hearts and receive the love we are yearning for in abundance.
”The moment we stop running from the demons in our heads, and instead we choose to love them, when saying yes to life, both shadow and light, our suffering is done, we come alive.” - From the song ”Shedding Skins”, Fia
Her debut album Made of Stars was released in late October and is now available for download.
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