This e-course was originally offered in 2012. It was gratefully received by participants, and we decided to create this special 2018 edition with an online Practice Circle. Although William Martin will not be guiding the Practice Circle during this run of the e-course, you will find many kindred spirits there with whom to share your experiences and reflections. Here is the description of what you will receive through emails delivered daily.
We are excited to announce a new addition to our Practicing Democracy Project: We the People Book Club, which starts this September and continues through August 2019. But what does a book club have to do with democracy?
Each of us is like Dorian Gray, seeking to show a pure, beautiful, kind, intelligent face to the world. But, unknowingly, we push away those qualities that don’t fit the ideal image — hatred, rage, depression, greed, dependency, lust, addiction, aggression — and they are banished into the dark cavern of the mind. Like Dorian’s painting, they take on a life of their own, an inner twin, that is known in psychology as the shadow. Then they erupt, and we meet the shadow, leaving us ashamed and remorseful about something we said or did that does not fit our ideal self image.
Common Ground 2018 Conference – Aotearoa New Zealand’s 3rd Progressive Spirituality Conference.
Goals of the Course:
Capture and analyze opinions,reflections and observations on compassionate theories and actions.
Create a personal definition of compassion that is informed by a variety of sources.
When facing a profound a loss of any kind, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, job loss, pet loss or loss of health, we cannot separate psychology from spirituality. Regardless of one’s belief system or image of God, loss and grief almost always brings up existential questions, because searching for meaning is an intrinsic part of the grieving process. A Christian might wonder, “Why would a loving God let this happen?” or “Is God punishing me?” A SBNR person (Spiritual But Not Religious) might ask, “What am I supposed to learn from this experience?” An atheist might question whether painful events are truly random, or if there is some deeper purpose to our challenges and losses. This seminar is designed to strengthen and prepare those that provide care to grieving individuals and communities of all backgrounds.
Friday night, September 14, 2017.
6:30 pm gathering.
Service starts at 6:45.
Casual attire. Will be done by 8:15. (Sunset is 7:08)
Ages 13 and up.
Bring a camping or other type of chair to sit on.
This conference will convene solutionaries, activists, entrepreneurs, thinkers, political leaders, and change agents who are championing new social innovations and offering visionary roadmaps to address areas from poverty to energy to education.
What if you were given a Road Map to Enlightenment?
Would you take it?
Follow it?
Be curious about it?
