The veil is thin. In this episode, I share some reflections on the intersection of spirituality and politics… and how this season of Samhain, Halloween, All Hallows’ Eve, and Día de los Muertos can be a profound teacher.
As we approach this year’s Spiral Dance on November 1st, I also look back on the early days of this now 47-year-old ritual and how it’s woven together community, activism, teachings, and spirit.
Every death nourishes some kind of new fertility, new rebirth, new regrowth. Journey with me in this episode to explore these questions, and to honor this season of transformation and remembrance.
Join The Spiral Dance HERE
Why is Planning a Ritual Like Planning a Protest?
In this episode I look at low-risk actions, like No Kings Day, in building a broad base for activism that we can all take part in.
And, as we near this year’s Spiral Dance, I talk a little bit about fostering renewal and community through the intersection of political action and ritual.
Want to join The Spiral Dance on November 1st? Gather with us in person, or online from anywhere in the world! Get your tickets to the Spiral Dance HERE.
This years Spiral Dance intention: With hearts broken open, we channel our love and rage into action to defend justice and the sacred.
If we are going to organize and mobilize the movement, we must work together effectively. Humans are complicated, but we can do remarkable things when we collaborate as communities of care and action.
So, what does it mean to be an organizer? In this episode I talk about some of the core problems that can fracture a well intentioned group of activists, as well as offer solutions so we can create the movement we need, including:
The role of an organizer in building alliances and supporting existing movements.
The challenges faced by older activists and the importance of inclusive strategies.
Insights on organizing effective protests, including logistics and crafting impactful narratives.
The role of social media in modern activism.
The importance of celebrating victories to sustain motivation and community spirit.
Encouraging ordinary people to make extraordinary impacts in the fight for justice and democracy.
This podcast is an extension of my teachings and many years of work in activism and justice. Your support through monthly membership on Substack is invaluable, and helps make all I do possible.
You can also like, share, and get the word out! All support counts. Thank you!
In this conversation with Alfred Decker, we talk about the potential of permaculture and refugee support. Alfred shares about the initiative ‘Permaculture in Palestine,’ sharing more about the historical context of migration and the importance of integrating people care into permaculture practices.
We were also joined by Sherry Maran, who is part of the steering committee for the Gaza Freedom Flotilla. Of course, the nature of this conversation has evolved rapidly since it was recorded two months ago. And today, the collective effort to unite during this challenging time remains vital.
I am back home and settling in after a full summer’s teaching schedule in Europe and have a few stories to share from my time away. In this episode of The Movement We need, I reflect on some of the collaborative success stories I witnessed while visiting eco villages in France and Ireland… as well as past experiences in the Ukraine.
Together, we will look at flexibility in our values, autonomy and agency, conflict resolution, and creating environments for deep connection and community growth.
I also invite you to join me for a six-week online course “Empowering Collaborative Groups,” which begins next Tuesday, September 30th. Learn more about the content of this course here.
Books referenced:
The Empowerment Manual – by Starhawk
Creating a Life Together – by Diana Leafe Christian
Meet José and Rafaela, two visionaries transforming a rural community in Portugal into a thriving cooperative and eco-village. I speak with José and Rafaela about the inspiring journey they have been on of hope, innovation, and a call to action for a sustainable future.
Their example, faith, and efforts are a blueprint of a future that is possible.
Learn more and connect here:
Instagram - @Centro_Co.Re
Website – www.co-re.info
Contact: centro@co-re.info
This episode, recorded during my summer travels and teachings, explores stories of displacement and belonging across Palestinian, Jewish, and German communities.
My guests are Tabea Tabazah (Palestinian/German) and Larry Faust (German). Through their stories, they offer perspectives that invite us into deeper listening and understanding as medicine for these times.
This was a truly hear connected conversation, showing great inner resolve and compassion, and a willingness to meet the most challenging parts of ourselves and our heritage on the path toward justice and healing for all.
Resources and links:
Staatsraison
Empathyforpeace.de
In this moving episode, we hear directly about the raw and heart-wrenching challenges faced by Ukrainian youth amidst the ongoing war. I spoke with Alexandra Chernomashyntseva and Marharyta Kurbanova, two women from Ukraine, who share their experiences working with young people in the war-torn regions.
We learn about a new kind of resilience and courage in these youth as they navigate trauma and displacement. Through art camps and community support, Alexandra and Marharyta are showing up in profound ways for Ukraine's next generation.
In this episode, I talk with my co-teacher, Hiinahcit, Petrina Dezall, where she shares her work with plant medicines and the concept of Future Ancestors. Hiinahcit is of the Hesquiaht Band, of the Nuu Chah Nulth Nation, and in this conversation, she offers important teachings, insights, and lessons from her work with O.U.R Ecovillage… inviting us to consider our roles, presence, and consciousness, in a world where every action contributes to what we leave for future generations.
Thank you, Hiinahcit, for so generously sharing your time and wisdom with this community.
Over the next few months, I will be traveling to some amazing parts of the world and will be doing something a little different on The Movement We Need Podcast. As I visit, work, and teach with a number of intentional communities and eco-villages, I’ll be speaking with teachers, friends, and collaborators about their experiences and expertise in community building.
In this episode, I interview my friend Brandy Gallagher, founder of Our Ecovillage. It’s late in the evening, and we have had some fun dancing with internet drop-outs and technology gremlins - but we made it!
We talk about creating eco-villages and intentional communities, the regulatory hurdles faced, and nurturing deep relationships. Join us for a great conversation on creating sustainable, cooperative cultures in today's world.
As always, your support helps make this work possible. Sharing these posts and podcast episodes with your communities helps more people access my free teachings and offerings. And if you can, please consider becoming a paid subscriber on my Substack!
In this episode of The Movement We Need Podcast, I continue to look at permaculture principles as effective tools to guide our outlook and experiences in movement building.
Observing nature can inform effective strategies for social change, particularly through the lens of protests and nonviolent movements. 🌱
Protests are a great example. They impact so much more than what we immediately see, including their ability to build community, influence military morale, and challenge corporate power.
In this conversation, I ask the question: What if we had taken a regenerative approach to conflicts in the Middle East?
As we enter this new vision of The Movement We Need Podcast, I look at permaculture ethics and principles for a regenerative approach to understanding and addressing conflicts.
As always, your support makes it possible for me to continue offering this work for free so all may access it. Consider becoming a paid subscriber on my substack!
It’s hard to believe, but we are wrapping up “The Movement We Need.” In this podcast episode, I revisit the work that we have moved through together. I encourage you to join me in this reflection, and also explore each chapter and podcast episode whenever you need a refresher.
Now, where to next? I am excited to move into a collaborative vision and version of this podcast and my writings and would love to hear directly from you. What would you like to hear more about?
I’m especially curious about the ideas, stories, and questions you are carrying right now. What’s stirring in your communities, your organizing spaces, your gardens, your spiritual world… your inner world?
Your feedback will help shape what comes next.
Let’s build this next chapter together.
Share your thoughts in the comments section or become a paid subscriber on my Substack to connect directly and share more in our monthly meet-ups. I’m listening. 💭🎙️
Whether in the northern or southern hemisphere, Summer Solstice (northern, June 20) and Winter Solstice (southern, June 20) is a time to pause, especially now, to reflect, regroup, and restore our energy. In this special episode, we will work with FIRE, as I guide us through a Summer Solstice Meditation.
Visit my Substack and consider becoming a paid subscriber.
There is an illusion that patriarchy benefits men. It does, but at a terrible cost, to men as well as women and gender diverse folks. In this episode, I explore the themes of warrior culture, patriarchy, and the impact of these ideologies on men and society. Patriarchy is not only oppressive to women but also detrimental to men, conditioning them to suppress their emotions and serve the interests of others.
I draw on lessons from history, from ancient Mesopotamia and other militaristic cultures. We can reimagine masculinity that embraces empathy, pleasure, and connection to the earth.
Explore many of the programs I and the Earth Activist Training team are offering as in-person courses or online: www.earthactivisttraining.org
Book reference: Treasures of Darkness by Thorkild Jacobsen
There is a great need for meaning and purpose in activism… in life in general! In this episode, I look at how individuals can align their values with their actions. Together, we will look at some of the core values of progressive movements, the significance of interconnection, and the ethical responsibilities that come with activism.
I offer some actionable tips and ask - what is most sacred to you? So, grab a pen and paper, and let’s get working on the movement we need.
LINK Watch “Green Gold” by John Liu: https://commonland.com/green-gold-a-documentary-by-commonland-ambassador-john-d-liu/
Agency and governance play a critical role in decision-making within movements and organizations. Decision making within groups can be tough, and I have many stories to back that up! I have seen and experienced positive and not-so-positive outcomes within collective agreements, and in this episode we explore methods, including decree, voting, and consensus, as important steps in governance and distributing power, ensuring effective collaboration.
In this conversation, I talk about the importance of building real relationships, treating people with respect, and cultivating a culture of appreciation within movements. I also touch on celebrating the small victories within our lives and movements, and the power of storytelling in connecting our lived and ancestral experiences and fostering a sense of community. There are practical and emotional support measures we can take to create nurturing environments in activist and movement spaces. Join me as we create broad-based movements - TOGETHER.
Trauma touches all of us—sometimes shaking the very core of who we are and leaving us feeling disconnected from our own power. In this episode, I explore the different layers of trauma and how they show up in both our personal lives and our communities. We'll take a deeper look at the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses, and how these survival instincts impact our ability to organize, relate, and heal. Self-stewardship and mutual care are vital, especially in times of collective distress, and how we can show up more fully for ourselves and one another in the movements we’re part of.
Today we are, although belated, celebrating the spirit of the ancient Pagan and Celtic festival Beltane as well as May Day. Let’s take the time to really be present with the world, especially during the changing seasons, so that we remember the beauty all around us as we continue our efforts toward justice. This is sacred work—remembering joy as resistance and drawing energy from the deep connection between Earth-based spirituality and social justice.
