Envisioning 2021
Forget about “teaching moments” … 2020 was a “teaching year!”
As we, individually and collectively, went through a series of undeniable physical, emotional, economic, cultural, and environmental crises, we found ourselves in the middle of circumstances we never imagined.
Paradigms and patterns that were centuries in the making were breaking down. We had opportunities to experience standing together and standing apart … We saw the best and the worst of ourselves emerge in the face of crisis and felt the impact of all of it.
So, here comes 2021, and we want to share with you the plans we’re excited about… and holding lightly!
From Marianne:
It is said that the edge of chaos is the most fertile ground for realization, creativity, growth and transformation. When distractions are withdrawn and difficult choices have to be made, what is most important to us and to All becomes very clear (maybe that was the 20-20 vision that was given us).
For me, what came through is: It’s all about relationship.
And, I’m not the only one saying this. Here are a couple more:
At the recent Bioneers conference, Ilarion Merculieff, organizer of Wisdom Weavers of the World, stated that the message he consistently heard from Indigenous Elders was that it is time to listen to the heart and to live in healthy relationship with ourselves, each other and the Earth.
In December’s Lion’s Roar magazine, His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama said, “The challenge before us, therefore, is to make the twenty-first century a century of dialogue and promotion of the sense of oneness of humanity… The seven billion human beings are social animals and must learn to live together. This is no longer a time to think only of ‘my country,’ ‘my people,’ ‘us,’ and ‘them.’
Because everything affects everything and everyone affects everyone, our way of being in the world matters – not just to me or folks I’m connected to, but to everyone, to all beings.
With this realization, my dedication to practice, teach and live conscious and skillful relationship has deepened beyond measure.
Offering
In service of moving from a Story of Separation to a Story of Interbeing, my vision for 2021 is: to create and deliver accessible, inspiring teachings and experiences that catalyze and cultivate relationships of reciprocity and reverence among humans with all beings of the Earth.
“Our individual awakening is not enough, nor will it allow us to move into humanity’s next era of connectedness – an era that must be founded on the reality of unity. Consequently, it is critical that we begin to learn new ways of relating, that we begin to pay attention to the space between us and what can be birthed by a heightened connectivity.”
– Patricia Albere
Structuring
Foundational words for this relational vision are: imagining, healing, transformation, and evolution.
Through the online platform, we will be cultivating a different way of being together, using technology as a means of authentic and deep connection. Yes, Zoom meetings can lead to meaningful and transformative conversations and experiences… Katie, Jenn and I have all witnessed it.
Through a variety of meditation and experiential practices, we will drop-into and embody a way of being that cultivates clarity, compassion, creativity, calm, and connection.
Manifesting
So, here is a sampling of Coming Attractions that I’ll be offering – All are focused on cultivating a deep sense of belonging, meaning, and beneficial living through conscious relationship.
There will be opportunities to explore Relationship with Self (“How am I being with me?”) through courses such as “Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation,” “Conscious Aging,” and “Evolutionary Living.”
There will be invitations to learn and experience a new way of being in Relationship with Other Human Beings. The avenues of exploring “How am I being with you?” include courses such as “Mindful Relating” and “Fierce Compassion: Setting Boundaries Skillfully,” along with monthly conversations to practice listening deeply and speaking mindfully as we explore current issues and evolutionary visioning.
We’ll be taking an evolutionary leap of extending our circle-of-care beyond ourselves and those of our species to include our Relationship with the Earth and All Beings (“How am I being with all-that-is?”). Awareness of Interbeing will come alive through direct sensing and experiencing (“Being Outdoors: Sensing the Sacred,” Forest Bathing, Nature Immersion), storytelling (“S’more Stories: The Being Outdoors Speaker Series”), and sharing impressions of artistic expressions (book and film study groups about environmental healing and spiritual ecology).
Collaborating
In service of our MBMS community, an Environmental Crisis Clearinghouse will be created as a system of connecting Monterey County community members with resources and support in critical circumstances such as wildfires, flooding, etc.
Working with agencies, organizations and educational institutions, we will be in relationship with our larger community of all beings through learning and service as we engage in anti-racism, racial equity, and environmental projects.
As you can tell, I’m feeling very inspired and excited about the possibilities for healing, growth and transformation that can emerge through our way of being together. Yup, what I’m seeing right now is that, along with the Hokey-Pokey, Relationship – that’s what it’s all about.
I look forward to connecting with you as we co-create a new way of being with ourselves, each other and the world of which we are part.
From Katie:
For me, thinking about the coming year starts with a recognition and a nod to the year that just happened. Part of this is remembering how we needed to pivot and shift, again and again.
Longer Groups - Deeper Relationships - Deeper Dives
This was the year that we finally started teaching online, something we’d been wanting to try for a long time. I've seen the online format open the door to longer term groups, because for many people, it's easier, safer, and more comfortable to get together from their own homes. From this cozy place, we can connect with folks who are also interested in growing, and in similar ways. These longer groups have allowed us to build trust, which allows deeper relationships that are so supportive, and deeper dives that invite real transformation. I feel like my eyes have been opened even more to the goodness and the possibility here.
Marianne talked about relationships, and our relationships affect us. The way we are affects each other. Part of this interwoven-ness means that the people we’re with often, and the groups we belong to become part of our identity. By being part of groups, we can intentionally utilise our human pull toward belonging to be pulled toward really beneficial growth. Community, accountability, and support in support of personal growth -- this is exciting to me.
Because of this, I'm excited for more of that in different ways: for Jenn's expansion of Journey Meditation offerings, for the continuation of the Being Outdoors program with Marianne, and for the programs that I’m offering.
I am personally excited to continue with Flourish and Bloom Collective, a wonderful sub-community within MBMS, and I’m excited to offer a similar type of kind, cozy, supportive atmosphere, but in smaller bites -- so monthly, I'll be offering Nourish & Flourish. I'm still working out some technology pieces but I hope to have a nature oriented drop-in outdoors that’s audio-only, so expect this to come in February.
I'm excited to hone in on Building Beneficial Habits in January. This is a new one, and a lovely example of the power of a group to support our individual changes.
New Online Formats
I am excited that we are more and more exploring what is possible online, and within this beautiful, robust community area that we have created together. You can expect to see more light and fun, short and easy invitations, like 31 Days of Mindful Moments in January. We’re also looking forward to creating more asynchronous courses that you can access anytime. Already, there are a few, and as we're able, we'll be adding more to the library within our online platform.
Mystery!
In the spirit of 2020, I know that I don't know what the whole year will bring! Part of this year’s exhilarating ride was really trying to note and respond to what was called for in the moment. So even though I’m a planner, there is joy, satisfaction, and necessity in riding the waves and being responsive, so I'm intentionally leaving space for what reveals itself.
From Jenn:
I love this time of year for various reasons. One of which is that it is the time when I am inspired to dream up what I am called to offer in the coming year, and I also get to hear about what my friends and colleagues, Marianne and Katie, are dreaming up for the coming year. There is a LOT to be excited about!
At the forefront of my excitement is an ongoing group that I am offering called Cultivating Spirituality. I've noticed that many people with which I come into relationship have a strong desire to develop spiritual connection, yet feel a bit lost or overwhelmed by the notion of what a spiritual practice means. I've also encountered a lot of "shoulds", shame and fear when interacting with people about their past experiences with spiritual connection. Since I've dedicated much of my life to spiritual study and an evolving sense of my own personal spirituality, I thought I'd create a space in which people can be guided without judgement or imposition into what they find to be a spirituality that resonates for each person. I can't wait to hang out in this space of spiritual exploration and cultivation!
Also, I've been so happy that my ongoing shamanic journey meditation offerings have been popular! In addition to continuing my typical shamanic journey offerings, I am also creating a space for those seeking to hone an advanced journey practice, deepening the knowledge that they've already gained. Shamanic journey meditation can take you to very profound places, and my hope is to support those who are dedicated to a continued deepening.
There are also a couple of offerings from Katie and Marianne that are very intriguing to me. First of all, Katie is offering a Saturday drop-in, Nourish & Flourish, for self-nourishment that combines reflective writing, meditation and even movement! I'm definitely planning to plug that into my weekend schedule to amp up my self care. Also, I'm really looking forward to jumping into Marianne's Being Outdoors series this coming year, and she is also planning a book study that sounds really interesting to me. To be honest, I wish I could sign up for all of Katie and Marianne's events!
Bringing the lessons and inspirations from 2020, we move into 2021 with energy, clarity, and commitment to catalyzing and cultivating new ways of being together in community and in the world.
