Luckily, the study of evolution shows us that species can make transformative adaptations when faced with a crisis. So, this is the time to write a new story of what is possible for humans, and we are the people to do it.

Here's an alternative to denial, overwhelm or despair: join us for this series. In supportive community, let's admit we've never been here before and don't know what to do. From that fertile place of humility, let's listen together for practical and collaborative ways forward.

6:30 - 9:00 pm on these Monday evenings:
- Sept. 29 (College & Spadina), Oct 27 & Nov 17 (St. George & Bloor)

Suggested donation $10-20/session.

We explored these questions through powerful videos, dynamic group processes, and active conversations, using top-quality materials from the Awakening the Dreamer Symposium (and its youth adaptation, the Generation Waking Up Experience, or "WakeUp" for short). We looked at what's meaningful and possible for the world right now and our role and best contribution to the thriving, just and sustainable future we want to see.  

Whether you made it to our session or not, you can watch the Symposium online on your own time or buy the DVD. If you feel inspired you can help host a WakeUp or Awakening the Dreamer Symposium for your friends, organization or community. GenUp and the Pachamama Alliance give you everything you need.  You can contact us to bring us in, or facilitate it yourself!
 
If you want to go deeper into these questions, sign up for the Game Changer Intensive. This seven-week online course by the Pachamama Alliance educates, inspires and equips you to be a pro-activist leader and a game changer in your community. The next one starts in January. 

And if you’re feeling overwhelmed by the uncertainty of the times we’re in, you might enjoy this 2.5-minute video of Joanna Macy. 

Facilitators: David Burman, Natalie Zend, Rebecca Dehmassi and Mickey Juranka
Snacks provided by Manjit Dali Mann and Rebecca Dehmassi, support with set up by Bethany Zack.
 

In this session, we delved into Joanna Macy's The Work that Reconnects, a theoretical framework for personal and social change as well as a powerful set of group processes for its application. This work is about finding, and offering, our best response to the crisis of sustainability unfolding in our world. It offers tools that help us face the mess we’re in, as well as find and play our role in the collective transition, or Great Turning, to a life-sustaining society.

In the realm of this work, there is much more available for you to explore if you're curious. Joanna's latest book (co-authored with Chris Johnstone), Active Hope, guides you through the process, with exercises you can do on your own or in a group. Her book, Coming Back to Life, which has just been republished in an updated edition, empowers you to share the work with groups. 

If you want to live (or relive) the Spiral of the Work as a 10-minute daily practice, here's how you can do it. 

If you're looking for a simple way to continually open to your dark and light feelings about the times we're in, you might enjoy the simple practice of "Breathing Through," which you can do in the midst of your daily life. In this 10-minute video, Joanna guides you through the practice.  

And if you want to explore this work more deeply, set up an "Active Hope" reading group with your friends. This can become a shared process to deepen community, support each other and become more resourced in addressing concerns about the world. This online guide will give you all the resources you need. Contact us if you'd like support in this.

Facilitation by Natalie Zend; snacks and flower arrangements by Zora Ignjatovic; welcoming and space holding by Jessica Vogt and David Burman; facilitation support by Susana Ochi. Sponsored by the Transformative Learning Centre or TLC (with thanks to Edmund O'Sullivan, Blake Poland and Natalie Abdou).

In this final session, we will focus on envisioning a fun, beautiful future society in harmony with the natural world. We'll explore tangible feet-on-the-ground actions and vote-with-your-wallet strategies for co-creating a future worth looking forward to. The session will be inspired by Kaia's latest book, Visions: Co-Creating Our Future.

Facilitator: Kaia Nightingale   

In this fun, interactive session, participants expanded their capacity to embody a state of being that creates inclusiveness, empowerment and connection.

We explored ideas that energized a relationship with the contrast we experience in our personal lives and as part of a movement toward greater support of life on this planet. We explored ways to uncover and express our values and relate to them in a way that supports their manifestation. Through exercises, we anchored the association of personal values, global vision, and embodied manifestation. Multiple senses were engaged to clarify a reality in which respect for the earth and unique, creative expression manifest in individuals, systems and projects that benefit everyone involved.

Every step is the destination...every point is the path. Make a point to step into the path as creator and adventurer. You and I are perfect as the center and beginning of this story we are living. You and I are expressions of unconditional love in this journey we are being.  - Ryan Genereaux

In our hour-long workshop, we explored what would keep us involved, sane, and sustained as we participate in creating the new story of a just, sustainable and thriving human presence on the planet. An exercise from Process Work took us to a place of deep intuition and earth connection very quickly. Then we harvested the wisdom that we each received through the exercise. It was rich and nourishing and left us feeling more resourced for our change work.