Hi Friend,

In a recent set of conversations with potential ReMembering students, a similar set of questions kept arising. So I'm going to lift them up, in hopes that they can support you and your thinking, both for yourself and in dialogue with your communities. Because these questions are so core to all of our decisions - including around journeying with us in the ReMembering Course.

The conversation often starts with a question that sounds something like this:

"I'm super interested in this course (though it could have been anything).

But I'm not sure if I have the time and money (multiple forms of energy) that this requires."

Not long after, it might flow to some variation of: 

"Is this really going to meet me where I am at right now?" ....

"There is a lot going on in my life. Plus the world. Is this really going to help me?".... "I've already done x,y, and z. (Which was amazing, or maybe mediocre, or maybe a total waste of money/time) this year/season… should I do another thing?"

Do I want to /do I have time/what's the impact of putting one more thing into my calendar???

What's too much? What's too little? 

These are all questions of discernment.

So many of us need support with discernment.  

Our society is really not good at helping us figure out questions of everyday (and often much larger) decisions - the process of discernment. 

Often, in the same conversation, the question also arises:  "I'm really wanting more integration in my life. I just got back from this really amazing trip (retreat/course/memorial service/big moment in my life), but, have I really integrated it? It was profound. But now I'm back to my daily life...now what?" 

Yup. 

Time and Money.

Discernment and Integration. 

Discernment - in how we are engaging with the energies around us and flowing through us.

Integration in ... well, all of it.  How does that energy shift us and that which is around us?

If those are dynamic tensions you want more support on - well, you are not alone. 

Our society is really good at giving us a lot of information. And not a lot of skills and tools for integration of that information/knowledge. Much less discernment about how to use all that information/knowledge for your life/business/strategic decisions.

Depending on where you are in the system, there are a lot of opportunities for ongoing learning. Professionally. Personally. And everything else. I have so many stories here, and I'm sure you do, too.

I'd say that integration and discernment go together -they are positive feedback loop cycles.

Maybe someday I'll do a podcast - even a course? - just on this topic. Something like, "Integration and Discernment through the seasons (of your life)".  

I absolutely designed the ReMembering Course to support people's integration. I thought that was of the course material itself. I do find that in learning how to engage with these meta levels of integration, ie, to begin the process of integrating (which is part of the ReMembering!) what our society has not integrated in any meaningful way, it helps us do that within ourselves as well. As above, so below, kind of thing.  

I knew integration was super important, but I didn't design the ReMembering Course to be a course to help people's discernment practices. 

But it often contributes to that process. 

A lot of folks do take this course as part of larger transitions in their life - as part of a bigger re-set. Not everyone of course. But some people do. 

I am still understanding how and why this works: how engaging with big histories and shared traumas helps people better understand their own personal discernment process. Delving into history is hardly what most people say you should do if you are in the middle of a life transition... though I think there is greater recognition that in the midst of major social change (which is definitely happening right now), people often do look towards the past. That's part of its power, and its challenge.

I think it's also because the bigger picture - way beyond our individual life times - helps us understand our place in time... and our time in this place. This is not what I've heard from most "how to find your purpose or engage in discernment" looks like.  

Sometimes, when helping people discern if this course is right for them, I will remind people: you don't have to do this.  Which is often not what people expect from a call that might be considered a sales call.

But I don't want you to buy something that doesn't feel right for you: that's not why I started a heart-centered business that includes offering super meaningful courses.  

What I'm listening for instead is a kind of alignment - even a call (not everyone experiences that, but for some people it's very clear).  

Let's heed those nudges. Whatever they may be. 

Sometimes, as we hang up the call, someone might say they feel really good about taking the Course - and wants to sleep on it.  

Yes, sleep on it. In whatever the decision is that you are making now. Sleep really can help. 

Several people this week have been emailing me the day after our call saying: yes. Thank you. Let's do this.  

And you? Are you ready? 

We start on Friday.

Feel free to book a call with me if you need to. It's ok to ask in these last few days before the course starts. It's ok to reach out. 

And whatever decisions you are facing next, - don't worry, there will be more decisions!   - I invite you to keep an eye on this meta question: What is your overarching process for decision-making, for discernment? When do you need to delay making a decision cuz you are in big-time decision fatigue? And what kinds of processes are you actively engaging in that support integration? For yourself - and for the folks you are supporting?   

Blessings! 

Sara Jolena 

ps - In my last missive, I mentioned the influence of the American Indian Law Alliance (AILA) on my work - but I did not include "American." Important distinction! The AILA works to support and advance indigenous sovereignty and self-determination globally. I have and continue to learn from their work and ethos.