Hi Friend,

Last night we had a tornado warning. Tornadoes are not normal in this part of the world. 

We were on the edge of the tornado: high winds, hail, serious rain. Minor flooding in our area.I decided not to go out with friends.

Instead, I prepared a hasty go-to-the-basement bag. Which I didn't need. But I was glad I had it. It's all part of the work of anticipation. And I realized I need to update the batteries on my flashlight (though I dare say we are doing really well on candles right now). This morning, everything was back to mostly-normal. 

Ours is but one of hundreds - thousands! - of data points around the world saying loud and clear: climate change is already here, and it ain't pretty. 

I do know that coming together and doing both the practical actions of figuring out your household's emergency plans is critical. So too is being part of local conversations about adaptation.... and mitigation. I know some of you are working hard on one of the many fronts of this issue: from policy shifts to tech shifts to shifting investments to shifting consciousness. It all matters, and hopefully, most of us can be involved with multiple avenues.

Decolonization is a key part of both understanding and preparing for climate change. It's a key part of the process of asking the deeper questions of spiritual direction and discernment, to help us see what patterns we are in the midst of and how we might, each in our own ways, differently and similarly, heal, shift, innovate, create, and find pathways of survival.

We need to keep balancing outreach with in-reach; going deeper within ourselves and our own histories and responsibilities and possibilities.

And we need many forms of togetherness.

This is part of why we are going to the Parliament of World Religions in Chicago this year. We will be there August 13-20 (ish).  At the convening, we will be joined by other interfaith leaders, activists, scholars, and seekers who are committed to a more peaceful, and sustainable world. At our exhibit booth, we will showcase the ways we engage with the intersections of time, ecology, and spirituality, rom our booklets to our courses to our work with organizations. I'm also expecting to find ways to talk about our approach to somatic-infused spiritual direction for faith leaders (especially the unconventional faith leaders!). 

Several friends/collaborators are supporting our exhibition booth in person at the Parliament (thank you to Emma Mares, Ramasubramanian, Gray Cox, and Anna Mudd!) We are going to create a few mini side-events.

Krissy and I are going to be offering a circular time session in person just outside of the convention center itself, so if you are local and/or in town, you can join us regardless of your participation in the Parliament itself.

If you are going to be in Chicago or at the Parliament (your if your faith community/organization will be) please do let us know! We would love to see you!

And....if your organization has been thinking about getting an exhibition booth at the Parliament, I have a discount code I'm happy to offer you!!!!

Wherever your travels - inwards and outwards - take you this summer, I hope they will be rich with kindness and compassion, and care. And ongoing practical, anticipatory actions.

Blessings to you,

Sara Jolena

ps - We are also offering an event with our friend and leader in sustainable livelihoods/Ghandian efforts/ecosystems of change, Ram who is visiting from India, in Rochester, and possibly in other places as well.  Do let us know if you want to do get involved with co-hosting or attending in-person gatherings or one-on-one sessions in Rochester NY, Boston, the Hudson Valley, the CA Bay Area or NYC in August/Sept. :-) The season of traveling and in-person gatherings is upon us!