Grieving & Dreaming
In Person
“Only when we see that we are part of the totality of the planet, not a superior part with special privileges, can we work effectively to bring about an [E]arth restored to wholeness.”
– Elizabeth Watson
Gospel order is the order established by God that exists in every part of creation…It is the right relationship of every part of creation, however small, to every other part and to the Creator. …It has been the experience of Friends that no part of their lives as individuals or as a faith community is separate from their vision of gospel order.
–Lloyd Lee Wilson, 1993
REGISTER
FEES
We as a people are not living in right relationship with Earth, which has led to devastating ecological destruction including climate change/chaos which threatens all life on Earth. How do we transform our pain into Spirit-led action on behalf of Life on Earth?
What needs to shift within and among us in order to change our relationship, address climate change/chaos and heal Earth and ourselves?
We will be using The Work That Reconnects, (based in the teachings of Joanna Macy), through a Quaker lens. The Work unfolds as a spiral journey through four stages: Coming from Gratitude, Honoring our Pain for the World, Seeing with New/Ancient Eyes, and Going Forth. Each of these stages leads naturally to the next.
Our intention is to share with you experiences of this powerful and healing work through the lens of Quaker practice, consistent with the words of George Fox “This I know experimentally,” which we would now understand as “experientially”
During the workshop we will discover and experience our innate connections with each other and the self-healing powers of the web of life, transforming our despair and overwhelm into inspired, Spirit-led, collaborative action.
During this weekend we will support one another with worship, experiential and contemplative practices from The Work That Reconnects, evocative queries, journaling, collage, discussion, and deep listening. And we will create structures to support our faithfulness in doing what is ours to do when we return home.
In preparation for our time together we hope that you’ll take a look at/read the book Active Hope, How to Face the Mess We’re in Without Going Crazy, by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone, 2012.
Viewing the following videos where Joanna talks about this work and its deep value during these unprecedented and challenging times will help us be ready for our time together:
The Work That Reconnects https://workthatreconnects.org/spiral/
ABOUT THE PROGRAM LEADERS:
Mary Ann Percy, she/her — carries a life-long spiritual concern for Earth and all our relations, currently serves as an NPYM rep to Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW) and previously served on Friends Committee on Unity with Nature (the previous name for QEW) from 1994-1998. She is a trained Joanna Macy facilitator in The Work that Reconnects (WTR), long-time student of Thomas Berry, and more recently, Robin Wall Kimmerer. She has led Earth-centered workshops at FGC Gathering and for Friends groups and retreat centers throughout North America, and she is a member of Bellingham Friends Meeting (NPYM.)
Maia Wolff Ostrom, she/her, grew up in Orange Grove MM, (PYM). She served on the Quaker Earthcare Witness (QEW) Steering Committee from 2008-2017 on the Mini Grants Committee. She is a parent, occupational therapist, clicker trainer, and regenerative farmer. Following organic practices, she is letting her life speak to climate crisis and is providing nutrient-dense food to underserved persons. Maia lives in Poulsbo, WA, on a farm where she enjoys crocheting with her own sheep’s wool, horseback riding with 2 kids and spouse, growing veggies and microbes, tending and milking sheep. She attends Agate Passage Friends Meeting (NPYM).