The inrestricted massacre of Palestinians, many of them children, and the previous brutality of Hamas’s attack on Israelis weighs heavily on the hearts and minds of many of us at this time. Let’s also not forget that Ukrainians are still enduring daily bombings or that the media isn’t even paying attention to the calamity in Sudan, Congo, Somalia, Afghanistan and many other parts of the world.

It’s in such painful and unprecedented times like these that we need to ask ourselves some difficult questions:
How do we cope with this endless suffering and process our heavy emotions?
How do we mourn the loss of lives in a context of hate, injustice, dehumanization, and indifference?
How do we keep our sanity and our humanity?
How do we remain open and curious to build bridges and move forward?
How do we find the courage and compassion to stand up on behalf of all life?

“The most radical thing any of us can do at this time is to be fully present to what is happening in the world,” says Joanna Macy, founder of a grieving, healing and empowerment process called the Work That Reconnects. Although often used regarding the climate crisis, this framework recognizes the systemic challenges that the grip of the Industrial Growth Society and its deep historical roots of oppression and colonization pose.

As the world grows darker and humanity breaks apart, we can seek wisdom where light shines through the cracks. In this workshop, we will:
Honour the deaths and the suffering of the living
Replenish our energy with a reminder of all there is to be grateful for
Provide a safe space to process how you feel about what is going on in the world
Challenge you to see with new eyes and tap into the wisdom of our collective humanity
Reflect on your contribution, however modest, to a more life-sustaining society.