A Message from the Co-Founders

Those of use who are working to preserve the life-support system on earth for future generations sometimes feel the need for solace.  It can be helpful to set aside time for quiet reflection—time to express gratitude, to acknowledge pain we may be feeling, or to find inspiration.

Even on days when everything seems to be going wrong, it's possible to feel gratitude for the earth if we focus our attention there.  Jeanne often reflects on the web of nature that she is a part of:  her kinship with the birds building nests to rear their young, the constancy of the seasons, the nourishment she receives from green plants that convert sunlight to food.  You might reflect on people you feel grateful for:  perhaps the laugh of a child or the passion of a colleague. 

It may seem counter productive to acknowledge pain, but the alternative can give rise to suppressed anger, fear, or immobilization.  When we bring these feelings into conscious awareness, we can move through them and find their flip sides.  Our colleague Joanna Macy developed pain and empowerment workshops in the 19080s to revive hope for anti-nuclear activists.

We humans—no matter what our religious or political persuasions—derive inspiration from nature and from gatherings of like-minded people.  Who cannot feel a sense of meaning and belonging when gazing at the full moon on a clear night or in the eyes of a deer standing still in the forest?  We express these feelings in music, art, and ritual.

For all these reasons, the Center for Earth Leadership has developed a monthly gathering we call Honor the Earth.  We set aside one hour a month for singing and reflection, each with our own thoughts but in the presence of others.  We invite you to join us on March 14, April 20, May 16, and/or June 20 at 7:00 pm at the First Unitarian Church in Portland.  See www.earthleaders.org/classes_workshops for more information.

Jeanne and Dick Roy
Co-Founders