Evolving Human Consciousness Towards a Kinder, Saner Future
“Nowhere is the telling of this story more important than to children. Human life will be very different if our children learn the story.”
— Thomas Berry
Connecting children to the universe and their role within it through storytelling, images and videos. We, and everything we see, are all made of stardust and seawater; we, with all organisms and ecosystems are inextricably inter-related. We and each form of life have a unique and precious genius. Light! Energy and matter. Elements and invisibles. All cells/organisms have the same basic biological, environmental and relational needs. Cells communicate and cooperate chemically, electrically, and energetically. Space and time. Quantum reality. Interconnectedness. Interbeing.
“Through human beings, the Universe has begun to remember and tell its own story of being born and growing up…We can experience the Universe in its full grandeur, and deeply sense the numinous presence that pervades the entire world around us. To awaken to the wonder of the Universe is to appreciate life in its full excitement. We might also develop a new capacity to relate to each other. A reverence for the Universe is the beginning of true reverence for the divine and for each other.
Nowhere is the telling of this story more important than to children. Human life will be very different if our children learn the story. The first obligation of one generation to the next is to bring together Universe and child so that the Universe is fulfilled in the child and the child is fulfilled in the Universe.
We need to hear the story from our cradle days through all stages of our lives, for we refer to the Universe for our origin and ultimate destiny. It’s time to reshape our thinking inside of this context. Indeed, our future depends on it.”
These terms refer to the story of the emerging evolutionary universe. The universe story is our story. Thomas Berry says we are in trouble now because we do not have a good story. We are between stories. The old story of how the world came to be is not functioning properly, we are destroying Earth and we need a new story to help to live in right relationship with Earth and Cosmos. Learning this story places us in relationship to all of the more than human. “We cannot know ourselves in any adequate manner except through an account of the transformations of the universe and of the planet Earth through which we came into being. This new story of the universe is our personal story as well as our community story. [Source: Earth Literacy site]
(per their website: https://www.earthliteracies.org/betsey-crawford-the-cosmos-within-us)
We humans have brought ourselves to a fascinating and challenging point. By our numbers and our choices, particularly in the last 200 years, we’ve grown into an equivalent of the geological forces that have shaped our planet over its 4.5 billion year life.
Our effect on the thin layer of atmosphere blanketing the earth means that we are potentially altering the ability of every living thing to prosper, or even exist. Our use of resources is far outstripping the earth’s ability to replenish them. Millions of people worldwide are grappling with these challenges, which represent not just things to do but require new ways to think.
Where do we look for inspiration? To the universe itself, suggests cosmologist Brian Swimme. In 2005, Brian recorded a series of talks on the powers of the universe, the modes the cosmos itself operates by. There are eleven of them: seamlessness, centration, allurement, emergence, homeostasis, cataclysm, synergy, transmutation, transformation, interrelatedness, and radiance.
These energies have been operating for 13.7 billion years. They are still the forces forming the cosmos, operating every moment through all its manifestations, including us. By opening ourselves to these energies, we become the universe becoming itself. We reengage with the planet we live on. We reimagine the future we can create.
Emotional intelligence is the ability to understand and manage your emotions, as well as recognize and influence the emotions of those around you. Cultivating self-love and empathy for others through engaging NVC activities (scenarios, cards, props, puppets, acting, songs. and more). Curiosity. Feelings/emotions and needs are universal. Identifying emotions by internal sensations, facial expressions, body language, and words. Emotions signal needs. Identifying needs. Group collaboration to creatively imagine how everyone’s needs can be optimized with the least harm. Learning how to deal with unmet needs. Self regulation (safety in my body); co-regulation. Violence of shame/blame/punishment. Violence of power over, coersion and force. Armor and defenses; addictions and obsessions. Being a calming presence for others. Forgiveness. Wakefulness.
Compassion: Having empathy and understanding the needs, feelings and viewpoints of the people around you.
“As we destroy one ecosystem after another, as we create worse climate change, worse loss of diversity, we have to do everything in our power to make the world a better place for the children alive today and for those that will follow. You have it in your power to make a difference.”
— Dr. Jane Goodall
Body expresses nature; connects us to all organisms. Needs of all organic life. Non-separation: interdependence and kinship with all breathers. Animals are our teachers.
Body systems: Nervous system and sensitivities; sensations. Four basic feelings. Neuroplasticity: how the brain works and its role. Cardiovascular: Heart’s roles: to listen, register, and coordinate; vagus nerve; blood highways. Chemistry of hormones. Metabolism (digestion, waste). Cellular memory. DNA.
Self-care: Health. Nutrition. Movement, Rest, Recreation, Healing. Respecting “enough.” Aging. Preventing premature death.
Earth Family: care, belonging and safety—non-harm. Non-toxic ecosystems. Habitat restoration.
Born: Original blessing, innate goodness. Stages of development. Human nature. Birthrights. Spiritual being in human form. Imagination and creativity. Voice. Authenticity and dignity. Agency. Purpose and meaning. Archetypes. Habits and patterns of behavior are malleable. Journey and pathways. Self forgiveness. Tracking. Unique and wanted dreams and gifts—meeting their genius. Family, tribe, Earthling. Global ecological identity. Myth and violence of human supremacy. Thoughtware, possibilities. Choice and consequences. Values, vision. Ethical considerations of Interbeing. Challenges and growth. Self care. Spirituality. Align your life with the most authentic and fulfilling version of yourself. Trust, surrender, mystery and grace. Personal and collective evolution.
Helping students heal and grow through supportive learning environments and practices. Emotional overwhelm + feeling disempowered leads to strategies to cope. Frozen trauma experiences will eventually self-sabotage as they try to get your attention. Fragmented parts of self need acceptance. Attachment styles matter. Inner Critic part. Self empathy feeds empathy and compassion for others. Self-regulation. Integration and healing. Preventing further unnecessary trauma. Boundaries. Ancestral and collective trauma. Upgrading our identity as human beings who care for our own needs without sacrifice or harming others, and aim to maximize meeting the needs of all. How to deal with unmet needs. Resilience, renewal, rebirth.
Relationship skills (to self, others, society, planet, Great Mystery.) Fostering meaningful bonds: Friendships. Teams, Family. Intimacy and curiosity. Explicit agreements. Confidentiality. Consent and boundaries. Social taboos. Conflicts are opportunities for innovation. Apologies. Mating. 5 Love Languages. Sexuality. Parenting. Co-creators. Precautionary principle. Unintended consequences. Midwifing responsibilities to self/others/Earth/ future generations. To experience the natural world as a “mode of sacred presence” primarily to be communed with in wonder, beauty and intimacy. Commitments. Care for the impact of one’s choices on others, the planet and the Noosphere.
The broken world waits in darkness for the light that is you.
L.R. Knost
Interactive, experiential, fun. Repetition of themes, immersion in practices.
Storytelling: reading stories, writing stories, listening to others’ stories
Videos, making films
Animations
Models
Visuals: charts, posters, cards, images
Distinctions
Time immersed in nature
Play acting/ Guided improvisation
Journaling
Drawing and painting
Music-making and listening
Singing and songwriting
Puppetry
Sharing in dyads, triads, quartets, and whole group interactions
Movement, stretching and dancing
Noncompetitive games
Celebrations
Peer teaching
Community service
Take-homes (to share with family)
Transforming human identity through young experiential interactive education in emotional intelligence, self awareness, and inter-relatedness.
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