Apr 26, 2024

Luminous Darkness: A Journey Through Suffering

Mystic-poet Lucy Grace shares her profound insights around human suffering and its transformative potential. Recalling a pivotal insight at school, the day after a frightening encounter with a gang at the age of eight, she describes, "I looked at my thumb and I said to myself, 'Lucy, don't worry, it's really hard now, but this thumb is part of your future. This thumb exists on the adult that you are gonna be when you make your life better for yourself.' And so I held that thumb and I felt like, here's a piece of my life when it's good. It's not good now, but it will be. I used to hold my thumb often." From that childhood insight, she delivers a strong, broad message: suffering is a part of our existence that has the power to 'break us open', revealing the 'light of existence'. This isn't something we own, but something we channel while grappling with our own sorrows. Discomfort, it turns out, can be a catalyst for a deeper opening of our hearts. [Read more ...]

RSVP here for the Awakin Call with Lucy on April 27.

Apr 23, 2024

Wilder Humber: Restoring Coastal Ecosystems

Pollution and human influences have caused significant coastal degradation along the Humber, a tidal estuary in northeastern England. "Without experiencing it, it means nothing. If you have experienced it, you'll understand - why it needs saving and protecting", said Caroline Carr, a local.

Watch this touching video, which illustrates the biodiversity at the Humber Estuary - and shares how wild seagrass is "the unsung hero" of ecosystem restoration efforts. 

Apr 20, 2024

How to Avoid Reaching a Boiling Point

Robert Glazer describes a failure to communicate clear and precise ground rules and boundaries up front around a shared backyard. Fear of confrontation as time went on prevented him from seizing opportunities to clarify intentions and social norms. Consequently, a seemingly simple situation turned into an awkward eruption and ended the possibility of friendship. He cautions that “addressing problems promptly and with candor not only can prevent a boiling point moment, but it also strengthens our relationships and builds trust.” [Read more ...]

Apr 18, 2024

Dr. Ariyaratne: A Legacy of Service and Inspiration (1938-2024)

For more than 60 years, and with a deep spiritual foundation, Dr. Ari dedicated himself to the upliftment of millions of Sri Lankans. Called, "the Gandhi of Sri Lanka", he founded Sarvodaya, a unique non-governmental organization that has mobilized more than 15,000 villages to organize for self-governance. “We build the road, and the road builds us" is Sarvodaya's slogan, a testament to Dr. Ari's practice of treating all as equals.

For a glimpse into Dr. Ari's heart of service, watch the talk he gave during an Awakin Circle.

Apr 17, 2024

Get Your Greens From A Vending Machine That Grows Veggies

An Israeli startup is reimagining the vending machine. The Produce Integrated Cultivation Instrument (PICI) houses small nutrient rich seed pods that can grow a variety of vegetables--reducing food waste and providing a cost effective way to increase access to healthy foods.

Read the full story about this innovation here.

Apr 17, 2024

This week's Awakin reading is by Michael Gordon titled 'Longer Ladders Don't Get You To The Moon':

And we're excited that he'll be at tonight's virtual Awakin Santa Clara Circle. Join here!

Seed questions for reflection: How do you relate to the need for new principles for evolving our economic thinking? Can you share a personal story of a time you discovered new principles to make a non-incremental leap in your endeavor? What helps you listen deeply to discover new principles?

Apr 16, 2024

Roger, Overly Playful Dog Who Failed Police Academy, Becomes Star Of Taiwan Quake Response

Roger, a labrador retriever in Taiwan, was too "restless and independent" to become a narcotic detection dog -- but what were seen as detrimental in one line of work are truly valued in another. Roger has become "the pride of Taiwan" for his service during earthquake rescue operations. 

Read his full story here.

Apr 12, 2024

'Planting A Tree Is Hope In Action': The People Regenerating Urban Habitats And Growing Community

In Australian cities, re-wilding projects are cultivating  camaraderie and community. They're also helping to restore local ecosystems. “People want to be custodians for their local environment. Friends groups can help facilitate and encourage that desire; that need. In fact, more than ever we need opportunities to connect with our planet and each other,” said environmental advocate Stephen Northey.

Read the full story here.

Apr 6, 2024

He Biked From Spain To Singapore. The Kindness Of Strangers Kept Him Going.

In 2020, Andrew Mortenson accepted a voluntary exit package and left his job with a large airline. He began his journey across 37 countries and, fueled by curiosity and kindness, completed it early in 2024.

Of the big-hearted people he encountered, Andrew says, “it feels so wildly different from the world we see in the news right now. Their continued grace towards this complete stranger is a powerful reminder of that common refrain — there's a lot more that connects us, than divides us.”

Read the full story here.

Apr 4, 2024

How to Reboot After Disappointment at Work

"You might experience disappointment at work in many ways: a long-term project does not come to fruition, a new position opens up and you don’t get it, or your hard work does not pay off. Faced with a sense of loss and disappointment, we have no choice but to respond." Greater Good Magazine outlines three practices with relevant research that can personally alchemize a setback into possibility. Through paying attention to our internal dialogue and applying positive affirmations, exploring uncharted territories within our mindsets, and asking big questions, our responses to unmet expectations can be doorways into moments of grace, learning, resilience and transformation. [Read more ...]