Thanks for joining the 2014 Global Archive Research Assembly! This is your doorway into the inner or spirit dimension of the Assembly.
Spirit Life Team: Mary K. D’Souza, Susan Fertig-Dykes, Ellen Howie, Jan Sanders, Jim Wiegel
THEME AND RATIONALE:
Claiming the Future of our Past is the theme of the Global Archive Research Assembly being held September 20 to 27th, 2014 virtually around the planet and on site at the ICA Greenrise in Chicago, in the midst of Sustainability September.
The Spirit Life theme for this gathering is Recreating Ourselves as Human Beings. Our underlying question is “What gives shy persons the strength to stand up and do what needs to be done”
The Institute of Cultural Affairs has always seen the spirit life of individuals and the common life of teams as the core element of transforming ourselves to meet the challenges of our work. After half a century of service, we now come from the understanding that there are a 1000 ways or more to liberate ourselves for the evolution of the planet. This is from our experience of being in dialogue with practices from thousands of people and global traditions that have been cultivated and used for a short while or over hundreds of years.
Ready to get started? Choose an item below and get on with your journey!
THREE PRIMARY INGREDIENTS
1. Hitting the “Refresh button” on our common identity
2. Weaving a “pause that refreshes” into the fabric of every day
3. Join the dialogue on Growing a New Sense of Leadership
4. 1000 Ways of Liberation. Interchange of Sustained and Sustaining Personal Disciplines
SUPPLEMENTARY INGREDIENTS
Décor: We are suggesting, as décor pieces, three items: 1. a wall size copy of Terry’s 4×4, 2. the “Growing a New Sense of Leadership Mandala” and 3. A symbolic “world clock” to hold the hours of each day in connection with our whirling planet.
We will begin each day on site at GreenRise by celebrating a different portion of the globe with its news conversation, and use the Mary Oliver poem for that “hour” for spirit reflection.
Background study to develop some common language and context across the ICA family at this time is also important. The Next American Revolution by Grace Lee Boggs, “Disruption” video on the Great Global Climate March which will be held during the GARA.
ADDITIONAL INGREDIENTS AND RESOURCES
Experimentation within and among our working teams will be an important aspect of spirit life. Ventures such as the 24 hour research day will add spice to the whole event. In addition, we are contacting a small number of people to share additional resources which will be available on our spirit life web page
http://wedgeblade.net/wordpress/spiritlife/
A brief video guide or instruction book will be available as well.