Active Hope Workshop

How do we engage consciously and creatively with what’s unfolding in the world around us without shutting down, burning out or engaging in solutionism which reinforces the status quo? During this workshop we make space for our grief, rage, and numbness and experience collective practices for creating a just and life-sustaining future for all.

In the midst of climate breakdown, violent conflict and oppression, political polarization, increasing income disparity and ecological destruction, it's easy to fall into despair, overwhelm and numbness. The dominant culture of modernity, built on colonial power and industrial growth, thrives on this psychic numbing which impedes our capacity to process and collectively respond with the resilience and imagination needed for fresh visions and strategies.

During this experiential workshop with Sarah-Jane Cullinane we will learn about and experience the spiral of and the practice of , developed by eco-philosopher and environmental activist Joanna Macy. This work was developed over many decades using teachings from systems thinking, deep ecology and deep time, undoing oppression and spiritual traditions.

This spiral journey includes four stages that we will experience together as an interactive group process: 1. Coming from Gratitude 2. Honouring Our Pain for the World 3. Seeing with New/Ancient Eyes and 4. Going Forth. It’s a process we can experience over and over again beyond this workshop, each time gaining new insights, boosting our resilience and strengthening our resolve to act on behalf of all life. Creative arts practice and the work of Irish artists are woven throughout the practices to support us in awakening our emotional and imaginative capacities.

Following the workshop, we will also share further information and resources with participants who wish to explore this work further themselves or with others.

Info: Sarah-Jane Cullinane (PhD) is a facilitator, mindfulness teacher, and sustainability educator with over 15 years’ experience working with groups. She leads programmes, retreats and workshops with both the general public, and with existing groups including community, advocacy, activist, management and board groups. Her delivery and facilitation work spans the areas of group development, mindfulness, The Work that Reconnects and Council Circle.
Sarah-Jane is currently chair of the board of the Mindfulness Teachers Association of Ireland where she’s working with others to make mindfulness-based interventions accessible as part of mental health services across Ireland. Prior to this she held the position of lead Fellow of Education for Sustainable Development in Trinity College Dublin where she led a curriculum reform programme across the University and co-developed transdisciplinary modules on Education for Sustainable Development, the Climate and Ecological Crises, and Work and Wellbeing

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Host or Publisher Healthy Trinity, Trinity College Dublin