Healing Ourselves and the Earth

Dear Commonweal Friends,

If you have not seen the irises on the Bolinas cliffs, this is the time to come to Bolinas. The irises are in full bloom and the land is coming back to life. The odd weather in Northern California—extended heat waves in March with scattered rain—seemed to confuse the human and more than human world. Humans adapt by forgetting and ignoring the new patterns; flowers and trees have ancient patterns that are disrupted, flowering at unusual times and in a different cadence.

This is the second quarter of our 50th anniversary. For the next few months we are exploring health and healing in our communications and programming. Healing is the beating heart of Commonweal. It is a thread that runs through most of our lives, whether it is healing our bodies, healing our planet, or exploring the health and resilience of our communities. Healing, as Rachel Naomi Remen and Michael Lerner hold it, is a movement toward wholeness. It is an on-going movement, not a final destination. It’s not something that is easy to study or define.

On May 31, Michael Lerner, the founder of Commonweal and the Cancer Help Program, will be giving a special talk at Commonweal—weaving together what he has learned over decades of leadership in Commonweal’s healing work—about what he sees as the next frontiers of healing. This is a rare and amazing opportunity to hear Michael’s current thinking. This event will undoubtedly fill up quickly so please RSVP here soon.

It will also be a rare opportunity for you to get a glimpse into Commonweal’s cancer retreats through the photographs and art from Hillary Goidell and Marla Pedersen—whose show will be in Gallery Commonweal through June. The show honors cancer survivors at Commonweal: Hillary’s photography from retreats over the years reverberates with pieces made by participants, along with cancer survivor Marla Pedersen, whose Woven Together is set in a recreated working studio space within Gallery Commonweal.

Join us over the next few months for events that celebrate Commonweal’s healing work. And don’t forget to put October 3 on your calendar, our fall celebration of community and our 50th anniversary—as well as a special event November 8 with Francis Weller and Host Jaune Evans reflecting on Medicine for the Long Dark. More to come soon.

With love and gratitude,

Oren Slozberg | Executive Director

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Top photo credit: Kyra Epstein

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