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Prophecy for these times

July 14th-17th 2017 – PLEASE SHARE

Greetings folks,
I’m heading up to Maine for the prophecy-based ceremony, Healing the Wounds of Turtle Island.  Sherri and I put on a call about this not too long ago, listen to an excerpt here and the whole story here.

As I started putting together We Are Nature Rising, I was looking for Indigenous advisors to partner with and I was introduced to Sherri within a few weeks.  She instantly connected with the vision and said she was tasked with organizing a ceremony for an emerging prophecy that goes back hundreds of years.

I see this as the WANR ceremonial launch of the next generation leadership vision with indigenous partnership for a healthy planet.  She and I began partnering right away mostly through raising funds for this ceremony.  When you listen to the call she will speak about the elders who will be present at the ceremony and offering them gifts with the request to host future next generation WANR leaders, training them in earth wisdom and indigenous core values of leadership.

I would love to have a sharing call after I’m back in a week about the vision of We Are Nature Rising and the impact of this ceremony.  Will you listen in on the stories?

In the meantime, listen to the call with Sherri, read the information below and if you feel called, support this healing event that is for all of us, here. Send some love, mention your connection through us when you donate.

Share this newsletter online!

Towards a regenerative future,

Mark

Prophecy of the Eastern Gate

Our ancestors have long carried the story that the East is where we will gather to begin the healing of this land. It is here in the East where first contact was made between the Native peoples and the newcomers. And, it is here that the first blood was spilled and our history of violence began. So, it is here on this same land that the healing must begin.

Our prophecies tell us that when the people of the Earth begin to rise and unite to heal Mother Earth they will need to return to the East, the place of first contact, and heal the wounds that we all carry from our shared history of violence. The East is also the direction of Creation, where new life emerges. Once the people unite in prayer on that land, the healing will begin and true unity can be achieved. Here, we will renew our sacred contracts with one another as human beings, and we will renew the sacred contracts between humans and the rest of creation.

The Wabanaki, the people of the first light, are the keepers of the Eastern Door. We are the first peoples to greet Kihsus, the Sun, each morning, and Nipawset, the Moon, each evening. Now, we open our hearts and our homeland to greet all of you, so that together we may begin to heal the wounds of Turtle Island and set a new path forward for all life.

Structure of Ceremony

The first day will be for healing the wounds carried within the hearts and minds of the people. The second day will be for healing the wounds of Mother Earth. And, the third day will be for healing the energetic and spiritual imprint of that wound that lays over the Earth.

The ceremonies will be conducted by spiritual elders from Indigenous communities around the world, and by spiritual leaders from other traditions. We will be gathering on healing ground, along the Penawahpskek (Penobscot) River, at Nibezun in Passadumkeag, Maine.

People from every corner of the world, and from all walks of life are welcome. We ask that you come with a good heart, and good mind, and carry the intention of healing with you.

About We Are Nature Rising:

  • How can we take action to support native people and support the earth at the same time?
  • As Connected Leaders in the workplace, nested within ecological systems, how can we leverage our resources and leadership to live regeneratively on the planet?
  • As leaders in the nature connection movement, how are we potentially positioned between the native world and the modern world to affect positive change?

We Are Nature Rising, launched in December, is an integrated response to these questions. We Are Nature Rising is a regenerative leadership project that will awaken young adults to their ecological identity, immerse them in regenerative culture and foster the leadership skills needed to act on behalf of the planet.

We Are Nature Rising weaves together my passion for nature-connected leadership, evolving the relational and ecological capacity of the business/financial world, and deep respect for indigenous core values that I believe will result in a healthy world for us all

Our aim is to systemically address the intersection of issues that we believe challenge our ecological, cultural and spiritual well-being today: Indigenous Rights, Climate Change, Extraction-Based Economy and Nature Disconnection. We believe now is the time to step up and actively develop an intergenerational eco-social justice strategy at the national level.

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Conscious Giving from an Indigenous Perspective

How are we all related? Whether from an indigenous perspective or from an ecology perspective, things point towards the truth that we are all intimately linked in a living system of relationships.

Join Sherri and I on this webinar about
Indigenous Core Values and the vision of We Are Nature Rising.
Wednesday June 7th, 2pm
Register here.

We Are Nature Rising is working to address the intersection of issues that challenge our ecological, cultural and spiritual well-being today: Indigenous Rights, Climate Change, Extraction-Based Economy and Nature Disconnection. As part of this effort, we wish to evolve thinking around philanthropic giving from a compartmentalized single issue approach to one that embraces the complexity of nature, culture and leadership.  

During this webinar, Sherri Mitchell will discuss indigenous core values of kinship, responsibility, sharing and cooperation.  Mark will talk about the necessity of intergenerational leadership development.

What kind of cultural values are needed to cultivate the next generation of leaders?

How can we move towards integrating differences, and forming a new whole versus advancing a culture of winning and domination over others?  

How can we transform financial capital into social, cultural and natural capital for the purpose of long term regenerative culture?

There is limited seating on this call, if you are interested in attending live with us, register now.  If you are unable to make this time, registering will get you a recording of the call by email.

In addition to sharing teachings and stories, we have two fundraising goals:

  1. Sherri will be speaking about a ceremony taking place this summer based on Penobscot prophecies, that is called Healing the Wounds of Turtle Island. To come together to heal the earth and address the challenges of our times, Sherri says: “prophecies tell us that we will need to heal the original wounds and renew the sacred contracts between the people and the rest of creation”. All are welcome. Contributions are needed for travel expenses for indigenous spiritual elders coming from around the world.
  2. We are seeking a circle of visionary philanthropic supporters who will annually commit to a gift of $900- $90,000 for the next three years.  Our intention is to fund more native led projects like this and secure the first three years of operating expenses as soon as possible so that we can shift our focus to doing the work of We Are Nature Rising and not spend all our time raising money. Vision Circle members receive special updates and opportunities to directly connect with our indigenous partners and next generation leaders, as well as a chance to gather at our annual dinner.

Registering will include an invitation to a follow-up conversation about advancing We Are Nature Rising.

REGISTER

Sherri Mitchell, a Penobscot native advisor to We Are Nature Rising, is an indigenous rights activist and attorney. (Learn More)

Mark Morey, founder of We Are Nature Rising, fosters regenerative leadership values, practices and learning systems for communities and workplaces. (Learn More)

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What is We Are Nature Rising?

We Are Nature Rising is a new project under the fiscal sponsorship of Merrohawke Nature School and directed by Mark Morey. Our aim is to systemically address the intersection of issues that we believe challenge our ecological, cultural and spiritual well-being today: Indigenous Rights, Climate Change and Nature Disconnection. We believe now is the time to step up and actively develop an eco-social justice strategy at the national level.

The rise of Standing Rock brought long-term native struggles into the national consciousness and has lit a fire for action. As mentors to the next generation, we are also highly aware of the impact climate data and environmental chaos is having on the hope of future leaders.

We Are Nature Rising is our response to these times. We intend to integrate next generation leadership development, climate justice awareness and native reciprocity with an established North American network of nature connection communities that are already deeply engaged in long-term nature connection as a strategy for social change.

We are working towards:

  • Increasing organizing competency and social impact in the next generation of leaders in the critical life-systems issues of soil, water, food, energy, health, traditional knowledge and climate.
  • Forging a new future where settler culture honors, respects and responsibly co-exists with indigenous culture and the natural world.
  • Elevating and providing platforms for the indigenous voice
  • Providing resources and training for ongoing awareness of privilege, power, and systems of oppression and encouraging responsibility to do our part in decolonization
  • Evolving the consciousness of giving from compartmentalized to systems thinking
  • Establishing intergenerational partnerships between elders and next generation leaders
  • Midwifing a new generation of hopeful and empowered leaders who experience the world as abundant, loving and worth inheriting

We believe effective eco-social change needs to be long-term, complex and regenerative while making an immediate impact on the well-being of communities. Our intent is to be native-centered, holistic, and stand for a future of thriving indigenous life-ways. Respect for–and societal integration of–indigenous core values will result in a healthy world for us all and will provide hope for the next generation of leaders shouldering the responsibility of stewarding healthy and regenerative culture.  

We Are Nature Rising is a basket of seven nested stakeholder circles:

  • Native Advisory Council
  • Eco-social philanthropists
  • Staff and Volunteers
  • Native next generation leaders (20 – 30 yrs old)
  • Non-Native next generation leaders (20 – 30 yrs old)
  • Nature Connection Organizations
  • Native Communities, Elders and Partner Organizations

If you think these issues are important and you align with our approach, please comment and share!

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Ecological Identity: Cultivating Regenerative Leadership

What would it be like if all people could return to being guardians of human and biological diversity on the planet?  It’s this generation that will bring out of the box solutions to today’s global challenges.
A portion of this workshop will be experiencing the woods and fields through nature mentoring activities that include wandering to unknown places, internal challenges and exploring the world as if we lived there. This workshop will include stories of people and places that have engaged in transformative leadership experiences in nature. This will also include stories from Mark’s trip to Standing Rock and the indigenous leadership modeled there.
This is an intentional strategy for developing the next generation of leaders by providing a different location for a spiritual and moral guidance system.
[note: This upcoming workshop is located at Philips Exeter Academy and is closed to the public. If you are interested in hosting this workshop at your workplace, university or in your community, please contact us]
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The role of culture in shaping leadership identity

“The deeper we understand ourselves, the more of the world we identify with and, as a result, the wider our circle of relationships and belonging.” – Bill Plotkin

We Are Nature Rising at it’s core is about leadership identifying with something greater than the self. It’s about identifying with community, with difference, with the greater collective and ultimately the natural world as a greater version of ourselves.

The role of culture is to guide the development of our humanity, honoring both wisdom and adaptive innovation. This includes the development of the self from an egoic identity to a collectively centered ecoic identity.  

There has been a lot of rapid change over time that has disrupted many culture’s ability to guide healthy human development.  The decline and outright loss of adolescent rites of passages, for example, has had traumatic impacts on adult behavior and moral compass.

We Are Nature Rising takes direction from the cultural practices that cause an individual to reflect on the deep questions such as “Who am I ?, What is my Essence? and What is my purposeful role in relation to the whole of my community?”.

These practices include solo times in nature, thoughtful self-narrative storytelling and deep listening time with those that hold knowledge and provoke inquiry.

If you feel moved, please SHARE this post and help us lift up We Are Nature Rising !
We Are Nature Rising is a project of Merrohawke and has 501c3 tax deductible status.  Make a donation today and help lift the next generation of leaders !  DONATE
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Where do we take direction from in uncertain times ?

When asked, “How can we know if a nation or culture will survive or not?” the Buddha answered:

“As long as a society holds regular and frequent assemblies, meeting in harmony and mutual respect, can they be expected to prosper and not decline.

As long as a society follows the long held traditions of wisdom, and honors its elders, can they be expected to prosper and not decline.

As long as a society protects the wives and daughters and vulnerable among them, can they be expected to prosper and not decline.

As long as a society cares for the shrines and sacred places of the natural world, can they be expected to prosper and not decline.

—Mahaparinirvana Sutta (a text of Buddha’s last teaching).

 

If you feel moved, please SHARE this post and help us lift up We Are Nature Rising !
We Are Nature Rising is a project of Merrohawke and has 501c3 tax deductible status.  Make a donation today and help lift the next generation of leaders !  DONATE
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It’s a Good Day to Live

Good Morning! It’s a good day to live. Warrior up. Live from a place of action based on principles.

Join others in what matters. Connect outside with those you love and in your own. Thanksgiving begins today as a daily practice.

As I think of Standing Rock, the destabilizing election and the future potential, I see the imperative of indigenous environmental social justice and youth leadership development.

I continue to dedicate myself to building a youth leadership network based on original teachings, systems thinking and nature connection.

We Are Nature Rising ! We are nature on two feet organizing a healthy Regenerative future for those yet to come.

If this speaks to you, comment below, it’s time to take it to the next level.

If you feel moved, please SHARE this post and help us lift this up.
We Are Nature Rising is a project of Merrohawke and has 501c3 tax deductible status.  Make a donation today and help lift the next generation of leaders !  DONATE
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What do you believe in ?

A woman, 25 years old, reached out to me for guidance two days after the election.  She is a leader in her role at work and she was in a state of stress and despair.  This is was our email exchange.
Hi Mark,
This week has been very hard.  I am beside myself after the results of Tuesday.  Coming to work has felt very challenging… my mind is blank…
The thought of our country being run by this hateful man makes me feel sad and, ultimately, unsafe. Wish I had better news for this check-in, but I don’t  :-/
That said, it is in these moments that I feel grateful to have grounded, spiritual, compassionate people in my life — like yourself.
Be well,
C. M.
Dear C….,
This is going to cause us to dig deep.  There is an elder teaching that has always stayed with me:  “the greater the need, the greater the result”.
Comfort rarely serves us in our development. These times, this election, is the sand, the grit, that shapes our character.
Try this. Give yourself a moment to journal from the voice that is passionate about what life is for, what life is about, what you believe is right and what you want to see in the world,
Don’t edit, don’t shy back from expression, just write and feel everything as you flow.
Give it 20 minutes. Then pause and sit quiet.  Just breathe.
Then reflect and tell me what happens.
Thanks for writing, I believe in you.
Mark
Hi Mark,  Thank you for this.  I’m circling back to share the experience I had journaling.
I did this exercise when I got home on Friday, when I was able to be alone and in quiet… wow, it was powerful.
Thoughts about the beauty of nature, my loving family, my health, and art/expression all made me feel deeply at peace.  I felt a weight lift off my shoulders, and my body was completely relaxed, lying on the rug in my living room.  After I stopped writing,  I felt so relieved that I nearly fell asleep!
Grateful,
C.M.
If you feel moved, please SHARE this post and help us lift up We Are Nature Rising !
We Are Nature Rising is a project of Merrohawke and has 501c3 tax deductible status.  Make a donation today and help lift the next generation of leaders !  DONATE
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