Pathways of Teshuvah, 2of3: The Power of Reconnection
This is ’’Pathways of Teshuvah, Part 2 - The Power of Reconnection (to Nature): Divinity, Healing, Reconciliation.’’ This recording is part 2 of 3-part discussion with breakthrough academic, Dr. Pesach Chananiah, and youth mentor / gardener / veteran, Mr. Marcus Kar, on reconnecting to Nature for sacred communion and emotional wellbeing. In this segment, host Chris Searles invites Dr. Chananiah and Mr. Kar to share about their own Nature-reconnection, Nature-immersion experiences. They relate powerful connections to Divinity, Healing, Self-identification, Community-membership, and more. “This isn’t just about growing food and saving the environment.“
About Our Guests
About Our Guests
- Dr. Pesach Chananiah (author) is a Jewish ecopsychologist, educator, and community organizer working in interfaith and environmental spaces. He writes about the psychological impact of disconnection from land, through a Jewish lens, and explores modes of healing through embodied spiritual practice in the natural world. Read his paper, Pathways of Teshuvah, on AllCreation.org.
- Marcus Kar (special guest) is a decorated veteran and a native of “North” Minneapolis, a predominantly African-descent (African-American) community struggling to overcome racism, economic poverty, and other forms of America’s institutional biases. Marcus is program director at Youth Farm, North Minneapolis, “a multi-faceted youth development organization growing food and young leaders, healthy bodies and minds, positive identity, neighborhood connections, community opportunities, and healthy relationships.”
“Reconnecting to the Land Life is our best asset for a whole number of NON-environmental solutions… This reconnection to nature is healing traumas and helping people grow into greater relationship with the other people around them.“ (Searles)
2:00 Session begins:
Accessing our positive potential thorough connection to Nature.
2:25 Dr. Chananiah
On Connecting to the Divine outdoors, in modern times
4:30 Mr. Kar
On connecting to mentors and ecosystems for answers:
> Avri Zen
> People, plants & sky
> Dean, the veteran
> West African culture
> Mom
8:14 Doing better than ’’surviving’’
9:30 Honesty, Apologizing, Integrity, Direct communication
10:30 Building Trust with Youth
11:15 Taking away the Trauma
> Farms & gardens as safe spaces
where people are challenged, respected,
and connected to each other…
12:45 Living in rhythm and harmony, instead of ’’control’’
15:00 What is ’’I love you. I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Thank you.’’ ?
16:00 Dr. Chananiah
On visiting the West Bank
18:15 Apologizing, repenting, making amends
19:20 Tending olive trees and *Ho O Pono Pono*
19:55 Just do it! (Expressing care for God’s creation = stress avoidance)
21:30 Mr. Kar
On Reconciling and Returning
23:00 Systematic Oppression in America is Real for Black People.
“This is how I got to Nature.“ (Kar)
“This is how I got to Nature.“ (Kar)
24:00 What Black Americans Need.
24:30 Marcus’s experience of oppression: treated like a criminal not a decorated veteran
25:30 How did you gain enough healing to be a leader?
26:10 Mr. Kar
“I don’t want to pass the trauma on, I want to enjoy myself as I am and share it with everyone.“ (Kar)
27:45 Back to Reconciliation
’What I need is the ability to spend the rest of my life enjoying and producing and creating my own healthy environment, and that will impact everyone around me.’’