Walking Meditation with 7th Generation Labs
Labyrinth in Marin County California, USA
Consciousness
The Human Superpower for Peaceful Co-existence
Thursday, April 1, 2021
11:00 AM - 12:30 PM CT
Free Webinar
Join us in claiming our true power as human beings
at this unique moment in time
The odds of being born a human being are quite small. From an indigenous perspective, what makes us unique among all other beings is the gift of consciousness. We are the only being that has both the ability and the responsibility to evolve consciously.
Before colonists landed on the shores of what is now the United States, indigenous people fought fiercely over land for the resources they contained. Yet 800 years ago, after years of brutal warfare, five indigenous nations literally ‘buried the hatchet’ under an eastern white pine tree and formed the Iroquois Confederacy. They realized that peaceful co-existence was the only way to ensure everyone’s health and survival. It represented a seismic shift in consciousness. When the nations bound themselves together, they adopted the Great Law of Peace as their decision-making guide. The Iroquois Confederacy is the oldest living participatory democracy in the world.
The Great Law of Peace
“In our every deliberation, we must honor the contributions of the past seven generations and consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations.”
"Have courage,
for without it we have no justice,
without justice we have no freedom,
and without freedom we have no peace."
Grandmother Beatrice Long Visitor Holy Dance
Lakota Wisdom Keeper
Blueprint for Peaceful Co-Existence
How did they make their commitment to peace real on a daily basis?
This practical wisdom is a dance between each individual and the community as a whole
It’s a dance that affirms the importance of nurturing each person’s gifts and talents – understanding that people shine when they bring forward their unique contributions. In their culture, understanding who you truly are is a core responsibility. In addition, you’re responsible for understanding HOW you learn so that you can put yourself where you need to be to learn. Children learned this early because of their culture. Around the age of three, each child was given a ‘learning name’ as a way of signaling to others how they learn, so that interactions could be guided by that knowing. At around age seven children were given a ‘work name’ that identified where they were focusing their attention to be of service to the community. In other words, learning was customized for each and every child based on her/his innate gifts and talents. What might we learn from this?
The dance balances
responsibilities and rights equally
On one side, "giving to the community” is viewed as a responsibility for being part of the community. On the other side, being nurtured in your development as a human being is your right as a community member. It’s an example of aligning to universal laws and principles. In this case, it is aligning to the Law of Mutually Beneficial Equitable Exchange. When focusing on their gifts and talents, people are happier and more productive. In return, the community benefits because people are more successful at what they do when it’s work they love. Living by the Law creates flow throughout the community.
What might be possible, that's not possible now, if we adopted their blueprint for peaceful co-existence?
By exploring with others in small groups, you'll leave with insights for bringing yourself and your community into greater balance and harmony.
Meet your Guides
Stephanie Nestlerode is a social worker by training and a strategic planner by trade. She has over 40 years of experience coaching leaders, community coalitions and organizations through change. Her clients have ranged from Boeing and the US Environmental Protection Agency to the City of Austin, Kaiser Permanente and non-profits. Organizations expand their capacity to serve the common good. Individuals expand their ability to shift with changing circumstances. As Chief Synthesizer for 7th Generation Labs, she is joining with kindred spirits to gather a treasure trove of ways to learn what matters. Studying with Paula Underwood was the beginning of her initiation into learning indigenous wisdom for peaceful co-existence. Miss Tu Moonwalker, Apache medicine woman, was her guide to the rights and responsibilities of being a human being and the power of aligning to universal laws and principles.
Hal Robinson is a teacher, author, public speaker, and Gestalt therapist. He shares a very old Medicine Way that looks for our connection with Spirit in all people and events, even those we find most painful, bringing clarity, learning, and harmony back to the relationship. The Medicine Way is aboriginal from the Americas. In practice for over 40 years, Hal is an ordained minister in the Circle of the Sacred Earth Church and is a Sun Dancer. His last Teacher in the physical form was Germaine Sitting Crow. He is in partnership with a Holistic Family Physician at the Healing Arts Center in Kerrville, Texas and is the founder of Dancing Bear Teaching Lodge serving both groups and individuals.
Nadine Binder is a researcher, trainer and coach with a passion for creating virtual learning spaces and enabling joint learning, personal growth, and mutual understanding. Nadine is currently based in Germany. She holds a PhD in psychology and has over 5 years of experience in designing and facilitating face-to-face, blended, and virtual learning programs for a variety of clients such as multinational corporations, SMEs, NGOs, universities, and law enforcement. Her specialty is designing virtual spaces for meaningful dialogue and connection and she is committed to creating and holding space for everyone in the group.
Register for this free Webinar
Take this unique opportunity to learn indigenous practical wisdom
for peaceful co-existence today.
