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

•  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.”

Program
0:00  Welcome & Intro  

                “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 

       16:45 ’’Sin’’ vs. Missing the mark (Cheit)

       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)

        24:00 What Black Americans Need. 

        24:30 Marcus’s experience of oppression: treated like a criminal not a decorated veteran   

        24:55 Going to Nature for healing

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.’’