Pathways of Teshuvah, 2of3: The Power of Reconnection

The AllCreation Podcast

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.’’