Sounds of SAND

Neil Theise, a professor of pathology at NYU Grossman, dives into the rich overlap of science and spirituality. He shares insights from his work on adult stem cell plasticity and complexity theory, emphasizing our interconnectedness with the world. Theise discusses the differences between complex and complicated systems, highlighting how chaos and order coexist in nature. He also explores the role of consciousness, challenging materialist views, and revealing the profound impact of quantum physics on our understanding of reality. Resilience in the face of global challenges is another key theme.

Michael Meade, a celebrated storyteller and scholar of mythology, shares insights on navigating today's cultural and environmental upheaval. He emphasizes the importance of authenticity amidst chaos and the transformative power of personal stories. The conversation highlights the role of mythology in understanding our deeper selves and the need for emotional expression. Meade also explores the significance of sound and rhythm in storytelling, advocating for the wisdom of elders to guide us through turbulent times.

Standing for Collective Liberation “No one will be free if the others live under occupation. No one will be safe unless everyone is safe.” In this live SAND Community Gathering (November 2024) Zaya and Maurizio were in discussion with Palestinian and Israeli peace activists Osama lliwat & Rotem Levin who share their personal stories, describe the reality on the ground, and explain their vision for a path toward collective liberation. Osama lliwat was born in Jerusalem and grew up in Jericho, after his family was displaced in 1967. In the peace world for more than 15 years and the co-founder of Visit Palestine, he has dedicated his life to nonviolent resistance. He has worked with the Sulha Peace Project and Interfaith Encounter Association, appeared in several documentaries including Objector and The Other, and speaks regularly on peacebuilding at organizations and universities around the world. Rotem Levin was born and raised in Ein Vered. After his military service, he participated in a transformational intensive dialogue program in Germany, where he got to know Palestinians on a personal and intimate level. This instigated a change in perspective on the story he was born and raised with. After this experience, he started organizing similar programs in Aqaba, Jordan, where he offered the experience to other post-military Israelis and to Palestinian and Israeli medical workers. He is a committed activist and doctor by profession. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction and Welcome 00:45 – Context of the Gaza Conflict 03:33 – Osama Liwat's Background 04:05 – Rotem Levin's Background 09:41 – Rotem's Personal Journey 20:11 – Reflections on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict 27:35 – Living in the West Bank 33:35 – The Statelessness of Palestinians 34:30 – Personal Stories of Displacement 35:38 – Growing Up Amidst Conflict 43:19 – Acts of Resistance 54:03 – Encountering Peace Activists 01:02:29 – A Call for Unity and Humanity 01:06:47 – Final Reflections and Gratitude Links: Watch Where Olive Trees Weep Purchase the full 23-video series Conversations on Palestine Learn more about the SAND Community Gatherings Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member

Manda Scott is an award-winning novelist and host of the acclaimed Accidental Gods podcast. Best known for the Boudica: Dreaming series, her previous novels have been short-listed for the Orange Prize, the Edgar, Wilbur Smith and Saltire Awards and won the McIllvanney Prize. Her latest novel ANY HUMAN POWER is a Mytho-Political thriller which lays out a Thrutopian road map to a flourishing future we’d be proud to leave to the generations that come after us. With degrees in veterinary medicine and a Masters in Regenerative Economics, Manda’s life is oriented towards creating radical new narratives that will pave the way to the total systemic change our culture – and our world – needs. ANY HUMAN POWER is available for sale on Amazon. Connect with Manda Scott on Facebook, Bluesky, Goodreads, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Topics 00:00 – Introduction and Support Request 01:00 – Guest Introduction: Manda Scott 02:04 – Discussion on Thrutopian Novels 02:45 – Manda Scott’s Literary Influences 07:01 – Spiritual Practices and Shamanic Path 12:25 – The Concept of Thrutopian Fiction 17:29 – The Power of Fiction in Inspiring Change 21:22 – Genesis of ‘Any Human Power’ 27:45 – The Role of Dreaming in Spiritual Practice 27:52 – Shamanic Dreaming and Its Significance 29:08 – Connecting with Loved Ones Through Dreams 30:36 – Trauma Culture and Initiation Cultures 32:11 – The Four Stages of Evolution 36:40 – Dopamine vs. Serotonin Reward Systems 40:01 – The Importance of Community and Connection 45:11 – The Future of Spiritual Practice and Writing 46:29 – Integrating Dreaming into Daily Life 48:36 – Concluding Thoughts on Modernity and Community Resources The Weirdstone of Brisingamen by Alan Garner Eagle of the Ninth by Rosemary Sutcliff The Last of the Mohicans (1971 TV Series) Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer Riding the Horse Backwards by Arnold and Amy Mindell Regenesis by George Monbiot Sounds of SAND #85 In Our Bones: Osprey Orielle Lake Sounds of SAND #65 Emptiness & Grief: Francis Weller Sounds of SAND #98 Glissando of Consciousness: Andrew Holecek Sounds of SAND #11 Quantum Listening: IONE Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member.

Disentangling Judaism from the Violence of Occupation “The way to manifest your sacredness is to embody sacredness – to treat all life as sacred.”– Rabbi Cat Zavis In this live SAND Community Gathering (October 2024) Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo were in discussion with Rabbi Cat Zavis, a renowned Jewsish teacher, writer, and social justice activist. They discussed the misuse of Judaism to justify the brutal Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Drawing on deep Jewish ethical traditions of justice and compassion, Rabbi Zavis showed how the occupation fundamentally contradicts core Jewish values. We explored the rich history of Jewish opposition to occupation and highlight contemporary movements working to honor Judaism’s ethical mandate, “Never Again” for anyone.Rabbi Cat Zavis is a passionate shaper of Jewish rituals and services that inspire and draw connections between the spiritual, personal, and political. She is a spiritual social justice activist, attorney, and visionary leader with over 20 years experience in empathic and people-centered leadership and collaboration. A sought after facilitator and trainer in nonviolent communication, prophetic empathy, collaboration, and conflict resolution, she has over 25 years experience working with and helping people understand our shared needs and how to challenge manifestations of othering and build beloved communities of belonging. While co-editor of Tikkun magazine, she wrote articles and helped shape the magazine; as Executive Director of the Network of Spiritual Progressives she has trained over 1000 people in Prophetic Empathy and Revolutionary Love. Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member. Resources Tikkun Beyt Tikkun Roots (1977 Miniseries) One Hundred Years War on Palestine by Rasheed Khalidi Jewish Voices for Peace SAND’s Helpful Resources on Palestine Topics 00:00 – Introduction and Greetings 00:31 – Current Situation in Gaza 01:58 – Introducing Rabbi Cat Zavis 02:16 – Rabbi Cat Zavis' Background 05:17 – Personal Journey and Reflections 12:11 – Jewish Ethical Values and Israeli Occupation 15:58 – The Split in the Jewish Community 24:54 – Truth, Justice, and Peace in Judaism 27:07 – Pursuing Truth and Justice 28:01 – Condemnation of Israeli Actions 29:43 – Judaism vs. Zionism 30:47 – Anti-Zionist Jewish Thinkers 32:08 – Theological Perspectives on Zionism 34:33 – Solidarity and Liberation 40:59 – The Role of Fear and Trauma 45:21 – Call for International Intervention 47:34 – Practical Support for Palestinian Rights 49:33 – Spiritual Reflections and Blessings

In this episode we present excerpts from the recent conversation (June 2024) as part of SAND’s “Conversations on Palestine” around the premiere of the film Where Olive Trees Weep hosted by the directors of the film and co-founders of SAND, Zaya and Maurizio Benazzo. You can watch this full conversation and 22 others at Where Olive Trees Weep: 23 Conversations on Palestine. SAND has created a program with leading historians, spiritual teachers, trauma therapists, poets and performers to complement the themes explored in the film and provide a larger historical, cultural and social context to the plight of the Palestinian people These Black activists and scholars came together to shed light on the intersection anti-Black racism, Israeli apartheid, patriarchal oppression, and predatory capitalism’s interconnected plunder. This panel discussed the coalitional power that blossoms when we recognize our kindred liberatory movements. Their dialogue illustrated how the subjugation of any community reverberates as a threat against the collective freedom and wellbeing of all humanity. Their truth disrupts manufactured divisions and nurtures the global, intergenerational solidarities indispensable for our mutual emancipation. Faith Gay is an activist and incoming Master’s student at Princeton University with a background in anti-war organizing and congressional advocacy. Her work focuses on democratizing United States foreign policy so that it can be influenced by those most impacted by it, including those outside of Washington. She is a member of Black for Palestine, a collective organizing Black people in the U.S. to leverage their political, economic, and cultural power in support of Palestinian liberation and to end U.S. complicity in Israeli apartheid. Rev. Naomi Washington-Leapheart is a Black queer preacher, teacher, strategist, and justice advocate. She is an adjunct professor of theology and religious studies at Villanova University and in the spring of 2024 completed a two year term as the Government Fellow for Religion and Public Life at Harvard Divinity School. Rev. Naomi also serves as the first-ever Strategic Partnerships Director at Political Research Associates (PRA), a social justice research and strategy center that provides strategic insights and actionable research that identifies, disrupts, and competes with movements and institutions that undermine democracy, justice, and human rights. In 2021, Rev. Naomi founded Salt | Yeast | Light, an organization that develops spaces of spiritual education, disruption, reflection, transformation, and public action. Most recently, she joined the national leadership team of Christians for a Free Palestine. Imam Adeyinka Mendes is a spiritual counselor, meditation teacher, rites of passage facilitator, author, and Muslim religious leader based in Houston, Texas. He has been a student of the mystical traditions of Islam as well as indigenous and West African spiritual traditions for over 30 years after a life changing journey to Jerusalem at the age of 16. His focus as a teacher is on conveying the wisdom of our ancestors in ways that address the challenges and opportunities of the modern world. He is the founding director of Marhama (Arabic for 'expressing mutual compassion') Village, a community focused on building sustainable institutions through empowering service, prophetic spirituality, traditional knowledge, indigenous wisdom, and the arts. He has studied Classical Arabic, Islamic Sciences, sacred meditation, and the science of peace-building with sages and scholars from the United States, Syria, Sudan, Morocco, Mauritania, Nigeria, Egypt, Haiti, Senegal, and The Gambia. He imagines a world in which spiritual seekers from every tradition work together to establish a world of sacred service, compassion, and justice for every life. (Scheduled, but not present in the recording because of illness)Pastor Michael McBride is the executive director for LIVE FREE USA, a national organizing and social change network committed to ending the criminalization of people of color, reducing gun violence and transforming the policing and the criminal justice system. He was named by the Center for American Progress as a Top Clergy Leader in 2013 and served on President Obama’s Faith Based and Neighborhood Partnerships Council to address Poverty and Inequality in 2016. He is one of the national leaders in the movement to implement public health gun violence prevention programs, recently featured as one of CNN’s Champions of Change. He is the co-founder of Black Church PAC and the Black Brown Peace Consortium. Pastor McBride serves as the Lead Pastor of The Way Church in Berkeley, CA. He has been a frequent contributor to the New York Times, the Washington Post, MSNBC, CNN, the Huffington Post and many other media outlets. Topics 00:00 Introduction and Welcome 02:25 Introducing Faith Gay 03:08 Faith Gay's Journey to Activism 06:22 Reverend Naomi's Story 10:46 Imam Adeyinka's Experience 18:06 Pastor Michael McBride's Work 19:55 Recognizing Apartheid and Segregation 28:23 Bearing Witness and Economic Support 33:27 Responding to Apartheid 34:33 Personal Reflections on Compromise 35:58 The Domino Effect of Speaking Out 37:57 White Supremacy and Global Racism 41:54 Solidarity with Indigenous People 42:51 The Importance of Healing 47:55 Spiritual Imperatives and Activism 52:10 Final Reflections and Call to Action SAND’s Helpful Resources on Palestine: https://whereolivetreesweep.com/resources/ Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member.

Ash Canty, a trans masc, afro-indigenous, non-binary Psychic Medium and Death Guide, shares his transformative journey in supporting others through grief. He delves into the complexities of collective grief, especially during crises like in Palestine, emphasizing ancestral connections to healing. Ash explores how grief and gratitude coexist, advocating for body-centered practices to process emotions. He introduces the Liberation Portal program, highlighting communal healing and emotional embodiment, ultimately urging mindfulness in our interconnectedness.

Pir Zia Inayat Khan, a Sufi scholar and teacher, shares transformative insights on the heart as a center of wisdom rather than just a physical organ. He discusses navigating modern life's distractions to cultivate compassion and self-awareness. Through poignant stories from war-torn regions, he emphasizes the importance of engaging with suffering to promote justice and healing. Pir Zia also highlights how Sufi ideals encourage empathy and courage, urging listeners to break cycles of violence and embrace their unique spiritual paths.

Dr. Kamilah Majied is a contemplative inclusivity consultant and author dedicated to merging Buddhism with social justice. She discusses how personal growth through Buddhism can influence societal changes and the importance of cultural respect. Dr. Majied highlights the power of language in shaping our reality and the history of the phrase 'stay woke.' With insights on grief and joy amid activism, she emphasizes the need for community and the transformative nature of meditation in pursuing equity and healing.

In this SAND Community Gathering (September 2024) Zaya and Maurizio sat down with Jess Semaan, poet, psychotherapist and facilitator to explore the intersection of poetry and grief in the context of genocide. They drew from her research on genocide, as well as her personal and professional experiences, Jess tended to our psycho-spiritual profound sorrow and loss in this time. By giving voice to the unspeakable and providing a means of bearing witness to the stories of those impacted by the trauma of large-scale atrocities, we are making space for individual and collective healing. Poetry helps us navigate the complex terrain of grief, injustice, and human suffering. Come and honor the resilience of communities that have endured such immense trauma. Jess Semaan is a queer Lebanese poet, psychotherapist, group facilitator and speaker. She researches, writes and speaks on subjects of healing from complex trauma, immigration, war and belonging.  Her first poetry book Child of the Moon was published by Andrews McMeel and sold over 14,000 copies. Her second book Your Therapist is Depressed Too came out in December 2023. She immigrated to the United States from Beirut. She has an MBA from Stanford and an M.A. in counseling Psychology from CIIS. She identifies as SWANA (South West Asia and North Africa), with grandparents from Syria, Palestine and Mount Lebanon and resides on Ohlone land (Oakland, California), with her partner Berk and their two cats. Topics: 00:00 – Introduction and Greetings 00:43 – Special Guest: Jess Semaan 00:56 – Reflecting on Recent Screenings 02:12 – Jess Semaan's Background and Work 03:03 – Poetry Reading: Let Gaza In 06:26 – Technical Difficulties and Reflections 07:56 – Discussing Genocide and Dehumanization 09:05 – Personal Journey and Psychological Insights 11:11 – The Complexity of Beirut 12:59 – The Psychological Impact of Diaspora 15:51 – Research on Genocide and Human Cruelty 26:46 – Poetry Reading: Is it a Massacre if it's a Palestinian? 28:51 – Healing Workshop and Collective Trauma 30:13 – Understanding My Mother's Trauma 31:51 – The Collective and Individual Psyche 34:07 – Critical Thinking and Cultural Differences 36:04 – The Role of Bystanders in Conflict 43:24 – Grieving Amidst Ongoing Conflict 51:29 – Poetry of Resistance and Grief 57:31 – Closing Reflections Support the mission of SAND and the production of this podcast by becoming a SAND Member