Sometimes, as at this time of the full moon before the solstice, we look above for solace when it feels the grief and pain we experience on this beloved planet are too much to bear. We send our loving solidarity to our siblings in violence- and strife-torn places who may be able to glimpse in wonder and longing that same celestial mystery. May you feel the connection, care, and comfort in the greetings and prayers we bounce from the heavens back to all the spaces you inhabit.
We begin with the compelling poetry of Hind Jouda. Hind’s four poems are here presented in both her native Arabic and English, with translation and an introduction by Ahmed M. Saleh, who writes, “Hind Jouda speaks of living beyond the limits of endurance.” Chana Helfand, brought up in the United States in a zionist synagogue, found the lessons of her upbringing to be turned upside down when, as a teen, she began learning from Islamic poetry that led her on a journey of discovery. More recently, her intensely close interactions with Gazan writer, scholar, child protector, and law student Tala Albanna led to this beautiful personal essay, “The Price of Genocide.’"
Katie Wachsberger offers a meditation on the burning question “What Does It Really Mean to Love?” — and why do we have so much trouble coexisting peacefully as a species? Mariha Alexendra Proaño Chiriboga’s ecoversity, Semilla Solar, is commited to “A New Approach to Masculine Psychology"; she shares its principles and pedagogies in a report edited by Salomón Espinoza.
Clément Moliner-Roy spent months researching, interviewing, and studying the founders and facilitators of various Ecoversities around the world. In “Going Against the Current” he reports on challenges and opportunities they have faced, giving us great insight into strategies we might all be able to adapt. “Bonded in Grief: Maintaining Unity in Times of War” is a reflection by Liel Maghen and Jawdat Kasab, two Israeli friends who have for years worked with allies to build community across perceived differences, modeling an alternative shared culture to the seemingly insurmountable barriers. Finally, as we are reaching the 10th anniversary as an alliance, we’re taking a step back to see where we were five years ago; the short video “Ecoversities Dreaming” by Udi Mandel should uplift your spirits.
We hope that you enjoy this issue and invite you to reply to this email with your thoughts and responses.
