On Sunday, 22 January, 2023, I had the honour of sitting (on Zoom) with the Grandmothers of the Sacred We and a group of youth leaders, activists, and peacemakers from across the world. The purpose of this panel discussion was to create an intentionally intergenerational and international space for storytelling, questions, and community.
The mission of Grandmothers of the Sacred We is "To share the deep knowledge of the wisdom keepers gathered from ancient sources throughout the world. This teaching offers hope, tools for healing, empowerment and a reminder of our interconnected world. ‘We are all together, One family.’" Sharing their stories in the gathering were: Grandmother Eila Paul (Maori) of Aotearoa New Zealand, Great-Grandmother Mary Lyons (Ojibwe) of Minnesota, Great-Grandmother Moetu Taiha (Maori) of Aotearoa New Zealand, Grandmother Pershli Ami (Hopi-Tewa) of Arizona, and Grandmother Devi Tide (Sufi) of Washington. You can learn more about the Grandmothers of the Sacred We and their work on their website, https://rainbowofbeing.wordpress.com/, or by visiting their Facebook Group, https://www.facebook.com/grandmothersofthesacredwe/.
The youth participants on the panel brought their perspectives from California, Ghana, Massachusetts, and the United Kingdom. You can learn more about the youth panelists below:
I was honoured to be included among these heart-led women who provide much needed support and resources in their communities. I brought to the panel my own perspective as a psychotherapist who lived, worked, and studied in Massachusetts, USA before immigrating to the United Kingdom and re-engaging therapeutic work in Gloucestershire.
Topics discussed in the panel include: fear, courage, suicide, forgiveness, the reality of human fallibility, oneness, and hope.
If you would like to re-watch the recorded live stream, you can find it on the Grandmother's Facebook Group here: https://www.facebook.com/grandmothersofthesacredwe/videos/702969931292194/
Note: While I use my legal, married surname for my work, I felt it important to carry the names of the mothers and grandmothers in my life with me into this space by way of my family name.