This session aims to move us beyond the legacy of silencing and diminishing ‘feminine’ or ‘yin’ aspects of our humanity — as they apply to our lives, choices and leadership. Together, we will investigate how we may have internalized exclusive or “dominator” models of leading. How might our perspectives about leadership alter when we consider “leading” as not being top-down, winner-take-all and hierarchical, but instead as being far more inclusive and respectful, sharing authority, and sourced from a connection to what we most love and value as sacred?

Imagine a leadership that’s informed by listening deeply to the guidance of your body, intuition, dreams and spirit. What might that look like for you? Discover how to decenter the mind as your primary navigational system, practicing shifting your inner compass from head to heart. We will consider how we might rebalance ‘masculine’ and ‘feminine’ ways of knowing — reclaiming instinctive knowing, embodied wisdom and emotional/relational intelligence as essential complements to the dominant western form of rational intelligence. We’ll investigate what most lights you up, your current sense of purpose, and what you’re most passionate about, to help discern what is calling you now.

Practice navigating, deepening and sustaining respectful relationships on all octaves: within the varied aspects or facets of your self, with others, and with the sacred and diverse community of life upon which we all depend. How do we engage with difference or conflict in relational settings while maintaining our basic human connection with self, other and what we hold most sacred? To be effective leaders — whether at home, at work, in institutions or organizations, or in our organizing or activism – we will need to exercise and hone our discomfort resilience. How might this resilience allow us to share authority in groups by optimizing engagement among diverse people, perspectives, and orientations?

The times are chaotic and hard, and involve facing painful truths and situations. Instead of retreating, avoiding, or succumbing to fear, confusion, and uncertainty, we can practice grounding in resilience to unearth a deeper sense of connection and calling to sustain us. What has been your attitude towards the value of rest and renewal? How can we enhance or further prioritize self-care? It is essential that leaders make space to feel emotions, so that they don’t leak out sideways, whether grief, anger, fear, or intense love. 

This course will offer practices that promote healing and greater self-awareness, allowing us to process deep emotions in healthy ways that strengthen community and connection, helping us balance compassion and self-authority to increase resilience, joy, and personal regeneration. Ultimately, these practices can support more effective organizing and engagement as we co-create the world we desire and yearn for.