We usually think of the land as a backdrop to human affairs. But in ancient tales, places and their creatures show up as vital characters in the story. What do hills and fields say? Streams and rivers? Geology? How do all these and other eco-presences show up in our moods, our struggles, even in our dreams? What are our homes and roads trying to tell us?

During his 3-month residency at The New School, Craig Chalquist invites us all to explore how imagination has been used in many times and cultures as a path toward redemptive, transformative knowledge and new practice—and how we might engage imagination today to re-envision our relationships to ourselves and the land all around us.

In this first virtual event with Craig, meet him, learn how imagination has been used in various traditions as a source of wisdom and change-making, and begin a process that will continue through June—when you can meet him in person while he is in Bolinas. To prepare for the May 29 event, bring an example of a dream with some aspect of nature in them. What about this dream inspires(d) you? How has that inspiration changed you?

Other events with Craig:

Tuesday, June 10 | 1-2:30 Pacific Time (in person and via Zoom)
Dreaming the Soul of the Earth: Re-imagination as a Remedy for Our Times | TNS Visiting Scholar Craig Chalquist with Host Susan Grelock Yusem

Tuesday, June 17 | 1:00pm-3:00pm Pacific Time (in person, or join 1-2pm via zoom)
Walk, Dream, Write: Writing Workshop with TNS Visiting Scholar Craig Chalquist

Craig Chalquist, Ph.D., is program director of Consciousness, Psychology, and Transformation at National University and a former associate provost and several other administrative and leadership roles. His background includes group counseling, depth psychology, mythology, ecopsychology, terrapsychology, and philosophy and wisdom studies. He presents, publishes, and teaches at the intersection of psyche, story, nature, reenchantment, and imagination. He has published more than twenty books, including the hopeful Lamplighter Trilogy. His motto is: “Converse with everything!” Visit https://Chalquist.com 

Find out more about The New School at Commonweal on our website: tns.commonweal.org. And like/follow our Soundcloud channel for more great podcasts.

Land All Around Us: Imagination as a Tool of Wisdom and Transformation with Craig Chalquist

The New School presents conversations, book signings, art, and lectures with thought and action leaders of our time. We are a learning community of 4,000 people in the Bay Area and around the world dedicated to learning what matters. 

TNS focuses on the emergent, seeking out the thought and action leaders who are bringing discussion, beauty, and change to the world. We present events and podcast them in many areas: arts and sciences, health and the environment, and inner life. We follow streams of inquiry, including our End-of-Life Conversations, and series on Resilience, Archetypal Psychology, and Healing Circles.