Sequoia Samanvaya

As we celebrate Pride Month, we talked about Q***r Joy and how queerness is part of Earth's Original Design in our recent RēMind newsletter. Plus, we highlighted several resources. Read the full newsletter here:https://regenerativeschool.substack.com/

***rJoy

The seasons are getting weird. Here I was at the end of May, wearing a sweater and a hat even as the spring flowers outside my office were in full bloom/at the end of their season.... because just a week earlier, it was 30 degrees HOTTER than normal in the Hudson Valley. Climate Chaos has MANY dimensions. One of my colleagues was saying to me that it's upsetting her nervous system, and I think she is onto something. Even if we aren't experiencing the 'worst' of it, there are a lot of people who are still feeling unsettled by it. One of many terms for the nostalgia/homesickness of watching your home environment, including hte traditional timing of the seasons, change and degrade (and feeling helpless to influence it) is "Solastalgia", Coined by philosopher Glenn Albrecht. It's existential. It's practical. It's here. And its not going anywhere.

We just had a successful orientation session for our second Origin Stories cohort this year! So much appreciation to all the people who registered and to all who help us share and promote our course! 🙏🤗

It's Memorial Day weekend in the U.S., and I always like the question: what are we memorializing, and what does that mean for us? Not just what state officials do. But what do every day events and gatherings and parades and BBQs and music shows - what are we, in our actions, in our bodies, memorializing? So maybe that's a question that you might want to take with you this weekend and ask at whatever social gatherings you are looking to find some interesting questions for....

Craft your Origin Stories with us.

Join Sara Jolena and fellow storytellers as they reframe their origin stories.

Why Origin Stories?
Origin stories are amongst the most potent and powerful stories there are.

They shape understandings of personal and collective identity and purpose.

They shape notions of causality - what is the source of a particular problem - which directly influences how we understand its solutions. How you determine the origin of a problem/issue/family/present-moment-context determines the what and the how of the decisions you take to address it.

If the “problem” of America’s ills originates in “outsiders who aren’t like “us”” then the so-called “solution” becomes: “get rid of the outsiders.”

If the purpose of our life stems from our origins of deep interconnectivity with all beings, then we will find approaches to decision making - from investments and philanthropic giving to education and child-rearing - that enhance inter-being.

Course Outline:
The first six weeks are designed to:
1) help you get into your own writing/storytelling process and
2) tease out different components of the story without rushing into writing it all at once. The last four weeks, with only two sessions in them, are more spacious, giving you the chance to focus on your writing.

All classes will be live Zoom calls lasting roughly 90 minutes. Classes will be recorded.
Thursday, May 28, 2026 - 12 pm to 1:15 pm ET

Here is what current participants are saying:

"The exploration of origins and stories is a multifaceted journey or reflection and revelation. Class is a safe and welcoming container for the work, held by Sara Jolena's deep questioning and even deeper listening. I am grateful for the opportunity to grow toward a new perspective through this class."
-Norris

"This is my first course with Sara, and it has been a great experience so far. I've found the writing prompts and exercises to be very generative. I've learned a lot in the live sessions from Sara and the other participants. It is my first experience with writing in
community. I am encouraged and looking forward to what emerges."
- Gary

"Sara Jolena is a skillful facilitator, creating engaging creative prompts and imaginative exercises involving ceremony and ritual. Every class session, she picks up the threads the participants lay down, and helps to weave together common themes, and nurture the emerging vibe of the group. With every session, I leave with a sense of recognition, encouragement, and connection to the others in my cohort. I encourage anyone embarking on an uncertain journey exploring Origins to take the leap into this course. You never know where your participation may lead, but you can count on a supportive environment with multiple pathways towards a fulfilling project. Even if it's just the beginning of formulating an as yet unknown outcome or goal. The process of having a weekly date to engage with others over a common spark, keeps the journey of Origins moving forward in ways both unexpected and fulfilling. "
- Jennifer Rayman

Learn more about Origin Stories by going to: https://www.sequoiasamanvaya.com/originstories