Transformative Origin Stories…Becoming Kindom

Become familiar with origin stories from around the world that inspired the growth of societies of cooperation. If we can see it, we can be it. In the beginning many different creation myths were offered all over this glorious earth-wide garden. The various societies that grew from these myths were imbued with the essence of…

Workshop Description

Become familiar with origin stories from around the world that inspired the growth of societies of cooperation. If we can see it, we can be it.

In the beginning many different creation myths were offered all over this glorious earth-wide garden. The various societies that grew from these myths were imbued with the essence of each myth, some were cooperative and peaceful, others were competitive and warlike. In ancient times, origin stories were told in cave paintings, symbols, and statues, and passed on verbally

Quaker Elise Boulding offers a brilliant look at these origin stories in Cultures of Peace. For example, the egalitarian African Mbuti pygmie tribe, one of the few leisure societies left on the planet, have population control, relative abundance, relative peace, leisure time, a rich ceremonial life throughout the entire period that other cultures have developed ever higher levels of struggle.

Quaker Peggy Sanday studied 150 creation myths and charted some amazing findings in her book, Female Power and Male Domination:
“Creation stories contain within them a conception of the natural or initial order of things. By articulating how things were in the beginning, people supply more than a logic for sexual life-styles – they make a basic statement about their relationship with nature and about their perception of the source of power in the universe, and in the sacred and secular realms. This relationship holds the key to understanding sexual identities and corresponding roles.”

We will create “kincentric” time, learning about many origin stories and paying attention to our own experiences. In guided meditation we will envision and write our mythic yearnings into being. We will use a decolonized approach to celebrate our time together, in which we will be drumming, chanting, dancing, and reading poetry. It will be a full bodied experience for our continuing revelation…becoming kindom.

Leader Experience

Sharon Gunther has led many workshops at FGC Gathering, including: “Transforming the Patriarchy into the Peaceable Kindom,” and “Photography as Spiritual Journey.” She has led programs at Pendle Hill as well as the Fleisher Art Memorial.