Return to Joy

“If you want to live in the joy that is creating all the universes and is your own true father/mother, then you have to undertake the journey of dying to the illusions that prevent you from living in the constant sun of your real nature.”

― Andrew Harvey

We are honored to have Andrew Harvey, one of the worlds great living mystics, a poet of the World Soul, prophet of the Divine Feminine, acclaimed translator of Rumi, and passionate champion of sacred activism as a guest on the Emergence Series. He is a prolific author, poet, religious scholar and beloved teacher of mystical traditions.

In his latest book, Return to Joy, Andrew writes that four things are required in order to live and learn from the great joy that has informed the world great spiritual guides and visionaries:

“First you must accept at the deepest level possible that ultimate reality is sourced from a boundless joy. Secondly, you are called to do the rigorous work of understanding the shadows of your past and the psychological labor of clearing the clouds from your essential sun. Thirdly, you cannot avoid what all spiritual traditions call us to: Uncompromising and calmly relentless spiritual work to align yourself in all circumstances as much as possible with the powers of divine light. Fourthly, as all spiritual traditions know—the greatest joy is only known by those who have not merely tasted divine truth but have committed themselves to the amazing and dangerous task of embodying and enacting it in the world.”

Join us in diving into this deep territory and exploring the journey of return.

Andrew Harvey is Founder Director of the Institute of Sacred Activism, an international organization that invites concerned people to take up the challenge of our contemporary global crises by becoming inspired and effective agents of change. Sacred activism is a form of compassion-in-action that is born of a fusion of deep spiritual passion with wise radical action in the world. The large-scale practice of Sacred Activism can become an essential force for preserving and healing the planet and its inhabitants. Andrew Harvey has taught at Oxford and Cornell University, as well as at various colleges and spiritual centers throughout the world. He has written over 30 books.

THE SAND EMERGENCE SERIES

The Emergence Series is a constellation of conversations with SAND speakers and teachers, intended as an exploration of the emergence palpable in the collective field at this time and an opportunity to connect with others in our community holding a ‘large vision’ and dedicated to the evolution of consciousness on the planet.

Old structures are being shaken up, old stories have come to their limits, old systems are failing us. What is emerging, where do we go from here, how do we hold it all in the tenderness of the awakening heart? What wisdom do the worlds great lineages and traditions have for us and what does the meeting of science and nonduality contribute to the emergent conversation? How does a mystic respond to a world in crisis?

Through the magic of technology, the Emergence Series is open to the participation of the entire global SAND community, LIVE! There will be opportunities to have personal interaction and ask questions of our guests. Our intention with this online series is to foster conversation, connection and community in between conferences and to offer windows of contact, wisdom and heart.

We invite our teachers to engage us from a perspective of embodied, living wisdom, and offer practical guidance that can support us in our relationships, our work, our community and our world at this time.

The Emergence Series is facilitated by Vera de Chalambert, a Harvard-educated religious scholar, spiritual story teller and fellow SAND speaker.

We are honored to have Andrew Harvey, one of the worlds great living mystics, a poet of the World Soul, prophet of the Divine Feminine, acclaimed translator of Rumi, and passionate champion of sacred activism as a guest on the Emergence Series. He is a prolific author, poet, religious scholar and beloved teacher of mystical traditions.

In his latest book, Return to Joy, Andrew writes that four things are required in order to live and learn from the great joy that has informed the world great spiritual guides and visionaries:

“First you must accept at the deepest level possible that ultimate reality is sourced from a boundless joy. Secondly, you are called to do the rigorous work of understanding the shadows of your past and the psychological labor of clearing the clouds from your essential sun. Thirdly, you cannot avoid what all spiritual traditions call us to: Uncompromising and calmly relentless spiritual work to align yourself in all circumstances as much as possible with the powers of divine light. Fourthly, as all spiritual traditions know—the greatest joy is only known by those who have not merely tasted divine truth but have committed themselves to the amazing and dangerous task of embodying and enacting it in the world.”

Join us in diving into this deep territory and exploring the journey of return.

Andrew Harvey is Founder Director of the Institute of Sacred Activism, an international organization that invites concerned people to take up the challenge of our contemporary global crises by becoming inspired and effective agents of change. Sacred activism is a form of compassion-in-action that is born of a fusion of deep spiritual passion with wise radical action in the world. The large-scale practice of Sacred Activism can become an essential force for preserving and healing the planet and its inhabitants. Andrew Harvey has taught at Oxford and Cornell University, as well as at various colleges and spiritual centers throughout the world. He has written over 30 books.

THE SAND EMERGENCE SERIES

The Emergence Series is a constellation of conversations with SAND speakers and teachers, intended as an exploration of the emergence palpable in the collective field at this time and an opportunity to connect with others in our community holding a ‘large vision’ and dedicated to the evolution of consciousness on the planet.

Old structures are being shaken up, old stories have come to their limits, old systems are failing us. What is emerging, where do we go from here, how do we hold it all in the tenderness of the awakening heart? What wisdom do the worlds great lineages and traditions have for us and what does the meeting of science and nonduality contribute to the emergent conversation? How does a mystic respond to a world in crisis?

Through the magic of technology, the Emergence Series is open to the participation of the entire global SAND community, LIVE! There will be opportunities to have personal interaction and ask questions of our guests. Our intention with this online series is to foster conversation, connection and community in between conferences and to offer windows of contact, wisdom and heart.

We invite our teachers to engage us from a perspective of embodied, living wisdom, and offer practical guidance that can support us in our relationships, our work, our community and our world at this time.

The Emergence Series is facilitated by Vera de Chalambert, a Harvard-educated religious scholar, spiritual story teller and fellow SAND speaker.