What’s on our radar #13?

With the passing of the spring equinox, we are now well and truly entering a season of growth. Here at Catalyst we’ve been sowing the seeds of change over winter, ruminating on what might be possible and also resting whenever we can. There’s already been lots happening underneath the surface, the roots are definitely riotous down there, but we are constantly being reminded that we can only move at the speed of trust.

As always, we have had our ears to the ground and eyes peeled for inspiration. Things which make us feel less alone on this endeavor, words of comfort, sounds we enjoy, beautiful visuals. Here’s ten of our favourite things. We hope they bring you joy, too.

1. Jo is reading Enchantment by Katherine May. If you enjoyed her previous book, Wintering, give this a go. It’s about how to rediscover the magic in everyday life, and the perfect anecdote for anyone who has been feeling exhausted lately.
2. A small group from the Catalyst community are studying ‘The Systems View of Life’ with Fritjof Capra together online. The course covers systems thinking, order and chaos, evolution, science and spirituality, consciousness, leadership and more! Highly recommended - the course will open again later this year and includes global study groups.
3. Joseph Rowntree Foundation released their Sustainable Futures report and it blew us all away. Not only is it beautifully designed, but the recommendations are radical and meaningful. 
4. It seems that there is so much collective trauma out there. We’ve all been reflecting on the skills and experience needed to hold spaces currently, and the people within them, with care and compassion. This resource from PTSD UK outlines some of the trauma responses which may be encountered.
5. Our favourite clothing producer, Lucy & Yak, celebrated Neurodiversity week by publishing stories from their neurodiverse team and launching a new ethical product line designed by neurodiverse artists. 
6. Jo is studying British Sign Language, and found this Welsh production ‘Galwad’ on climate change super inspiring - all of the performances are also interpreted into sign. 
7. Other books we’ve read lately include ‘Parable of the Sower’ and ‘Parable of the Talents’ by Octavia Butler, recommended by Siana. Dystopian futures, with an unsettling feeling that some of it has already come to pass. If you enjoyed Handmaids Tale you should dive in.
8. Dark Matter labs launched the new portal this month containing radical employment contracts. Catalyst team members Jo & Siana contributed to the process of re-imagining how contracts might be created. The assets are free to access on Notion here.
9. More evidence that a 4 day week works, is hugely beneficial, better for wellbeing, increases productivity…is there anyone out there not convinced yet? Apparently so. Who are these people? 
10. Miki Kashtan always inspires us. Ellie & Jo attended her recent session on “Liberation for All: Bringing Tenderness to Conversations about Power and Privilege” and found it to be so rich. Her recent blog ‘A love letter to my brothers’ is worth a read. Here’s an extract from it reflecting on the patriarchy, which seems apt given it was IWD this month;
    
    “What I want, what I am putting all my efforts into, is to create, with others, a field of love strong enough to surround the patriarchal field. To surround patriarchy with love. Because nothing else will do. Because fighting against patriarchy is still within the paradigm of scarcity, separation, and powerlessness that patriarchy is made up of. There is no way to “win” against patriarchy, because against-ness, in itself, is a patriarchal orientation.”

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If you have a resource of any kind that you think we should have on our radar, please share it with us! We would love for the wider community to influence our work and provide creative input. 

Drop us a line at hello@thecatalyst.org.uk Or tweet us @wethecatalysts.

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*Image credit: Pexels

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