This month our Soul matters groups will be exploring the theme Practicing Resistance. Rev Roger will also preach on this theme on January 18th, sharing about the hidden organizer of the 1963 March on Washington, Bayard Rustin.

In our groups we will consider what qualities we can bring to resistance using a reflection on archetypes. The Soul Matter martials explain that we sometimes have a hard time seeing a place for ourselves in the work of resistance. The roles that get most lifted up are those of courageous front-line activist, dynamic organizer and charismatic spokesperson. While these roles are essential, there are many of us whose skills, attributes and passions just don’t mesh with them, making it hard for us to figure out how we can contribute to the causes we care so deeply about.

Satya Doyle Byock, psychotherapist and author, created and shared a list of twenty archetypes of resistance. This list includes Healer, Musician, Cook,  Observer,  Writer, Wisdom Keeper and many more.  Her goal is to widen our imagination and enable us to more easily see a place for us in the work of resistance.  Here’s a link to her list. 

In our groups we will  consider these questions:

1. Which 2-3 archetypes resonated with you the most? Were those roles ones you are already embodying or did the descriptions help you recognize a calling you’ve not been aware of before?
2. Are there any archetypes that you are drawn to but feel too scared or insecure to embody? How might that fear or insecurity be rooted in old stories about yourself that need challenged?
3. If the archetype descriptions helped you identify a nascent hunger or calling, what has been holding you back from allowing the seed of that hunger/calling to flourish?

You can join this conversation at the open Soul Matters session on January 11, at 9:30 in the Fahs room.    This monthly session is for people who can’t make a 8 month commitment to a group, but want to engage with the Soul Matters Materials.   I hope you will join him.

Rev Lucy