Tree Resurrection

There stands in the neighborhood

an ancient elm tree,

part of a row of stately trees lining the main street

of a once quiet village. 

Now the traffic is heavy

and the warm spring air is punctuated

with the roar of motorcycles

recently freed from barns and garages;

ransomed from storage facilities

and appearing like newborn insects,

seeking each other, waving to one another

like captives set free.

This elm tree has seen much & has suffered much. 

It is deeply scarred & yet it blooms. 

It is ineffably sad and yet a song softly emanates

from the upper branches, a song barely heard. 

The branches softly sway, the tiny buds gather light,

feeding their blossoms within. 

Suddenly a tune catches a single dead branch,

separated by storm or lightning, hanging there,

caught up by other branches,

budless but intertwined,

a perfect picture of life carrying death.

Like mother gorillas

 cradling dead & decaying infants; the perfect denial.

How separate are we,

the living, from the death among us?

 How separate is that dead branch

from the living tree? 

When the leaves sprout forth

the difference will be apparent,

but now, in this moment,

life & death share an identity.

The Via  Creativa: A Path of Birthing, Imagination and Passion 

Michael Conti with Sister Lydia Stritzl at Benedictine Abbey of St. Hildegard, R�desheim am Rhein, Germany. March 2013. Photo Credit: Catherine Carilli

The Unruly Mystic: How I came to make a film about Saint Hildegard.

By Michael Conti

People ask me how I came to make a documentary about Saint Hildegard of Bingen. It all started two years ago when I decided to take my first ever pilgrimage under the leadership of Susan Coppage Evans and Jeannine Goode-Allen via WholeHearted Retreats. Their 10 day retreat was billed as "Birthing Visions", coinciding with spring equinox in the Rhineland, and the opportunity to immerse into the Light and Greening Power of Hildegard. The result of that retreat was for me the start of a film entitled The Unruly Mystic which is a prescriptive documentary of how I as the filmmaker reaffirms my life's work when I fell in love with a 12th century Saint.  It is a journey that has now taken me to Germany several more times, and given me to the opportunity to meet artists, writers, musicians, theologians and doctors around the world that have found their life changed by Saint Hildegard.

I recently premiered the film at the 8th International Hildegard Congress that was held in Konstanz, Germany to doctors, practitioners and distributors of Hildegard's healing medicines. The subject of this year's event was "Cure the Uncurable." Invited by Dr. Wighard Strehlow, the event's organizer, I was the first American to ever present there. It was an honor to represent the United States along with the ten other countries in attendance. The film, dubbed into German for the event was well received, inspiring young and old alike with its timely message. While this European audience is knowledgeable in Hildegard's Catholic history, medical practices; they were intrigued by how the American clergy like Carol Vaccariello, Mary Reaman and David Sharp have embraced Saint Hildegard with the Creation Spirituality Movement.

Included are other insightful interviews with Benedictine Sr. Lydia from the Abbey of St. Hildegard,

 Germany; Professor Beverly Mayne Kienzle at the Harvard Divinity School; Lynn Maxwell, a world-class mezzo soprano on her one-woman Hildegard show; Doctor Wighard Strelow's healing work at the Hildegard

Audience at the 8th International Hildegard Congress, Konstanz, Germany. October 2014

Center in Allen Bach, Germany; and American Episcopal priest and theologian Matthew Fox.

For me, Saint Hildegard of Bingen evokes a calling, that sweet spot of creativity that we all yearn to play in, which is also spiritual in nature. The film reveals how she is still venerated for her widely recognized impact on today's theologians, artists, musicians, doctors and educators. 

It has been an amazing birthing process these past two years when I first took that pilgrimage with WholeHearted Retreats, and now with the film's birth, there is another journey about to begin for me in screening and promoting the film's message. There is a two-fold approach here, I am looking for opportunities to screen the film in 2015 at theatres, film festivals, churches, schools and community centers; I am also looking for suggestions to best to direct the audience afterwards to resources and communities. I would welcome your proposals to online courses, teachings, books, retreats and other activities that might help inspire the audience beyond the film. Either way, if this film is something you would like to screen, please visit the website for a peek at the trailer, or drop me at email at [email protected] or LIKE The Unruly Mystic on Facebook to show your support.  

The Via Transformativa: A Path of Justice, Healing and Celebration

What Do You Buy the Children of the Terrorist Who Tried to Kill Your Wife:

A Memoir  by David Harris-Gershon 2013

Book Review by Lynda Boozer

While browsing my local library, I stumbled on the book: What Do You Buy the Children of the Terrorist Who Tried to Kill Your Wife: A Memoir. Riveted by the title, I browsed the book jacket and read a bit of the author, David Harris-Gershon's story. In 2002, David and his young wife Jamie, passionate Zionists, were living in Jerusalem studying Hebrew. Jamie was in the cafeteria of Hebrew University with two close friends when the building was bombed. Jamie's friends were killed instantly. She was badly burned, suffered from shrapnel wounds to her abdominal viscera and had severe post-traumatic stress disorder. David's story unfolds as he becomes immersed in supporting his wife only later to discover his own trauma and severe anxiety.

I have long held passion for the Middle East, particularly the Palestinian- Israeli conflict. I tucked the book under my arm expecting a powerful read. What I did not expect was to find one of the most touching and poignant books on peacemaking I have ever read.

David's desperation to find himself again led him to the path that would change his life. A random newspaper article revealed the terrorist, Mohammad Odeh, now imprisoned, had expressed remorse for his actions. Those words of regret captured Harris-Gershon so fully, he vowed to meet and potentially to understand the bomber.

The book proceeds as the author finds his own healing in his efforts to connect with Mohammad and his family. In the process he decides he needs to know more about the Palestinian story and discovers one fraught with oppression, loss of identity, and betrayal; a story not so different from his own Jewish one.

David's account shared in the book touched me in its humility and determination. He was not moved by some notion of a need to forgive or a lofty vision of peace. He was simply propelled by his desire to right himself after such horrific upheaval.

Harris-Gershon's current story also touches me. During his process of writing the book and beyond he remained loyal to Zionism. Nonetheless he came to declare himself a liberal Zionist and has asked publicly for a relationship with Israel that follows the principles of "BDS" or boycott, divestments, sanctions. This too comes from his absolute love for the state of Israel. Here is what he says in a 2012 blogpost: "as an American Jew invested deeply in Israel's success and survival - which in turn drives my investment in stopping one of the greatest moral challenges of my generation: the occupation - I have no choice but to formally endorse and embrace BDS." This position has not been good for his book sales as readings and signings have been cancelled. This is where David's story touches me even more. He acts from his own sense of what is right and best and has the courage to do that despite significant repercussions. May I find similar courage in my own life.

 You can also find the author's writing in Tikkun Magazine.

Board member Carol S. Pearson's most recent book, "The Transforming Leader: New Approaches to Leadership for the Twenty-First Century," has been named a finalist for the International Leadership Association's 2014 Outstanding Leadership Book Award. It includes an article on the four paths by Matt Fox, and several other articles reflecting the paths and subjects like positive psychology and the art of leadership as well as an overall transformational social justice focus. The winner will be announced at an award presentation and reception at the 16th Annual ILA Global Conference in San Diego, CA.

"The Transforming Leader" was chosen by a prestigious committee of leadership scholars as one of only four finalists for the award. The other finalists are "Humble Inquiry: The Gentle Art of Asking Instead of Telling," by Edgar H. Schein; "Advances in Global Leadership," by William H. Mobley, Ming Li, and Ying Wang; and "Leadership by Resentment: From Ressentiment to Redemption," by Ruth Capriles.

Information on the ILA and the conference is available on the ILA website.

If you are a CSC Member and have news to share, send your information to [email protected] 

Creation Spirituality Communities Board Members:

Di Wolverton, Carol Pearson, Peter Lanzilotta, Nicole Porcaro, Tom Stempel, Mary Reaman, Lynda Boozer, Wayne Schwandt, Gail Ransom and Susan Coppage Evans.