We are living in a time of tribal identity and division. As Nelson Mandela once said, “When we dehumanize and demonize our opponents, we abandon the possibility of peacefully resolving our differences, and seek to justify violence against them.” The divisions in our country have been in our country’s history for a long time. There is a deep listening that is needed to build understanding and communal healing. Indigenous traditions bring much wisdom to how to live the 4th Principle of UU (A free and responsible search for truth and meaning). Sharing stories and practices, the talk speaks to how we transcend the hatred and divisions of our times. Using the words of Jesse Jackson, “You’ve got to be moving toward the heart of the matter, go to burn people’s souls. You’ve got to get inside of people. That’s where it all is. And you can’t get inside of them unless you open up yourself to be got inside of.

Myron Eshowsky has a long history as a shamanic healer, international mediator, and community activist. The author of numerous journal articles and book chapters on the use of indigenous wisdom for addressing modern problems, he is co director of the Social Health Care Program for Syrian Refugees which has built an extensive trauma treatment and training program serving the refugee population throughout the Middle East. He maintains a small private practice in Madison, Wisconsin and is currently writing a new book titled Listening Beyond the Ears.

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