Two days ago Thomas Berry died. Many of you probably do not know him… I barely knew him.  I do know that two friends of mine, Drew Dellinger and Brian Swimme, had deep respect for and long term relationships with him.

I also know that he was a pioneer. He was a Catholic priest that understood that we cannot survive without each Being playing their part in the great symphony. In his own words -- "In reality there is a single integral community of the Earth... In this community every being has its own role to fulfill, its own dignity, its inner spontaneity. Every being has its own voice..."

I had a brief experience with him. He made me feel like I mattered. He was gentle and playful and full of humility.  Here is an excerpt from a poem about him by Drew Dellinger called Carolina Prophet. (www.drewdellinger.org)

To learn more about Thomas, you can visit his website.

For all of you who have seen the Global Spirit program "From the Heart of the World," you might find interesting this recent update from the director, Alan Ereira:

"I thought you might like to know that have just returned from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, where I was suddenly summoned at the end of April.  I was called to attend a large gathering of Mamas at one of the highest sacred places - a place where I had never been, and where outsiders are not normally welcome.  There was a most remarkable speech, spoken by a very senior male Mama and echoed almost simuItaneously by four female Mamas ("Sagas").  They were, in effect, the voice of the Mother behind his words.  I was allowed to film this on a mini-HD camera.
 
The speech was a statement of their present situation, which they regard as critical ("as serious as the Conquest itself").  They high sacred places are being fatally damaged by soldiers and guerillas, and as a result the life-essence of the planet is failing.  In order to make what is in effect a last-ditch effort to save themselves and the world, they are undertaking a fundamental re-organisation of their way of communicating with the outside world.  They believe that it is still possible to turn things around, and intend to do that over the next four years.
 
I was asked to give a full description of what has taken place with the film and my assessment of it.  I was then told that it is a high priority that I should make a new film with them, to bring Younger Brother to a fuller understanding of their own vision of reality.  They have been preparing for this work for some years, and have trained their own media unit(!) to work with me.
 
The plan they have been discussing is quite astonishing, and I am now waiting to hear exactly how they want to proceed."

If you'd like to respond to Alan's message, please leave a comment below!