Highlighting the fact that we can define our own reality, Amy Buetens & Julie Weinstein pull from the wisdom of Ram Dass to discuss navigating turbulent times.

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In this episode, hosted by Jackie Dobrinska, Amy Buetens & Julie Weinstein discuss:

• Utilizing beginner's mind as a tool for approaching the chaos of our world
• Keeping our hearts open in hell and holding multiple truths at once.
• Embracing change and uncertainty rather than seeing it as a threat
• Increasing our equanimity in order to support ourselves and others 
• Being in the presence of suffering without creating more suffering
• Looking at what is as a heartfelt service to ourselves and humanity
• Meditation as an opportunity to explore our identity 
• Teen mental health struggles and overwhelm from the weight of the world
• Compassionate action and working towards the end of suffering
• Ram Dass’s recurring examples of self-love and self-acceptance
• Leaving room for all of life’s unknown possibilities, the full spectrum of joy and suffering

Grab a copy of You are the Universe, an impactful graphic novel arranged and illustrated by Amy & Julie. This vibrant hand-drawn book chronicles the unconventional journey and self-discovery of Ram Dass. 

About Amy Buetens:

Amy Buetens is an artist, illustrator, and art educator. She is a certified integrative thanatologist and death educator. Her work includes performing final rites of passage, and she serves as a leader in her Jewish burial society. She has been a dedicated student of Ram Dass for over 20 years, and is a co-leader for the Love Serve Remember Foundation’s International Women’s Satsang and leads her local Ram Dass Fellowship.

"At the same time as there is this negative news, let's also keep in mind this is an incredible time of blessings. We can hold multiple truths at once. This is a time of great joy, there are advances in science and technology, public and global health. There are so many things we could count our blessings for, and I think Ram Dass would encourage us all to spend time to think about balancing both with a neutral perspective, seeing it just the way it is.” – Amy Buetens

About Julie Weinstein:

Julie Weinstein’s professional career is devoted to advancing environmental and social justice. She also serves as both a Jewish and Buddhist chaplain in the jails, within the justice movement and for people experiencing loss, grief and trauma. She is a death educator, burial society leader, and artist, and is pursuing ordination as a rabbi. She’s been practicing Ram Dass’s teachings for over two decades, and co-leads community initiatives for the Love Serve Remember Foundation.

“Watching Ram Dass as this wise sage in complete bliss, saying over and over again, ‘I am loving awareness’. To know that it is possible to go from such self-loathing or self-hatred to complete bliss and believing that he is pure loving awareness, and also wanting that for us too. It gives a lot of us hope when we’re struggling with our own identity, sexuality, shortcomings.” - Julie Weinstein

About The Host, Jackie Dobrinska:

Jackie Dobrinska is the Director of Education, Community & Inclusion for Ram Dass’ Love, Serve, Remember Foundation and the current host of Ram Dass’ Here & Now podcast. She is also a teacher, coach, and spiritual director with the privilege of marrying two decades of mystical studies with 15 years of expertise in holistic wellness. As an inter-spiritual minister, Jackie was ordained in Creation Spirituality in 2016 and has also studied extensively in several other lineages – the plant-medicine-based Pachakuti Mesa Tradition, Sri Vidya Tantra, Western European Shamanism, Christian Mysticism, the Wise Woman Tradition, and others. Today, in addition to building courses and community for LSRF, she leads workshops and coaches individuals to discover, nourish and live from their most authentic selves.

“You and I are the force for the transformation in the world. We are the consciousness that will define the nature of the reality we are moving into. Shifting our consciousness has the power to change our inner and outer universe. That’s why you work on yourself. That’s what help you offer. You work on yourself through everything in your life.”– Ram Dass

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