In this special episode of the Remembering and Reenchanting podcast, hostess Reverend Sara Jolena Wolcott is joined by her friend, former student and collaborator, Gayano Shaw, for a reflection on the year of 2025. Going beyond our normal format where Sara Jolena uplifts other people’s work or shares some of her own, she invites Gayano to help her hold her own reflection. The process is loosely modeled after Sara Jolena’s circular time rituals.

Standing in the beginnings of 2026, Sara and Gayano look back at a year marked by profound personal and collective shifts—from the literal birth of a new family member to the mourning of six significant deaths in six months as well as immense political change. They explore what it means to "take down the altar" in times of upheaval of cosmovision, the power of indigenous-led rematriation, and letting life help us learn to refine our own practice.

Timestamps

Timestamps

00:00:03 – Introduction

00:01:40 – Purpose of Reflection: Sara explains her "Circular Time" reflection process, which she has practiced for eight years.

00:04:01 – Gayano shares her experience with Sara's circular calendars and the somatic nature of her teaching.

00:08:52 – January 2025: The start of the month-by-month and thematic look back at the past year.

00:10:46 – Family and Birth: Reflection on the birth of Krissy's grandchild and the "liminal space" of birthing.

00:13:15 – Work and Radical HR: Discussion of Krissy's new full-time job and the implementation of a three-month paid leave policy.

00:15:04 – Environmental Impact: Reflections on the Los Angeles fires and lessons from previous disasters like the fire in Paradise.

00:17:15 – Political and Indigenous Learnings: Sara discusses the presidential inauguration and learning from indigenous elder Pat McCabe.

00:37:26 – Cultural Revitalization: Observations from a gathering focused on indigenous healing and cultural strength.

00:58:29 – Public Speaking and Learning: Sara reflects on her growth and the challenges of stepping onto larger stages.

01:06:17 – Consistency and Improvement: Reviewing the year's progress in writing and teaching the "Remembering" course.

01:21:17 – Rituals of Death and Grief: Discussion on the importance of creating authentic rituals for death and loss.

01:31:30 – Societal Structures: Reflections on binary thinking, Christian nationalism, and the lack of processing time in modern society.

01:47:35 – Personal Challenges: Sara shares struggles regarding her mother’s care and the loss of insurance due to climate risks.

01:56:00 – Closing Thoughts: Final reflections on the richness of the current times and an invitation to "hold those seeds with care".

More about Gayano Shaw:

The Center for Nonviolent Communication