Closing the Distance

Today our guest is Eboni Nash (MTS '21) of the Harvard Prison Divestment Campaign sharing with us her ideas around advocacy and self-care in the midst of the crisis. We talk about being grounded through advocacy, the importance of touch, caring for ourselves to care for others, intentional attention, and ways we can help incarcerated people. Harvard Prison Divestment Campaign on Facebook Self Care, Soul Care on Facebook Save the USPS Petition --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/closing-the-distance/message

Today we gather a few of our international students that have been displaced by the coronavirus to hear about their experiences of displacement, Fernando José Benetti (MTS ‘21), Annabel Li (MDiv ‘22), and Zheng Cao (MTS '20). In a discussion focused on Buddhism, we talk about the presence of the Buddha, relationships with gurus & masters, creating space from our reactions, and more.  The Heart Sutra Flora focus app --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/closing-the-distance/message

Yoga teacher, writer, and storyteller Jess Young (HDS ’22) talks with us about the spirituality of bodies in pandemic: what it means to be embodied right now, the bodies of Christ and Buddha, theologies of healing, tantra, yoga, and more. We also talked about how physical practices help with spiritual practice, the meaning of harmony, the need for touch, and the spirituality of suffering, and the loneliness of Jesus.   Links:  Tantra Illuminated  Likhita Japa Adopt-a-Grandparent Not Feeling It Chicken --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/closing-the-distance/message

Ann Braude, Senior Lecturer on American Religious History and director of the Women's Studies in Religion Program, delivered the following remarks at Morning Prayers in Harvard's Memorial Church on March 11, 2020. Link to Transcript and Original Download --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/closing-the-distance/message

In this episode, a few students of Harvard Divinity School are joined by Rev. Kerry Maloney, chaplain and director of the Office of Religious and Spiritual Life at HDS, to talk about spiritual care during the coronavirus crisis. We talk about spiritual bypassing, our guiding principles in relationship, the need to "do," and more. Student panelists include Alex Baskin (MDiv '22), Alex Jensen (MDiv '21), Alia Shinbrough (MDiv '20), and Jessica Young (MDiv '22). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/closing-the-distance/message

A simple meditation with simple beats to connect us to the energy in our bodies, offered by Joe Welker (HDS '22). --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/closing-the-distance/message

Sarah Belflower (HDS '21) shares about how she's doing as we all return to classes from spring break, telling us how this moment has her holding hands between her past and future self. We also talk about accepting mysterious experiences, spirit guide readings, Tarot, feeling guilty about our shortcomings in spiritual discipline, and the empathy gaps still present in how we're all experiencing the crisis. Persephemis Tarot Readings (IG @_persephemis_) Bible Belt Queers Burners Without Borders Covid-19 Response --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/closing-the-distance/message

Yoga teacher, writer, and storyteller Jess Young (HDS ’22) gives a guided yoga nidra meditation that will help you relax and sleep. For more of Jess go to adevotedyogi.com. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/closing-the-distance/message

Emily Rogal (HDS ‘20) is a radical Jewish educator, future rabbi, and a birth/postpartum doula. She currently serves as the networker weaver/relational coordinator for the Riverway Project at Temple Israel. She talks with us about virtual Jewish text study in this moment’s trauma, social distancing as a mitzvah, why the Sabbath is not like being quarantined, and the importance of grieving and letting the fear in. Online learning with Hebrew College SMART Recovery Toolbox Mutual Aid Medford And Somerville --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/closing-the-distance/message

Artist, educator, and chaplain Ben Freeman (HDS '20) talks with Molly and Joe about navigating the crisis of COVID-19, including supporting Harvard undergrads as a resident tutor as they evacuated their dorm. We also talked about rethinking "faith" and "hope" in the midst of crisis, queer readings of the Bible, Ben's directing of Jade Sylvan's play Beloved King, and how we're relating to our parents right now. Link to Mutual Aid Covid-19 Emergency Response slides  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/closing-the-distance/message

In the first episode of “Closing the Distance,” Harvard Divinity School students Molly Silverstein and Joe Welker feel through the darkness in the early days of the coronavirus.  --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/closing-the-distance/message