Afternoon of Gospel and Jazz
Join us for an afternoon of Gospel and Jazz the next in our series of sacred music celebrations at Commonweal.
Entering into the Consciousness Worldview of Jeffrey Kripal
Jeffrey J. Kripal holds the J. Newton Rayzor Chair in Philosophy and Religious Thought at Rice University. In this ongoing series of conversations, Jeffrey talks with Host Michael Lerner about his body of work—more than 13 groundbreaking books about the mystical and the erotic, the relationship of mind and matter, and parapsychological phenomena. Michael has been reading, talking, and meeting with Jeffrey for more than a year now, immersing himself in the consciousness worldview that Jeffrey presents in his books and teaching. Follow Michael’s journey through these conversations.
Mutants and Mystics
In part 7 of the series, Host Michael Lerner talks with Jeffrey Kripal about his book Mutants and Mystics: Science Fiction, Superhero Comics, and the Paranormal. In the book, Jeffrey shows how creators turned to science fiction to convey the reality of the inexplicable and the paranormal they experienced in their lives. He spins out a hidden history of American culture, rich with mythical themes and shot through with an awareness that there are other realities far beyond our everyday understanding. You can find more information on his website jeffreyjkripal.com.
Remembering Our Future | ORA Program
What’s happening in our world—and how do we respond? In this gallery exhibit, explore four years of resilience work with the Omega Resilience Awards community. Through Jon Marro’s stunning artwork and select stories from 63 fellows across India, Africa, and Latin America, you’ll glimpse how communities are responding to the polycrisis with courage and creativity. The exhibit invites […]
CHE Café: Why Parkinson’s Disease Is Preventable
An estimated 1.1 million people in the U.S. are currently living with Parkinson’s disease (PD), and this number is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030. Globally, more than 10 million people are estimated to be living with PD, which is now the fastest growing brain disorder in the world. Science has long linked […]
Explore a Resilient and Earth-Centered Worldview with Visiting Scholar Craig Chalquist
As a founder of terrapsychology—the study of how the things of the world live in us—The New School’s Spring 2025 Visiting Scholar Craig Chalquist is interested in how imagination, story, and creativity let us tune in on the Greater Conversation unfolding continually around and within us. With the podcasts, videos, writings, and exercises gathered during Craig’s visit, you can join the exploration: growing a more resilient and earth-honoring worldview.
Authors of the Impossible
In part 6 of our series with Jeffrey Kripal and Host Michael Lerner, they discuss Jeffrey’s Authors of the Impossible: The Paranormal and the Sacred. The history of psychical phenomena, Jeffrey contends, is an untapped source of insight into the sacred. The cultural history of telepathy, teleportation, and UFOs; a ghostly love story; the occult dimensions of science fiction; cold war psychic espionage; galactic colonialism; and the intimate relationship between consciousness and culture all come together in Authors of the Impossible, a dazzling and profound look at how the paranormal bridges the sacred and the scientific.
Reclaiming Wildness with Visiting Scholar Jeanine Canty
Jeanine M. Canty is a visionary scholar whose groundbreaking work illuminates the profound connections between consciousness, thought, and our relationship with the natural world. Her teaching weaves together social justice, ecological wisdom, and transformation. By reading her writings and watching or listening to recordings of her time in residence, you can explore how mind and spirit intersect with ecological healing in your own life.
Beyond Cancel Culture: On Healing, Conflict, and Community
Facilitator and writer Shilpa Jain deeply understands the nature of being human. She is well known in her East Bay community for hosting more than 250 “Yes Jams!” over the last decade, encouraging laughter and play as she facilitates groups through conflict. Working with change makers—activists, artists, healers, executives, and young people—she helps them navigate conflict from a place of freedom and joy.