Reclaiming Wildness: Introductory Lecture
Within this introductory talk with Fall 2025 Visiting Scholar Jeanine M. Canty, her first event in residence at The New School, we look at dualities within the western human’s psyche to reclaim our ecological and transpersonal identities and to access pathways for healing.
Esalen
In part 4, Jeffrey Kripal and Host Michael Lerner explore Jeffrey’s remarkable history of Esalen in Esalen—The American Religion of No Religion. This astonishing cultural history of the famed retreat and conference center in Big Sur provides a panoramic insight of West Coast counter-culture over the past half century. No one serious about understanding our times should miss it. You can find more information on his website jeffreyjkripal.com.
2025 Year-End Magazine
This magazine features some of the work happening at Commonweal in 2025, including work in the Commonweal Archives, our Healing Circles program, the Collaborative for Health and Environment, The New School, and the Humane Prison Hospice Program.
A Life Immersed in the Imaginal
Join Professor Arthur Colman in conversation with Host Michael Lerner about his life and work using Jungian depth psychology as a foundation to bridge individual psychological understanding with group dynamics. | Photo: Peter Cunningham.
Tending the Soul in Uncertain Times
Join us along the wild coast of California, for an afternoon of dialogue, community, and ritual with author and soul activist, Francis Weller, and host of the All There Is podcast and CNN commentator, Anderson Cooper. This event was held live in September 2025 as a conversation and community grief ritual.
Roads of Excess
In part 3 of this series, Host Michael Lerner talks with author Jeffrey Kripal about his book Roads of Excess, Palaces of Wisdom: Eroticism and Reflexivity in the Study of Mysticism. Roads continues and expands Kripal’s exploration of homoerotics themes in world religion. It focuses on the inner lives of five great scholars of religion and their own engagement with the homoerotic themes in the saints and traditions they studied. Kripal also continues his own autobiographical experience with five “secret talks” interspersed with his five case studies.
Bridging Dualities with Nature and Self
During this second event with our visiting scholar Jeanine Canty, we will look at our various notions of self—ecological, multicultural, and transpersonal—and engage in some experiences and reflections that embody this. Meet our visiting scholar, and join the conversation about mind and healing.
The Art of Peacebuilding: Haiku, Accompaniment, and Courageous Love
Join Host Serena Bian and international peacebuilder John Paul Lederach in exploring questions about how—in a world filled with animosity—we can help things “glisten.” The conversation will explore ways to accompany communities to bring forward their deepest sense of their nature and purpose, as well as the “glowing” aspect of what can be fully lived into.
Opening the Gate of the Heart: An Afternoon of Celtic Harp
Join us for a special concert of original sacred music to free your imagination and open your heart to the celestial sounds of the Celtic harp. Christine Tulis shares songs inspired by the poetry of Rumi, other mystical saints, and her personal inner experiences.