Changemakers & Lightworkers Unite: Coming Together for Collective Transformation
Here's to the bridge-builders, the hand-holders, the light-bringers, those extraordinary souls wrapped in ordinary lives who quietly weave threads of humanity into an inhumane world.
They are the unsung heroes in a world at war with itself.
They are the whisperers of hope that peace is possible.
Look for them in this present darkness.
Light your candle with their flame.
And then go. Build bridges. Hold hands.
Bring light to a dark and desperate world.
Be the hero you are looking for.
Peace is possible. It begins with us.
L.R. Knost
With the 2024 election results, many of us are ready to step up and engage in serious social justice work to protect the rights, people and communities we care about. This work has always been done, but is now brought into the spotlight even more.
Right now it’s crucial to pause and assess how we’re showing up in the world. This journey of change calls each of us to go inward, ask hard questions, and engage in continual work, both in and outside of our selves. In order to make real change we must take these next few years to process, listen, learn, connect and collaborate with like-minded individuals, groups and organizations.
"The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice."
Martin Luther King Jr.
My Story
As a liberal female I already have overcome years of oppression and ostracism. I feel it is my duty to be an ally and stand behind and beside those who suffer similar injustice. If I don't then my spirituality is only performative, aesthetic and inauthentic.
If you are someone who voted in support of hate, lies, and division, then well, you will be getting exactly what you asked for. If you are someone in my network, just know see you differently now. And I can't unsee it, or pretend like I never saw it.
If you want to call it 'holding a grudge', that's fine. But this feeling of resentment, rage and betrayal is backed by a lot of power and fierceness. There's no going back now. This is an upleveling for me and millions of others.
It’s when the earth shakes
And foundations crumble
That our light is called
To rise up.
It’s when everything falls away
And shakes us to the core
And awakens all
Of our hidden ghosts
That we dig deeper to find
Once inaccessible strength.
It’s in times when division is fierce
That we must reach for each other
And hold each other much
Much tighter.
Do not fall away now.
This is the time to rise.
Your light is being summoned.
Your integrity is being tested
That it may stand more tall.
Rise, and find the strength in your heart.
Rise, and find the strength in each other
Burn through your devastation,
Make it your fuel.
Bring forth your light.
Now is not the time
To be afraid of the dark.”
.
Chelan Harkin
Speaking out about BIG issues in a BIG public way isnt my typical M.O, until now. I usually avoid posting controversial content publicly because as an introvert it’s instinctual for me to avoid attention. I also want to keep the peace and not ruffle feathers of those who believe differently.
But those days are over. Even the quietest or gentlest of us are so enlivened with our emotions (grief, fear, , downright rage) that we can’t help but speak out in opposition. Standing in solidarity with all of the others who are learning to express themselves in a world that prefers their silence. It is the revolution we've been waiting for.
I no longer have the energy to tolerate intolerance. I am fully clear on my values and have no problem cutting out anything or anyone that doesn't align.
I want to be proof that
pure people without hidden agendas still exist.
love always wins
speaking up is necessary for collective change
we are stronger together
RIP, America. The country who died. Cause of death: Ignorance, Hate, Greed, Arrogance and generations. of deep trauma and shame.
A lot was lost, but not all. I still believe we can be saved. It's not too late. Hope, Freedom, Ethics, Morality, Love are still out there, just hidden amidst in the darkness.
My dream: that my daughter grows up in a country that prioritizes healing our planet, celebrates diversity in every form, encourages compassion and thrives on decency and democracy.
"You cannot buy the Revolution. You cannot make the Revolution. You can only BE the Revolution. It is in your spirit or it is nowhere."
Ursula K Le Gruin
Finding Your Tribe
The leaders of the next revolution are just like you and I. They are the
Trailblazers
Changemakers
Truthtellers
Old Souls
Indigo Children
Warrior Spirit
Free thinkers
Nonconformists
Intutivites
Creatives
Witches
Your tribe is passionate, headstrong, highly empathic, naturally psychic. We are comfortable being alone. We are drawn to nature, and we define our own rules and our own spirituality.
What aligns with your values and beliefs will find you and everything else will pass by or fall away.
"If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor."
Desmond Tutu
The Danger of Silence and Inaction
Neutrality, Silence or inaction during times of social injustice is dangerous because it implicitly upholds oppressive systems and perpetuates harm against marginalized communities. When individuals or institutions sit back they allow discrimination, inequality, and violence to persist unchallenged. This inaction contributes to a culture of acceptance, where harmful norms are reinforced rather than dismantled.
We must not be complicit to these oppressive systems and structures. Passivity sends a message to those affected by injustice that their pain is unimportant or invisible. In a society built on interconnectedness, silence only embolden acts of hatred or discrimination, creating an environment where injustice goes unchecked.
To achieve meaningful change, we must actively oppose inequality, as the absence of resistance only fuels the persistence and spread of oppression. Are you ready to be loud, be visible, and take action?
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
Edmund Burke
Reflecting On Our Place in the Community
Finding your place in the community is a process of reflection, authenticity, and adaptability. This process of introspection can feel uncomfortable, but it’s necessary for authentic growth.
Over the last few years, I’ve reflected deeply on who I am, the people and places I share space with, and the impact I want to have. I often find myself drawn to the roles of healer, guide,
This combination allows me to understand where current systems fall short, imagine alternatives, and actively participate in the process of reimagining a more inclusive, sustainable framework.
As we move through our work, it’s essential to re-evaluate, reflect and ask questions
Where are we out of integrity with our actions?
When was the last time we evaluated our decision-making process?
What daily inner work will we begin or continue, knowing that change starts within?
Does our approach serve both us and the people we aim to uplift?
Are we showing up with integrity?
Are we responsive to the needs of those around us?
Thank you, Deepa Iyer, for this vital framework that guides us on this path.
"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else."
Charles Dickens
Social Change Identities
Deepa Iyer’s Social Change Map is a wonderful framework that reveals numerous pathways for contributing to a healthier, happier world. The Social Change Map helps us identify where we can best serve within this ecosystem of change. Below, let’s explore some of the roles and responsibilities of each "archetype".
Which of these resonate with you as the place where your unique strengths, experiences, and perspectives can have the most impact? Remember, there is not one role better than the next. Each are essential like strands on a spider web.
1. Responders
Those in this role act quickly in times of crisis, organizing resources, coordinating networks, and relaying crucial information. Frontline responders bring the community together to address immediate needs, ensuring that the groundwork for aid and support is effectively laid out.
2. Healers
Healers tend to both current and generational traumas, recognizing how these wounds are linked to systemic injustices. They help individuals and communities find peace and resilience through counseling, trauma work, and creating safe spaces for recovery and growth.
You were not made for idleness. You were made for bravery. Fortune favors the bold.
3. Storytellers
Storytellers are the bridge between the past and the present, honoring histories and amplifying voices that inspire change. They remind us of our shared journeys and reveal the paths that lie ahead, showing us not only what has been but what could be.
Builders
In an era where divisions can feel insurmountable, bridge builders bring people together with patience and compassion. They facilitate dialogue, nurture understanding, and encourage unity across differences, fostering the empathy needed to heal and move forward as a collective. Builders take vision and turn it into reality. They organize resources, develop structures, and implement practices that support a collective mission, ensuring that our visions for change become tangible and enduring.
"The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything."
Albert Einstein
5. Disruptors
Unafraid of taking risks, disruptors challenge the status quo by shedding light on injustices and mobilizing communities for change. They help raise awareness, shift perceptions, and create momentum toward dismantling harmful systems that no longer serve us.
6. Experimenters
Experimenters pioneer new ideas, trying out innovative approaches to solve complex issues. They take risks, adjust as needed, and are instrumental in testing solutions that may ultimately drive systemic change.
7. Weavers
Acting as connectors, weavers create networks that bring people, ideas, and movements together. They work across disciplines and communities, ensuring that different parts of the ecosystem are linked, cohesive, and moving toward shared goals.
"If your voice held no power, they wouldn't try to silence you"
8. Caregivers
Caregivers are dedicated to sustaining a community of care, joy, and connection. They uplift those around them, offering nourishment and compassion to help people feel supported, seen, and valued.
9. Visionaries
Visionaries hold the power of imagination, envisioning what a brighter future could look like. They challenge us to dream bigger, reminding us of our purpose and direction, and motivating us to keep moving forward.
10. Guides
Guides bring discernment and wisdom, sharing their knowledge to advise, counsel, and mentor others. They help us reflect on our purpose, make informed choices, and stay aligned with our values.
"They will call you “crazy” because you are, because you were born with the gift of seeing things differently and that scares them.
They're going to call you “intense” because you are, because you were born with the value well placed to allow yourself to feel it all fully and that intimidates them.
They're going to call you “selfish” because that's right, because you found out that you're the most important thing in your life and that doesn't suit them.
You're going to be called in many ways, with many judgments, for a long time, but stay firm on yourself and what you want, and I promise you one day they're going to call you to say, “Thank you for existing.”
Frida Kahlo
Change Leadership
Our society needs a radical shift from conventional, risk-averse leadership toward bold, inclusive change. Next-generation, conscious leadership is about fostering harmony and mutual respect, not dominance or separation.We must raise leaders to embrace continuous growth, cultivate empathy, question biases, and unlock their true potential for a more inclusive, compassionate world.
To get there, we must not shy away from discomfort but instead embrace it as an opportunity for growth. We must continuously evolve, unlearn harmful patterns, heal our self and align our actions with a higher sense of purpose.
If you want to attract miracles into your life, then simply DO YOUR PART. You have no responsibility to save the world or find the solutions to all problems—but to attend to your particular personal corner of the universe. As each person does that, the world saves itself.’"
Michele Price discusses leadership through an "Indigenous lens" by emphasizing that like nature, everything is interconnected. The GADUGI framework is rooted in the Cherokee concept of "working together." and aims to foster a new generation of leaders who embody cooperation and collaboration, resilience.
Inner Work
Reveal - uncovering authentic self and hidden strengths
Reclaim - taking power back
Reactivate - awakening skills, passions
Restore - moving beyond past patterns and situations
Outer Work
Strategy - developing clear goals and action steps
Accountability - commitment and consistency
Adaptability - embracing change and adversity
Integration - weaving skills and insights for lasting transformation
"I am not a liberal snowflake. My feelings aren't fragile, my heart isn't bleeding. I am a badass believer in human rights. My toughness is tenderness. My strength is in the service of others. There is nothing more fierce than formidable, unconditional love. There is not a thing more courageous than compassion. But if my belief in equity, empathy, goodness, and love indeed makes me or people like me snowflakes, then you should know - WINTER IS COMING, and snowflakes will turn to icicles.
Eminem
Wrapping It Up
Social change is a shared journey. Just like a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly, we are collectively within a process of metamorphosis.
At the end of the day, all of us possess untapped potential. When we embark on a journey of self-reflection and empowerment, uncovering their hidden strengths and reclaiming their power to enact change.
Each of us, through our chosen roles, is part of building a new system that can serve society with greater equity, compassion, and foresight. As we work within this ecosystem, let’s remember to honor our own boundaries, care for ourselves, and uplift those around us.
The journey might be challenging, but it takes a diverse tapestry of roles to create lasting change. By finding where we intersect and supporting each other’s unique contributions, we can strengthen our impact. We each bring something essential, and when we work in harmony, we create the power to shape a future rooted in collective solidarity, liberation, equity, justice and most of all- hope.
"Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing."
Arundhati Roy
Erin is a certified feng shui consultant, energy healer, wellness coach and holistic growth strategist.
SUBSCRIBE below to receive short & sweet tips for intentional interiors, sustainable systems, and high-vibration, low-impact living - straight to your inbox! You can also stay connected on social media at the links below.
Comments