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As October unfolds, we are welcomed into the Falling Leaves Moon, which in Ojibwemowin is called Binaakwe-giizis. Here in Madison, the leaves are just beginning to turn, painting the landscape with hints of gold and crimson. We’ve been savoring what may be the last warm days of autumn, knowing that soon the crisp air will deepen and the season will draw us inward.
This transition is a reminder that letting go is its own form of abundance. Just as the forest rests after releasing its leaves, we too are more abundant when we allow ourselves to rest, release, and restore. The abundance is not only in productivity, but also in renewal—creating space for gratitude, balance, and new growth, all necessary to sustain us during challenging times. The October full supermoon rises above these transitional days, bright enough to remind us that even as the light wanes, there is brilliance to be found in cycles of change. It shines on both what we are ready to set down and what we are called to carry forward. As the days shorten and the air cools, we are invited to slow down, to listen, and to shore up the wisdom carried by the turning leaves.
At Loka, we see this time as an invitation to ground ourselves more deeply in relationship—with the Earth, with one another, and with the teachings of our spiritual and religious traditions– so we cannot be uprooted. Just as the forests prepare for winter, we too find our balance by rooting deep while experiencing cycles of change and turbulence. Holding these lessons close, and with gratitude for the communities and friends who walk alongside us, we are delighted to invite you to the Madison, WI premiere of Sacred Wisdom Sacred Earth on November 19th. Please look for more details below!
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Dekila Chungyalpa
Director, the Loka Initiative at the Center for Healthy Minds
University of Wisconsin–Madison
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LOKA INITIATIVE NEWS AND UPDATES
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Date: Wednesday, November 19, 2025
Time: 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Location: Gordon Dining and Event Center
770 W Dayton St, Madison, WI 53706
We're overjoyed to invite you to the UW-Madison campus premiere of Sacred Wisdom, Sacred Earth on November 19, 2025! Join us in person for a wonderful celebration alongside the documentary's featured Culture Keepers, film production team, project partners, and Native community members!
The event will weave together remarks from key leaders, incredible live music from the film, and delicious Indigenous cuisine catered by one of the film’s featured partners, Wild Bearies. The core of the evening is the exclusive screening of the documentary followed by a panel dialogue moderated by the film’s producer, Brian McInnes, and featuring several of the film’s Culture Keepers, interspersed with short talks by various luminaries including a closing word by Dr. Richard J. Davidson, founder and director of the Center for Healthy Minds, and a final vibrant celebration performance!
Don't miss this powerful convergence of music, film, and vital conversation:
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Stream online: [October 9, 12:00 PM - October 19, 11:59 PM, 2025]
Watch In-Person:
Date: Thursday, October 16, 2025
Time: 7:45 p.m.
Location: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema at The Square, Indianapolis, IN
We are incredibly excited to announce that Sacred Wisdom Sacred Earth is an official selection for the 34th Heartland International Film Festival! Alejandro Miranda, director of the documentary, and Carla Vigue, Director of Tribal Relations at UW-Madison and member of the film’s Indigenous Advisory Committee, will be traveling to Indianapolis, IN in mid-October to present the film at its festival world premiere on October 16th.
Tickets to experience the film virtually or in person in Indianapolis are now available for purchase at the Heartland Film Festival's website.
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Date: Monday, October 13, 2025
Time: 5 p.m. - 7 p.m.
Location: Woodland Theater, Davies Center
77 Roosevelt Ave, Eau Claire, WI 54701
SWSE producer, and assistant professor of American Indian studies at UW-Eau Claire, Dr. Brian McInnes, is proud to host a free screening of Sacred Wisdom Sacred Earth in celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day. In collaboration with Centering Native Voices, an organization that promotes awareness of Indigenous culture on UW-Eau Claire’s campus and throughout the community, the screening will be followed by a panel of the film’s Culture Keepers and a small reception.
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Our friends at the Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology are pleased to share the fruits of a yearlong effort to create a new website: the Living Earth Community (LEC)! The website is an ongoing knowledge commons for educators, scientists, lawyers, spiritual leaders, artists, and engaged citizens seeking to reimagine humanity’s relationship with Earth’s marvelous biodiversity. We are inhabiting a time period where human connection to Nature has declined precipitously, leaving many of us to believe that our species is somehow separate and superior to Nature. Nothing could be further from the truth. How wonderful to see this new website and community come together to remind us of the wonders of sentient moss, responsive rivers, and the intrigues of wildlife at play. And, us, us humans as part of it all, part of the living earth community. Bravo!
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Our 2023 Creation at the Crossroads cohort, walking in the bountiful prairie restored by the sisters at Holy Wisdom Monastery! Photo by Mike Gorski
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A last word: We were so thrilled to see one of our favorite collaborators and friends; the ecumenical Benedictine community of environmental sisters at Holy Wisdom Monastery featured in this New York Times article - a beautiful snapshot of their work restoring 170 acres of native prairie and oak savanna here in our Madison backyard. Enjoy :)
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Share Updates & Stay Connected!
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Hashtags: #LokaInitiative #Loka🌎
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Loka is an interdisciplinary collaboration among different programs at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. It is housed in the Center for Healthy Minds in collaboration with:
The opinions expressed here are solely the author’s and don’t reflect the opinions or beliefs of
UW-Madison, the Center for Healthy Minds or their affiliates.
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