A politics worthy of the human spirit. Is it possible? Do we have the capacity to create it? These are questions that we as a country must grapple with now and in the years to come. It is the question Parker Palmer wrestled with in his seminal book: Healing the Heart of Democracy, first published over a decade ago. In the closing episode of this series, I sat down with Parker to discuss what this question calls us into in this political moment.

In this conversation, Parker and I discuss:

The importance of community building and how getting to know each other as human beings reduces fear and makes politics less toxic.
How being aware of our own inner dynamics can help us make a positive difference in our communities and country.
Why change has to come from “we the people,” not politicians in Washington.
The competing impulses of individualism and community and the contradictions that have shaped our past and continue to shape our present.
The role of heartbreak in animating political change.
Five habits of the heart that are needed to heal our democracy.
Pre-political spaces: what they are and how we use them to develop our capacity to engage politically in healthier ways.
How democracy puts faith in everyday people and enriches us as individuals.
How oppression harms the collective and the work we all need to do to address it.
The intergenerational project that is democracy and how the call for a “more perfect union” is an aspiration that both acknowledges our imperfections and calls us to work toward our ideals.
Why we should not give up on our country or our fellow citizens.

Spiritual Resources from Parker include:

The five habits of the heart, which can be found on our Spiritual Practices for Political Engagement Page
Healing the Heart of Democracy book (Affiliate Link)
The Healing the Heart of Democracy Hub which includes discussion guides, videos, and workbooks.

Connect with Parker through the Center for Courage and Renewal, on facebook @parkerjpalmer, and through the Growing Edge Podcast and Substack Newsletter.

Connect with me at katie@thiselection.org or on instagram @katie.m.cochran.

The post A Politics Worthy of the Human Spirit with Parker Palmer appeared first on This Election.