The Soul of a Nation Symposium: Wisdom Perspectives on the USA at 250

As the United States enters its 250th year as a nation, the country finds itself at a psychological, cultural, and planetary crossroads. At a time of political polarization, contested narratives, war, and intensifying ecological and social crises, the question of what constitutes the soul of the United States of America is urgent and needs to be explored from multiple directions.

At this historic turn, The Soul of a Nation Symposium seeks to illuminate the dynamics shaping America’s evolving identity through wisdom traditions and perspectives. This symposium asks: What might the US become if we center wisdom traditions in our collective evolution? What might become possible, when we reflect on the nation not solely through political, social or economic frames, but through psychological and spiritual lenses, including imagination, compassion, interdependence, indigenous awareness, and the evolution of consciousness?

This one-day symposium presented in collaboration with the Asian Contemplative and Transcultural Studies concentration features scholar-practitioners sharing multidimensional perspectives on what is striving to emerge in the psyche of the United States of America and how to participate in its emergence.

This is an in-person symposium at California Institute of Integral Studies in San Francisco. Breakfast and dinner included with ticket. To livestream the event, please purchase a view-only virtual ticket.

For a full list of talks and speakers click HERE.

Schedule:

• 9:30 am - 10:00 am - Refreshments
• 10:00 am - 10:30 am - Introductory remarks
• 10:30 am - 11:45 am - Depth Psychological Reflections
• 11:45 am - 12:00 pm – Break
• 12:00 pm - 1:15 pm – Asian Wisdom Traditions
• 1:15 pm - 2:15 pm – Lunch break (attendees on their own for lunch)
• 2:15 pm – 3:30 pm – The Ecological Dimension
• 3:30 pm - 3:45 pm - Break
• 3:45 pm - 5:00 pm - Decolonial and Posthuman Perspectives
• 5:00 pm - 5:30 pm - Concluding Community Activity
• 5:30 pm - 7:00 pm – Dinner provided for all in-person attendees

Cancellation Policy: Full refunds issued with 7 days advance notice.