Before doctrine and dogma, there were drumbeats, dreams, and deep connection to the land. In this opening message, guest speaker Charis Caldwell invites us to explore the world’s earliest spiritual expressions—what scholar Huston Smith called “primal religion.” These nature-based, indigenous traditions—pre-dating formal religions—served as humanity’s first guides to living wisely within the natural world. Charis draws from these roots to ask: What does it mean to live in right relationship with the Earth, each other, and the unseen? What wisdom have we forgotten—or silenced—that might still whisper guidance today? Join us as we begin a five-month journey through global wisdom traditions in search of timeless insight for unwise times. Expect stories, soul-searching, and a renewed appreciation for the spiritual compost that nourishes all later traditions.
Charis’s Letter and Definitions