Active Hope Amsterdam

DATES 2026/ 2027:
Wed November 11 - Introduction Meeting: Gratitude
Wed December 9 - Honoring Our Pain
Wed January 13 - Honoring Our Pain: Regenerative Evening
Wed February 10 - Seeing With New Eyes
Wed March - Seeing With New Eyes: Regenerative Evening
Wed April 14 - Going Forth
Wed May 12 - Going Forth: Regenerative Evening

Schedule Regular Evening:
18:30 - 19:00 walk in and optional potluck
19:00 - 20:45 spiral related exercises
20:45 - 21:00 singing, music, poetry or other creative closing

Schedule Regenerative Evening:
18:30 - 19:00 walk in and optional potluck
19:00 - 21:00 co-creation evening in the theme of the spiral (e.g. singing at campfire, documentary + discussion, guest speaker, etc). We will update our page closer the event.

Daylong or Weekend Event: date to be determined.

Is this for you?
Many of us sense we have not been taught well how to live in connection and harmony with the Earth, oneself and each other. We believe this disconnection is the cause of many problems. We gather to experience more connected ways of being. It is our wish to contribute to a life-sustaining culture.

Once a month we meet to:
- Slow down and reconnect
- Feel free to express
- Be held in joy and grief
- See the world in new ways
- Get inspired to act

What is Active Hope?
Active hope is developed by Joanna Macy and is also known as ‘The Work that Reconnects.’ It is informed by Deep Ecology, systems thinking, Gaia theory, and spiritual traditions. Active Hope is a practice that helps to face the concerns we have about our world situation and find new strength. The work is based on the spiral that moves through the stages of Coming from Gratitude, Honoring our Pain, Seeing with New Eyes and Going Forth.

In a world full of social injustice and ecological breakdown you can easily feel overwhelmed or go numb. Active hope is founded on the belief that our emotions of anger, worry, sadness and numbness come from a place of deep care for our world.

The practices invite you to make space for both these tough emotions, as well as awe, joy and love. They help you wake up to the beauty of life on whose behalf we can act. Through this work you’ll feel nourished so you can act from a place of resilience.

What will we do?
Each evening centers one theme of the spiral. We ground together, introduce the theme and do exercises to connect with it in an embodied way. This will be done in different group sizes or solo. Think of guided meditations, writing, discussing, playful imagination and nature connection. This work needs to be felt, all you need is curiosity and openness to try something new.

About the group
The evenings are not for profit. This is a co-created experience by a group of people who simply believe in the power of practicing Active Hope. We hold this space with great care and want to learn together.

You can find more information about Active Hope and Joanna Macy on these websites:
https://www.activehope.info
https://workthatreconnects.org
https://www.joannamacy.net