As much as work on social systems change and equity are important, for our efforts to be deep and sustainable, we also attend to the “inner dimensions” of healing, well-being and compassion. By contrast, depending on how we focus on inner work, we may or may not develop the social & relational awareness, skills and knowledge to be of our greatest benefit to the world. Too often, we neglect these inner dimensions, and our attention or inattention to them shape who we are and what we bring to every engagement and activity in our lives, including how we structure organizations and social systems. How present (or not present) we are; our degree of clarity, receptivity, flexibility and openness; our resilience; our creativity and our dynamism; our compassion for ourselves, one another and the earth, etc. — is all shaped by our internal state of awareness, and is supported by the health of our physiological, energetic/emotional, and cognitive selves. There are individual, collective & systemic dimensions to healing, clarity, and fierce compassion.

Many draw on training and support from a number of arenas:  meditation; yoga, tai chi, other martial arts and physical practices; breathwork, grounding and centering practices; various somatic fields; mindfulness and compassion training; spiritualism; mantra, sacred song and call-and-response; mudra, sacred dance and movement; visionary experience; engagement with the natural elements; and formal training and initiation in sacred traditions such as Buddhism, Christianity, Sufism, Judaism, and African, Latin American and Native, Indigenous traditions from around the world.  

My work in these areas draws on my experience as a practitioner and priest in Lucumi, an African-based spiritual tradition (from the Yoruba people) for nearly 30 years; a two-and-a-half decade practice and Ngakma ordination in yogic (non-monastic), Tibetan Buddhist Vajrayana (Nyingma lineage); authorization to share methods based in Bön Buddhist Dzogchen (from the Indigenous tradition of Tibet); a master’s degree in Systematic Theology from Christian seminary; a yoga asana practice (vinyasa, hatha) since the 1970s and Kripalu yoga teacher certification; and work with individuals and organizations on social systems change, peace, justice, equity and the role of deep listening, healing and authentic compassion in our ability to transform the world. (See the Tree of Contemplative Practices from the Center for Contemplative Mind in Society for examples. See also the Hidden Leaf Foundation’s Awareness Practices for Social Change resources.)

Movement Tapestries provides:  1) comprehensive transformation support on the integration of deep equity & inner work in institution-wide and field-level change; 2) spiritual coaching, life coaching and mentoring; 3) presentations, public speaking and publishing on the intersection of inner work, equity, and social systems change; and 4) design and co-convening of field-building strategies and gatherings with change agents across roles, backgrounds, sectors and institutions to vision, link, learn and transform ourselves and our collective life.

Sheryl Petty, Ed.D. is also the Founder & Spiritual Director of OCHA DHARMA, an emerging, international community of practice at the intersection of African-based and yogic Buddhist wisdom. 

 Sample Work: 

• Webinar with Leadership Reimagined on “The Spiritual & Energetic Dimensions of Equity-Embedded Systems Change,” 2024.

• Watch an Interview on Buddhist Yoga with Dr. James Bae, on Deep Equity, Systems Change & Spiritual Practice, 2024.

• Interview with Dr. Joe Loizzo, Nalanda Institute on “Tantric Buddhist Practice, Compassion, and Healing.”

• (*May 2024: To those who read the Lion’s Roar article, I want to apologize for inaccuracies that were introduced into the article I was asked to contribute. I reached out to the editors to correct the original photo, caption and language which was altered. May there be benefit.)

• New Publication – “Deep Connectedness: The Relationship Between Healing, Equity, Spirituality & Systems Change,” 2023.

• Book chapter on Deep Equity & Yogic Buddhism: “Skill, Stamina, (Noticing Avoidance) & Embodied Connectedness: Realizing Our Vows to Be of Service” in the 2nd edition of Advances in Contemplative Psychotherapy: Accelerating Personal and Social Transformation, 2023.

• Presenter & Moderator. Contemplative Psychotherapy Summit: Deepening Personal & Social Transformation, January & February 2023; Nalanda Institute & Tricycle.

• Ocha Dharma Offerings.

• Board member, Arrow Journal, a journal of wakeful, engaged society; publishes around the application of contemplative wisdom to global issues.

• Roundtable contributor, issue on Black Buddhist thought and social change: “Between Amitabha and Tubman: Black Buddhist Thought,” 2022.

• Book: OCHA DHARMA: The Relationship Between Lucumi, an African-Based Tradition & Buddhist Practice.

• NPQ (Non-Profit Quarterly) article: "Toward Love, Healing, Resilience & Alignment: The Inner Work of Social Transformation & Justice." Co-Authored with Kristen Zimmerman and Mark Leach.

• Journal Editor: "Social Justice, Inner Work & Contemplative Practice: Lessons & Directions for Multiple Fields." The Initiative for Contemplation, Equity & Action (ICEA). Born out of a keen sense of separation between the social justice and contemplative practice fields, ICEA is led by a team from 8 national organizations and focuses on creating intentional field-building structures for multi-identitied communities (across sectors, geographies, grassroots and grasstops), to support the thoughtful integration of these two streams of essential work. Our work includes creating bridge-building forums and network development; pathways for training and tools; and publications to promote vision, voice and visibility.

• Invited Presentation on the relationship between integrative, transformative, ecological values; institutional and field change in higher education; and contemplative practice. Pomona College (CA). Seizing an Alternative: Toward an Ecological Civilization conference.

• Symposium Design Committee. “Healing Ourselves, Our Schools & Our Communities: Equity, Contemplative Education and Transformation.” Garrison Institute (NY).

• Keynote Presentation. "Mindfulness for Social Transformation." Bridging Hearts & Minds of Youth Conference. Hosted by the University of California, San Diego, Center For Mindfulness and Center For Integrative Medicine. San Diego, CA.

• “Transitions Lab” participant. National, cross-sector, reflection, contemplation and strategy sessions focusing on “How do we transition from a world organized around domination and extraction to a world organized towards resilience, regeneration, and interdependence?” Movement Strategy Center.

• Closing Joint Keynote with Arthur Zajonc. “A Tale of Two Movements: Why Contemplative and Transformative Education Need Each Other.” Design Committee Member and Pre-Conference. Mind and Life Institute, International Symposium for Contemplative Studies (ISCS).

• Appointed Fellow, Mind & Life Institute.