“There is nothing new under the sun, but there are new suns.”  — Octavia Estelle Butler In this in-depth, year-long program based on Octavia Butler’s Parable of the Sower and Parable of the Talents, we will apprentice ourselves to Butler’s main character, the brilliant visionary organizer Lauren Olamina. Together, we will plumb these prophetic novels for all they can teach us about how to understand this chaotic and precarious historic moment, how to envision a thriving future nonetheless, and how to help one another–help our people–survive to shape it. We will gather in a variety of ways throughout the year:…

Award-winning science fiction and speculative fiction writer Octavia Estelle Butler said, “There is nothing new under the sun, but there are new suns.” Butler’s stories, grounded in human vulnerability and human agency, anticipated the current chaos of our time. During this retreat, we will explore what Butler’s words can teach us about identity, survival, community, and transformation. NOTE: This stand-alone retreat is open to the public. If you’re interested in continuing a long-term study of Butler’s Parable novels, consider joining the New Suns Cohort, which will meet virtually from 7-8:30pm ET on 3rd Mondays between July 2026 and May 2027 and…