New Suns Cohort 

“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:

• Opening Retreat: Searching for New Suns: Engaging the Prophetic Wisdom and Imagination of Octavia E. Butler, June 12-14, 2026
• Monthly zoom calls on third Mondays, July 20, 2026-May 17, 2027, 7-8:30pm ET
• One additional retreat of your choice, based on your particular interests and project
• Closing Retreat and project sharing, June 11-13, 2027

The cohort will support each participant  in completing a project inspired by the novels and cohort program–a zine, an art or theater piece, an organizing project, some writing….The nature and breadth of the project are up to you!

A variety of optional retreats will be offered over the course of the year to support your learning and project development. Topics may include the theology of the Parables; imagination practices; writing, engaging conflict in high pressure situations; healing practices, grief practices; disability justice, printmaking, popular education; writing speculative fiction; and survival skills. You may also choose a private two-night retreat for reflection, planning, or project work.

Together for a full year, we will ride the waves of change, study the conditions, and practice adaptation together.

Space is limited; apply today!

Benefits of the program

• Deeper insight into the conditions we are living through and strategies for navigating them
• Provocations toward spiritual and intellectual growth
• A network of deepening relationships with diverse Octavia-inspired seekers, organizers, and creatives to navigate the conditions alongside you
• Support for building local communities of resilience, recovery, and resistance
• Encouragement and space for pursuing your art and organizing projects
• Catalysts for exercising your own prophetic imagination
• Unlimited nerding out on visionary fiction!

Who is this for:

• Spiritually curious seekers looking to make meaning of this moment in community
• Folks who believe that writing and art matter and want to explore how that is true
• Creatives seeking new ways of being, making, doing, living
• Realists who want to prepare for what is coming
• Lovers of Octavia Butler’s work who want to nerd out with others about it
• Creators who want support and accountability around a project they are working on around these themes
• Practical theologians curious about Butler’s Earthseed “God Is Change” theology
• Anyone who feels like they are being called to something in this moment and would like support to step into that!

Included in the program:

• Three two-night, three-day, facilitated retreats in the Pocono Mountains
• All meals plus snacks at the three retreats
• Eleven facilitated zoom sessions
• Unlimited growth in community!

Cost
To maximize the accessibility of this program, we are offering it on a sliding scale where those who can pay more subsidize those who pay less.

• Base rate for the full program, reflecting our true costs: $2500
• Sponsor rate: $3500
• Subsidized rate: $1500

Scholarships are available if you are called to this program and the subsidized rate is beyond your reach. Just email lydiawk [at] kirkridge [dot] org and let her know what you can pay and why you want to be a part of this cohort.

We will let you know on a rolling basis whether you have been accepted to the cohort. Payment information will be sent at that time.