Wrestling Ideals
A class for developing and testing what we already think we know that we believe.
The principle is simple:
Once you know what you believe, you have to use it.
In part, because it will fade without use.
In part, because use is what strengthens and clarifies our beliefs. It prepares us to make good, aligned choices under pressure. The time to find out that there are cracks in your moral foundation is not when you have to make a difficult decision.
A Class for Practice
12 weeks
We will meet for twelve weeks, beginning Jan 21 Feb 4, 2026. Our sessions will be 90 minutes each, starting at noon, Pacific time. This should make it possible for people from Hawaii to Eastern Europe to attend.
topics
The topic list will be kept flexible, so we have the option of being responsive to the current moment. But they will be things that we may have a belief about, such as:
- Prison abolition (are you really an abolitionist? Are you sure? Are there exceptions?)
- Housing and food security (are housing and food a human right? Always? How do we triage? To what lengths can we go to meet this need?)
- Healthcare (is it always a human right? When might it not be?)
- Accessibililty (Who is disabled? What is the locus of disability? What do we owe each other? Ourselves? How can we build those systems well?)
And importantly, how do these things become real in this moment? How does this conenct to WHAT DO WE DO?
format
Our 90 minute sessions will include a brief opening and closing, and small group/breakout discussion time as well as debrief time. The specific setup will vary depending on the day. All sessions will be in English and autocaptioning will be turned on.
registration
tone
Despite the word “wrestling” we’re not going for combat here. The goal is to gently and collaboratively explore what our values mean when we come up against difficult questions and complicated examples. Class members will be expected to be kind and open-minded.
This can be challenging and tender work. Our goal will be to build trust and community over the course so that conversations can deepen and the work becomes more complex over time.
expectations
In addition to the expectation of kindness and good will, the primary expectation is for attendance. Sessions will not be recorded, and the primary space for developing these skills is in community, so you need to attend. Every single week should be the goal, although participants will be permitted up to three misses before they are asked to leave the class.
You are expected to pay for the whole session regardless–fees are not refundable. If you cannot commit to prioritize your attendance, this is not a good fit for you.
I know that sounds harsh, especially in such a world as this, but that is precisely why the attendance is so important. Community is built on commitment; trust is built on consistency and reliability but also on presence. A strong container deepens the experience.
And especially now, presence is the one thing we can’t do without.