In this week’s episode we look at Parashat Vayerah to read the story of Ishmael and Hagar’s exile and near-death in the wilderness. We see Hagar so overwhelmed by her own despair that she cannot be near her dying child, then the angel comes to reassure her that they are not meant to die, and she subsequently sees a well of water. Relating this story to climate despair, we see that if we persist in a despairing mind state it can blind us to the possibilities available for reversing climate change. We also talk about how it is essential to foster supportive relationships where we can express our sorrows when they arise and be reassured and then can return to a state of receptivity, creativity, and action. Follow along with the source sheet here: www.sefaria.org/sheets/591882