Founders

The Commonality Institute was first envisioned in the Winter of 2017 in a series of meetings in New Orleans between Anya De Marie, a graduate of the Womens Spirituality Masters Program at New College of California, and Gregory Gajus, a long-time protege of Dr. Grahn. De Marie arranged a series of meetings for Spring and Summer of 2018 at Grahn’s and Kris Brandenburger’s home in Palo Alto. The Summer meetings welcomed the return of Dianne Jenett from retreat in Kerala, India and the formalization of the Commonality Institute.

Judy’s work has moved out into the world in so many directions, and touched so many movements; our task is to document and hold this impact as a sort of transformational clearinghouse. We aim to continue this social justice work by promoting Judy’s ideas of metaformic consciousness, woman-centered spirituality, queer cultural theory and connection with nature. Our current focus is the establishment of the Judy Grahn Archives (physical and online), ensuring all of Judy’s work is in print and available, and connecting folks that make use of Judy’s work in their own work and life. A celebration of the opening of the Archives is planned for New York City in the Fall of 2026.

Pictured from left to right, Gregory Gajus, Kris Brandenburger, Judy Grahn, Dianne Jenett, Anya De Marie