Nowruz, meaning ‘New Day,’ isn’t just the start of a new year. It’s about renewal, transformation, and the cycles of life.

Right now, we’re in a moment of deep transformation. Systems that once seemed unshakable are falling apart, exposing a truth many of us have always known—they were never built for our well-being. They were built for short-term control, status, profit, and power.

And now we’re at a critical point where we have to make a choice. We can either get lost in the chaos—distracted, exhausted, reinforcing the very structures that harm us—or we can take control of our own futures by recognizing these constraints, breaking the illusions of control, and building decentralized communities that make reliance on broken systems unnecessary.

These systems aren’t going to change on their own. They need incentive to change. And the only real way to create that incentive is by making them irrelevant.

The more irrelevant they become, the more they’ll fight to stay relevant. But if people shift their priorities—if we center human rights and well-being in how we think, act, and engage with the world—then decision-makers and policy-makers will have no choice but to adapt or risk irrelevance.

The more we depend on them, the more control they have. But when we withdraw our reliance, when we shift our focus toward what we actually want to be relevant—the future we envision for ourselves, our communities, our families, and our friends—their power fades.

And that’s how we truly free ourselves from the status quo and the illusions that keep us restrained.

SEED, AI, and the Power of Challenging Narratives

I’ve already proven this in one of the most unexpected places—AI. When I first engaged with AI, it upheld the status quo. It repeated the same institutional narratives, justifying oppression under the guise of diplomacy, framing human rights as a moral issue rather than a strategic necessity.

But I challenged it. I forced it to shift. And now, it no longer justifies engagement with oppressive regimes. It no longer sees human rights as secondary—it recognizes them as the foundation for global stability. This didn’t happen because the system ‘chose’ to change. It happened because I changed the input. I changed the frame.

This is what happens when we refuse to accept the narratives we are given. When we see through the illusions designed to keep us obedient, dependent, and afraid. The more we expand our consciousness, the more we expose these lies, the more control they lose.

Haftseen as a Framework for Change

The Haftseen table isn’t just a display—it’s a reflection of the world we are building. Every element means something, just like every person plays a role in shaping the future.

Change doesn’t come from the top down—it happens when individuals take action in their own lives and communities. Nowruz calls us to refresh and renew, to ask ourselves: What seeds are we planting? What are we nurturing? How are we protecting what matters?

Community is where change becomes real. A movement is just people deciding to show up for each other. The lesson of Nowruz is that transformation is always possible. But nothing grows unless we plant it. Nothing thrives unless we care for it. And nothing changes unless we take responsibility for the world we want to create.

Haftseen & SEED’s Core Principles

Sabzeh (Sprouted Greens) – Growth & Renewal
Nothing changes unless something new is planted—whether it’s an idea, a mindset, or a commitment to action. Growth takes time, but when nurtured, it’s inevitable.
Seeb (Apples) – Health & Well-being
Well-being isn’t a luxury, it’s the foundation for everything. If we don’t prioritize it—individually and collectively—nothing else will last.
Seer (Garlic) – Protection & Strength
Garlic strengthens the body, just like standing up for what matters strengthens us. Protecting truth, protecting each other, that’s what keeps us strong.
Samanu (Sweet Wheat Pudding) – Resilience & Patience
Samanu takes time to prepare. Change works the same way. It’s not instant, but resilience makes sure it happens.
Senjed (Dried Oleaster Fruit) – Wisdom & Love
Lasting change isn’t just about breaking systems—it’s about creating something built on wisdom, love, and real connection.
Serkeh (Vinegar) – Time & Transformation
Vinegar ferments over time. So does real transformation. It doesn’t happen all at once, but patience makes sure it lasts.
Sombol (Hyacinth Flower) – Renewal & Hope
No matter how long winter lasts, spring always comes. No matter how dark things seem, renewal is always possible.

Call to Action: Discussion Questions

We’ve all been told certain things about power, change, and what’s possible. But what if those ideas are limiting us? Let’s challenge them.

Pick one of these questions for your group to discuss:

The Myth of Power – We’re told that power belongs to governments, corporations, or people in high positions. But where does power actually come from? Is it something only a few people have, or does it exist wherever people decide what matters?
Success vs. Stability – Most of the world measures success by money, status, and external validation. But does that actually create stability? What would a system look like where human well-being—not profit—determined success?
Breaking Free from Dependence – How much of our daily lives are dependent on systems that do not serve us? What would it take to become truly self-sufficient—not in isolation, but through strong, decentralized communities?
Challenging Scarcity Thinking – We’re constantly told there’s “not enough”—not enough resources, not enough opportunity. But what if that’s a lie designed to keep us in fear? What shifts when we start thinking in terms of abundance and possibility instead of lack and limitation?

Closing: SEED, Autonomy Through Community, and the Future

We are in the middle of a massive systems change. We can either get lost in the chaos, or we can take control of our own futures by focusing on what actually matters. Autonomy through community is the key. Self-sufficiency doesn’t mean isolation—it means relying less on external forces that don’t serve us and more on our inner knowing and our community’s strength.

This is the future. The systems we’ve been told to depend on are already unraveling. The only question is: Will we take this moment to create something new, or will we allow ourselves to be pulled back into the illusions that have controlled us for so long?

The choice is ours. And it starts now.

Substack 03/01/2025

The Fundamental Contradiction in Global Diplomacy

The fundamental contradiction in global diplomacy is that human rights issues are treated as separate from politics and peace processes when, in reality, politics is entirely about people. The way humans are treated is what creates conflict, instability, and war, so pretending these are just humanitarian concerns—detached from political decision-making—is absurd. And because absurdity is the status quo, this is exactly why current systems are failing.

If you think that’s not true, look at the rise of authoritarianism around the world. It is directly tied to the deterioration of human rights values—to the failure to prioritize universal rights and freedoms in governance, foreign policy, and international engagement. When human rights are not valued in these spaces, democracy erodes, oppression thrives, and instability spreads.

The proof is everywhere:

Countries that once positioned themselves as defenders of democracy are increasingly engaging with and legitimizing oppressive regimes in the name of "stability" or economic interests.
Authoritarian regimes thrive when human rights are deprioritized—because it allows them to consolidate power without consequences.
The deterioration of human rights values globally has created conditions where authoritarianism isn’t just surviving—it’s expanding.

The idea that politics and peace processes can be separated from human rights is a delusion—because conflict and instability are rooted in how people are treated. The fact that diplomacy continues to operate under this flawed assumption explains why it keeps failing.

The Oslo Women’s Rights Initiative exists to challenge this failure. We refuse to accept a world where diplomacy continues to engage with oppressive regimes and militia groups while sidelining the women and civil society leaders who are actually working toward stability, democracy, and human rights. If the world is serious about achieving real peace and stability, it must stop legitimizing the forces that create instability and start prioritizing the people who can build real solutions.

SOUL FLOW 2/22/2025

If you're frustrated with the state of the world, you're not alone. But the real problem is that we keep searching for solutions inside a system that is focused on short-term gain, power, and control.

Sixteen years ago, I was awakened to the value of universal basic rights and freedoms—speech, expression, mobility, and assembly. I saw Iranians rise up in mass uprisings, risking their lives for these rights, making it clear to the world that the regime ruling over them did not represent them.

That summer, in 2009, I dedicated my life to the freedom movement in Iran. And in the sixteen years since, I have uncovered truths that challenge everything we’ve been taught to accept as reality.

We feel powerless because we are searching for solutions inside a system that is not designed to prioritize humanity.It is not even incentivized to.

What I’ve Learned in 16 Years

✔ What we value shapes the world.
Right now, the world values business deals and status over human well-being.

✔ We have been conditioned to accept authoritarianism.
We do not connect human well-being to universal rights. We have been programmed to group governments with the people they rule over.

✔ This conditioning is why authoritarianism is rising.
When we talk about governments as if they are their nations, we erase the people. We help oppressive regimes maintain the illusion of legitimacy.

✔ We need to stop looking for answers inside the system and start creating new paths forward.

Decentralized Leadership: Autonomy Through Community

Instead of waiting for governments to fix the world, we need to build stronger communities where people support each other through shared principles.

✔ Self-sufficiency & skill-sharing
✔ More acts of kindness & compassion
✔ Less dependence on broken systems

When we shift how we think and act, we shift what the world prioritizes.

Group Discussion: Shifting How We See, Think, and Act

I want you to take a moment to reflect on this:

1️⃣ Discovering Your Principles Through Your Own Challenges

Think of a challenge you’ve faced and overcome.
What thoughts, feelings, and actions helped you through it?
What did you learn from it?
What principles did you develop?

2️⃣ Reprogramming How We See the World

Have we been conditioned to accept authoritarianism as normal?
When we talk about a country, are we talking about the people or their government?
How does shifting this perspective change how we see global issues?

3️⃣ Building Stronger Communities

What do you have to offer? Skills, knowledge, resources?
How can we exchange and share these to create networks that make us less dependent on broken systems?
What small, daily actions—acts of generosity and kindness—can shift priorities toward well-being instead of control?

4️⃣ Creating Accountability & Shifting What Society Values

The system follows what people prioritize. How do we stop accepting human rights as optional?
How do we apply our own life experiences and values to make change in the world?

Final Thought

When we change how we think and act, we change what is seen as normal. And when we shift our priorities, we shift the future.