Give yourself a moment to pause and think about your favorite place in Nature. Maybe this is a place that you remember from your childhood or a place you visit often. What kinds of emotions come over you when you think about this place? If you feel inclined, maybe you would like to draw or write about your favorite place in Nature. For many of us, being in Nature brings us a sense of calm in our busy lives. This individual nature connectedness can even directly influence our physical, emotional, cognitive, and emotional well-being. 

While being in a relationship with Nature is everyone’s birthright, we recognize many barriers can impede these connections. This distancing has cost us greatly, impacting our wellbeing on many levels and the science being done in this field is shedding light on these effects. If you would like to learn more about this some books we can recommend are Losing Eden by Lucy Jones, Rooted: Life at the Crossroads of Science, Nature, and Spirit by Lyanda Lynn Haupt, The Nature Fix by Florence Williams, and Forest Bathing: How Trees Can Help You Find Health and Happiness by Dr. Qing Li. Not only is our separateness from Nature affecting our health, but in many cases, it also results in us “othering” Nature, or seeing Nature as only a commodity to be bought and sold.

Books like Braiding Sweetgrass and The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer have many people looking at our relationship with Nature differently. You can read the essay that inspired the book The Serviceberry here: The Serviceberry – Robin Wall Kimmerer

Many folks have been inspired by these readings, seeking kinship with the natural world, finding like-minded individuals, and finding a sense of community. For those seeking these connections not being able to find tools, resources, and supports can be frustrating. 

What is Spiritual Ecology?

In offering support for seekers, we have created a six-part series on Spiritual Ecology. What exactly is Spirit Ecology? The concept of Spiritual Ecology was originally brought forward by Sufi mystic, Llewellyn Vaughan-Lee (The Radical Intimacy of Spiritual Ecology – A Talk by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee). I have come across a few definitions, however, I personally prefer St. Ethelburga’s Centre for Reconciliation and Peace version. They define Spiritual Ecology as an “emerging field and an aspect of our work that we are exploring in relation to building a global culture of peace, which includes learning to live in peace with the Earth.” It brings together ecology and environmentalism with a deeper awareness of nature as alive, animate, and sacred. Spiritual Ecology is not based upon any single religion or spiritual path but rather points to the primary and universal recognition of the sacred nature within creation. It is informed by the teachings of religious and spiritual traditions, indigenous wisdom, and the new scientific paradigm. The central values of this worldview are interconnectedness, reverence, service, compassion, and stewardship. 

While Spiritual Ecology is a new, emerging field, we recognize the concepts and practices of Spiritual Ecology are not new, as cultures across millennia have had and still have a deep connection and kinship with the natural world. 

Wehr’s Spiritual Ecology Workshop

In the six, 90-minute sessions offered, you will have the opportunity to learn about the five values of Spiritual Ecology which include compassion, interconnectedness, reverence, service, and reciprocity. You will find support in how you can incorporate these five values in your own spiritual practices, through actions such as slowing down, engaging all your senses, nature journaling, making ephemeral art, and taking part in ritual. Rituals may include “Global Earth Exchange,” “Lost Species Day, ““Council of All Beings,” or Solstice Celebrations.