Jonathan Safran Foer reminds us: the ethical act isn’t perfection, it’s persistence — care, even now.
#lifeboatacademy #collapseaware #ecospirituality #resilience #soilandsoul #jonathansafranfoer

Tthe next No Kings protests are set for October 18, with Pagan organizations such as Heathens Against Hate preparing to take part. The desert bloom of Chile’s Atacama is now in full color. Skywatchers may have the chance to spot Comet Lemmon this week, alongside an interstellar visitor. Plus, Star’s weekly Tarot, the upcoming EBSAT meeting, and more Pagan community events

https://wildhunt.org/2025/10/pagan-community-notes-week-of-october-16-2025.html

#pagan #nokings #heathensagainsthate #lemmoncomet #ecospirituality #EBSAT #Tarot #atacama

The Yale Forum on Religion and Ecology has announced their launch of their new information and resource portal, the Living Earth Community. Quoted from their launch bulletin below:

--------------

From the forum:

We're very pleased to announce the launch of the Living Earth Community website, an ongoing knowledge commons for wondrous exploration of the biodiversity and intelligences woven throughout the natural world. This website gathers scientific, spiritual, humanistic, and legal resources that investigate the diverse ways Earth and its inhabitants express sentience, intelligence, and creativity.

Through highlighting scientific discoveries, interdisciplinary discussions, legal frameworks, and wisdom traditions, we aim to challenge assumptions, expand understanding, and engage questions regarding the liveliness and intelligences within the more-than-human world. The mission is to deepen our dialogue on the sentient, cognitive, and creative capacities displayed in nature, as well as to reimagine our ethical obligations, legal systems, social practices, and the ways we engage the natural world.

The Living Earth Community website has four sections:

* What is a Living Earth Community?
* Intelligences of Nature
* Ecological Worldviews
* Earth Law

Each section engages a wide range of voices across traditions, geographies, and disciplines. The project is shaped especially by Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge, Journey of the Universe, and the work of geologian Thomas Berry.

You will gain access to resources that help you:

* Find peer-reviewed literature, multimedia, and other resources across the disciplines of Earth systems sciences, animal studies, life sciences, philosophy, legal theory, religious studies, and more

* Read widely with highlights from ecological culture-shapers like Orion Magazine, Bioneers, Atmos, Emergence Magazine, and numerous others

* Encounter examples of the creativity and inner worlds of various non-human members of the Earth community

* Deep conversations from conferences like the Emerging Science of Animal Consciousness Conference at New York University, the MOTH Festival of Ideas at NYU Law, and the Thinking with Plants and Fungi Conference at Harvard's Center for the Study of World Religions

* Learn about movements in Earth Law around the globe, especially those related to the Rights of Nature and Indigenous-led legal approaches

What you'll find on the website:

* Reports & Statements – Foundational declarations of values, principles, and calls to action

* Books, Chapters, Articles & Journals – Curated texts across scholarly and professional fields

* Engaged Projects – Organizations, labs, and initiatives advancing ecological thought

* Multimedia Library – Videos, podcasts, and recorded lectures for all levels of learners

* Links – Additional tools and websites for practitioners and professionals

* Academic Bibliography – Over 250 pages of sources, including key texts like Living Earth Community, Sacred Universe, A Communion of Subjects, "The New York Declaration on Animal Consciousness," and Should Trees Have Standing?

https://livingearthcommunity.com/

#Yale #Ecospirituality #Gaia #Earth #Spirituality #Religion #NatureReligion #EarthReligion #GaianWay

New issue, just out, of Kosmos Journal, where I have the lead article, “The Great Enamorment.” Please enjoy — and add a comment at the end of the article (scroll all the way down the page). Join the dialogue!

https://www.kosmosjournal.org/kj_article/the-great-enamorment/

#cosmos #kosmos #cosmology #spirituality #spiritualecology #spirit #ecospirituality #Earthspirit

Careful where you end up

I’ve had a situation recently where I thought I was entering a sanctuary — a place of peace, healing, and connection — in reality, it turned out to be a glorified work camp. The experience was enlightening, in a dark kind of way.

I really love the idea of a sanctuary, a refuge from the insanity of our modern capitalist world. There are all kinds of sanctuaries. Some are totally natural, an others maybe following a specific spiritual path. Either way, it’s nice to have a place that’s far removed from employment, technology, and the rat race. There is something about just being with natural rhythms that is better

Sanctuary is a place set apart as a refuge of safety, peace, and renewal. At its root, the word means “sacred space”– originally the innermost part of a temple where one could encounter the divine, and later a place where people could seek shelter and protection..

One of my favorites is Garths Boulder Gardens, near Joshua Tree in Landers, California. It’s 640 acres — an entire square mile — of desert boulders, caves, and gardens. People have lived there in a relatively free and creative way for decades. I spent a year there myself, so I know it well.

Garth would occasionally say that if people could put in a couple of hours of work a day, that would be enough to take care of the place, but he would never really ask people directly to work. He would always leave it as a possibility or suggestion. Many visitors didn’t contribute much at all, but others worked out of self-motivation, planting gardens, building new spaces, cooking meals, or caring for others. My own contribution was to build one new cob structure every month. Over twelve months I finished twelve projects — my favorites being the Frog Oven and the Boulder Cave, both of which were used often for years afterward. Other residents had their own projects too — gardens, caregiving, cooking, smoothie-making, whatever!

Boulder Gardens is pretty remote, but people worldwide came to visit, sometimes a day, sometimes a week, and sometimes a year (as in my case). The fridges were usually full and “free game” because short-term visitors would leave behind so much food, so there was always something to eat for the seven to ten of us long term residents. Days were magical. I remember early-morning coffee and movie nights with Garth, who gave the place its soul. Garth has since passed on, but my understanding is that the mission has been to keep things as close as possible to the way he intended.

So Boulder Gardens is a true sanctuary. because of the voluntary contributions and minimal obligations, it truly a unique kind of place. It honors creative energy, not forced labor. A place where people can rest, heal, and also express themselves.

But there’s a darker side. There are other places that call themselves sanctuaries but operate more like work camps. In those places you’re not really invited to rest or heal — you’re expected to put in hours of unpaid labor. The work is often presented as necessary and critical, but in reality it’s a shift away from the true spirit of sanctuary and into productivity.

I was at one of these “sanctuaries” recently, traveling there about five times in total over a couple of months. It was an absolutely beautiful location, and one of the most remote places I’ve ever been. While there, I helped out a lot. My partner and I completely cleaned out one house, then a second as well. We scrubbed and sterilized kitchens and bathrooms full of rat droppings. We moved mulch and put protective cages around trees. A front door was repaired here, a wall repaired there. Chickens were fed, goats were milked, gardens were watered — plus hours of travel time, the cost of gasoline, and even spare tires. We jumped to every request made of us.

But it wasn’t for me. The vibe of the place was made crystal clear when I got an email today saying (and these are the property owner’s actual words):

“I am a laborer on this land and anyone else that comes out here also has to wear that hat as well. This is get-your-hands-dirty hard work…. This is not going to be a good fit for you.”

So basically, if you go there you are not a guest — you’re expected to take on the same physical burdens as the landholder. Infrastructure projects are the focus. There is no invitation into silence, spirit, or rest, only into labor. Interestingly, this landlord has a PhD in Theology.

Finally, in the process of helping, I injured myself badly enough to need six stitches in my knee. And then that email came today, which quite literally added insult to injury.

A while back I read Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler. Written in the 1990s, it imagined what California might be like in 2025, (now!) I actually wish I had never read the book because it is such a depressing novel. People were just evil. Work camps were the norm, resembling the Russian gulags. People were dying left and right, and others were enslaved with electronic collars they couldn’t remove, collars that would shock them into submission. A Trump-like figure was fanning the flames of Christian extremism.

In the midst of it all, the protagonist, Lauren Olamina, is trying to create a spiritual philosophy called Earthseed. Its central belief is “God is Change.” Out of this vision, she and her followers eventually establish a community on farmland in Northern California — a sanctuary among the collapse of a moral society, one that she hopes will carry humanity to the stars, and beyond.

I identify with her because I, along with quite a few others I know, am also trying to create sanctuary in the midst of all this chaos. I think this is what people mean when they say “this is a spiritual war against good and evil”. Though we are not in complete social collapse yet, I do see the declining trend here. I think it take maybe another generation. But Butler has positive words also, which echo across time:

“Kindness eases Change. Love quiets fear.” — Parable of the Talents

The heart of sanctuary isn’t labor camps or forced productivity, but kindness, love, and the space to rest and grow. I think it’s a vision worth holding onto, even in a world that often pushes the opposite.

https://bookwyrm.social/book/175137/s/octavia-e-butlers-parable-of-the-sower

#OctaviaButler #ParableOfTheSower #Earthseed #SpiritualGrowth #Sanctuary #WorkCamp #EcoSpirituality #SpiritualRefuge #IntentionalCommunity #AlternativeLiving #BoulderGardens

https://redecker.vivaldi.net/2025/09/25/spiritual-sanctuary-or-spiritual-work-camp/

#Sanctuary #AlternativeLiving #bouldergardens #Earthseed #EcoSpirituality #garthsbouldergardens #IntentionalCommunity #JoshuaTree #OctaviaButler #ParableOfTheSower #SpiritualGrowth #spirituality #SpiritualRefuge #spiritualretreat #WorkCamp

Hey everyone - my new book: go to http://www.terravitamedia.com for excerpts, description, and ordering info.

#nature #spirituality #ecospirituality #memoir #autobiography #sacredearth #ecopsychology

Today in The Medium Newsletter, featured stories include:

• #EcoSpirituality and respect for the natural world, with Gonzalo Kern and Shelly Stern

• #ChatGPT and #AI hallucinations in a #MAHA report, with @westwise

• Opportunities for local #journalism in #CivicSpace, with Jennifer Brandel

• Reflections of a #colorblind artist, with Iban Van der Zeyp

https://medium.com/blog/awe-an-underrated-climate-strategy-e3dde5776c6b

#Medium #writing

Dear Mastodon Friends - This is the cover for my new book with a short description. I invite to visit the book’s website below for more information.

From the press release: “Part memoir, part lyrical essays and poetry, Sacred Earth Rising Within is a turn toward life in challenging times, and carries a powerful message of hope for the human prospect. A profoundly healing narrative for our time, it is a new hybrid genre that speaks to the heart, mind, and spirit within the context of a creative cosmos. It tells a story that is both personal and universal.”

For more information, please see my new website, dedicated to the book at http://www.terravitamedia.com

#ecology #memoir #spirituality #earth #cosmology #ecospirituality #ecopsychology #nature #naturelovers #naturelover

With the political developments of the past three months, we’re gonna talk #politics . This is where we can civilly explore the disconnect between the accelerating environmental #polycrisis and increasing denial of the causes. We’ll examine these challenges and ways to respond through an ecocentric Gaian lens. Join us if you want to talk politics.

US EST: Thu 24th15:00
EU CEST: Thu 24th Apr 21:00
AU AEST: Fri 25th Apr 05:00

https://zoom.us/j/7750874170?pwd=aWR1Y213MlFkMVh3MWQ3UHFkMjJxQT09

#GaianWay #Ecocentrism #Ecospirituality

What Might Cultures Look Like a Thousand Years from Now?

Join Erik Assadourian for this Goucher College Webinar exploring how we navigate through the polycrisis. It will explore how the Gaian Way could help cultivate a new, healthier relationship with the planet we’re part of and utterly depend on, and form the foundations of cultures of the future.

EST: Mar 25th 7:00pm
CET EU: Mah 26th 12:00am
AEST Aus: Mar 26th 10:00am

https://gradprograms.goucher.edu/register/?id=1423ce6b-b7fc-4083-aae6-7dde624f9d3e

#GaianWay #Culture #ecospirituality

Ecospirituality is Tremendously Beneficial but May Hinder Environmental Efforts, Researchers says ~ New research says our connection with nature is empirically beneficial and may help us navigate the current challenges to healing the Earth.

https://wildhunt.org/2025/03/ecospirituality-is-tremendously-beneficial-but-may-hinder-environmental-efforts-researchers-says.html

#psychology #research #pagan #indigenousculture #ecospirituality #spirituality #science #politics

#ecospirituality
#ecofriendly
#xrnyc
#xruk
#xrpeking
#UnitarianUniversalism

https://youtube.com/shorts/1Ekz7nBVGi0?si=Mr4f4kxScMsJNgs9

#ecospirituality
#ecofriendly
#xrnyc
#xruk
#xrpeking
#UnitarianUniversalism

http://youtube.com/post/Ugkxawq7tRnCCTbcPcBmZGN4PoDp2OCGRQy5?si=UouWz0x_70LcLaK9

The image of smoldering plastic in a little pit on the side of the street, white wisps of smoke dancing up, burned forever in my brain....

https://gaianism.org/plastic-plastic-everywhere-including-in-what-we-drink/

#Reflections #GaianWay #Ecospirituality #PlasticPollution

First, songs about animals. Then, songs about plants. But these are not just random ditties, in #EarthEclectic episode 19. These are songs (and instrumentals and poems) that reflect the awe, wonder, inherent value, dignity, and wisdom of our more-than-human kin. Some songs celebrate specific species, while others find spiritual meaning in broader metaphors. We hope you find them all as inspiring as we do.

https://www.mixcloud.com/eclectic-collective/earth-eclectic-0019/

#Music #Radio #Ecospirituality

How do you see the world you live in?

#ecology #biodiversity #nature #humanity #ecosystems #life #evolution #sustainability #philosophy #ecospirituality #ecolibertarianism

@IndigenousFoodSov I like this add. Why?

Because of its message? Yes.

But especially because we should continuously be reminding us each other that other living beings are the ones we owe our existence to.

We need to develop gratitude to these other beings and to those who sustain them.
More and more I believe that we would be better off once we understand and accept these facts in our set of values.

#ecology #sustainability #biodoversity #ecolibertarianism #ecospirituality

The online #Sabbat rituals I started during the COVID lockdowns continue to be an important part of my offerings. Last night we gathered on Zoom for #Samhain to honor our beloved dead. During our ritual we paused to reflect on whole species who have disappeared into the ancestral realm due to the #ExtinctionCrisis because our #EcoGrief needs to be acknowledged and shared.

My "Zoom altar" is shared with a 2nd camera.

#samhain2023 #pagan #druid #wicca #ecospirituality #ancestorwork

The best description of my spiritual inclination is what folks call #NaturalPantheism, or similarly, #ScientificPantheism. I've been journaling and thinking about it a lot, and I have been considering doing the universal life thing and officiating life events under the natural pantheism worldview, except I think the guy who has done a lot of the book writing about it recently feels possessive of the name. But I don't think it's trademarked. Still thinking about it.
#ulc #spiritual #treehugger #brainweasels #ecospirituality #ecotheology #Gaia #earth #cosmos #starstuff

https://natureandwisdom.wordpress.com/2013/04/08/naturalistic-pantheism

https://mastodon.social/@geographile/110651870264844647

Three proponents of #ecospirituality recently collaborated for a panel at the Harvard Divinity School's conference on Alternative Spiritualities.

https://harvard.zoom.us/rec/play/lee1Dbh7iap2QanhD9nkNLD63HmGRfwBFeI4Z9FTh3JgTi70Kd7aAsADRv73WxXwf5dxAQQNVJB6FWiF.FhkWPMl35gRzZrnj

Note: the recording starts a little late, so there are no introductions, but the presenters are Ian Mowll of GreenSpirit, Michelle Merrill of Novasutras (see @novasutras) and Erik Assadourian of the Gaian Way.

I found it fascinating and inspiring.