I have always found solace in the natural world. The question most alive for me in these times of disconnection and alienation from our living world is this — how can we stretch mind/body practices to come into better relationship with the earth?
capacity building
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Step One / Embodiment
The ability to build capacity starts with mindfully dropping into the body through movement and meditation by simply noticing what’s here… sensations, emotions, thoughts – pleasant, unpleasant, neutral -- with curiosity and friendliness.
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Step Two/ Building the container
A key to capacity building is to learn to hit that “right note” with mind/body practices that create a safe container to better self-regulate when challenges and stressors arise in a trauma-informed way. Cultivating friendliness through Metta or loving-kindness practices are integral in my teaching to create a wider sense of safety and trust.
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step three/Right relationship with the natural world
Ecopsychology is about reanimating our connection to the natural world by stretching the mind/body practices into a more reciprocal relationship with the earth. It’s from this place of love that we will become the voice for the well-being of earth and all-beings who dwell here.
This past summer I guided a Day of Mindfulness for Body and Earth for 10 participants with previous experience of yoga and mindfulness. I have been deepening into right relationship with the land where the day was held. My intention was to stretch already familiar practices of yoga and meditation into the natural world in preparation for participants’ solo time on the land later in the day. Here are a few shared words from their time on the land.
Testimonials