Deep Ecology in Neika

A day-long immersion into the collective healing and deep connection of Deep Ecology/Active Hope.

Spiraling through processes of Gratitude, Honouring our Pain, Seeing with New Eyes, and Going Forth, the day will include meditative walks, native bush knowledge, embodied listening, and collective ritual.

We are very excited to be hosted by the amazing Kris Schaffer in Neika (address sent to participants after registration).

Bring along an open heart and some extra lunch to share.

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This event takes places on the stolen lands and waters of the muwinina/palawa/pakana peoples in lutruwita/truwanna. We acknowledge that genocide is ongoing and sovereignty has never been ceded. We pay deep respects to the past, present, and emerging custodians of these lands and waters.

We recognise also the ongoing Aboriginal practices of deep ecology, and that deep ecology/active hop emerged from colonisalism and whiteness. We hold ourselves accountable to the ongoing practice of embodying de-colonisation and anti-racism.

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**Facilitators**

Moran Wiesel is a harpist, flautist, environmental facilitator, musical educator and intersectional activist. They are passionate about the potential of creative/musical/embodiment in (re-)envisioning how we connect, and are excited about offering deep transformational spaces. Moran plays with several ensembles that share the joy of earth-based connection, and regularly guide immersive environmental music performances. They are currently becoming a certified Ecotherapist, and are learning from different embodied lineages of earth-based listening and facilitation.

Dr Sue Stack is an artist and educator experienced in holistic and transformative learning. Her passion is creating learning environments that enable people to access their deeper wisdom through embodied experiences, inviting empathy, new ways of seeing and authentic expression. For the last decade she has facilitated Embodied Wisdom and Play - a joyous improvisational practice that enables personal and collective storytelling emerging from the body that can offer powerful healing for our times.

Liz Downes has trained and worked for several years as a facilitator of the Work that Reconnects and Deep Ecology processes developed by Joanna Macy and John Seed. She has a background in psychology, community development, environmental activism and campaigning, with deep interests in facilitating the human reconnection to the living spirit of our natural world. In these spaces, she has applied the principles of the Work that Reconnects to inspire and motivate those on the frontlines and help people be able to navigate difficult emotions in challenging times.

** About Active Hope and Deep Ecology **

Many of us are expressing a longing to come into a deeper connection with each other, to live meaningful lives and to feel ourselves returned to the circle of belonging within the wider Earth community. There is also a growing desire to participate in a collective shift towards a regenerative and sustainable culture. This is what Joanna Macy calls 'The Great Turning'.

In this work, we see the root cause of our current climate and ecological crisis to be the pervasive illusion of separation between humans and the rest of the natural world. By learning to recognise our interconnectedness with all of life, we invite the spontaneous healing of the psyche and by extension, of the systems that were born from the deep split within us. We also come to understand the inseparability of personal, cultural, and ecological healing.

Engaging the transformative power of communal ritual, process, dialogue, poetry and music, we will create a foundation of radical gratitude, to honour and transmute the grief we are carrying for the Earth and our global family, explore new ways of navigating these difficult times, and seek meaningful ways to respond.

This deep work is about acknowledging and metabolising our fears and sorrows into inspiration, strength, and deeper purpose. In going forth, we are empowered to bring forward our unique gifts, and step with greater confidence and trust into our unique role in the Great Turning.