This workshop is offered by First UU's Green Sanctuary Team and facilitated by Patricia Stout, LCSW. Registration is free, and light refreshments will be served.

Workshop Description

Have you experienced any of these responses when considering Mother Earth?

Anxiety and dread about our climate crisis
Despair about the sixth great extinction
Guilt, anger, or helplessness about policies that harm the earth and indigenous people and other marginalized communities
Numbing out and turning away from the realities of climate change
Feeling paralyzed and unable or unmotivated to DO anything about it (perhaps because it might not make a difference or it’s unclear what to do)
Doing too much and burning out

The term “Climate Grief” is used to describe these and other reactions to the climate change crisis.

As Joanna Macy of the Deep Ecology movement teaches, grieving IS part of the work of environmentalism, an essential part.

As with any grief, getting stuck along the way does not allow us to move forward and integrate our experience as a strength to catalyze new beginnings. And as with any grief, we need support and not to walk through it all alone.

Please join us to support each other in inner and collective work to make a space for this grief that is both gentle and transformative.

Schedule and Activities

12:30-1 pm: Opening

Participants arrive, settle in, and enjoy light refreshments. (Please arrive no later than 12:50 pm.)

1-2:30 pm: Part 1

Activities will include journaling, mindfulness meditation and embodied practices, deep sharing and deep listening, and creating a group poem.

2:30-4 pm: Part 2

Activities will include an introductory Integrative Breathwork musical journey and mandala drawing expression (no art experience or skill required!) and a closing circle.

4-4:30 pm: Closing

Participants will have time to ask questions and chat with one another.

Attendance Options

Attend Part 1 only (12:30-2:30 pm): For those who want an introduction to embodied climate grief.
Attend full workshop, Parts 1 and 2 (12:30-4:30 pm): For those who are seeking a more in-depth experience.

Important Note: Due to the sensitive nature of our work together, please arrive on time (no later than 12:50 pm) and plan to stay for the full duration of your chosen workshop option. Select your preferred option when you register, and let us know ahead of time if your plans change.

Transportation: For those traveling by bus, the stop closest to First UU is at the Crossroads Park and Ride, located about a mile from the church. The event organizers can provide rides from the Crossroads stop to the church on request. To make arrangements, please email greenteam@uusat.org.

Questions? For help with registration, please email greenteam@uusat.org. For questions about the workshop, contact Patricia Stout at 985-264-8089. Registered participants will receive information about what to bring.

Patricia will draw on the following resources for this workshop:

Resources on spiritual care for climate grief from the Unitarian Universalist Ministry for Earth
Deep Ecology role play
Earth Holders Plum Village Sangha (in the tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh)
Background in Native American practices (with permission from Medicine Hawk)
Her background leading many healing retreats since 1990 with embodied practices
Training/certification in Integrative Breathwork, Psycho-Spiritual Integration, Spiritual Emergency, and Conscious Connected Breathing

About the Facilitator

Patricia Stout, MSW, LCSW has been a member of First UU Church of San Antonio since 2021 and a UU member since 1995. She served as acting Director of Religious Education (DRE) and board member at Northshore UU in Lacombe Louisiana, as well as the facilitator of the Chalice Circles Small Group Ministry.

She is a holistic social worker, psychotherapist, professional retreat leader, musician, and the founder of the Women’s Center for Healing & Transformation in Abita Springs, Louisiana (since 2012).

She has been facilitating deep process workshops, including Breathwork journeys since the early 90’s.

She is married to a veteran of the American war in Viet Nam, Johnny, and has one son and three grandchildren here in San Antonio.

She is an ordained member of the lay Order of Interbeing in the Buddhist mindfulness tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh.