online courses

This e-courses is offered through the Mind Body Ecology Institute

Animals, Land, and Flourishing

OCT 8, 15, 22, 21

6pm - 7:50pm MST

Animals, Land, and Flourishing is an interactive conceptual + experiential exploration of the intricate connections between humans and nature, and how promoting animal welfare is central to planetary health as well as the flourishing of all living beings.

The program is guided by three questions:

  • How is it that non-human animals have interests?

  • What is the role of kinship and ethical responsibility in animal welfare?

  • Why is our own and other animals’ well-being a vital dimension of flourishing and wise environmental stewardship?

Together we delve into the dynamic interdependence of self, animals, and Mother Earth, framed within a larger conversation about inner transformation, ethical responsibility, and well-being.

Along our journey, we build community, practice meditation, engage in vibrant discussion, and enjoy nature-centered mindful movement practices on the land as fun “homework” assignments.

This program is perfect for those looking to enrich their understanding of interdependence, flourishing, and regenerative sustainability, express their feelings about what is happening to animals and the environment, and reconnect with nature.

A wonderful way to spend a fall month in an accessible online platform as we prepare for the winter months!

Course outline

  • Topic: Animals and Animal Welfare

    Activities: Opening the circle, sharing stories, deep listening, interactive discussion, and introduction to nature-centered mindfulness and mindfulness meditation practices

    Objective: Introduce the nuances of our interrelations with animals and the land.

  • Topics: Worldviews, values, anthropocentrism vs. ecocentrism, climate change.

    Activities: Meditation, reflecting on homework, mind-body integration exercise, interactive group discussion

    Objective: Awaken understanding of animal suffering and environmental degradation.

  • Topic: The dynamic relationship between world, animals, and self.

    Activities: Meditation practices, reflecting on homework, interactive discussion of interdependence, kinship, and ecological belonging

    Objective: Develop an expanded sense of the land + animal community.

  • Topic: Flourishing as practice, ethical responsibility, honoring and respecting, eco consent, eco leadership, ceremony

    Activities: Meditation practice, reflecting on homework, personal ecological stewardship plan development, group vision-sharing, closing the circle

    Objective: Envision actionable steps towards becoming eco advocates, eco leaders, and wise environmental stewards

You do not have to be good.

You do not have to walk on your knees For a hundred miles through the desert, repenting.

You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves.

Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.

Meanwhile the world goes on.

Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers.

Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again.

Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting — over and over announcing your place in the family of things.

– Mary Oliver