This is a free, monthly space to gather with others who are interested in exploring ecological questions, emotional elements of climate change, ideas of change, building community, and creating a thriving world.

Each month we explore a different theme. The host, Ariel, will provide a little structure, but it will be a fairly open format and leave plenty of opportunity to discuss, share, and explore. 

July's topic is independence and interdependence

Our July Eco-Resiliency Gathering follows the US celebration for independence, something our culture has valued since the beginning. We have since pursued it, argued about it, and spread the concept beyond our borders in a myriad of ways.

Independence is wrapped up with many of our more-challenging cultural narratives like the image of a lone cowboy in the wilderness, the pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps myth, the (empty) promise of capitalism, the myth of human exceptionalism to natural laws, and the false hierarchical value systems that tries to organize living beings and groups of humans.

There are also some healthy grounded reasons for independence, individually and collectively. We might argue for the independent ability to make decisions over our own bodies, or who we choose to love and live with. We may aim for an independent ability to harness energy or grow food so as not to engage in broader destructive systems. We may agree with the idea that collectively we should be able to live independently, free of tyranny and oppression.

When we look at the world ecologically though, nothing is truly independent. The natural sciences articulate how the universe is in fact interdependent, and Zen master, Thich Nhat Hanh, would tell us we interare with the world. And so, at this crossroads of ecological breakdown, and our place in it, what may we learn by taking a closer look at how we value independence and interdependence? Is independence even possible in an interdependent world? If we strive for independence, what are we separating from, and how do we draw those boundaries? If we value independence or interdependence, how does that shape our world view, and in-turn how does that affect extent of our eco-resilience?

Sessions are held online.