Friends, we invite you to consider this beautiful offering from our dear friend Ezekiel Fugate:
Re-Membering the Wild Earth
Those of us who have been raised in western culture have been told that the world is a random collection of lifeless particles and that we are entirely separate from it. As a result, we treat the Earth (and frequently one another) as a collection of objects that are devoid of innerness and their own inherent value, and we have an uneasy feeling that we are disconnected from the very ground beneath our feet. The consequences of this orientation to the world are increasingly catastrophic. But what if this story is wrong? What if we are not separate from the Earth? What if we are actually integral members of the Earth community? What if, as Thomas Berry tells us, "The world is a communion of subjects"? How might we treat the other inhabitants of our planet—human and non-human—if we fully acknowledged their interiority? What if we required these others to become fully ourselves?
If you are longing to engage with these questions (and more) in a supportive community environment, then please consider joining me and my dear friend Kim O'Donnell for Re-membering the Wild Earth. We only have a few spots left!
Re-membering the Wild Earth is an invitation to rediscover the sacred nature of the Earth and to re-member ourselves as integral parts of the wild, living landscape. In this immersive retreat, we will gather together to explore what it means to truly belong to the Earth community, and we will probe the root causes that give rise to feelings of separation. We will spend solo time on the land engaging in practices to help us become more permeable to and active in the larger conversation in which we are always immersed. We will sit in council and give voice to our deep longings, which are also the world’s deep longings, and we will listen closely to that which wants to emerge during this time of profound change.
Guides:
Ezekiel Fugate (he/him) is a white, queer, cis-man who is fiercely committed to creating culture that honors the sacredness of all life and supports the full flowering of each individual. He is currently a PhD student in the Philosophy, Cosmology, and Consciousness program at the California Institute of Integral Studies and a facilitator and guide for place-based, transformative learning experiences that are rooted in the erotics of encounter. Ezekiel was born and raised as a white settler on Eastern Band Cherokee territory (southwest Virginia), and he now lives with his wife and two young daughters on Tutelo/Saponi territory (southwest Virginia).
Kim O’Donnell (she/her) spent most of her life disconnected from the earth until a pine tree in Wyoming welcomed her home. Since then, she has been devoted to nurturing a deep and loving conversation with the wild world around her. Following her retirement in 2007 from her work as a lawyer and judge, Kim has devoted herself to the healing, transformative work of building beloved community. She is passionate about holding space for others as they find their way home. She lives just down the road from Ezekiel with her wife and their fantastic black cat, Magi.
Event Details
Dates: Friday-Monday, October 16-19, 2020
Location: Jefferson National Forest, Montgomery County, VA
Lodging: Camping
Cost: Choose one. All meals included.
(*Early bird discount of 15% if you register by September 30)
Solidarity cost: $199
Full cost: $299
Pay-it-forward cost: $399
No one will be turned away due to a lack of funds. If the cost is prohibitive, but you are called to participate, please reach out!
Food: Breakfast, light lunch, dinner, and snacks will be provided. Please be sure to indicate your dietary preferences/restrictions when you register.
Registration: To register, please submit this registration form.
COVID protocol: To ensure that this event is as safe as possible during these troubling and uncertain times, we will be implementing a strict health protocol that will include social distancing, the use of masks, and lots of handwashing. We will also be monitoring the situation closely. If the event is canceled, you will receive a full refund. Please reach out if you have any questions or concerns at this point.
Space is very limited to ensure that we can practice safe social distancing.