Begins April 2025

“How lucky we are to be alive at a time when what we do matters!”

We as a species are facing an existential crisis greater than anything that we have seen in the 300,000 years of human history, but no one would know it by looking at our day-to-day lives (except of course for the crippling climate anxiety plagues so many of us). This is in part due to the fact that giant corporations have spent billions of dollars to keep us from connecting the dots, but a these attempts to keep us in the dark aren’t nearly as effective or as sinister as the real reason we haven’t drastically altered our ways of life. The truth is, we in the western world lack the mental, emotional, and spiritual capacities to truly face the devastating reality of Climate Change.

In order to look the monster that is Climate Change in the face, we must undergo a spiritual revolution. We need to reconnect ourselves to Nature. We must develop meaningful spiritual practices. We must answer the call to live in deeper kinship with one another and deeper communion with all of God’s creation.

In Touching Grass: An Eco-Spiritual Cohort we will do just that. Through spiritual practices and intentional community we will develop the capacity not only to see and digest the reality of our climate crisis through scientific understanding, but also the willingness and ability to transform ourselves and our lives to ease the burden our western lifestyle places on our environment. The sheer magnitude of climate change can be overwhelming, but through cultivation of our connection to both God and Nature we will find it possible to act and find Joy in living out the Gospel.

During our time together we will explore spiritual teachings through the lense of the natural world, develop contemplative practices, deepen our understanding of the science of our environment, and, with the support of the community, allow our lives to shift towards a right relationship with both God and Nature.

The Format

In-Person Gathering 2nd Sunday of the Month, 5-8pm

The in-person gatherings offer us an opportunity to be with one another, practice together, share a meal together, and build our relationships and collective container. Being in physical presence with one another speeds the process of building trust, and creates a bond stronger than online spaces alone. In our time together we will be presented with an Eco-spiritual topic, and discuss what actions we can take to embody the message. Children are welcome to be a part of the gathering and childcare will also be provided for children who aren’t willing/able/interested in taking part in the practices and discussions on an as needed basis.

Online Gathering 4th Sunday of the Month 5-6:30, via Zoom

We’ll gather online once a month via zoom as an additional check in around our experiences. The online format requires less travel from folks coming from different parts of town and allows us to maintain connection without additional burden on our schedules or the planet.

Additional support, Community Mentor Sessions, varied days and times, via Zoom

Each month there will be at least one “bonus” session presented by a Community Mentor that will guide us in a practice that supports our goals of living in better alignment with God and Nature. Community mentors will share a skill and their experience related to our monthly topic. These will be shorter and online, recordings will be made available to those who cannot attend during the given day and time.

Quarterly Nature Excursions

How can we expect to fall in love with something we never spend any time with? We won’t just talk about nature and the environment, we’ll spend time being in and with our Natural environment. We’ll come together to be in Nature officially at least once a quarter, but it’s encouraged that participants spend as much time in Nature as possible either solo or with other members of the cohort.

Small Group Reflections/Discussions

In order to facilitate deeper connection within the group, we will divide into small groups which will govern their own regular connections via email, zoom, Marco Polo, Discord, or other social connection app. We’ll have monthly discussion topics for the groups to engage in between full group meetings.

“Hope is the virtue by which we take responsibility for the future.”

Tools We’ll Use

Contemplative Practices:

We will discuss and work with contemplative practices such as Centering Prayer, The Welcoming Prayer, Walking Meditation, Conscious Movement, Breathwork, and Conscious Dialog, and many others to help us see clearly and act consciously.

The Enneagram:

A powerful tool for self-reflection and personal understanding, we will use the Enneagram as a framework for understanding our reactions and responses to what we learn through this cohort. Extensive knowledge of the Enneagram is not required, knowing your type helps.

Scripture:

We will draw from the bible as well as scriptures from other wisdom traditions to find inspiration and understanding in relation to what we learn throughout this cohort. 

Science:

Science and spirituality are not at odds, and we will use the scientific facts about climate change to inform our actions and spiritual practices. Our spiritual practices will also serve to help us “digest” what we learn about our environment. 

What Can We Actually Do About Climate Change?

There’s no doubt that Climate Change is a huge issue, and that it’s caused by humans, but the problem is so big, how on earth could we do anything that matters? Just like the story of the loaves and the fishes, our faith teaches us that we don’t have to have everything we think we need in order to make a difference. Starting small and starting with what we have available to us, combined with our spiritual practices and our trust in a Higher Power, anything is possible.

When we get down to brass tacks about our environment, we can see that the issues facing the planet are all supported by and directly connected to the ways we live. Knowing this, we can make small, but continuous, consistent, and meaningful shifts to our lifestyles that bring us into a more loving relationship not just with Nature, but also with each other and God.

In this cohort we will focus on five main intersecting areas of life that have fallen woefully out of balance with God and Nature: Food, Transportation, Possessions, Communal Living, and Civic Engagement. These categories will structure our conversations and give us the scaffolding needed to be the change we want to see in the world.

“Contemplative Action is the antidote to Climate Anxiety.”

Guiding Principles:

“Think Globally, Act Locally.”

Climate change is a global issue, and as Americans we are currently shielded from most (but not all) of the extreme difficulties challenging our neighbors all around the world. By educating ourselves about the environmental issues across the globe, we can more accurately and effectively assess our position in the predicament we face. Even with this new understanding, though, it would be foolish to assume that a small community could have any meaningful direct impact in the lives of those living on the other side of the world. This cohort will therefore focus most (but not all) of its efforts on action in a local sphere where we will have the greatest impact.

“When You Know Better, You Do Better.”

As stated above, this cohort will be equal parts educational and experiential, meaning, we will learn and we will do. As we learn more about the predicament we find ourselves in in regards to the climate, we will focus our actions into five main categories: FOOD, TRANSPORTATION, POSSESSIONS, COMMUNAL LIVING, and CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. These categories represent the five largest areas our current American lifestyles contribute to the heating of the planet, and thus the areas where our action will have the most meaning and impact for ourselves and the environment.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

No one can save the planet alone, and in this cohort we are not interested in large, energy-intensive, heroic actions. We will focus on small, sustainable steps that, over time and with support, will lead to a dramatic change in lifestyle. Each person will discern what actions are right for them in each category and the community will support them in these changes. A singular one-time action has little to no effect on the environment or the individual, but consistent, supported right action can transform a person and the planet. Some of us will make many small changes, some will make much larger ones, but all actions will be in alignment with these principles and each individual’s circumstances.

“Love is a better motivator than fear.”

While the facts of climate change can be downright terrifying, this cohort will not take action from a place of fear or urgency, but will, instead, find their love and care of the environment to be the main motivation for our action. Through individual reflection, group processing, and contemplative practices we will metabolize and transform the painful reality of our climate emergency into grounded, embodied, and loving action. We will also cultivate a deeper sense of love and compassion for Nature by spending time in and developing meaningful connections with the natural world. 

“We already have everything we need.”

Both as we address issues of consumption and how we want to change our actions in light of what we learn in this cohort, we must operate from the assumption that we already have what we need (Aka, buying the next new thing is not the answer). While we may not individually have the expertise or skills we desire to shift our lifestyles, we do have access to people who do in our community. With this in mind we will invite experts from our very own community to share their passion and expertise in the specific areas we want to address in our own lives. We will have mentors covering everything from backyard gardening to making and mending your own clothes, from using bikes and public transit to vegan cooking classes.

“Consciousness Over Convenience.”

So much of the current struggles in our lives come from an over abundance of convenience. We live in a culture that expects everything delivered to our door before we even step outside. As we will see throughout this cohort, convenience comes at a cost to ourselves and our environment and should be used only as necessary. Convenience as a lifestyle only facilitates a lack of consciousness, and an ever increasing need for more and more convenience.

FAQ

What is Eco-Spirituality? 

Eco-Spirituality is the study and practice of spirituality and religion grounded in an ecological understanding and awareness. While this approach can be implemented by any of the world’s religions and even by the non-religious as well, the Christian ecospiritual approach draws on biblical teachings, early Christian spiritual practices, and a modern scientific understanding of our current climate crisis to allow for an on-going transformation both in individuals as well as the collective into an ever-more accurate reflection of Christ.

Why focus on the Climate Crisis?

The current Climate Crisis is the most ubiquitous and transcendent issue of not just our generation or lifetime, but of our entire species. By thoroughly and thoughtfully addressing said crisis, we will also be addressing issues of systemic injustice like white supremacy, patriarchy, and capitalism, the headwaters of all our current tragedies. When it is all said and done, all issues are climate issues, so let’s start from the source.

Does the bible or Jesus actually say anything about saving the environment?

In short, absolutely. Many biblical scholars may miss it, as the bible was written by people so deeply steeped in and connected to their natural environment that this perspective was woven into all of scripture, but not always explicitly. While the agrarian nature of Jesus’s parables has mostly been interpreted away in order to appeal to our tech-forward culture, reading these stories from a perspective deeply grounded in nature, though, reveals their deeper and most transformative meanings.

How are we supposed to make a dent in Climate Change?

A single person’s actions may have little impact on the climate, but we are not just single people, we are people in relationship and community. The actions we take, will not only be taken in isolation, but in the loving support of our cohort and greater community. As we make changes and shifts, and move towards a lifestyle that is both more climate friendly, and Christ-like, we will inspire others to join us through lived example. Most importantly, because our climate action is grounded in our spiritual practice, we act with the deep understanding that this is the life God has called us into, regardless of outcome.

So, how is all of this supposed to work? 

Before we even start to take contemplative climate action to solve a problem, we have to deeply see and understand the problem. Because of the nature of our climate predicament, we must create space in ourselves and our community to learn the stark realities, and move through our full emotional process as we allow reality to shake us, change us, and wake us up. From there, there is no one right way to take action, and how we approach the issues will depend greatly on each individual. We will spend time in contemplation to gain a deeper understanding of ourselves, how we contribute to our climate crisis and what actions are for each of us, right action. Then the actions we take will be done with the support and accountability of the community. 

Do I need to be a Christian to join?

No, of course not, but we will be using the bible and Christian teaching frequently to frame the conversation. Granted, this will be presented through a queer, trans, leftist, anti-capitalist, anti-racist, environmental lens, with special care taken to bring in the voices of BIPOC and Indigenous teachers as well, making it unlike most Christian teaching throughout the US. If, though, you feel allergic to the bible and Christian thought, and it would be a distraction from the heart of the work, then maybe this isn’t the cohort for you. We will also be drawing on teaching from other wisdom traditions that enhance our understanding of scripture, but we are approaching this from an progressive Christian perspective.

Do I have to know anything about the climate or environmental science to join?

No! We will be starting from almost scratch when it comes to talking about the climate crisis. This cohort will be equal parts educational and experiential. While we learn about the science of what’s happening around us, we will also learn new ways of living from skilled community mentors. We will learn together, act together, and grow together as we build the world we want to see.

What is contemplation and contemplative action?

Contemplation is the quiet practice of seeing and understanding oneself and the world through meditation. Contemplative action is action that is informed by and grounded in the practice of contemplation. This kind of action allows us to deeply consider not only ourselves but our greater community and the environment, limiting our negative impact and increasing our positive impact.

So, do I need to have a meditation practice to join?

No, but you should be open to starting one.  Contemplation is a foundational and integral piece of this cohort. Meditation and contemplation can take many forms, and we will work together to build and maintain the practices that support us in seeing ourselves and the world around us clearly.

Still have questions? Get in touch here!