Our aims and vision:
-To bring together people of all ages and backgrounds to mark Earth Days 50th birthday in April 2020.
-To support the seeding out of The Earth Protector Communities - a sister charity initiative
supporting The Stop Ecocide Campaign.
-For the process and events to help cultivate and strengthen Regenerative Culture.
-To draw wisdom and guidance from Joanna Macy’s work; The Work That Reconnects
-To help resource individuals and communities at this time of Ecological Crisis.
- To support groups to organise and run bespoke creative community experiences in their local areas to mark Earth Day.
- For these events to help support our chosen environmental initiatives.
- To offer support and guidance for NV Practitioners and Facilitators to infuse The Work That Reconnects
with song, embodiment, and nature tending practices.
-To organise and hold Earth Resonance events this summer in memory of Polly Higgins and to
help seed out the Earth Protector Community initiative.
The idea for this initiative came to Liz a couple of years ago in a visioning meeting in Stroud with
Clare Dubois ( founder of Tree Sisters), Polly Higgins and Gail Bradbrook ( co founder of Extinction Rebellion).
The vision was of people gathering to participate in a tending and strengthening process by infusing The Work That Reconnects spiral practices with song, music, movement and nature tending
It came as a very clear vision and message for events to take place outdoors in nature on Earth Day;
for each of the groups to invite more people to come together and co create a 'healing field of loving intention'
to tonify and activate as creative 'acupuncture points' across the land.
We are grateful to be able to use The Work That Reconnects - a vast and brilliant body of work gifted to the world by
Joanna Macy- this sits at the beating heart of this initiative and has informed our Grief and Gratitude theme of 2020.
This soul full, regenerative and creative nature tending event aims to be of healing support to all life, to help strengthen our resilience and to resource ourselves
- Why now?
Due to the Climate Change crisis and the information shared in the IPCC report in Autumn 2018 we know that radical change needs to happen.
Many of us feel the deep call to engage with environmental action and restoration both locally and Internationally.
Those of us whose work is leading groups with song and music making can see what powerful and effective
agencies they are to support culture shift, empowerment, well being, healing and deep radical change.
What Difference does it make?
People who took part last year said there was a felt sense of bonding together as people through this process which helped them to feel connected and grounded. It was a community strengthening, resilience enhancing experience.
'It helped me to feel more deeply connected to nature- that I am nature rather than feeling separate and that I can make a difference in big and small ways'
We are supporting three initiatives all making a positive impact in the Climate Crisis help people to feel that
they were contributing to positive change making.
Tree Sisters founder speaking with Jon Snow- London Oct 2019
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TJlBteEj0bo
See here for Joanna Macy's Interview- Leading In a Climate Changed World:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzvBCxdM1TQ&t=83s
Polly Higgins speaking at The Hague- Dec 2018
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tgQ9kVzy1TM
Dare To Be Great Ted Talk - Polly Higgins:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QPUmN88htCo
Being the change we want to see in the world.
Through the Work That Reconnects practices people said they felt more supported and energised to become
actively involved in taking positive action, both in their local community and further afield.
People said that they felt more resourced to be able to continue to make positive changes in sustainable ways without
getting stuck in despair or burn out.
Communities of people have the opportunity to be a part of a co created, uplifting and bonding experience.
Ways To Support :
1. Sign up to the Stop Ecocide Campaign- Change The Law and become an Earth Protector to support the Ecocide Law
to be passed Internationally. Donate to them as well if you can.
There is also an opportunity for your town to become an Earth Protector Town
see their website for details.
2. Become involved with/supporting XR - the songs can support XR actions and the work of The XR Song Carriers.
3. Become a member of Tree Sisters - donate as a way of giving back to nature and in support of this radical reforestation project taking place around the world, reinstating feminine based leadership as we co create the new paradigm of becoming
a Restorer Species.
These are all ways of practically supporting the Deep Adaptation phase we are in,
of facilitating the changes that need to happen for a sustainable future to be possible.
See here for more information on Deep Adaptation with Jem Bell speaking about the 4 R's :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAZJtFZZYmM&vl=en
What do we receive and give?
-
-Through participating in Regenerative Culture and Earth Honouring/Tending practices we cultivate love, community
and deep connection with the natural world and with each other in nature.
This process can enhance our sense of interconnection and belonging which supports our over all well being helping
to reduce stress, anxiety and isolation.
-Through raising awareness and funds for the 3 orgs leading the way in responding to the current Ecological Crisis
we will be pro actively support positive environmental change making which is urgently needed.
How will we do it?
Engage Natural Voice Practitioners, (any community groups who sing and move together) to help lead an event.
We will also provide support for people who want to set up a group to specifically do this.
FAQs
See the Join an Event tab if you are an individual looking for an event near you.
See Earth Tenders tab for support and guidance.
See Earth Day info tab for the process if you are an NV Practitioner/Group Faciltator/leader.
Why process oriented singing, movement and ceremony?
Singing together helps to strengthen communities as it is essentially a bonding activity due to us releasing significant
amounts of oxytocin (our bonding hormone) when we sing together.
Using movement with song helps us to access the wisdom of our bodies and to relax and release tension stored in the body.
Movement dance and embodied practices release endorphins ( our feel good hormone) - we feel better when we move!
Process oriented singing provides a channel for expressing a whole range of emotions and can help to reduce stress,cultivate
unity and strengthen resilience.
Singing and music are often used in any change making process for uniting, messaging and transformation-
they are powerful messenger!
Most successful movements which have taken place in history have used songs and music as an effective way to communicate
and unite in a meaningful, creative and energising ways.
Ceremony connects us to something bigger than ourselves- to the great web of life bringing deeper meaning into
our every day experiences. Ceremony can help to mark significant transitions in our life as well as providing
a sense of support and connection.
Now is the time!
Now is the time for us to innovate and co create a sustainable future together.
To act on behalf of nature as we are nature.
To remember and reclaim the ancient Indigenous wisdom of these lands through nature tending ceremonies, using song,
music and movement to bring healing, connection, celebration and a sense of belonging to all life.
This is a core part of our collective home- coming.
Our love song in action for our one Earth, our home.
Creating a New Story
A New Story by Charles Eisenstein proposes a narrative shift for the climate movement. Embracing love of nature, he writes,
moves people beyond denial and passivity to the action necessary to protect life on our planet.
"Perhaps we have been speaking the wrong language, seeking a change of mind when really what we need is a change of heart."
See here for interview and Q and A with Jem Bendell and Charles Eisenstein :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRYEHOStmss