Embodied Ecology as Earth + Self Care

Ancient and Indigenous traditions know and emerging research supports that connecting more deeply with each other and nature through intentional practice is central to well-being and flourishing, and can foster equity and pro-environmental behavior. The Western “anthropocentric” worldview includes the idea that mind is separate from body, and self is separate from world. However, the conception of self present in many traditions around the world is of a dynamically embodied, inextricably interdependent activity in the world rather than a substantial thing. We take flourishing to be an activity of a certain sort: a skillful way of living that is interdependent with the land and other living beings. This then has important implications for how we approach Earth + self-care. We explore self and flourishing through group discussion as well as mindful movement—”embodied ecology.” The session is a sample of the sorts of practices we offer at The Mind Body Ecology Institute.