Nature Evolutionaries

Join us for this enlightening webinar as Cynthia Jurs shares her story of Sacred Earth Activism and inspires us to ask ourselves this question: How can we bring healing and protection to the Earth? In 1990 Cynthia climbed a path high in the Himalayas to meet an “old wise man in a cave”—a venerated lama from Nepal. In response to her question, the old lama gave her a formidable assignment based on an ancient practice from Tibet: she must procure earth treasure vases made of clay and potent medicines, fill them with prayers and symbolic offerings, and bury them around the world where healing is called for. Ultimately, the path from the wise man’s mountain cave winds around the world, bringing Cynthia into relationship with elders, activists, diverse ecosystems and communities. One by one, as the humble clay pots are planted in the Earth, the power of an ancient technology of the sacred comes alive and a global community grows to protect the Earth and learn how to become vessels of healing. As many of us wonder what we can do in this eleventh hour, Cynthia offers a riveting account of one woman’s response to the challenges we face, and invites all of us to become “sacred activists” heeding the call of the Earth. Cynthia Jurs became a dharma teacher(Dharmacharya)in the Order of Interbeing of ZenMaster Thich Nhat Hanhin in 1994 and, in 2018, was made an honorary lama in the Vajrayana tradition of Tibetan Buddhism in recognition of her dedication to carrying out the Earth TreasureVase practice. Inspired by thirty years of pilgrimage into diverse communities and ecosystems, today Cynthia is forging a new path of dharma in service to Gaia—a path deeply rooted in the feminine, honoring indigenous cultures, and devoted to collective awakening. Cynthia leads meditations, retreats, courses, and pilgrimages to support the emergence of a global community of engaged and embodied sacred activists. She lives at the foot of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in northern New Mexico, where she is often found walking in the wilderness with her dog or gardening with her husband. You can find her offerings and join the global healing community at www.GaiaMandala.net Support the show

Join us for the third session of our Wetlands Series as we explore the confluence of Water and Earth in sustaining abundant life. Drawing on her years of work with communities, rivers, and freshwaters worldwide, Earth Elder Myra Jackson will share about her co-creative partnership with water and wetlands as places of wonder, unity, and connection. These awe-inspiring, unifying spaces foster biodiversity, mitigate climate change, and help sustain life on a global scale. Immerse yourself in the reciprocal movement between water, a life-giving and dynamic force, and wetlands, which purify our ecosystems. Delving into the intricate relationship between humanity and wetlands, Myra will skillfully guide us to feel our connection with the freshwaters in our own landscapes. As we approach the Spring Wetlands Gratitude Ceremony, let's come together to honor the magic of wetlands and deepen our connection to these vibrant, vital aspects of Nature. https://www.natureevolutionaries.com/wetlands-gratitude-ceremony Myra Jackson is an Earth Elder who has held careers in engineering, holographic organizational development and academia. She carries the title of Diplomat of the Biosphere with a primary focus on transforming our societal relationship with Nature through public policy approaches that recognize Nature's intrinsic rights to exist whole along with all Her life forms. She also serves as an expert on the platform of the U.N. Harmony with Nature Program. Her life’s work is anchored by her role as an Evocateur of the Sacred and those ideas whose time has come. Myra participated in the Women Working for the Earth Summit hosted by ONE and has been a webinar guest sharing her highly popular topic, “Nature’s Embrace: The Way of True Reparations”. Support the show

Join us for the second session of our Wetlands Series. We talk with Dr. Emily Hite to explore the complex connections between communities and their land and water. Dr. Hite is a cultural, environmental anthropologist and passionate advocate for environmental sustainability whose research focuses on the intersection of human-water relationships and climate governance. Dr. Hite investigates the far-reaching consequences of damming rivers and how communities and wetlands are intricately linked to the health and vitality of these waterways. We will speak about the importance of maintaining the integrity of rivers and the delicate balance required to sustain both human communities and the diverse ecosystems they rely on. As part of this conversation, Dr. Hite will share stories of communities working together to maintain an ancestral connection to their waters and land in the face of infrastructure and land development. How did Dr. Hite find her passion for her work, and what is her personal relationship with water? She shares valuable insights from her research and collaboration with the Global River Protection Coalition and her studies in Costa Rica, as well as shed light on the Coalition’s ongoing efforts to enhance wetland protections on a global scale. Together, let's empower ourselves with knowledge and contribute to the collective effort to preserve the waters that flow through our world. Dr. Emily Hite is an Assistant Professor of Cultural Anthropology at Saint Louis University. She is also a primary investigator at SLU's Water Institute and serves as a regional co-chair of the Global River Protection Coalition. Her research is focused on understanding human-water relationships and how they are challenged by both climatic changes and climate policy. A central concern of her research is the justice and equity of the processes of climate governance, with particular interest in how different knowledges, values, and belief systems are integrated into those processes. Dr. Hite works with dam-impacted communities in the United States and throughout Latin America and conducts research at international climate and hydropower meetings to understand local-to-global perspectives. The ultimate aim of her research is to influence more culturally-informed governance that aligns with the principles of climate justice. Support the show

Here we delve into the profound intersections of Wetlands, Indigenous food systems, and the enduring impacts of colonization, featuring the esteemed Dr. Lyla June Johnston. A luminary in her field, Dr. Johnston, a poet, anthropologist, and advocate for Indigenous wisdom, will lead us through an exploration of the intricate relationships between these elements. Lyla June speaks about the significance of Wetlands and highlight their importance in Indigenous cultures and food systems. From her unique perspective, Dr. Johnston shares stories and sustainable practices that have shaped Indigenous food cultures and deep connections and partnerships with the land. As part of this conversation, we also examine the impacts of colonization on Wetlands and Indigenous food systems following the westward expansion of European settlements across Turtle Island. Together, we explore changing perspectives on Wetlands and restoration efforts, as well as movements for reclaiming and revitalizing Indigenous land stewardship and food systems. This is an incredible opportunity to engage with a visionary leader and gain a deeper understanding of the vital connections between Wetlands, Indigenous food systems, and the ongoing impacts of colonization. Dr. Lyla June Johnston (aka Lyla June) is an Indigenous musician, author, and community organizer of Diné (Navajo), Tsétsêhéstâhese (Cheyenne), and European lineages. Her multi-genre presentation style has engaged audiences across the globe towards personal, collective, and ecological healing. She blends her study of Human Ecology at Stanford, graduate work in Indigenous Pedagogy, and the traditional worldview she grew up with to inform her music, perspectives, and solutions. Her doctoral research focused on the ways in which pre-colonial Indigenous Nations shaped large regions of Turtle Island (aka the Americas) to produce abundant food systems for humans and non-humans. Note: Slides that she references can be seen in the video recording of this presentation available here: https://www.natureevolutionaries.com/events-programs/2024/lyla-june-johnston Support the show

It's time to rewild ourselves and our dominant worldviews to build earth-centered communities for all. Join us for an illuminating journey with Osprey Orielle Lake, a renowned author, activist, and changemaker, as we delve into the pressing need to rewild ourselves and our dominant worldviews. In a world teetering on the edge of social, environmental, and climate collapse, this webinar offers a beacon of hope and a roadmap to building Earth-centered communities that can thrive. In our exploration, we'll tackle the complex web of interconnected crises, including colonialism, racism, patriarchy, capitalism, and ecocide. By weaving together ecological, mythical, political, and cultural perspectives, Osprey invites us to reconnect with the Earth's lineage and historical memory. Together, we'll explore the delicate threshold between peril and promise. Uncover the collective wisdom passed down by Earth-centered cultures. Gain a deeper understanding of climate justice and systemic challenges. Find inspiration to contribute to the creation of thriving Earth communities. This webinar promises to be a wellspring of hope and a remedy to the prevailing despair of our times. Osprey Orielle Lake is the founder and executive director of the Women's Earth and Climate Action Network (WECAN). She works internationally with grassroots, BIPOC and Indigenous leaders, policymakers, and diverse coalitions to build climate justice, resilient communities, and a just transition to a decentralized, democratized clean-energy future. She sits on the executive committee for the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and on the steering committee for the Fossil Free Non-Proliferation Treaty. Osprey’s writing about climate justice, relationships with nature, women in leadership, and other topics has been featured in The Guardian, Earth Island Journal, The Ecologist, Ms. Magazine and many other publications. She is the author of the award-winning book Uprisings for the Earth: Reconnecting Culture with Nature. Osprey holds an MA in Culture and Environmental Studies from Holy Names University in Oakland and lives in the San Francisco Bay Area on Coast Miwok lands. To learn more, go to: https://ospreyoriellelake.earth Support the show

Join us for an insightful webinar as we delve into the inspiring journey of Christina Lynch, a story of reconnecting with her Bajan heritage, her unique upbringing, and the profound influence of her environment on her path to regaining her voice. In this engaging and enlightening discussion, Christina will take you on a journey through her intuitive herbal path, sharing the powerful plant allies that have played a pivotal role in her physical, emotional, and spiritual healing. Christina will also shed light on her current projects aimed at guiding and supporting others on their own paths of self-discovery and healing. You'll gain valuable insights into the practices and resources that have helped her along the way, empowering you to connect the dots in your own life and find your voice. This webinar is a unique opportunity to hear from a passionate and knowledgeable herbalist as she shares her wisdom, stories, and vision for personal and collective healing. Christina Lynch is a growing community herbalist who desires to share her knowledge and passions with those around her. She is a first-generation American, with her lineage deriving from Barbados. Taking a great desire to reconnect to the Earth, continuing the spiritual and physical connections with the Earth as her ancestors once did, her intent is to assist others in starting or continuing their journeys in becoming one with themselves. Christina is the founder of Black Herbalists Alliance, Trydent Consulting, and Gingerly Expressions, an organization focused on intentional creation of herbal products and services, to assist others in starting or continuing their own journeys in becoming one with themselves; and to finance fiscal sponsorship and opportunities to support BIPOC healers. Christina offers herbal programs, herbal classes, and herbal tea blends. She studied under Emily Ruff and Maggie O’Halloran and is an avid tea lover, recovering foodie, and cultural explorer. She is currently on the board of Red Hills Small Farm Alliance, Florida School of Holistic Living and American Herbalists Guild. Support the show

This webinar is part of our end-of-year fundraising campaign. Your contribution makes it possible for ONE to share these educational resources for building co-creative relationships with the Living Earth. You can Donate here and read more about the fundraiser: https://www.natureevolutionaries.com/give-to-thrive 🌎🌿💜 Together we are cultivating a world where all beings have the right to thrive and our Sacred connection with Nature is honored. Join us for this exciting webinar that looks deeply at the vast intelligence of the plant world, including plants and trees that heal us, guide us, and feed us. You have probably heard the expression “master plants” and immediately think about psychotropic plants. In this paradigm-shifting webinar we will explore the idea that All plants are master plants and if approached and treated in a sacred manner, have the ability to open doors of perception, heal us at a core level, and nourish us optimally. 🌿 Imagine plants that can guide us in co-evolution into the “New Earth”. 🌿 Imagine plants that have certain chemical constituents that heal and nourish us because of their spiritual intelligence. 🌿 Imagine yourself connecting effortlessly directly into the spiritual intelligence of plants. 🌿 Imagine that simply by eating certain plants they are serving as “master plants”. Teacher, curandera, and ethnobotanist, Rocio Alarcon, is joining us once again to inspire, guide and deepen into the realm of the spiritual intelligence of plants. This is new and exclusive never-before-shared material that she has prepared for ONE participants. Rocio Alarcon is a healer for our times. She has worked tirelessly for decades to preserve indigenous cultures and land both in the Amazon and in the Andean community where she grew up, under the tutelage of master healers. She has lovingly brought many modern seekers, as well as skeptics, into the fold of the healing traditions of her ancestors, teaching especially about our relationship with the “divine forces” in the natural world. Rocio’s grandmothers held intimate connections with the forces of nature, particularly the plants and the hummingbirds, whom they could call upon for the healing of their communities. Recently, Rocio has been bringing forth this particular ancestral heritage. Rocio brings to her inherited knowledge a scientific understanding of the co-evolution of plants and animals and ecosystems, as well as understandings of healing based on modern neuroscience. She weaves this all together in her teachings on the healing power of the plants. Support the show

What does life look like if we live with an awareness of interbeing? How is our relationship with Nature informing our lives today to support a vibrant future? You are invited to join us in discussion with an incredible panel of Nature Evolutionaries, Pam Montgomery, Myra Jackson, Larry Karsteadt, and Lauren Valle as they share their experience of deep kinship with Nature and their vision for a vibrant future. This discussion will be grounded in our present time and our daily lives and you will also be invited to share your perspectives and vision in the meeting chat. From this rich conversation and your input, we will assemble the highlights and essence of our time together in a shared document. 🎉And, we are also celebrating ONE's 10th Anniversary during this webinar!! We will have a prize drawing for registrants for some wonderful gifts: Plant Initiation with Pam Montgomery at Sweetwater Sanctuary in Vermont (or online), Connecting Creatively with Nature online course, and an all-access pass to Women Working for the Earth Summit recordings. Pam Montgomery is an herbalist, author, international teacher, Earth elder and new-paradigm thinker who has passionately embraced her role as a spokesperson for green beings and has been investigating plants and their intelligent spiritual nature for more than three decades. Larry Karsteadt’s life journey has been rich, rewarding and varied, with a long professional career as an Emergency Medical Services administrator in California, a Master’s degree in Biology from Cal-Poly Humboldt in northern California, extensive world travels, and a growing musical repertoire with his beloved guitar. Myra Jackson is an Earth Elder who has held careers in engineering, holographic organizational development and academia. She carries the title of Diplomat of the Biosphere with a primary focus on transforming our societal relationship with Nature through public policy approaches that recognize Nature's intrinsic rights to exist whole along with all Her lifeforms. Lauren Valle is a community herbalist, gardener, artist, and a mother of two young boys. She is devoted to reawakening the memories we all carry of being joyfully woven into the web of life, and to dismantling the social constructs that lead us to believe that we are separate from each other and that we are separate from Nature. Support the show

Join natural builder, Sigi Koko, as she shares about working with Nature to create inspired architectural designs and construction from natural materials. We will explore Sigi’s passion and commitment for eco-sensible design and her practical outlook in partnering with Nature in the building of our homes. Creating in collaboration with our own ecosystems leads to more efficient homes as well as incredibly beautiful, connected spaces. Mimicking Nature instead of trying to overpower with our will just makes sense to Sigi. Sigi Koko, owner and operator of Down to Earth Design, is one of the most established and prolific architect/builders of natural structures in the United States. Her company, founded in 1998, predominantly serves the mid-Atlantic region of the US and designs strawbale homes and residential-scale commercial structures for their environmentally minded clients. For over 25 years Sigi has been pushing the boundaries of the construction market towards sustainable and environmentally conscious building. She is also a major advocate and educator of natural building techniques, holding workshops and courses for students seeking to learn to build with natural materials. To learn more about Sigi’s work visit her website https://buildnaturally.com/ Support the show

What does life look like if we recognize Earth as our kin and Mountains as our ancestors? Join Dr. John Hausdoerffer as he shares his vision and experience of deep kinship with Nature and talks about how good life can be when we are in a meaningful relationship with our landscapes. We will honor Mountains in our discussion as wise Elders who can help guide us in being the ancestors we want to see in the future. Being those ancestors is rooted in the here and now and calls us to enliven values that nourish life for the following generations. As guardians of Earth, Mountains show us the way. Dr. John Hausdoerffer is an environmental philosopher, teacher, organizational founder, and writer from Gunnison, Colo. He believes that peace between humans begins with a spiritual connection with a just distribution of the “ecosphere” that forms our local and global home. His books “Catlin’s Lament“; “Wildness“; and (forthcoming) “What Kind of Ancestor Do You Want to Be?” imagine how environmental health must come from and result in the healing of deep histories of social injustice and cultural trauma. “Dr. John” calls for a new ethic that views all places as part of our home, all generations of all beings as part of our scope of responsibility, and all actions as potential expressions of human care for the world. As he often says, “environmental ethics insists on humans as more than bodies that consume bodies in a global economy, insists that we are wholehearted beings capable of understanding and caring for the complex local and global systems that sustain us.” Throughout his life, Dr. John’s dedication to peace has been driven by this question: What does the good life look like once we accept that all places are “here” and all eras are “now”? What does the good life look like if all peoples are considered as part of an equal humanity and if all species are considered as persons? Support the show

What does it mean to propagate Black Joy? To begin, Dr. Chris Omni invites you to think about how we propagate plants. In order to create new plants, the parent plant must be healthy and striving. In the space of propagating Black Joy, Dr. Omni, the parent plant, spent several years on an intentional healing and nature-inspired journey of self-discovery after the passing of her Mama from a 26-year battle with cancer. Seven years later, she is strong, whole, and grounded. Now, Dr. Omni joyfully enters a space of celebrating and growing Black Joy in the lives of other Black people such as Michelle Gunn and Ashley Powell - 2022/2023 Black Joy research mentees from Florida State University who were promoted to interns for the 2023/2024 season. During this webinar, you get to hear directly from these brilliant young leaders. Partner in supporting the “Black Joy is Lit(erature) Workshop Series”: a writing workshop and retreat for Black undergraduate students in Florida https://www.pledge.to/black-joy-is-lit-erature-retreat Dr. Chris Omni, the Black Joy Scholar is a speaker, award-winning entrepreneur, artist, and activist. Her research explores Nature’s influence on the physical, intellectual, emotional, social, and spiritual well-being of Black people and by blending her 25-year background in public health with her foreground in art education, Dr. Omni provides a counter-narrative to the typical deficit lens generally applied to the Black experience. Michelle Gunn is an international affairs student at Florida State University. Originally from Orlando, Florida, she aspires to one day lead a non-profit organization dedicated to solving the issues amongst the Black diaspora. Ashley Powell is a Psychology and Business student at Florida State University. She is a senior this year and plans to attend graduate school to pursue a master’s in business and eventually work in a field where she can utilize both psychology and business. Support the show

Join us in conversation with Lisa Estabrook, artist, author and creator of Soulflower Plant Spirit Oracle deck as she shares her journey with her plant spirit mentors. We will explore the power of intentions, living body wisdom, restoring imagination as a super sense, and conscious creation with the elemental realm. It has always been Lisa’s intention to grow herself which means that the plant spirits have continually helped her stretch her comfort zone! Over the last year or so her gardens have been calling for a new “blueprint" and she is leaning into that and what it can mean for our work in the world. Feeling empowered and listening to and following the wisdom of our own hearts is an ongoing thread that Lisa is sharing with others as she remembers with the help of the plants. Lisa encourages us all to give ourselves permission to create a life from the inside out rather than the outside in, as so many of us have long been conditioned to do. Lisa Estabrook is an artist, mother, way shower, author, home herbalist and plant whisperer who has spent the last 30 years figuring out how to live a meaningful, heart-led, healthy and joyful life. The creation of the Soulflower Plant Spirit Oracle deck was the result of a two-year long personal journey of self-discovery and healing which also launched her heART based Soulflower business with a growing range of products intended to support and inspire connection with ourselves and our planet. Lisa's belief is that the more we learn about ourselves, and take responsibility for our own healing (wholing) journeys, the more we will empower and support ourselves and by extension our families, our communities and ultimately the Earth herself. The founder of the online CommUNITY Garden, Lisa lives in Yarmouth, Maine. Support the show

Join William Padilla-Brown as we discuss the fascinating relationship between truffles and mammals, and how this connection may have played a key role in the evolution of intelligent life on Earth. It’s possible that after the extinction event, which wiped out the dinosaurs, truffles were a vital food source for surviving mammals with their high nutritional content and unique chemical composition. In fact, researchers suggest that truffles may have been one of the first foods that triggered the part of the neural system responsible for learning and memory, which in turn may have led to increased cognitive function and the evolution of more intelligent mammals. In addition to the incredible history of truffles, William will also discuss the different types of truffles, their distribution, and their unique culinary and cultural significance. There is great economic and ecological potential with truffle cultivation for many local communities. William Padilla-Brown is a Multidisciplinary Citizen Scientist practicing social science, mycology, phycology, molecular biology, and additive manufacturing. William founded and is the current CEO of MycoSymbiotics, a permaculture research and production business based in Central Pennsylvania focused on innovative, practical applied biological science. William holds Permaculture Design Certificates acquired through Susquehanna Permaculture and NGOZI, and a Certificate from the Bigelow Laboratory for Ocean Sciences for completing their Algal Culturing Techniques Course. William published the first books written in the English language on Cordyceps cultivation. William regularly teaches k-12 classes around the United States, for universities, including Cornell’s Small Farms Program, private clubs, and events, as well as offers private consultations. William is constantly in the mix of contemporary ritual in a nuanced modern Urban Shamanism, spending his time vlogging for social media, writing, researching, rapping, singing, and loving his Beautiful Lady Lydia, their son Leo, and baby daughter. William and his work have been featured on Fantastic Fungi, VICE, Buzzfeed, The Verge, Outside Magazine, Civil Eats, Public Goods, The Book “One Earth,” and much more. Support the show

As we engage in co-creative partnership with Nature, old beliefs and wounds can emerge to be healed. Connecting with trees or water, we become aware that our ability to thrive is predicated on the wellbeing of our kin, both human and more-than-human. In this dance of healing, awakening, and embracing our potential, we realize that our human relations need some attention. Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed, not sure where to start, or even afraid to dig deeper. Dr. Amanda Kemp is a lifelong advocate of justice. As the founder of Racial Justice from the H.E.A.R.T., Amanda has helped over 25,000 people have open-hearted conversations, consciously use their power and practice compassion to cultivate racial justice and authentic community. Over the last several years, Amanda’s life and work have been transformed as she has deepened her relationship with Nature, particularly Trees. She now utilizes Earth’s intelligence to create transformation that is heart-based, joyful, and regenerative. We can nourish ourselves, our communities, Earth as we engage in the incredible healing work of racial justice. We are deeply honored to have Dr. Amanda Kemp share her wisdom and heart with our community. The gifts that Amanda shares not only help us heal injustice, they also help us have more authentic, connected, and empowered lives. Join us for this transformative hour as we discuss how to create regenerative racial justice by learning from the Earth. To learn more about Amanda's work visit her website here https://www.dramandakemp.com/ Support the show

Everyone has an innate ability to consciously communicate with Plants. Author, and teacher, Jen Frey gives us a taste of the synergistic process of communicating with Plants and how they can help us heal and teach us to trust, forgive, and embrace self-love. Jen is joined by botanical illustrator, Lillian Edwards, who additionally shares her process in visually bringing forward the essences of plants. Jen and Lillian recently collaborated on Jen’s new book Communicating with Plants: Heart-Based Practices for Connecting with Plant Spirits. Note this episode references images in the video recording which you can view here. Jen Frey is a Healer, Mentor, and Earth Advocate. She is the Founder of Brigid's Way and is leading the Plant-a-tary Evolution. Jen is the co-steward of Heart Springs Sanctuary, a living example of how to create a more sustainable future by engaging in co-creative partnership with Nature. With over 20 years of experience with plant essences, energy work, and herbal practices her private consultations and plant based protocols are known for helping clients through emotional life transitions, physical health crises, and chronic conditions. Jen has dedicated her life to the spiritual path of plant work. Her apprenticeship certification programs, ceremonies, retreats and workshop offerings are designed for people wanting to open their hearts, fall in love with plants and deepen their relationship to the planet. Jen is a Visioning Council member for the Organization of Nature Evolutionaries. You can learn more about her work at: www.brigidsway.com Lillian Edwards is a plant spirit healer and visual artist, on a mission to mend the rift between human consciousness and the ever-accessible, loving and wise, presence of Nature’s intelligence. Her healing business, Earth Prayer, was birthed from a deep desire to give voice to the Plants, weave Their prayers into writing and art, share flower essences, and serve her local community with plant spirit healing. Lillian has a background in ecological restoration, permaculture design, organic urban farming, and freelance illustration. She is grateful and excited to be involved with ONE, aligned with the organization’s work to deepen our collective relationship with the Sacred in all of Life. Her roots are nestled into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains in Northern California~ the landscape she calls home. You can learn more about Lillian at: http://earthprayer.love/ Support the show

Join Unangan Elder, Ilarion Merculieff, as he invites you to explore a new way of living, guided by our hearts, with each and every unique heart beating together in the great song of creation. Over ten thousand years ago, Elders at that time knew that a great imbalance was coming, so the original instructions of how to live in harmony as one Earth family were partially hidden by a wave of forgetting to keep them safe. Each group of people had enough wisdom to survive and continue on, but no one people had all of the knowledge once available to them. It is time NOW, many Elders from around the world agree, to reweave the original instructions by coming together and sharing their unique cultural ways that are each a piece in the puzzle with much overlapping wisdom. With Earth's living systems being stressed and dishonored in new extremes, we must come together to weave a new story and new awakened presence as one Earth family in harmony with all of our relations if human beings are to continue on this Earth. About Ilarion Ilarion (Larry) ‘Kuuyux’ Merculieff has decades of experience serving his people, the Unangan (Aleuts) of the Pribilof Islands and other indigenous peoples in a number of capacities—locally, statewide, nationally and internationally. For his entire career, Merculieff has been a passionate advocate for indigenous rights/wisdom, and harmonious relationship with the Earth Mother. His reach has been broad and varied. Close to Merculieff’s heart are issues related to cultural and community wellness, traditional ways of living, Elder wisdom, climate change and the environment. Having had a traditional upbringing, Merculieff has been, and continues to be, a strong voice and activist calling for the meaningful application of traditional knowledge and wisdom obtained from Elders in Alaska and throughout the world in dealing with modern day challenges. He founded and currently heads the Global Center for Indigenous Leadership and Lifeways, and is a chief consultant and member in several other board councils. His present work revolves much around the council of Elders he co-founded, called the Wisdom Weavers of the World, to bring the messages of Elders from throughout the world to global attention. With a solid background as a community, business and environmental leader, Ilarion’s later years reflect both this lifelong career path as well as the fulfilment of his cultural role as Kuuyux, or traditional messenger for the Unangan people. Support the show

“Remember, you are not alone as you gather herbs. Birds, butterflies, insects, other animals, and elemental beings may be nearby, sometimes visible and sometimes not.”— DEB SOULE In this webinar, Deb Soule shares her journey following the southern migration of the ruby-throated hummingbird, and what inspired her. Deb and Pam will also discuss how herbal gardens offer sanctuary for pollinators. Flowering plants and trees, hedgerows and pathways, arbors and benches, altars and bells add magical dimensions into a healing garden. A diversity of plants, blooming throughout the gardening season encourages a diversity of pollinators and birds.. The biodynamic approach that Deb uses at Avena Botanical gardens helps create a sacred environment for all beings that enter the gardens. Deb Soule is an herbalist, gardener, teacher, and author of The Woman’s Handbook of Healing Herbs, How to Move Like a Gardener and The Healing Garden. Deb began organic gardening and studying the medicinal uses of herbs at age 16. Her faith in the healing qualities of plants includes a desire to make organic herbs easily accessible to women and families living in rural areas. In the fall of 1985, with her first mail-order catalog and a small selection of herbal extracts and teas, Deb launched Avena Botanicals, an apothecary that now serves thousands of customers. Deb has a special connection to the hummingbirds and has traveled part of the migratory path. Pam Montgomery has been investigating plants and their intelligent spiritual nature for more than three decades. As an author, teacher, and practitioner she has passionately embraced her role as a spokesperson for the plants who are guiding us in our spiritual evolution. She is the author of Partner Earth; A Spiritual Ecology and the best-selling Plant Spirit Healing; A Guide to Working with Plant Consciousness. She teaches internationally on plant spirit healing, spiritual ecology, and people as Nature Evolutionaries. Her latest research is on the light and sound of plants which are foundational means of communication in the biological world. Pam is the founder of ONE. She has dedicated herself to co-creative partnership with all of life and feels the Organization of Nature Evolutionaries is a way to make this partnership manifest. Support the show

Join Syren Nagakyrie, founder of Disabled Hikers, in a discussion about their experience in navigating the natural world through the lens of disability. They have found both exclusion and comfort in outdoor spaces, noting that even though “the outdoors has been a place that I can retreat to,” there are many barriers for disabled folks in getting outside. Access issues, lack of reliable information, and gatekeeping are all consistent problems. Disabled Hikers is an entirely Disabled-led organization. They celebrate disabled people’s experiences in the outdoors and help facilitate those experiences with information, resources, and events, including trail guides and group hikes. They are also committed advocates for justice, access, and inclusion and work with parks, organizations, brands, and more. Disabled Hikers challenge the dominant narrative of who is considered to be valid and which experiences matter in the outdoors. Syren (they/them) is an activist, writer, community organizer and outdoor enthusiast. They have become a leading advocate and expert voice in making the outdoors more inclusive and accessible for the disabled community and others that are underrepresented. Syren grew up with multiple disabilities and chronic illnesses, including Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. They also live with depression, anxiety, and CPTSD. In their mid-twenties, when Syren started hiking and exploring what their body could and couldn’t do in the outdoors, they found a lack of infrastructure, support, and resources for the disabled community. It’s not enough to know whether or not a trail is wheelchair/ADA accessible. How exposed is it? What’s the grade? Are there crossings? How slick is it? Is there cell service in case of emergency? Syren founded Disabled Hikers in 2018 with four main goals: organizing group hikes, celebrating disabled people’s experiences, facilitating those experiences by making specific information available, and advocating for change in the outdoors. Syren is now working on hiking guidebooks for disabled hikers with Falcon Guides, a leading publisher of guidebooks. For more information and links visit: https://www.natureevolutionaries.com/teleseminars-1/2023/syren-nagakyrie Support the show

Connecting to the seasons and natural rhythms of the earth offers us a path to spiritual wisdom and a sense of groundedness and peace. Remembering that we are created from the same elements as earth and stardust helps us connect to the Divine within and recognize our place in the boundless web of life. Embracing the energy of Springtime can be a catalyst for nurturing our own growth. The spring equinox, when day and night are equal lengths, is a time of balance, renewal, and welcoming new life into the world. Depending on where you are on the planet it can be a time to notice the sap flowing, the ice breaking up and the buds swelling to prepare to burst forth into the healing green and colors of spring. We can take time to pause and honor the places in ourselves that still long for the inward contemplativeness of winter and the parts of us that are ready to blossom forth with new growth and purpose. These are Lynn Unger’s words from her poem, Camas Lilies. “And you — what of your rushed and useful life? Imagine setting it all down — papers, plans, appointments, everything, leaving only a note: “Gone to the fields to be lovely. Be back when I’m through with blooming.” Let’s take time to drink in this spring energy with a sense of joyfulness and celebration. Allowing ourselves to explore the places in ourselves that want to burst forth, be lovely, and revel in place in the Divine creation. Spring is a time of hope and renewal, a time to celebrate the beauty and sweetness of life. NANCY PHILLIPS is an herbalist, holistic health coach, yoga/Ayurveda instructor, and small-scale farmer. She delights in supporting people on their path to finding more peace, joy, and vitality. Her heart’s desire is to support people in connecting more deeply to the Divine within and without. She and her husband, Michael, have lovingly tended Heartsong Farm & Wellness Center, an herb farm, organic apple orchard, and educational center for over 30 years. She and Michael co-authored The Herbalist Way: The Art and Practice of Healing with Plant Medicines. Nancy offers consultations, workshops, grower’s intensives, and healing retreats at their farm in Northern NH. Visit Nancy at https://HeartsongFarmWellness.com Support the show

Join us in discussion with renowned teacher and author, Sharifa Oppenheimer about the reflection of Sacred Earth and Sacred Self, mirroring our inner and outer worlds. We will explore this connection especially in deepening our kinship with Nature. “Come close ~ lie down in the generous arms of the wild. She is exhilarating, nurturing, dangerous, essential. She is life. She is calling you: Come to love. Come fall awake. Come hold all of my cascading beauty my aching fragility.” -Sharifa Oppenheimer from a Litany of Wild Graces: Meditations on Sacred Ecology If it’s possible for you, please have paper and a pencil, crayons, or markers present during the webinar. Sharifa Oppenheimer was the founding teacher of the Charlottesville Waldorf School and is the author of the best-selling book Heaven on Earth: A Handbook for Parents of Young Children and its companion workbook How To Create The Star of your Family Culture. She recently wrote With Stars in Their Eyes: Brain Science and Your Child’s Journey Toward the Self. After writing extensively from her experience, wisdom, and love of young children, she has turned her hand toward writing about other aspects of profound connection. She has been a student of Sufism for many decades and has deep respect for other indigenous wisdom traditions which point humanity toward the sacred nature of the living earth. She offers Sacred Earth ~ Sacred Self gatherings that explore humanity’s biological and spiritual inter-being with our other-than-human relations. Her new book A Litany of Wild Graces: Meditations on Sacred Ecology (Red Elixir Press, April 2022) explores these themes through essays, poetry, and litany. The mother of three grown sons and grandmother to many grandchildren, she lives with her husband in an enchanted forest in Virginia. Support the show