Nature – Silence and Voice

Shifting relations with the more-than-human: Six threshold concepts for transformative sustainability learning – An Article Summary

After some time traveling for work, having done a lot of reading along the way, I am finally pausing enough to share some of what I learned via a #5Papers strategy:

1/ I read Barrett, Harmin, Maracle, Patterson, Thomson, Flowers, & Bors (2016)…

2/ …Shifting relations with the more-than-human: six threshold concepts for transformative sustainability learning

3/ http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13504622.2015.1121378 via #5Papers Continue reading “Shifting relations with the more-than-human: Six threshold concepts for transformative sustainability learning – An Article Summary“

Today is Earth Day. So What?! Foster an Elephant!

Today, April 22, is Earth Day, “a day to honor the Earth and the concept of peace.” While there are lots of ways to think of today, which just happens to be a beautiful spring day in New York City where I am, the Earth Day Network offers lots of suggestions for calls to action.

Sure, we can promote laws to help reduce the impact of climate change, plant trees, or volunteer to clean parks. All worthy projects on their own and all of which help us to get out of our offices, homes, and routines to interact with nature in some way.

Or, we can foster an elephant orphan.

This is what I did, fostering Siangiki, a little baby elephant Continue reading “Today is Earth Day. So What?! Foster an Elephant!“

My First Labyrinth

I have been fascinated with labyrinths since I saw my first one in person on the floor of Chartres Cathedral. Never would have imagined that this passion would have led me to want to build my own, which I did this morning using a smaller version of the Chartres pattern made of flour (ok for the environment AND it allowed me to see what it felt like before I build one next year out of stones.

Thankfully, I was able to walk it a few times before a round of thunder and lightning storms came through and made the pathways disappear. Perhaps there may be a lesson about nature in that.

I wonder how many other people have made something similar, or at least made use of the walking one that somehow seems to clear and focus the mind, body, and spirit?

Pipes Under Central Park

I love New York City’s Central Park, and just learned something else about it; there are miles of pipes under the park that bring water throughout it. Surprised? So was I.

Check out their short and informative video.

The Orchid Bloomed in My Office!

After having this orchid for years sitting on my desk, it finally bloomed!

I took a few photos of this and uploaded them to Flickr, for all to enjoy.

I like this symbol of new life and celebration, especially after Yule and before New Year’s. Even when things around us can be challenging or even crumbling, such little celebrations in nature can inspire and give us hope for a better day to come.