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TABLE OF CONTENTS
ARTICLES
BOOK REVIEWS
POETRY & PROSE
Flow
~ Robin Van Tine SHORT STORY
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Gatherings: Seeking Ecopsychology
Summer Issue: August 2000
To accomplish great things, we must not only act, Welcome to the Summer issue of Gatherings . . . or for those of you in the southern hemisphere, the winter issue.
This is the third issue of our quarterly e-journal. You might want to take a look at the previous two issues, Spring 2000 and our inaugural issue, Winter 1999-2000 to get a sense of the on-going flow of conversations here at Gatherings.
As a Leaf is to a Tree explores the many facets of Deep Ecology. DE began as a philosophical consideration, given life by Arne Naess. John Croft widens the discussion to include aspects of personal growth and empowerment, community building, community economics and environmental action that can all be held within the new paradigm of "deep ecology." John is a co-founder of the Gaia Foundation of Western Australia, an innovative organization focusing upon personal growth, community building and service to the Earth. The Gaia Foundation is part of an international network of Gaia groups and organizations, committed to healthy communities in a healthy biosphere.
Dream lofty dreams, and as you dream, so shall you become
Caring for the Land examines the history and benefits of caring for wild places. Beyond saving our natural beauty, John Scull describes the psychological, spiritual, and community dimensions derived from becoming a land steward. Relationship and belonging are also the focus of John's book reviews in Community & Connection, where he reviews two books of interest to those searching for ways to heal our relationship to the earth and earth community: The Nature of Transformation and Joanna Macy and Molly Brown's Coming Back to Life. John also provides a short review of Mike Cohen's recent novel Einstien's World. John is a clinical psychologist, sailor, and community activist who also leads community ecopsychology meditations, walks, and workshops.
Ann Jarnet works for Canada's Ministry of the Environment where she has been instrumental in bringing environmental concerns into classrooms all over the country. The Ministry has recently created a web site and invited participants world-wide to communicate their dreams and wishes for teaching our children about the importance of protecting our earth. Environmental Education describes the consultation process Ann - along with others in the Ministry - have created to bring environmental concerns to schools. If you are inspired after you read the article to make some suggestions, you are invited to go to Canada's Ministry of the Environment website. Mark A. Schroll, Ph.D., earned his degree in philosophy of science, with specialization in transpersonal psychology and environmental studies at The Union Institute. Schroll lays the foundation for his 21st century view of philosophy of science in his book Toward A New Green Earth: The Call For An Integral Science, an excerpt of which appears here for the first time. Schroll is a visiting professor in the Department of Anthropology and Distance Education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in the Anthropology of Consciousness and Ecopsychology and Indigenous Science. If this excerpt whets your appetite for more, the entire book is avaiable at the ikosmos site, in the integral ecology section.
And it shall come to pass afterward,
Poetry & Prose
We are especially honoured to be able to bring you excerpts from Thomas Berry's
Morningside Cathedral. Berry founded the History of Religions program at Fordham University and has authored two books: The Dream of the Earth published in 1988 and, more recently, The Great Work. Since his retirement in the late 1960's from teaching, Berry has concentrated his efforts on the environmental crisis, addressed in both his books. Along with Brian Swimme he wrote The Universe Story, their account of creation from the "big bang" until now. This poem is not only Berry's praise and celebration of the wilderness, but a fierce cry to protect and defend it as well.
The Source is a short poem written by
Duncan Mcgehee, under his pen-name of jacktar. Here he attempts to capture the ultimately unknowable - that which drives all of us in our lives. Duncan, a great lover of the sea, is also interested in spirituality, zen thought, philosophy, ecology, theories of evolution, web design and - of course, ecopsychology.
In
The Leaves Smell Like Sunlight, Betsy Barnum continues to describe her growing relationship with the wooded areas in her city of Minneapolis. If you are new to Gatherings, you may want to read her earlier articles, which focus on her efforts to save
four sacred trees in her city and her poetic prose piece,
Walking Trees. A freelance writer,
Betsy has established a non-profit group and organizes study circles in her area. These focus on deep ecology and voluntary simplicity with a goal of creating space for people to reflect on their personal values and habits, and perhaps deepen their understanding of what it means to be a human being on the earth at this critical time.
Many of us may have forgotten the childhood fantasies that carried us over the rough spots in our lives.
Starlite: A Remembrance is a recollection and joyous recovery of a childhood friend that returned to
Phoebe Wray when she was grown. Phoebe teaches acting, history of the theatre and cultural history at The Boston Conservatory. In 1974 she established the Center for Action on Endangered Species and, although she is no longer the Executive Director, she remains as Senior Consultant, striving to give voice to the most vulnerable members of our earth community.
Robin Van Tine originally presented
Flow at the Second Biennial Conference of the Association for the Study of Literature and the Environment at the University of Montana in July of 1997. He describes one of those magical moments that are so fleeting - when everything seems to become in tune with all else, and everything is caught in the 'flow.' Robin teaches Holistic Health Science and Environmental Science at Saint Leo University, Tidewater Center in Newport News, Virginia.
The final prose offering is a short story by
Damian Finn. Originally written for his son, Djamien, who is a drummer, Damian uses his imagination to travel back in time to
The Origin of the Drum. Damian is a resident of New Zealand, a former health-care worker, now a mechanic, and a passionate environmental activist.
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Either way, gathering around or in front of the fire is the perfect thing to do in August. Whether you are in the depths of winter, or the height of summer, now is the time to stop for a moment and curl up with some good reading. Think of yourself as being gathered around a campfire - or curled up in front of the fireplace - with good friends . . . friends who love our planet and are thinking deeply about how to change the human relationship with the earth.
In
In April of 1998
Don't let the title
We hope you've enjoyed this experience of Gatherings; the next issue will be coming out in November 2000. If you have
any comments on what you read in this issue, suggestions
or contributions you'd like to see - or make - in the next issue, please contact the Gatherings