It’s hard to keep up with the news and harder still to process. We see images of fires raging across the American west, driving both human and non-human communities from their generational homes. We hear farmers speak, in choked sobs, of unpredictable growing seasons and lost crops. We shake with the knowledge that we are losing species at 10 to 100 times the rate considered “natural” by scientists. We witness environmental racism and the reality that people in poverty and people of color bear the brunt of climate devastation despite contributing the least to the systemic problems that brought us here.

Many of us find ourselves numb and overwhelmed by the pain of the world that we love. In other words, we are experiencing ecological grief and climate anxiety— completely reasonable responses to deeply challenging truths.

As we grapple with our changing climate and the devastation of natural spaces, we may feel fear, sadness, anger, or a sense of despondency. We may feel burnt out. It may be difficult to plan for “the next thing.” It may be difficult to do anything other than try to “fix the problem,” making it impossible to rest. This is why recognizing and processing ecological grief is so important. Together, we can learn to navigate and be present to the world as it is—grounding our lives and activism, and perhaps, discovering something like hope in the process. As Francis Weller says, “grief and love are sisters.” By honoring our grief, we begin to reconnect to why we care in the first place. We reconnect to our love, and therefore, our purpose. 

We hope you’ll join us for a time of grieving in community together during our upcoming Eco-Grief Circle. Past participants expressed profound gratitude for being among people who could talk honestly about grief, suffering, and the ecological and social challenges of our time. Check out our upcoming offerings and register at the links below:

• 7-week circle utilizing scripture, sacred text, and ritual in the work of eco-grief beginning Monday, February 7th, from 7:00 – 8:15 pm. Register here.
• 7-week circle utilizing secular texts and ritual as support in eco-grief beginning Friday, February 11th, from 12:00 – 1:15 pm. Registration is full, but you can be added to out waiting list by clicking here