Earthkeepers: Ecospiritual Practice

is a program of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Gainesville, FL (UUFG) to create and support an open community of people of any religious affiliation, or none, sharing a need to deepen and embody together the spiritual aspect of our relationship to our ecology. If you’re in the North Central Florida area, please join us each Sunday afternoon. We need each other.

“Earthkeepers: Ecospiritual Practice” was initially organized by Dylan Klempner, Pete Taylor, Melody Thompson, and UUFG minister Rev. Meredith Garmon. We were inspired by Bron Taylor’s Dark Green Religion (2010), and sought a way to bring people together to cultivate and encourage the spread of ever-deepening ecospirituality.

Ecospirituality

Ecospirituality is
recognition of our spiritual connection to nature.

Ecospirituality is characterized by:

• knowing and honoring the sacredness of the earth and the life it supports;
• the deep sense of place, of belonging, that comes from understanding the ways we are part of an ecological web of interdependence;
• experiences of awe, wonder, and beauty evoked by the natural world and the interdependence of its parts;
• an ethical commitment to environmental activism to preserve and protect the earth and its creatures.

Read. Gather. Experience. Write. Act.

Ecospiritual practice is
Reading ecospiritual texts; Gathering with others in support of deepening ecospirituality; getting out and Experiencing natural settings; Writing regularly in an ecospiritual journal; and taking Action to protect this planet we love.

READ.

• Read to learn factual information about ecology and the condition of our environment, to learn what can be done, and to inspire a greater sense of spiritual connection. See our “Weekly Reader” pages and our recommended books page;

GATHER.

• Come together with others for learning and solidarity. See our News Page for info on local gathering;

EXPERIENCE.

• Get out into natural settings — wilderness, whenever possible; also experience the practices you can do in your neighborhood and home (see our Practices page);

WRITE.

• Keep a journal to record your reflections and experiences; see our Practices Page for exercises that include journaling;

ACT.

• Take steps both personally and politically to reduce your “footprint,” and to encourage our elected leaders to legislate protections of our earth.

And always — before, during, and after each of these — reflect. Take to heart what you’re learning; draw from the heart to express.

Our Gatherings

Public gatherings began in 2011 November. The gatherings are now monthly, on the first Sunday of the month at 5:00pm (during months we’re on Daylight Savings Time), or 4:00pm (during months we’re on Standard Time).

Some of our gatherings are at

Unitarian Universalist Fellowship
“Fire Circle” — or, in case of inclement weather, ”Common Room”
4225 NW 34th St
Gainesville, FL 32605

Other gatherings are outdoors in various parks in the Gainesville area. Outdoor practice may feature such activities as guided walking meditations, group creativity, journaling, or shared reflection.

News

The “News” section provides:

• descriptions and location of our next gathering;
• suggestions of exercises to do and journal about to expand and deepen your ecological consciousness.

Subscribe to the e-newsletter: HERE.
“Like” our Facebook page: HERE.