Full Description
This book takes readers on a journey that is part storytelling, part academic analysis, and part spiritual exploration. The authors identify the climate emergency as a breakdown in spiritual consciousness which fails to recognize our deep interconnection with Nature. To meet this crisis of spirit, Storying Our Relationship with Nature serves as a guide for transforming ourselves and our lives through story and highlights the importance of social and emotional aspects of environmental education.
The authors introduce the philosophical and historical foundations of our objectification of Nature as a commodity and describe the effect this view has on our lives. They detail a path forward through storytelling, contemplative practice, Eastern philosophy, and the transformative power of education. Throughout the book, reflective activities provide a space for the reader to personalize their learning, leading the reader towards the book's central message: once we learn to consciously re-story our relationship with Nature, we can transform our cultural narrative of fatalism and greed into one of love, determination, and possibility, helping us move towards a sustainable future.
Contents
Introduction
Act I: Understanding Where We Are Now
Scene 1: Setting the Scene: Stories That Have Formed Us Culturally & Personally
Scene 2: Considering the Spirit: Stories That Have Formed Us Spiritually
Act II: Envisioning A Path Forward
Scene 3: Inspiration: Stories of Possibility & Love
Scene 4: Spiritual Strength: Tools for Accessing Inner Wisdom
Interlude: 2 Stories
Act III: From Root to Branch: Considering the Myriad Ways We Learn to Be
Scene 5: Four Influences on Children Today: Family, School, Environment, & Screens
Scene 6: Stories from Students in Beijing: Exploring the Hidden Messages of Traditional Curriculum
Scene 7: Three Inspirational Models of Education: Contemplative Education, Democratic Schooling, & Universities
Act IV: Restorying for Change
Scene 8: "Re-storying" Our Lives: What Does It Mean & How Does it Work? (A Beginner's Guide)
Scene 9: Storying Yourself into Spiritual Balance with Nature: Inspiration for Writing Your Story
Conclusion
References
Index
