Many of us long for a way to integrate our spiritual practice and life with our deep concern for the ecological crisis that is upon us, with its attendant challenges and losses. We want to find creative ways to serve in these difficult times – to support those in grieving, offer hope where there is despair, and celebrate the sacredness and beauty of Earth.
The Kinship activity has been collaborating with leaders of other Inayatiyya activities to design a program that responds to this calling to serve. We are “field testing” a program that enhances the skills of participants to provide comfort, support, understanding, and renewal to humans and other life forms impacted by the ecological crisis. A small cohort of 10 people are giving feedback to the design as they participate in a prototype of this program. The framework is built on Hazrat Inayat Khan’s five stages of kinship, and incorporates teachings from Murshid and related resources to ground us in our interconnectivity with all life. Currently, leaders in Universal Worship, Zira’at, and the Inner School are actively contributing to the design and content of this program.
We hope to offer this training to all who are interested in the spring of 2024. Our goal is to create a cadre of EarthResponders who will support and serve their local human and other-than-human communities distressed by climate change, species extinction, and other environmental disruptions. We seek to:
- Deepen our connection with the natural world;
- Celebrate and learn from the natural world and nature-based wisdom traditions;
- Uphold the truth about humanity’s impact on the natural world; and
- Foster hope that can lead to committed action grounded in the unfolding reality of ecological destruction.
If you are interested in knowing more about what is likely to be a six-week training program, including seven Zoom sessions, contact Rabia Povich.