Ecological Relatedness & Arts

ERA… creating space for the development of an ecological being’ness

A nature practice involves making space in our lives for an intentional and relational engagement with and amongst nature. It can be a deeply nourishing practice that supports the development of an embodied nature-relatedness which can evolve how we feel, cultivate the way in which we think, and inspire our attachment to the web of life. As we acclimatise to being amongst the living world our capacity to attune grows: we notice more, become more mindful, and over time our relationship with the more-than-human is profoundly deepened. Attuning in this way fosters an embodied state of being, offers up wisdom, and invites a shift in our perspective of who we are (as humans) within the ecological web.

Ecological Relatedness and Arts delivers a series of immersive, outdoor, seasonal sessions, supporting the development of a nature-relatedness through the facilitation of embodied mindfulness exercises, environmental expressive arts, and practices in participant’s local land between sessions. Working with the processes involved in Rites (such as thresholds between severance, liminal space and incorporation), sensing into the reciprocity of your relationship with the living earth, and allowing your own unique creative voice to express and respond is the bedrock of the nature practice offered here. Approaches that underpin ERA include eco-psychology, eco-philosophy, environmental expressive arts, rites of passage and somatic mindfulness.

ERA involves:

·         A nature-based structure providing opportunity for experiencing being amongst the ecological

·         Cultivating a personal nature practice through the seasons

·         Working creatively with expressive arts

·         Supporting the growth of an ‘ecological mind’

 
OPEN NOW FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST

Applications for 2025 opens on 1st December 2024

Registration closes 1st February 2025

Who can apply? ERA is for practitioners within the helping professions, such as psychotherapists, counsellors, arts therapists, psychologists, life coaches, teachers, outdoor education instructors, youth workers, and social workers etc… who take their work outdoors, or are wanting to develop an ecological practice to support their work.

Sessions are offered individually or in a group and runs as a series of nine sessions, attended on a monthly basis from March through to November.

Individual sessions: 3 hours (Total of 27 cpd hours)

Group sessions: 5 hrs. 10am - 4pm. 1 hr lunch. (Total of 45 cpd hours)

Based at Shining Cliff Woods, Ambergate, Derbyshire, UK.

Please get in touch to find out more, including information on fees, and to arrange an informal chat if you are interested to apply.

It is urgently understood that our species’ separation from nature is having very serious consequences on many levels. Restoring our relational position within the living earth feels like an appropriate response to our world in these times, providing the opportunity to develop a healthier affiliation with the natural world, as well as our own beings.

  • What people say about ERA

    Although I was very busy with work and family life when I engaged in ERA, I’m so glad I booked on as it has been so important to give myself time for being with my experience of nature. My commitment to my own nature practice in my local area was a sticking point for me and I struggled initially to give myself space for this. I came to realise that my difficulty with this was an important part of my process and I started protecting short moments of time in my day for pausing and being. I cannot state enough how much this has made a difference to my sense of my self in the world!  

  • What people say about ERA

    I really valued the spaciousness of the sessions.  There was structure but within it there was plenty of room for things to emerge.  I found that I could settle into a new way of being and relating to the world around me. Rather than me as a human imposing on the landscape, or nature being there for me to see, sit in etc, i could start to see myself as one living thing in a space full of other living things all just existing and being.  It was very profound and enabled a new receptivity to develop in me that has followed me in other aspects of my life.  I loved the experience of looking for thresholds and finding different ways to consciously move into another way of being and responding to the world around me. Thank you Natasha!

  • What people say about ERA

    Before doing ERA I would say I had a sensitive relationship with nature. Engaging in this process has opened my eyes to a different sense of being amongst nature that has helped me be in contact with myself as an animal! I loved how it was tailored to me and my process - not a course which I had to fit into. Doing ERA has given me greater confidence to take my therapy practice outside! Thank you! (SJ)