‘Introducing ecological ethics and the values within nature’

Tuesday 12th March, 7-9pm, St Johns Hall, Bathwick, Bath, BA2 6PT

An opportunity to explore diverse sources of value within nature. Where do values emerge from? Are humans the only source or bearers of value? What might it mean to take an ecologically-centred approach to ethics and values, rather than a human-centred one? What are our ethical obligations and responsibilities towards nature and the nonhuman world? We’ll explore Arne Naess’ contrast between shallow and deep ecology.

Paul Reid-Bowen, ecophilosopher, will describe and discuss these ideas, and Rosie Jones, ecological psychologist, will offer an experiential practice in which we can explore some aspects for ourselves.

‘Introducing religion, spirituality and nature’

Tuesday 26th March, 7-9pm, St Johns Hall, Bathwick, Bath, BA2 6PT

Many people report a spiritual relationship with nature, but how have different spiritual traditions and communities understood the natural and nonhuman worlds? Come along to this session for an introduction to two major spiritual orientations towards nature: those of indigenous and animist cultures, and those of the Jewish and Christian monotheistic traditions. While recognising diversity within each orientation, we’ll highlight certain features, such as the sense of an extended more-than-human community in indigenous traditions; and ideas of dominating,, being good stewards, or helping co-create the world, in monotheistic (one God)  traditions.

Paul Reid-Bowen, ecophilosopher, will describe and discuss these ideas, and Rosie Jones, ecological psychologist, will offer an experiential practice in which we can explore some aspects for ourselves.

About Regenerate Workshops

Regenerate sessions are a series of workshops and talks to inspire and empower action in support of life. If you are involved in ecological or social projects, community organising, activism, or would like to move your life in a more regenerative direction, these sessions are for you.

Each session will focus on a different theme, and you are welcome to join for any or all of the sessions. Most will involve some experiential components, as well as teaching, with opportunities to reflect on how the material relates to you or your contribution to the world.

Our aim is to resource ourselves with frameworks, concepts and practices that can inform how we contribute to reducing the harms happening to Earth and people, and to building the foundations of a regenerative society.

Sessions will include eco-philosophy, the Work That Reconnects, relating to our grief for the world, living systems thinking, tools and frameworks for ‘power-with’ collaborative working, regenerative economics, and more.

Past workshops

Tuesday 27th February 2024

‘Introducing ecological philosophy, what it is and why it matters.’

Come along and take the opportunity to consider some different ways of thinking about nature and the nonhuman world. Is the Earth alive, a self-organising superorganism? Has the world already ended in some sense? What kinds of things have agency? Can politics accommodate nonhumans? How exceptional and special are homo sapiens? From among several sources, we will consider James Lovelock and Lynn Margulis’s Gaia theory, Timothy Morton’s Dark Ecology, Jane Bennett’s vibrant materialism and the amazing worlds of octopuses and slime moulds.

Tuesday 13th February 2024

The three stories of our time and the role of radical uncertainty in a complex world – based on the Work That Reconnects

An experiential workshop to explore how to relate to the complexity of the world’s predicament. How do we decide what to do when we cannot be certain of the outcome? What beliefs underpin the stories of the ‘Industrial Growth Society’, the ‘Great Unravelling’ and the ‘Great Turning’? Exploring myths of separation, scarcity and powerlessness. Rosie Jones will introduce some of these ideas and offer experiential practices to feel into alternatives.

Tuesday January 23rd 2024

Reflective workshop – based on the Work That Reconnects

Our first session offers a reflective space for the new year. We will offer guided gratitude practices, space for sharing feelings about the world, resourcing though a guided deep ecology meditation, and explore our individual intentions for the new year.