When I was 27 years old, I moved from Montreal to Toronto to do my master’s in environmental studies. During orientation one of my supervisors (Dan Longboat) asked me where my connection to the natural world came from. I didn't have a very good answer back then. I probably said something about going to summer camp and our annual family hiking trip in Vermont. The truth was, I didn’t really have much of a relationship with the natural world, certainly not an intimate one. I was in grad school because I wanted to protect the earth from people, to fight for environmental justice and learn how to develop environmental policies and laws. I hadn’t given much thought to what a beneficial relationship between humans and the earth might look like.
I’ve spent the past 22 years living into that question. You see, I grew up in the suburbs of Montreal, under the flight path of 747s, surrounded by manicured lawns and swimming pools. By the time I was 12 years old, I was spending 2 hours a day commuting to and from school on public transit. I felt overwhelmed by all the noise and chaos around me and began tuning it out. Unfortunately, all the birds, trees and seasons got tuned out too. It's been a long process of reconnecting with myself, and the world around me.
Creative expression was a doorway.
Spending time outside noticing was a doorway.
Following my curiosity was a doorway.
In 2018 I read Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and felt inspired to bring people together to connect with the land. I wanted to know the flowers I encountered on my daily walks . I wanted to know the mountains, birds and rivers. I wanted to know all the trees. I gathered 15 women from around the world to join me on this Back To Earth journey and for 10 months we widened our circle of care through creative expression.
I'm excited to announce that in 2025 I will be offering four Back To Earth journeys. The first one begins this winter and runs for 5 weeks from January 24 to February 28 .
How it will flow:
each person chooses one being they would like to get to know more deeply. This could be a plant, animal, the sun, moon, wind, river etc...
meet weekly over zoom to create together and share our unique journey.
weekly creative practices including writing, mixed media collage, drawing, painting and photography. You do not need any previous art experience.
contribute to a collaborative art project.
If you're interested in knowing yourself and the land more deeply and would like to be part of a beautiful creative circle, please reach out. We start on Friday January 24 at 10 am MST.
Investment: $150 CAD ($105 USD)
*If there's enough interest, a second group that meets on Thursday evenings is possible.
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