Full of Wonder
Discoveries of the Soul and Radical Agency in Nature
Testimonials from last year's course:
"I think the course was beautifully held and I enjoyed the range of explorations we were offered. The communication was clear and I felt safe and held in accessing the location which could be an issue for some. I really enjoyed Laura's warm, gentle and playful facilitation and the sense of her personal engagement with the group."
"I loved the breadth of different exercises covered, every session was different which was fun. Particularly loved the paired exercises."
"I think Laura has the right balance with nature connection and environmental awareness."
As the crickets' soft autumn hum
is to us
so are we to the trees
as are they
to the rocks and the hills.
Gary Snyder
Welcome to dive deeper into your soul, radical agency and surrounding living community of beings.
The perception of human being as part of nature gets often reduced to a form of destroyer. Our aim is to shed light on new possibilities of dimensions and visions of humanity. We take a leap from destroyer to radical agency, the so-called unswayed protector archetype. Nature needs us and we are necessary for nature, cosmos and earth. We are interested in question of how to be for the service of the earth in most beautiful and eloquent ways that enrich the soul.
Throughout the course we will investigate our relationship with nature through shared activities, sharing and inquiry. We explore meaningful and soulful ways to arrive in relationship with ourselves and other living beings. This relationship will be touched from many angles that are necessary for our belonging: taking a refuge in nature, embracing the pain, sensing with empathy, re-enchanting of meaning in nature and connecting with our deepest desires and agency within the realm of ethical consideration. You will have an opportunity to meet yourself deeply: what's unique about me as a being of this universe? What gravitates me towards less separation and more love in the world? What nourishes beauty in my life?
This quest will open possibilities for embodied ways of intuitive and rational knowing, broader senses of self and the world around us imbedded in mystical and poetic sensibility, and awakened mind-heart full of potential.
Course dates:
Sunday 15 June 3-7pm
Thursday 19 June 5-8pm
Thursday 26 June 5-8pm
Sunday 6 July 1-6pm
Location for the first meeting is in Dartington estate. Meet at the Deer Park -sign near to the Aller Park car park (coordinates: 50.4545842, -3.6920243). Place can be easily accessed for example by bike, bus or car (shared car rides are negotiable).
Maximum amount of participants is 10 people.
The course is offered free of charge. As a participant you are expected to take part into PhD research which means that the participant gives consent for data collection during the course. Thank you for your contribution to the study given by trees and bestowed on our shared home.
Please contact Laura for any questions: toropainen.laura@tuni.fi
The course will be guided by PhD researcher Laura Toropainen from Finland. Laura's study focuses on so called deep ecological self around planetary social pedagogics in Tampere University. Currently Laura serves as a coordinator in meditation center Gaia House in West Ogwell. She has practiced in insight meditation tradition with various teachers since 2018. Laura has experience of guiding nature workshops for teachers and students. Laura's wish is to bring a breeze of the Nordic human-nature connection and discover Dartmoor's nature myths experientially together with the local community.