The accounts are painful to read. Thousands of deaths of North Coast seabirds due to heatwave. Fires in California. Physical borders dislodging animals from their natural habitat.

It overwhelms us. Freezes us. We know action is needed, but before we begin, before we continue, we can give ourselves the space to come back to the center, to open our hearts in community and grieve these many environmental losses.

During our time together, we will write, read and discuss poems and essays, and we’ll offer gratitude for this big blue marble we share and call home.

Readings will include adrienne maree brown, Francis Weller, Mary Oliver, Wendell Barry, Joy Harjo to name a few, and we'll talk about our fears and hopes for the environmental future. We will write together and offer each other feedback. Finally, we will turn to organizations and ritual activists to learn how we can make an impact. 

 *A note on food & lodging: Please bring a lunch and snacks each day. There is a refridgerator for our use. Participants are responsible for securing their own lodging. Sitka offers information on their website:  https://www.sitkacenter.org/about/lodging-and-food