Networks and Organizations:
American Indian Institute /
Traditional Circles of Indian Elders and Youth
Bozeman, MT
In August 1977 at the Headwaters of the Missouri River, the Crow Nation hosted a gathering of approximately 35 Indian spiritual leaders. They had traveled to the gathering from the four directions. They worked together to forge the Two-Circle relationship between the Traditional Circle of Indian Elders and Youth and the American Indian Institute. The Traditional Circle of Indian Elders and Youth is composed of grassroots spiritual leaders from Indian nations throughout North America. Structured in the ancestral way, the Circle is open to all traditional Indian people. It serves as a living repository of indigenous wisdom and values. Its focus is exclusively on perpetuating traditional cultural and spiritual values.
Center for Respect of Life & Environment
Washington, D.C.
The Center for Respect of Life and Environment was founded in 1986 to foster an ethic of compassion toward all sentient beings and respect for the integrity of nature. This ethic urges each of us to expand our moral concern to future generations; to poor, oppressed and disenfranchised human beings; to animals, plants and the earth as a whole. With a particular focus on higher education and religious institutions, the Center promotes a humane and sustainable future for all members of the earth community. The Center is an affiliate of the Humane Society of the United States.
Dream Change
Whately, MA
Dream Change is a world wide grass roots movement of people from diverse cultures and backgrounds dedicated to shifting consciousness and promoting sustainable lifestyles for the individual and global community. The objective of inspiring earth-honoring changes in consciousness is accomplished through programs that educate and foster environmental and social balance. Dream Change was originated to encourage new ways of living.
Earth and Spirit Council
Portland, OR
The Earth & Spirit Council is an educational organization dedicated to deepening the connection with the natural world and promoting sustainable living. Formed in 1991, ESC's mission is "To reawaken our spiritual connection to the Earth and engage ourselves and others in Earth-conscious living." The Earth and Spirit Council differs from most environmental groups in that it emphasizes the spiritual dimension of life as the greatest untapped power for both meeting the challenge of protecting the Earth and calling humanity into a new relationship with the natural order. Though not affiliated with any particular religion or spiritual practice, Earth and Spirit Council instead provides a forum for all the worlds' practices to explore their common connection and commitment to protecting the environment.
Earth Charter
Stockholm, Sweden
The Earth Charter is a declaration of fundamental principles for building a just, sustainable and peaceful global society for the 21st century. Created by the largest global consultation process ever associated with an international declaration, endorsed by thousands of organizations representing millions of individuals, the Earth Charter seeks to inspire in all peoples a sense of global interdependence and shared responsibility for the well-being of the human family and the larger living world. The Earth Charter is an expression of hope and a call to help create a global partnership at a critical juncture in history.
Earth Sangha
Fairfax, VA
The Earth Sangha is a Buddhist environmental nonprofit. We are committed to practical environmental action that is informed with the Buddhist principles of nonviolence, tolerance, self-awareness, and compassion for other living things. ("Sangha" is the Buddhist term for congregation or community.) Our formal mission is to practice Buddhism in ways that help people become better stewards of the planet, and to do the practical environmental work that good stewardship demands. Our membership is open to everyone; many of our members are committed to religions other than Buddhism, and many have no apparent religious commitment at all.
Earth Scouts
Tampa, FL
Earth Scouts is a coed youth organization for 3 - 13 year olds. The mission of the Earth Scouts is to empower youth to learn about the Earth Charter, spread it's message, and participate in fun activities that will benefit themselves and the earth community. They will "Change the world one fun badge at a time."
EarthSpirit
Williamsburg, MA
EarthSpirit is a non-profit organization providing services to a nationwide network of Pagans and others following an Earth-centered spiritual path. Based in the Boston area, our membership extends across the United States, and also to several other countries. Paganism is a spiritual path rooted in ancient European traditions which have as their core a respectful awareness of the sacredness of the Earth. We experience ourselves and everything that exists as vital parts of the whole of Nature, understanding that all things in the universe interact in both a physical and spiritual relationship. Paganism has experienced a dramatic resurgence in the last few decades as many thousands of people have sought a spiritual context through which to address the current environmental crisis.
Encyclopedia of Earth
Washington, D.C.
The Encyclopedia of Earth is a new electronic reference about the Earth, its natural environments, and their interaction with society. The Encyclopedia is a free, fully searchable collection of articles written by scholars, professionals, educators, and experts who collaborate and review each other's work. The articles are written in non-technical language and will be useful to students, educators, professionals, as well as to the general public.
European Forum for the Study of Religion and the Environment
The European Forum for the Study of Religion and the Environment promotes scholarly and critical inquiry into the relationships between human beings and their diverse cultures, environments and religious beliefs and practices. There is a growing interest in the relationships between environmentally sustainable ways of living and established religious traditions, emerging trans-cultural and trans-local religious practices, and environmental spiritualities. Our goal is to foster interdisciplinary dialogues on human-environmental relationships and religion/nature/culture interactions.
Findhorn Foundation
Findhorn, Morayshire, Scotland
The Findhorn Foundation is a spiritual community, ecovillage and an international centre for holistic education, helping to unfold a new human consciousness and create a positive and sustainable future.
Forum on Religion and Ecology
Coordinated by Mary Evelyn Tucker and John Grim, Yale University
The Forum on Religion and Ecology is the largest international multireligious project of its kind. With its conferences, publications, and website it is engaged in exploring religious worldviews, texts, and ethics in order to broaden understanding of the complex nature of current environmental concerns. Publishes the World Religions and Ecology book series. FORE also operates a religion and ecology listserv that goes out to 4,500+ people.
Gardens for Humanity
Sedona, AZ
We at Gardens for Humanity are dedicated to building gardens with suitable art in places of need: schools, health care facilities, urban neighborhoods and on Native American homelands. We know from experience that when we connect with the earth--children, men, women, the sick and elderly--we find peace and healing, the restoration and strengthening of our hearts and spirits, of our wholeness.
The Great Story
The Great Story (also known as the Universe Story, Epic of Evolution, or Evolutionary Epic) is humanity's common creation story. It is the 14 billion year science-based sacred story of cosmic genesis, from the formation of the galaxies and the origin of Earth life, to the development of self-reflective consciousness and human technology, to the emergence of comprehensive compassion and tools to assist humanity in being a blessing [to] the larger body of life.
GreenFaith
New Brunswick, NJ
GreenFaith is New Jersey ’s interfaith coalition for the environment. Founded in 1992, we inspire, educate and mobilize people of diverse spiritual backgrounds to rediscover their relationship with the sacred in nature and to restore the earth for future generations. GreenFaith’s work arises from beliefs shared by the world’s great religions: Caring for the earth is a religious value. Environmental stewardship is a moral responsibility. Spirit - We grow spiritually through our relationship with the earth. Justice - Everyone has the right to live in a clean, safe environment. Stewardship - People of faith have a vital role to play in restoring healthy ecosystems around the world. Our programs are built around these three core values: Spirit, Justice and Stewardship in relation to the earth.
HealingEarth
Providence, RI
HealingEarth is dedicated to igniting compassionate, peaceful, and sustainable choices for all life on Earth through innovative educational programs and projects. In addition to our catalog of programs, we serve as a humane education resource and clearinghouse for youth, educators and organizations. Our unique programs awaken the heart and mind towards more conscious living. As we empower others to take compassionate action, HealingEarth is nurturing a world centered around respect and non-violence.
Imago
Cincinnati, OH
Imago was established in 1978 with the purpose of deepening our connection to Earth. From our beginning as a small grassroots organization to today we have stayed true to that vision. At Imago we fulfill our mission through a variety of innovative programs.
Indigenous Environmental Network
Bemidji, MN
A network of Indigenous Peoples empowering Indigenous Nations and communities towards sustainable livelihoods, demanding environmental justice and maintaining the Sacred Fire of our traditions.
Institute for Cultural Awareness
Cornville, AZ
ICA is a non-profit organization that provides a safe and healthy environment for cultural exchange and healing bridging the gap between elders and the children. We provide a multicultural environment offering self-awareness, healing, and preserving sacred sites bringing back the celebration of life.
International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture
Gainsville, FL
The International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature and Culture promotes critical inquiry into the relationships among human beings and their diverse cultures, environments, and religious beliefs and practices. Activities include publication of a newsletter, and other events to promote interdisciplinary communication, discussion and research. Affiliated with the University of Florida graduate program in religion and nature.
Living Earth
Portland, OR
Living Earth's mission is to cultivate awareness of interdependence, empower full-hearted activism, and nurture the movement toward a just, ecologically rooted, culturally vibrant future. We present public events that challenge existing cultural models, strengthen community, enrich spiritual awareness, and stimulate creative alternatives for conducting our personal, political, economic, and cultural affairs.
Natural Capital Institute
Sausalito, CA
The Natural Capital Institute serves the people who are transforming the world. We are a team of researchers, teachers, students, activists, scholars, writers, social entrepreneurs, artists, and volunteers committed to the restoration of the earth and the healing of human culture. We do two things: we describe pathways of change in books and research reports, and we create tools for connecting the individuals, information, and organizations that create change. To that end, NCI is creating WISER: the World Index for Social and Environmental Responsibility. It is a commercial-free, community-editable series of platforms where people, civil society, the private sector, and government can collaboratively define, address, and solve social and environmental problems.
The Wolf Clan Teaching Lodge Inc, is a non-profit educational institution which is dedicated to preserving and disseminating the teachings of the Seneca Indian Historical Society. The Seneca are one of the original Nations of the Five Nation Peace League of the Hadenosaune, known to European Colonists as the Iroquois Confederacy. The Seneca were acknowledged as the Philosophers of the League and lived primarily in the Western region of
The New School, Commonweal
Bolinas, CA
Commonweal is a health and environmental research institute where for three decades we have worked at the interface of personal and planetary healing through focused initiatives in the environment, healing and health. The intention of the New School at Commonweal is to create a growing tapestry of interwoven conversations and experiences that nourish the body, the mind and the heart in ways that move us individually and collectively toward the consciousness we seek. We are creating a series of recorded interviews and in-person gatherings to explore these shared interests.
The Pachamama Alliance
San Francisco, CA
The Pachamama Alliance two-fold mission: to preserve the Earth's tropical rain forests by empowering the indigenous people who are its natural custodians; to contribute to the creation of a new global vision of equity and sustainability for all.
Partnership for Earth Spirituality
Albuquerque, NM
The Partnership for Earth Spirituality is a non-profit membership organization which brings together people from various religious traditions, ages, cultures and economic backgrounds to promote a better understanding of the interdependence of ecology and spirituality. The Partnership's vision is explored through retreats, forums, seasonal rituals, wilderness experiences, programs for children, hands-on projects and education for sound environmental policies.
Regenerative Design Institute
Bolinas, CA
The Regenerative Design Institute is a non-profit educational organization with the vision that all people can live in a mutually enhancing relationship with the earth. We envision a world in which people, inspired by nature, create and maintain healthy and abundant livelihoods that enhance fertility and biodiversity on the planet. We envision humans as a positive, healing presence on the Earth, creating more abundance on the planet than would be possible without them.
Sacred Earth Network
Petersham, MA
Sacred Earth Network (SEN) strives to empower people to work in defense of the biosphere and to create a sustainable cultures. Our activities are rooted in two core beliefs: 1) that all of Nature is sacred and must be treated with respect and honor, and 2) that humanity must quickly restructure its relationship with the miraculous, interconnected living system that is our Earth.
Saq' Be' - Organization for Mayan and Indigenous Spiritual Studies
Santa Fe, NM
Saq'Be' is a Mayan term referring to the white/sacred road, the Milky Way and the spiritual path of one's life. Saq' Be' serves to educate the public on current Indigenous struggles, assist Indigenous communities in the preservation of their spiritual traditions, and arrange for meetings and exchanges between spiritual leaders of Indigenous communities and the general public, with an emphasis on involving young adults. The organization's current focus is working with the highland Maya of Guatemala whose traditional ways are being threatened.
Sirmiq Aattuq, Melting the Ice In the Heart of Man LLC
Kalaallit Nunaat, Greenland
Sirmiq Aattuq is a company founded by Angaangaq, an Eskimo-Kalaallit Elder whose family belongs to the healers and Shamans of the Far North from Kalaallit Nunaat, Greenland. Sirmiq Aattuq is committed to preserving Mother Earth and all who live on her, by creating Healing Circles through intensives, and through our participation in international symposia and environmental preservation and education programs. Sirmiq Aattuq, Melting the Ice in the Heart of Man LLC is founded on the practices and teachings of the Eskimo-Kalaallit people, a peaceful culture that has never known war. Rooted in traditions that are thousands of years old, the teachings speak to the need for personal and global transformation for the times to come.
Sisters of Earth
Sisters of Earth (SOE) is an informal network of women who share a deep concern for the ecological and spiritual crisis of our times and who wish to support one another in work toward healing the human spirit and restoring Earth's life support systems. We are teachers, gardeners, artists, writers, administrators, workshop givers, monastics, activists, mothers . . . in the
Spirit in Nature
East Middlebury, VT
The focal point of Spirit in Nature's mission is to educate the community about the environment through the vehicle of traditional religions, and to promote action based on spiritually-sensitive concern for the environment. Our long term goal for Spirit in Nature is to provide a model which can be replicated across North America and which will strengthen the response of traditional religious communitees to the current environmental crisis. Ultimately, we are committed to experiencing nature, and to education. We hope that dialogues within and among the religious groups will lead to action resulting in significant local changes for the betterment of our environment.
Sunray
Bristol, VT
Sunray is an international spiritual society dedicated to planetary peace. Home fire of the Green Mountain Aniyunwiwa and a Tibetan Buddhist Dharma center of the Nyingma and Drikung Kagyu schools, Sunray is composed of three distinct schools: Native American Studies, Buddhist Studies, and Healing Arts. Sunray Practices embody three ancient intact spiritual lineages. The common thread: teaching practical mens to realize compassion and right relationship with Earth and all relations.
Tewa Women United
Santa Fe, NM
Tewa Women United (TWU) started as a gathering of women from the Northern New Mexico Pueblos, who believed in the inherent power of Tewa women and who felt the need to enhance their strengths through a circle of trust, love, hope, forgiveness and sharing. TWU believes our true traditional past practiced no separation of intellect and intuition - the head from the heart, nor the separation of the people from their spirituality. In order to nurture the harmony of all life with oneness of spirit in the relationship of natural law, we must nurture the future generations through our traditional way of spiritual living.
Tierra Sagrada - The Sacred Earth Foundation
Santa Barbara, CA
Our mission: Preserve the knowledge, rights and customs of indigenous peoples; conserve the environments of their territories; educate the public about the great diversity of indigenous cultures and the rich contributions they have to offer.
Whidbey Institute
Clinton, WA
In a time of great peril and great promise, the Whidbey Institute is a place of deep inquiry and inspiration dedicated to the transformation of heart, mind, and culture that is now needed for the creation of a more sustainable, just and fruitful future for all. We are committed to the emergence of a new and right relationship between the natural and social world through the development of vital communities and the formation of courageous, creative, and competent leadership on behalf of the whole earth community.
Whirinaki Rainforest Community
Whirinaki River Basin, North Island, New Zealand
We, the children of the Whirinaki are the future Kaitiaki (guardians) of the forest. We are doing some radical things in our School and community to make sure that our forest, culture and wisdom is preserved and shared forever. Our ancestors have belonged to this place for almost 1000 years. Our Iwi invites you to come not just as a tourist, but to mutually share our rich heritage. Ours is one that has been passed down orally over many generations. Whirinaki Rainforest Community also developed Tipu Ake, a model for leadership and dynamic change in innovative organizations, based on the forest ecology lifecycle.
Wolf Clan Teaching Lodge
World Commission on Global Consciousness and Spirituality
Haverford, PA
The Commission seeks to inspire consciousness of the wholeness of the human family and the sacred tapestry of all life. This spirituality is the foundation of a global consciousness that honors the wisdom found in the world's traditions, cultures and disciplines. The World Commission on Global Consciousness and Spirituality cultivates a growing community of people from diverse cultural, religious, disciplinary and spiritual orientations to promote global wisdom, vision and values. The Commission is action oriented and acknowledges awakening consciousness and spirituality as transformative powers for the common good.
