Natural History, Reciprocal Healing, and a Sense of Kinship

Natural history — a practice of intentional, focused attentiveness and receptivity to the more-than- human world, guided by honesty and accuracy — is the oldest continuous human tradition. Marginalized during the last century, it has re-emerged as a critical component of effective natural sciences, and a contributor to healthy individuals and societies.

In this talk by NHI Emeritus Director Dr. Tom Fleischner, we will explore how the practice of natural history connects us with the rest of the world – how it fosters a sense of kinship and reciprocity with the more-than-human world, and how the practice of natural history might promote healing for both ourselves and the world.

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Dr. Tom Fleischner is the Senior Advisor & Director Emeritus of the Natural History Institute, and Faculty Emeritus at Prescott College. Much of his work over the past few years has focused on revitalizing the practice of natural history. He edited two anthologies on the importance of natural history: Nature, Love, Medicine: Essays on Wildness and Wellness, and The Way of Natural History. Recently, Tom had the honor of addressing the United Nations Science Summit on the importance of natural history. He was also recently elected as a Fellow of the Linnean Society of London.

In 2020, Tom co-edited a special issue of the Ecopsychology journal on “Reciprocal Healing: Nature, Health, and Wild Vitality” that grew out of the national confluence convened by the Natural History Institute on this topic. He has also been a contributor to the Kinship Project of the Center for Humans and Nature.

This talk is part of our “Healing the Earth, Healing Ourselves” series. Sign up for other events in the series on their Eventbrite pages, linked below.

Healing the Earth, Healing Ourselves

A reciprocal healing series from the Natural History Institute

There is a growing awareness of the positive mental, physical, and physiological benefits that humans can reap from time spent in nature. Join the Natural History Institute in this new series where we ask: how can we heal ourselves in nature? And how can we, in all gratitude, work to heal the earth? Joined by a writer and philosopher, a local nonprofit, our partners at Prescott National Forest, and mindfulness leaders, we explore how to heal and how to give back.

Other events in the series:

4/12 – Gratitude – “Gratitude is a Way of Life,” a webinar conversation with philosopher and nature writer Kathleen Dean Moore. FREE.

Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/586178705287

5/13 – Healing the Earth – a volunteer erosion-control project in collaboration with Friends of the Verde River and Prescott National Forest. Participants will spend the morning helping to build loose rock structures and distributing seed balls. FREE.

Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/586189367177

6/10 – Healing Ourselves – “Homecoming: A Journey of Reconnection,” a day-long workshop with Grace Burford & Carol Russell. Participants will anchor in gratitude and experience mindfulness in nature through practices rooted in deep ecology, ancient wisdom, and systems thinking. $75

Sign up here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/586216999827