Join John Craig Holdrege, founder and director of the Nature Institute, and educator in delicate empiricism and Goethean phenomenology, to explore freedom and responsibility for the earth at Sophia Mundi Steiner School, St. Heliers St. Abbotsford.

Special bushfire crisis offer – $30 to anyone under 40 years or those affected by fires. (Includes lunch and snacks.)

Talk only – $25/$15 (conc) 17/1/19

Talk & Workshop – $85/$60 (conc) 17/1/19 & 18/1/19

Evening Talk – From Nature as Object to Nature as Presence: A scientist’s journey

As a young man in the early twentieth century, Aldo Leopold viewed nature as something to exploit for human interests. His views and actions transformed radically over time. He came to view life on earth as a community of interwoven beings. He was instrumental in the formation of Wilderness area in the United States.  What were the key moments and experiences in his life that allowed this radical transformation? In this talk Craig will depict Leopold’s inner and outer journey, from which we can learn a great deal.

Saturday Workshop

Building on the Friday evening talk, we will consider the dilemma that our thoughts and actions have become so disconnected from the wisdom that lies at the heart of the natural world. Can we become more aware of the modern habits of mind that often lead to destructive actions? How do we transcend such habits? What faculties can we develop so that the myriad voices of the earth begin to transform our perceptions, thoughts and actions? We will engage in exercises to enhance our attentiveness both to phenomena in the world and our own thinking processes.

Craig Holdrege, Ph.D., is co-founder and director of the Nature Institute in Ghent, NY. He is deeply interested in the interconnnected nature of things and how we can understand life in truly living ways as a basis for responsible human action. His studies of plants and animals, as well as  his commentaries on scientific thinking and perception and a deep respect for our fellow creatures.  He was a Waldorf high school teacher for 21 years and is active in teacher education programs. Craig is the author of books, monographs and many articles. His most recent books are: Thinking Like a Plant: A Living Science for LIfe and Do Frogs Come From Tadpoles? Rethinking Origins in Development and Evolution.

The Nature Institute, founded in 1998, is nonprofit organisation in Ghent, New York (natureinstitute.org). At the Institute we work to transform the capacities of thinking and observation to gain an intimate, living understanding of the naturalworld that can form the basis of a deepened sense of responsibility toward nature.  We develop phenomenological and contextual approaches to understanding and interacting with nature, and provide commentary on one-sided and narrow technological “answers” to today’s problems. We carry out research, offer adult education programs, and produce publications.

Booking: https://www.trybooking.com/BGCVS

or contact Tanya Coburn tanya.clare@email.org.au or 0422 019 970.

Further information about Craig Holdrege:  https://natureinstitute.org/about/staff/choldrege.htm