Deep Ecology

 

Next Meeting - please see the Whats On page - click here

 

We meet on the second Sunday of each month. Open to all - please come and find out what we're up to. We are a friendly bunch.

Venue: Friends Meeting House, Meeting House Lane, Lancaster.

Group Contact: Margaret Lyth,
email: margaret.lyth@btinternet.com

 

The Deep Ecology group is inspired by Joanna Macy’s work which she calls “The Work that Reconnects”. We use her book but also rely on the input and inspiration of other people including group members.

The result of the shock and distress that many people feel when they recognise the depth of the crisis we all face, has been called ‘The Medusa Effect’ by George Marshall. It means we become paralyzed by fear and helplessness. “The Work that Reconnects” is designed to break through this and move us from depression and apathy to compassion and action.

Underlying the work is an assumption that we are all connected to each other and our environment, so we can all respond individually in a way that will help the whole. It helps us move from ‘I can’t’ to ‘We can’, thus releasing our creativity and passion for change.

Joanna’s model leads us from gratitude for what we have, through honouring our pain for the global situation, to seeing with new eyes and then going forth, feeling renewed and maybe with possible actions planned.

We don’t stick rigidly to this, but we have found it works well. It gives us a strengthening backdrop to our practical efforts to ease the transition to a low carbon, energy efficient, more connected local society, as well as bringing us into contact with like-minded people.

Each session is either led by someone in the group who has volunteered on a pre-arranged basis, or is a ‘Jacob’s Join’ where we all bring along exercises, readings, meditations or anything relevant we’d like to share with group. It is not a personal therapy gathering, though feelings are allowed and we all participate in exploring the issues.

The group is open, which means people can come along for a taster, or become regular attenders. If you want to come along, just turn up, you’ll be very welcome. However, at the request of the caretaker of the Meeting House,we do have to lock the outside door. Also, we use an upstairs room and can’t hear anyone knocking, so be on time or warn a group member in advance!

The room is paid for by occasional requests for donations, which seem to work. We have been going for nearly two years.