October 10-11 | 10am-5pm | The Berkeley Alembic : Berkeley, California
The Rainforest Information Centre and the School for
The Great Turning present:
Two Day Deep Ecology
Weekend Workshop
with John Seed (remotely from Australia), Erika Aligno, Lydia Violet & guest facilitators Aryeh Shell, Constance Washburn, & Shams Kairys
"It is not enough to have ecological ideas, we have to have an ecological identity, an ecological self."
— Arne Naess, Emeritus Professor of Philosophy
Many people intellectually realize that we are inseparable from Nature and that the sense of separation that we feel is socially conditioned and illusory.
How can we Nourish our Ecological Identity?
In answer to such questions, Joanna Macy and John Seed developed a series of experiential deep ecology teachings, practices, and rituals known as the "Work That Reconnects/Deep Ecology Work," including the Council of All Beings," and in 1986, with Arne Naess and Pat Flemming, they wrote a book called Thinking Like A Mountain - Towards a Council of All Beings (which has been translated into 12 languages). Along with others, they have been facilitating these workshops around the world since.
Enter the Remarkable John Seed:
A note from Lydia: John Seed was a long-time friend and co-collaborator / developer with Joanna Macy of The Work That Reconnects (known as Deep Ecology in Australia). Now in his 80s, we’re honored that he’s anchoring us for this in-person workshop all the way from his home in Australia, via the magic of zoom. John will zoom in for a portion of Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.
John seed in his own words:
I am no longer flying to workshops. “In the flesh” facilitation will be by trusted colleagues with whom I have cofacilitated for years, I zoom in. This will be the 8th such workshop and reviews from the previous 7 indicate that absolutely nothing is lost except the carbon footprint 😊.
I have worked for worldwide rainforests since 1979. Although many of our efforts succeeded, for every forest saved, 100 have disappeared. Clearly, you can’t save the planet one forest at a time. It's one green Earth or a bowl of dust. Without a profound change of consciousness, we can kiss the forests goodbye, the ones we’ve "saved" alongside the rest.
Deep ecology is key to the change we need. To deep ecology, underlying all the symptoms of the environmental crisis lies a psychological or spiritual root – the illusion of separation from the rest of the natural world, which stems from anthropocentrism or human-centeredness.
While we maintain a self-image created in the matrix of anthropocentric culture, a shrunken and illusory sense of self that doesn't include the air and water and soil, we will experience nature as "outside" our self and fail to recognize that nature "out there" and nature "in here" are one and the same.
Over Two Days Together…
We'll retrace the evolutionary journey written into every one of our cells, a four-billion-year unbroken chain from the first fish that walked onto land, through the reptiles whose scales became fur, into the mammals we are now.
At the heart of the workshop is the Council of All Beings itself. Each of us will find an ally in the natural world, make a mask to represent them, and let that animal, plant, or landscape speak through us. The view of the world that emerges is often startlingly different from our own, and it tends to bring with it clear, creative direction for how we act when we go home.
We'll also sit with an essential practice: honoring our pain for the world.
Grieving the species lost, the landscapes that are gone. Thich Nhat Hanh once said that healing the Earth starts with hearing, inside ourselves, the sounds of the Earth crying. This workshop makes room for exactly that, not as despair, but as the doorway back into effective, rooted action.
By the end, the goal isn't a new idea about nature. It's an experience of your own inter-being with it.
And because this is a non-residential workshop, you'll return home each evening, carrying the day's practices with you and arriving back the next morning ready to go deeper.
In-Person Facilitators
Lydia and Erika will serve as the retreat's in-person facilitators, weaving together the practices, group process, and shared experience throughout the weekend. Guest facilitators Aryeh Shell, Constance Washburn, and Shams Kairys
Lydia Violet
A longtime student and colleague of Joanna Macy, Lydia spent more than seventeen years studying and teaching the Work That Reconnects, bringing it to thousands of participants through retreats, trainings, universities, climate organizations, and community gatherings around the world. As founder of School for The Great Turning, she is known for creating spaces where ecological grief, beauty, music, and deep inquiry become sources of resilience, belonging, and meaningful action.
Erika Aligno
Is a veteran of community legal centres, where she advocated for social justice, supporting people navigating systems not built for them. Over time, she has expanded her energy toward environmental justice. Her work in the environment sector and her studies in Environmental Management at UNSW led her to Deep Ecology, and in 2023 she began working closely with John Seed, the ‘Australian Father’ of Deep Ecology. They are both honored to help steward this gathering alongside John Seed, whose work has profoundly shaped their own paths.
Our Beautiful Venue
The Berkeley Alembic
A Non-Residential Workshop
This is a commuter-friendly format: no overnight accommodations needed. Join us for two full days of practice, and sleep in your own bed.
Daily schedule:
[TBD, start/end times each day]
Meals:
Participants will be invited to bring a bag lunch each day. We'll have tea and snacks available in the morning and afternoon sessions.
Register Now for October 10th-11th
Final Deadline to Register: Oct 3rd or until spaces fill.
Your registration covers venue and food costs and pays every facilitator, organizer, and tech support person a fair, livable wage.
Full Payment
$225
Standard Registration
2 Payments
$112.50 x 2
Payment every 2 weeks
Partial scholarship application available
Financial constraints shouldn't be what keeps you from this circle.
FAQ
Do I need any prior experience with deep ecology or ritual work?
No. This workshop is designed for newcomers and long-time practitioners alike. All you need is curiosity and a willingness to participate.
What actually happens during the Council of All Beings?
Each participant chooses an animal, plant, or landscape ally, makes a simple mask to represent them, and speaks from that being's perspective during a group council. No performance experience or artistic skill is required. Materials and guidance are provided.
How is this different from the October 1-4 retreat?
Same core practices, same lineage, condensed into two full days. This is a non-residential format, so there's no housing to book, and you go home each evening. If you can't commit to the full four-day residential retreat, this is your doorway in.
Do I need to attend the October 1-4 retreat first?
No. Each gathering stands fully on its own.
Will John Seed only be joining by video?
Yes. John joins remotely via Zoom while Erika and Lydia lead the room in person. Past workshops using this format have had strong feedback.
What's included in the registration fee?
Your registration covers the venue, facilitator fees, and snacks..
What if I can't afford the full registration fee?
We don't want cost to be a barrier. A partial scholarship application is available [click here].
What should I bring?
Comfortable clothing, a journal, water bottle, and a bag lunch.
Is this workshop suitable if I'm grieving or processing difficult emotions?
Yes. This work includes intentional space for grief and pain for the world, drawn from Joanna Macy's "Work That Reconnects." Facilitators are experienced in holding this work with care.
What's the cancellation/refund policy?
Full refund for up to 30 days before our start date, and 50% refund within the 30 day window.
Who do I contact with more questions?
Contact us here