Human-Nature Conversations

When, as human beings, we make a decision that also impacts on non-human living beings, involving these types of actors in the decision-making process, just as we do with the various human stakeholders, could make a difference in the results that are achieved.

But we need a way to get in touch with and listen to beings with whom we have little connection with, at least in the culture associated with the paradigm of infinite economic growth. 

Some ideas to practise Human-Nature conversations

With Human-Nature conversations practice we try to give voice to non-human living beings: plants, animals, ecosystems… When, as human beings, we make a decision that also impacts on non-human living beings, we feel it is important to be able to involve these types of actors in the decision-making process, just as we do with the various human stakeholders. 

Human-Nature conversations practice consists of a set of different ways to get in touch with and listen to non-human living beings. There can be different ways of contacting and listening to non-human living beings with respect to a topic under discussion. With this practice we want to explore and propose ways to do this, drawing inspiration from deep ecology, the Work That Reconnects, group facilitation, and participatory and deliberative processes.

We use body practices, guided visualisations, and dialogue practices through the facilitation of group dynamics. Those are facilitated practices that will accompany participants in gradually getting in touch with, embodying, and listening to non-human living beings.

Most activities draw inspiration from the Work That Reconnects (WTR), a body of practices that is well established and that has been used in different contexts. As WTR facilitators, we have practiced with the Council of All Beings and other WTR activities. Some others are at an experimentation stage and need more feedback to be established in a more stable structure.

You can use the below resources to become more skilled at this. Explore them at your own leisure.

• Hearing Unheard Voices in Climate Assemblies Workshop | KNOCA

• Animals in the Room
• Council of All Beings | The Work That Reconnects
• The Politics of the Anthropocene book
• Exiting the Anthropocene? Exploring fundamental change in our relationship with nature |EEA

There will be another online workshop with us in collaboration with KNOCA and Missions Publiques on the topic, to be scheduled in 2024.

We offer trainings and Work That Reconnects experiences in Italy (Italian) at the moment, but our working languages are English and Spanish, and we could also think of experiences in different languages.

The Transition Movement Virtual Platform could also provide opportunities to keep in touch and keep exploring this topic.