An online evening with Myriam Gualinga, sharing how women in the Amazon gather and mobilise to protect their land, rivers & way of life

INDIGENOUS WOMEN AT THE FRONTLINE: A FEMININE RESPONSE TO THE THREAT TO THE AMAZON

We are delighted & honoured to welcome and host Myrian Gualinga, president of the Women’s Association of Kuriñampi of the Kichwa Community of Sarayaku, who will talk about women gathering and mobilising to protect their way of life and the Amazon.

Background:

Across the Amazon rainforest, women — mothers, sisters, elders, daughters and young leaders — are protecting their territories and defending their water and ancestral land, reviving and preserving their way of life and traditions to secure the future of their peoples and the land they so closely inhabit.

Under the current regime of neo liberal President Daniel Neboa, the rights of indigenous people of the Amazon and the Sierra have been drastically diminished; including removals of the subsidies for food and fuel and putting the Amazon up for sale to extractive oil and mining industries. These come at a huge cost to the rainforest, including the rivers and the people who inhabit the lands for millennia.

A national strike and extensive violence against indigenous protestors and communities is ongoing. Indigenous women stand at the heart of resistance, weaving feminine, creative ways of courage and their care for life into action.

About the talk and Myrian Gualinga

At Sacred Earth Activism, we are honoured to welcome Myrian Gualinga, president of the Women’s Association of Kuriñampi of the Kichwa Community of Sarayaku which gained recognition from its case in 2012 against Ecuador in the InterAmerican court of human rights.

With the assistance of Lindsey Vandita, Myrian will share about her life as a Sacha Warmi (woman of the rainforest) and the ways the women gather and mobilise in order to protect their families and their way of life, which is intricately connected to the well-being of the land (Sumak Allpa).

Our intention

Our intention is to give a platform for the voices of the Amazon women and their movement to be heard and shared.

Join us to listen and learn, to connect, share messages of support, and explore how we can stand with them in this critical moment for people and planet.

The event is free of charge, but if you can please donate (no matter how small the amount). All donations will go to the women's association in the Amazon

A monthly space for Sacred Earth Activists to connect, vision, network, collaborate and help to co-create and grow our sacred actions

Join us for our October meeting and join with Sacred Earth Activists to connect, vision, network, collaborate and help to co-create and grow our sacred actions. Hosted by Jon and others from Sacred Earth Activism CIC.

Join us to hold space, take action, and weave the sacred into the web of change.

Register via Eventbrite link below

A monthly space for Sacred Earth Activists to connect, vision, network, collaborate and help to co-create and grow our sacred actions

Join us for our July meeting and join with Sacred Earth Activists to connect, vision, network, collaborate and help to co-create and grow our sacred actions. Hosted by Jon and others from Sacred Earth Activism CIC.

This month we will be catching up on news and updates after our summer break and looking ahead to the rest of 2025.

World Rivers Day

We will also be joined by Kate from Sacred Earth Activism for updates and some ritual action to support the upcoming World Rivers Day on the 28th of September.

https://worldriversday.com/

Join us to hold space, take action, and weave the sacred into the web of change.

Register via Eventbrite link below

Sacred Earth Activism is holding this free peace ceremony for the people of Gaza and in support of the Sumud Freedom Flotilla.

The background

Many of you will know that a peaceful second wave of 50 boats from 44 countries has left this week for Gaza. The Sudum Freedom Flotilla is trying to break the siege of Gaza by sea to deliver humanitarian aid, mainly food, water and medical supplies.

This comes in the wake of a previous ship ‘Conscience’ being bombed in European waters and the 'Madleen' crew being arrested in International waters.

Vigils, information sharing, support, donation requests for the global alliance and medical organisations as well as letters to MPs and the media, as well as peace ceremonies, marches and demonstrations are happening aroudn the world.

We therefore offer this peace ceremony for the people of Gaza and in support of the Sudum Freedom Flotilla.

The ceremony

The peace ceremony is interactive on zoom. It gives us all a chance to contribute and support the actions taking place on the ground. We will light candles, speak our prayers, wishes and blessings, and send our protection and heartfelt support to the people in Gaza and the activists on the ground.

Please bring a candle and if you want to read a poem or say a prayer, please bring that as well.

Free of charge & donations

The ceremony is free of charge, but if you can give something, please donate. All donations will go to:

- Medical Aid for Palestinians

- Medicine Without Borders

Christa and Jon

Sacred Earth Activism team

A monthly space for Sacred Earth Activists to connect, vision, network, collaborate and help to co-create and grow our sacred actions

Join us for our July meeting and join with Sacred Earth Activists to connect, vision, network, collaborate and help to co-create and grow our sacred actions. Led by Sabi and Jon from Sacred Earth Activism CIC.

Register via Eventbrite link below

We invite you to join us for a grief ritual, which provides a space to acknowledge and express our individual and communal grief.

“Where there is sorrow, there is holy ground.” - De Profundis by Oscar Wilde

The first noble truth in buddhism says that the world is full of suffering. And yet, we seem to have relegated our grief to the margins and the shadow of our existence.

These days, at least in our Western culture, there is on top of our personal sorrow the additional ecological grief, an overwhelming feeling of loss and death. We grief for what we loved and lost. Love, grief, and gratitude belong together.

There is no space to shed our tears, mourn our losses, wail and scream. Stiff upper lip, suck it up, pull yourself together … we all heard that at one time or another. We contract, maybe even feel ashamed of being so emotional. Dark forces can come out of this repression.

We need to make space for grief, acknowledge it communally, as it used to be before modernity took over, and maybe even before that.

This is what we try to do: provide the space and community to allow our grief to be acknowledged, to put it into the open where it belongs, and thus to acknowledge our deep love for that we have lost.

This is an interactive event, and due to the sensitivity of the topic will not be recorded.

Please be aware that grief rituals can deeply affect people so please be gentle with yourself and others.

A monthly space for Sacred Earth Activists to connect, vision, network, collaborate and help to co-create and grow our sacred actions

This month we'll be looking at our current 'Sacred Land Charter' campaign.

We'll update everyone on this new exciting campaign, with information from SEA co-founder Jonathan Weekes.

Together we will take part in ceremony and meditation to connect with our sacred lands.

And we'll talk about how we might spread the word about the campaign over the rest of the year.

The Sacred Lands Charter aims to reawaken society to the sacred value of the UK’s ancient sacred landscapes, to preserve them beyond mere heritage landmarks. By recognising their spiritual significance and embracing a global shift towards the rights of sacred natural sites, we propose protections and collaborative guardianship to ensure these landscapes are respected and preserved for future generations.

Join us to hold space, take action, and weave the sacred into the web of change.

Register via Eventbrite link below

Join us for a Peace Ceremony for the people of Gaza and in support of the Global March to Gaza and the Freedom Flotilla

Sacred Earth Activism is holding this free peace ceremony for the people of Gaza and in support of the Global March to Gaza and the Freedom Flotilla.

The background

Many of you will know that a peaceful ‘Global March to Gaza’ to the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza will be attempted by people from around the world - between the 12th and 15th June – trying to deliver humanitarian aid ‘with a strong civilian presence to create international moral and media pressure’

At the same time the Freedom Flotilla ship ‘Madleen’ will sail to Gaza, also trying to break the siege by sea, bringing humanitarian aid, mainly food, water and medical supplies, into Gaza. This comes in the wake of the previous ship ‘Conscience’ being bombed in European waters at the last attempt.

Both have asked for people around the world to support them with vigils, information sharing, emails to MPs and the media, ceremonies, donations to support individual marchers, the global alliance and medical organisations.

We therefore offer this peace ceremony for the people of Gaza and in support of the March to Gaza and the Freedom Flotilla.

The ceremony

The peace ceremony is interactive on zoom. It gives us all a chance to contribute and support the actions taking place on the ground. We will light candles, speak our prayers, wishes and blessings, and send our protection and heartfelt support to the people in Gaza and the activists on the ground.

The peace ceremony is interactive. Please bring a candle and if you want to read a poem or say a prayer, please bring that as well.

Free of charge & donations

The ceremony is free of charge, but if you can give something, please donate. All donations will go to:

- Medical Aid for Palestinians

- Medicine Without Borders

Christa and Jon

Sacred Earth Activism team

Websites and online actions you can take:

https://freedomflotilla.org/

https://marchtogaza.net/

SUPPORT THE MALDEEN:

https://actionnetwork.org/letters/formal-notice-regarding-the-civilian-humanitarian-vessel-madleen-and-the-legal-obligations-of-the-state-of-israel-under-international-law-2?source=FFC-Home&

CALL FOR INVESTIGATION INTO THE BOMBING OF THE CONSCIENCE

https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/all-eyes-on-deck-demand-an-independent-investigation-into-the-attacks-on-the-conscience-and-an-end-to-israels-blockade-of-gaza

We invite you to join our 'Deep Listening Circle in the format of a talking stick ceremony: Fear, Anger & Courage in Transformational Times

In these challenging, transformational times, many of us feel the need to express their hopes and fears, their dreams and wishes, their sorrows and prayers, but lack the platforms and spaces to do so safely or without getting into often fruitless debates or arguments.

Indigenous cultures know that expressing and listening is a vital part of community. They practice a tradition commonly known as a 'Talking Stick Ceremony', which serve two very important purposes for the social fabric of the community. First, it gives all members of the community an opportunity to speak their minds or hearts, knowing that they will be listened to respectfully and without interruption, having an equal voice regardless of their social position or opinion. Secondly, and just as importantly, all other members are called upon to listen deeply, without judgment or comment, thereby strengthening their empathy, compassion, and understanding.

Sacred Earth Activism has been offering deep listening circles, using the format of the talking stick ceremony.

We invite you to join us on this sixth deep listening circle, which will focus on the subject 'ADDRESSING FEAR, ANGER AND COURAGE IN TRANSFORMATIONAL TIMES.'

Join us on 5th June 2025, 7pm–8.30pm (UCT + 1), 2pm–3.30pm (EST) to express what needs expressing!

Facilitated by:

Crow Mackinnon, founder of Shamanic Voyages & Christa, co-founder of Sacred Earth Activism.

We invite you to join our 'Deep listening circle in the format of a talking stick ceremony: Let's talk about Empowerment

In these challenging, transformational times, many of us feel the need to express their hopes and fears, their dreams and wishes, their sorrows and prayers, but lack the platforms and spaces to do so safely, or without getting into often fruitless debates or arguments.

Indigenous cultures know that expressing and listening is a vital part of community. They practice a tradition commonly known as a 'Talking Stick Ceremony', which serve two very important purposes for the social fabric of the community. First, it gives all members of the community an opportunity to speak their minds or hearts, knowing that they will be listened to respectfully and without interruption, having an equal voice regardless of their social position or opinion. Secondly, and just as importantly, all other members are called upon to listen deeply, without judgement or comment, thereby strengthening their empathy, compassion and understanding.

Sacred Earth Activism has tbeen offerring deep listening circles, using the format of the talking stick ceremony.

Join Sacred Earth Activism for this Deep Time Ritual from The Work That Reconnects, to give us the chance to connect with our descendants and explore about the times we are in.

The Seventh Generation Ritual is one of the key practices within the Work that Reconnects framework. It draws inspiration from indigenous wisdom, particularly the Iroquois Confederacy's Seventh Generation Principle. This principle suggests that decisions made today should consider their impact on future generations up to seven generations into the future.

The Seventh Generation Ritual is a powerful tool for fostering a sense of intergenerational responsibility and encouraging individuals to take meaningful action to address environmental issues and work towards a more sustainable and equitable world. It aligns with the broader goals of the Work That Reconnects, which seeks to rekindle people's connection with the Earth and inspire them to become active stewards of the planet.

This Deep Time ritual (originally called the Double Circle) allows us to see the Great Turning within a larger time frame, including that of a human being of the Seventh Generation into the future, roughly two centuries from the present.

It takes seriously the words of eminent radiologist Sister Rosalie Bertell: “Every being who will ever live on Earth is here now. Where? In our gonads and ovaries and in our DNA.” -[from chapter 9 of Coming Back to Life by Joanna Macy and Molly Brown; second edition, published 2014.]

A monthly space for Sacred Earth Activists to connect, vision, network, collaborate and help to co-create and grow our sacred actions

This month’s theme is "Weaving with Water: A Gathering for Change ", as we hold space for environmental activists currently imprisoned for defending life and the Earth. Together, we will connect, vision, and collaborate—exploring how we, as Sacred Earth Activists, can stand in solidarity.

March is a powerful month to acknowledge transitions—International Women’s Day, the Spring Equinox, and World Water Day. This month, our gathering, largely led by women, will be a space to commune with water: to discover how to honour her, take action on World Water Day (22nd March), and embrace change. Water moves between states with grace, humour, and ferocity—just as we can when shifting into new paradigms.

What to expect:
We will then be guided by Vey Straker—an inspiring advocate for the River Wye, who spoke at the SEA conference in January—in a ceremony to converse with water. Following this, SEA members will share their personal connections to water and their plans for the 22nd.

Finally, we will break out into smaller groups to create our own ceremonies, drawing inspiration from water herself, to use on Saturday, offering a chance to share and network within our community.

To take part in the ceremony please have: water in various receptacles: a glass, jug, bottle, bowl etc…

Do join us as we weave together our voices, actions, and intentions in honour of water.

Join us to hold space, take action, and weave the sacred into the web of change.

Register via Eventbrite link below

A monthly space for Sacred Earth Activists to connect, vision, network, collaborate and help to co-create and grow our sacred actions

This month’s theme is "Light in the Dark", as we hold space for environmental activists currently imprisoned for defending life and the Earth. Together, we will connect, vision, and collaborate—exploring how we, as Sacred Earth Activists, can stand in solidarity.

What to expect:
✨ A report from SEA members on recent demonstrations and the appeal process.
🕯️ A ceremony of support for those in prison, inspired by the symbol of a candle in the dark—connecting political prisoners, Imbolc, and Brigid.
💌 Writing messages of support to share with them.
🤝 Time to share, reflect, and network within our community.

To take part in the ceremony, please bring:
A candle, a stone, and water (local to you if possible).
Something to write with (pen and paper).

Join us to hold space, take action, and weave the sacred into the web of change.

Register via Eventbrite link below

A monthly space for Sacred Earth Activists to connect, vision, network, collaborate and help to co-create and grow our sacred actions

Join this unique 3-week online course with Danielea Castell to learn ways to partner & co-create with Nature Elders

The Listening Field is an online ceremonial space where groups of Humans and Nature Elders can connect, communicate and co-create in service to the healing and regeneration of Mother Earth and all her inhabitants.

During this course you will discover which Nature Elders are waiting to partner and co-create with you at this time, what specifically you are meant to be or do together and how to do that.

Personal: 20th November 2024, 7pm – 9pm (UK time)

In this session you will be introduced to the guiding principles and reciprocating energies of the Listening Field. As a group you will co-create a Listening Field where you will discover or deepen your personal relationship with a Nature Elder as friend, supporter and life guide.

Community: 27th November 2024, 7pm – 9pm (UK time)

In this session you will hear about recent community case studies involving the Listening Field, and be introduced to the protocol for bringing the wisdom and voices of local Nature Elders into a community issue, dream or development plan. Participants are encouraged to bring a real-life community situation to this session and one will be selected for a group Listening Field consultation.

Project / mission: 4th December 2024, 7pm – 9pm (UK time)

In this last session participants will be introduced to some examples of project and mission partnership with a Nature Elder. This final Listening Field will give participants the opportunity to form a new project partnership with a Nature Elder or deepen an existing one.

Danielea Castell is a nature communicator, consultant, mentor and founder of The Listening Field and the Interbeing Peace Alliance. She has worked for many years with the Nature Elders from the Water, Rock and Tree Nations, and organises and facilitates internationally Listening Fields for individuals, groups and organizations who wish to communicate and build personal relationships with the Nature Elders involved in their lives, missions, activism and businesses.

A monthly space for Sacred Earth Activists to connect, vision, network, collaborate and help to co-create and grow our sacred actions

We invite you to join us for a deep listening circle, using the format of the talking stick ceremony, expressing ourselves in a safe environment

🌊 Honour Your Waterways This World Rivers Day! 🌊

Sacred Earth Activism is focused on how we can honour our rivers and heal our sacred relationship with water and share different ways you can celebrate these sacred waterways.

One way you can do this, this World Rivers Day, is by joining River Blessings with Kate Dineen.

📅 Sunday, 22nd September
🕑 at 2pm
📍 Near Avebury

Join artists, politicians, and water-lovers for an equinox ceremony at the source of the River Avon, with special guest Dr Andrew Rumsey, Bishop of Ramsbury.

💐Bring waters, flowers, instruments, and open hearts as we gather for meditation, song, and reflection. 🌿

For more info, contact Kate Dineen

This Autumn Equinox, we invite you to come together in a sacred global meeting of the waters. Whether gathering in groups or connecting individually, join us in aligning our hearts with the World Water Festival, sending gratitude and prayers for the wellness of water and all beings. 🌊💙

In this global ceremony of love and peace, we invite you to immerse yourself in the sacred balancing energies of the Equinox—whether you are celebrating autumn in the Northern Hemisphere or spring in the Southern Hemisphere. Together, let’s honour the life-giving presence of water, praying up repairs for our sacred waterways and recognising the reciprocal balance water provides to life on Earth.

At Sacred Earth Activism, we are proud supporters of the World Water Law and part of the World Water Community. We invite you to watch Skeena Rathor's video below, demonstrating a simple ritual you can perform at your local water source at sunset (or sunrise in the Southern Hemisphere) to synchronise with this global action.

📅 Date: 21st September 2024
⏰ Time: Sunset (Northern Hemisphere) | Sunrise (Southern Hemisphere)
📍 Location: Your local water source

For more suggestions and ideas on creating your own ceremony for the repair of waters, please read the document linked below and prepare to synchronise with the global flow. Let's create ripples of healing and gratitude for our sacred waters.

To synchronise the content and energy of the ceremonies, we invite you to read the following document: Click here for more ideas on creating your own ceremony.

A monthly space for Sacred Earth Activists to connect, vision, network, collaborate and help to co-create and grow our sacred actions

WAKING THE WATERS - SEPTEMBER 18th, 2024

Our September Gathering will be dedicated to honouring our rivers and exploring sacred practices for loving our local waterways. As we will be approaching World Rivers Day and joining many organisations around the world in celebrating the World Water Festival, we will join together for an interactive water ceremony, focusing on love and connection with the waters near and far.

For the ceremony, please bring a container with water - preferably from a local water source, if possible (though tap water is absolutely fine too).

Join this four week online course exploring simple practices of embodied relationship to our Earth

Join this four week online course exploring embodied relational presence and practices to bring us deeply in connection with ourselves, each other and with Earth.

Facilitated by Jenny Haycocks who works within Extinction Rebellion and the wider movement of movements, here in the UK locally and nationally. Jenny is offering an embodied and relational approach, to our Earth and beyond, in all of her work and play.

Your physical felt body is in fact part of a gigantic system of here and other places, now and other times, you and other people - in fact, the whole universe. This sense of being bodily alive in a vast system is the body as it is felt from the inside' - Gene Gendlin

• Session 1 - Monday May 13th 2024: Touching Earth - An introduction to embodied and relational presence through simple and accessible practices of sensory awareness

• Session 2 - Monday 20th May 2024: An Embodied Realisation of the Shambhala Warrior Prophecy - Training to use the two tools of compassion and insight into the interconnected nature of all things.

• Session 3 - Monday 27th May 2024: Connected Ecologies - In resonant connection with the movement of all life, through the sensing body

• Session 4 - Monday 3rd June 2024: Spanning Worlds - The sensing body as a portal into the source of creation, connection and wholeness. Practical applications for Sacred Earth Activists

Session Outline: Every session will begin with a sensory attunement, followed by an introduction and participation in simple embodiment practices and will finish with opportunities to share emerging insights.

We invite you to join us for a deep listening circle, using the format of the talking stick ceremony, expressing ourselves in a safe environment

A monthly space for Sacred Earth Activists to connect, vision, network, collaborate and help to co-create and grow our sacred actions

Join us on a transformative four-week journey as we explore the intersection of ceremony and activism, teaching you how to weave the sacred into the web of change. Drawing from our extensive expertise at Sacred Earth Activism, co-founders Jonathan Weekes and Christa Mackinnon share practical insights, processes and tools for integrating ceremony and ritual within, alongside, and in support of direct action, protest and campaigns.

Whether you're an experienced ceremonialist who's new to activism, or a seasoned activist curious about the art of ritual and ceremony, this course offers a unique opportunity to deepen your understanding and harness their combined potential for powerful transformation.

Course Structure:
Each week, we will gather online for a two hour session to delve into different aspects of ritual and activism, following the cycle of the moon to guide our process:

• Week 1, 8th April: Visioning 🌒 - Explore the power of listening to the land and visioning for guidance, defining your intent and laying the foundation for your ritual in action.

• Week 2, 15th April: Forming 🌓 - Learn techniques for crafting and shaping meaningful ceremonies and rituals that align with your intentions and aims.

• Week 3, 22nd April: Holding 🌕 - Dive into the different aspects of holding ceremonies and rituals, both on the ground and remotely

• Week 4, 29th April: Reflecting 🌗 - Explore the importance of reflection and regenerative practice in the ritual in action cycle, and reflect on your experiences, lessons learned, and insights gained throughout the course.

What to Expect:

• Engaging online sessions led by experienced facilitators

• Interactive exercises and group activities

• Practical tools and techniques for integrating ceremony into activism

• Opportunities for reflection and sharing within a supportive community

Requirements:
Participants should have access to a quiet space where they can fully engage in the practices and activities during the sessions.

Dates: Monday evenings on the 8th, 15th, 22nd and 29th April, 2024
Time: 7pm-9pm (UTC)
Duration: Four weeks

Location: Online (Zoom link will be provided upon registration)

Limited spaces available. Register below to reserve your space.

Recordings of the sessions will be available for registered participants for the duration of the course.

Sacred Earth Activism is joined by John Adams OBE to hear the latest on the legal challenge against the Stonehenge Tunnel, and to find out how we can all support.

John, Director of Save Stonehenge World Heritage Site Ltd and Chairman of the Stonehenge Alliance, spoke with us at our recent Online Summit about the road scheme threatening the sacred landscape of Stonehenge.

Since then, the courts have ruled against their legal challenge, giving the green light to the bulldozers to go into Stonehenge WHS. Stonehenge Alliance are launching an appeal against this decision, and John will join us to update on the latest that is happening.

Join Sacred Earth Activism for this Deep Time Ritual from The Work That Reconnects, to give us the chance to connect with our descendants and explore about the times we are in.

A monthly space for Sacred Earth Activists to connect, vision, network, collaborate and help to co-create and grow our sacred actions