The Canio's Books Blog

We’re about mid-way through a  fascinating and challenging course “Reconnecting with Earth.” Nine of us meet weekly to discuss readings and to speak from experience about how we view our relationship with Earth. Writers like Rachel Carson, Aldo Leopold, Thomas Berry and Kathleen Dean Moore bring us their insights expressed in lyrical language. Physicist Fritjof Capra and Jeanette Armstrng, member of the Okanagan nation, among others help us understand and contemplate our inter-related nature. Our lively group consists of a photographer, two farmers, a Buddhist poet, an eco-feminist Catholic writer, and more —  all of us curious and open and eager to explore  how we live on Earth, “our island home.” The course is one of eleven  offered by the Northwest Earth Institute (see http://www.nwei.org). These community-based courses are so well designed and the readings so good, we have plans to offer more.  The courses are a great way to engage the mind, body and spirit. They also help promote community and action. We’ll be having a “celebration” gathering after our last session. We plan to offer another course, “Voluntary Simplicity” later this year. But anyone can  organize a course in their neighborhood, workplace, faith place or community center.  It’s one wonderful way to help promote awareness of the living world of which we are a part.