Community- Based Ecopsychological Workshops and Mentoring
Community- Based Ecopsychological Workshops and Mentoring
Ecological Psychology is a study and practice of the interwovenness of all life, and how we are ecological. Aligned with native sciences in this way, Ecopscyhology operates with the understanding that we make one another who, what, and how we are. The water I drink becomes me. What I use to wash my body, and how I dispose of my trash, my waste, becomes the water. The energy I bring to the coffeehouse, or to my classroom, or to my family – alters the environment we share together. And, the energy I walk into, can alter me, and my energy.
The stories I grow up with – what is shared to me from and about my family, what I learn in school, how adults treat me and each other, how my friends treat me and each other, and what I see in movies and magazines (and now, social media) - all of this shapes my behavior, and shapes my ethos – even if I am unaware of that co-creation. In fact, perhaps especially if I am unaware.
In order to study this physical and behavioral interconnectedness, we spot patterns in the ecological world, as well as in complex and diverse myths, narratives, and world views. Uncovering these patterns helps us to understand the intricate workings and relationships of our social, psychological, and physical ecosystems.
Since we ARE ecological, the ecological world provides the processes and principles that also take place in our psychology. This is a gift when seeking to understand our feelings and behaviors.
In practice, we use metaphor and deep questioning to excavate human narratives, spot psychological patterns, attune our senses, and undergo a psychological involution of composting and new growth.
With guidance, this practice and study can lead us to become more grounded in knowing how we are home on Earth; how we are ecological.
In this practice, we become familiar, akin, with other beings, not only humans, but humans too. We become akin with processes, with change.
Ecopsychology is not to be confused with Eco Therapy, yet they are connected .To practice ecopsychology, it does help to get out and explore different environments, different creatures. This not only diversifies our lives in an experiential way, but also allows us to recognize our psychological ecosystems in deeper metaphorical ways. For instance, I grew up by the Hudson River, and live by one of its tributaries now. Perhaps this is partially why I have an affinity and feel sensitive towards them, I can study their behavior, and learn about my behavior. If I am flooded, I need warmth, the heat of the sun. If I am stuck, I can move my body, dance, invigorate a flow again. Or even clean a bit of my house - undoing an out of date dam.
Yet, even when it comes to those environments and creatures we can't be in or next to, we can learn about them to understand how our behavior is related. The more we know about a different ecological being or process, the more our own lives and psychology make sense.
Once we understand more about how our physical and psychological world works, we can imagine with intention.
Imagination is pivotal, in general, but also emphasized ecopsychology, in regards to narrative change. Our imagination tells or reveals a story, and guides our behavior, actions, and energy -- If given attention, our wildest dreams can also help us understand where our ethos and our intuition lie. With appreciation for the wisdom of imagination, we can work to imagine new stories into being. Stories of expression, universal prosperity, and love.
In Person workshops in Kerhonkson, NY. We are also available to travel to your ecosystem.
This introductory workshop focuses on the creative process of inviting wildness back into our lives, and re-establishing a relationship with our psychological and physical ecosystems. We do this by using our senses, movement, and vocals, while working through three of the Ecopsychological processes : Energy, Diversity and Relationship. This workshop can be broken into a series, or facilitated as a day-long or weekend intensive .
Living Musically focuses on the practice of musical improvisation and expression beyond our typical instruments. By using ecopsychological journaling, theater games, call and response explorations, singing, rhythm, and dance, we navigate through our human narratives, musically express with each other and the other- than -human life we share space with, and develop a deeper understanding of what it means to be musical, belong, be home, be processual, and be in kinship with Earth.
Neither performer nor audience can exist without each other. When we step into a venue, we agree to enter a different world together. We agree to create a different world together.
If we are aware of this, we can call upon the power of performance at any time to give us perspective, spark, and an imagination of what could be.
In this workshop, we will embody mythological archetypes, experience different realities, and take turns playing and witnessing our wildest worlds.
Please come back soon for more details. Or drop me a line to chat and find out more! Your input is so valuable, and your interest will help guide the direction of this workshop.
Kerhonkson, NY
This acts as an introduction to the principles of Ecopsychology, as well as to the longer iterations of Wild Me. Come use your senses, movem...
Kerhonkson, NY
New York, NY
This acts as an introduction to the principles of Ecopsychology, as well as to the longer iterations of Wild Me. Come use your senses, movem...
New York, NY
Inviting Wildness is about inviting our creative nature to (re)-establish flourishing relationships within ourselves, and with the rest of life on Earth.
Sara Jecko is the director and main facilitator of Inviting Wildness.
Sara has been teaching in diverse situations for nearly 25 years. Her experience includes being the director of summer camp music programs, a teaching artist at public and charter schools around New York City, a private tutor and mentor for music and academics, an adv
Sara Jecko is the director and main facilitator of Inviting Wildness.
Sara has been teaching in diverse situations for nearly 25 years. Her experience includes being the director of summer camp music programs, a teaching artist at public and charter schools around New York City, a private tutor and mentor for music and academics, an advocate for students in need, and an adjunct instructor at the State University of New York, New Paltz ( music department, History of Jazz, History of Rock, Guitar classes and private lessons).
She holds a B.A in Jazz Studies, with a concentration in Guitar, an M.A in Social Sciences with a concentration in Ecological Psychology, and is nearing the completion of her doctorate in Ecological Psychology ( to be completed summer 2024).
Sara has been performing on stage since she was a 8 years old as an actress in kid productions, and a musician starting at 13 years old. Her artistic upbringing in New York City, as well as her lifelong ties with the Hudson Valley (where she now resides), has led her to understand wildness as a way of making contact – a creative, curious, and holistic state of being.
She believes we all have a right to be creative in the modes of music, dance, art, acting (roleplay), and storytelling – narrative. That whether we pursue these practices or not, they are a part of our wild nature, and can help us remember how we are all ecological beings - sharing, cocreating, and belonging to this home on Earth.
INVITING WILDNESS WELCOMES ONE AND ALL.
We look forward to connecting and collaborating with you!
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