SOS - ECO-RESILIENCE PROJECT
S.O.S; Sustainability of Self; as part of a whole living organism...
The Sustainability of Self (SOS) project invites you to connect with like-minded people to explore meaningful practices, share nourishing tools, and reflect on how to thrive in our fast-paced, changing world facing climate and ecological challenges.
SOS OBJECTIVES
1. Cultivate Ecological Consciousness:
-
Reconnect and strengthen our inherent connection with nature by integrating nature-based, creative actvities and principles from ecopsychology, deep ecology, sacred activism and eco-art therapy.
-
Explore how nature’s wisdom and human connection can become part of the solution to our problems, heal and rejuvenate us, and provide inner-stability and wise council through Nature Guided Walks and Nature Mindfulness group Eco-therapy.
2. Nurture Community Resilience and Connection:
-
Develop our inner world; the ability to observe, recognize, process, and express a wide range of emotions and thoughts, including challenging sensations and ecological concerns, while fostering curiosity and compassion, and love and appreciation for our natural world and shared humanity.
-
Acquire and exchange a toolkit of techniques, resources, methods, and self-care practices aimed at self-regulation and maintaining personal well-being to diminish potential stressors that may impede our capacity to enjoy life, and actively contribute within community and our local environment.
-
Strengthen the sense of community engagement, emphasizing mutual support, resilience, and a shared commitment to personal and collective resilience.
-
Explore various programs including The Work That Reconnects and Active Hope, The Good Grief 10-Step Program and Deep Adaptation conversations.
-
Enhance learning experiences by inviting special guests and fostering opportunities for collaboration.
"Let go, release, take full refuge in the Earth and in the sun, and allow yourself to be healed." -Thich Nhat Hanh
SOS BENEFITS & TESTIMONIALS
The benefits noted are numerous, from reduced isolation and fear, increased feelings of support, enjoying nature-based interactions, and learning greater self-care techniques.
“I really enjoyed the SOS Eco-Art session today. Deb created a fantastic open and supportive environment where we all felt very comfortable stating our thoughts and feelings without judgement. I loved the quiet and contemplative art and mindfulness activities, which allowed us to express ourselves clearly and directly from the heart.” - Malcolm, June 2019
"I am grieving about the state of our environment. I have deep sorrow inside me that began to emerge as I spoke. And I feel a responsibility to keep myself strong and keep working to change things for the better... The session confirmed to me the importance of connection – connection to one’s feelings and to other like-minded people... The importance of being connected to our body and mind, to our own nature and our connection to nature. After all we share the same elements as nature. Much as we love our individuality and independence, we are inter-dependent. And we need to feel supported and to be able to support others so we can work together towards shared goals... The session also made it clear to me how different we each are and the beauty and strength in this. We each need to step up and do more but in a way that we are comfortable with... Some of us like to speak out and organise, others quietly work and influence through their art, for example, or in maintaining their emotional health to support others. Some of us will engage with politicians, others might do the necessary background research. And it’s vitally important to be able to sustain each step we take, to know when and how best we can step up, otherwise we risk falling..." - Louise, SOS workshop 2019
SOS BACKGROUND
This Sustainability of Self project began as a Masters in Ecopsychology project demonstrating a personal journey from despair to empowerment, and has evolved due to particpation in the City Of Port Phillip Environmental Leadership course in 2021.
All feelings are welcomed. SOS began as an eco-resilience project for supporting people experiencing overwhelm or uncomfortable sensations related to living in an unsustainable business-as-usual society highlighting the climate and ecological crisis. Our reactions are understandable given the state of our climate and ecological crisis, injustice and societal dysfunction. Some SOS groups are specifically toailored for eco-distress, anxiety and grief. Other groups focus on maintaining our wellbeing with nature-based reconnecting practices, and building our peer-to-peer support networks.
SOS originated from the need to process uncomfortable feelings. Read more about the origins HERE.
SOS Eco-resilience sessions are not a space for debate or discussion about climate science facts and what level of crisis or collapse we are living in; they are to share how we are feeling, explore our inner-self, deepen active acceptance, create greater peer-to-peer community support connections, and increase our wellbeing through developing techniques and resources.
“It's going to be beautiful to see what we dare to do. Facing our fears, and letting go of and getting over our knee-jerk reactions to what we think we don't like or are afraid of. To see our capacity to walk into the fire. To discover how much we really love being alive. To give ourselves a taste of what that passion is. To let us fall really in love with our planet, and its beauty, and to see that in ourselves, as well as in each other.” - Joanna Macy, Ph.D. Eco-philosopher, scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory, and deep ecology
EVENTS
Workshops and events may be stand-alone events, requested sessions, offered online, self-guided or face-to-face.
Days/Times: On request or as noted:
Please contact for a quote if you require a tailored session for yourself or group.
Locations: Online/zoom, and as noted on events or as requested.
Suitability: Adults and adolescents 18+
Group size: As noted in events (usually 6-20)
Fees: Most sessions are sliding scale and part of the fees support other not-for-profit organisations. Our lives and experiences are enriched by the diversity of participants. Everyone is welcome regardless of their financial situation, therefore we offer a tiered pricing structure. Please see the specific event or contact for more info about fees, donations, or skill-share options.
Facilitator: Deb Punton/Greensong and special guests. Please note that Deb/Greensong is not a psychologist, she is an ecopsychologist.
Online: If you are looking for an online group, please see Active Hope Study groups and other excellent climate-support groups highlighted green in resources.
"I think so many of us feel overwhelmed by the state of the world, now more than ever. Deb, and this group, made me feel that through connection, creativity and vulnurability, change is possible."
- SOS workshop participant
PROFESSIONAL ASSISTANCE
Please note: SOS sessions are not intended for individuals in crisis mode and are not a substitute for any medical care, regular treatments, and medications.
If you are feeling the need for professional help please contact:
-
Kids Helpline (13-25 yr olds): 1800 551 800
-
www.lifeline.org.au/Lifeline Australia - 13 11 14
-
www.beyondblue.org.au/Beyond Blue - 1300 22 4636
-
Mental Health Online - www.mentalhealthonline.org.au
Other Australian helplines
-
Psychology for a Safe Climate with climate-focused psychologists, education, and advice
We explore a variety of themes and practices together, recognising the benefits of meaningful community interactions and how our self-care and resilience is intrinsically linked to our sense of self, and reflected in our community and our actions within our wider environment.
PAST EVENTS
