The Earthrise Community: Transforming Planetary Consciousness for a Flourishing Future
In the face of the growing challenges of the Anthropocene—marked by climate change, biodiversity loss, and increasing rates of disease and despair—this paper explores the need for holistic solutions that integrate cultural and spiritual transformation as essential dimensions of change. Recognizing t...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Challenges |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/16/2/24 |
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| author | Susan L. Prescott Aterah Nusrat Richard Scott David Nelson Heidi Honegger Rogers Mona S. El-Sherbini Knellee Bisram Yvonne Vizina Sara L. Warber David Webb |
| author_facet | Susan L. Prescott Aterah Nusrat Richard Scott David Nelson Heidi Honegger Rogers Mona S. El-Sherbini Knellee Bisram Yvonne Vizina Sara L. Warber David Webb |
| author_sort | Susan L. Prescott |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In the face of the growing challenges of the Anthropocene—marked by climate change, biodiversity loss, and increasing rates of disease and despair—this paper explores the need for holistic solutions that integrate cultural and spiritual transformation as essential dimensions of change. Recognizing that the interconnected challenges to planetary health stem from destructive socio-political agendas and unhealthy economic structures, we underscore the importance of worldviews and value systems as root causes of social and ecological injustices. Solutions require an understanding of the complex interdependence of systems, fostering mutualistic mindsets, and healing the ‘relationship crisis’ between humans and the natural world by cultivating a deeper level of consciousness. In response to these urgent needs, we describe Earthrise—a community of engaged contemplative practice led by the Nova Institute for Health in collaboration with the Planetary Health Alliance—dedicated to spiritual and cultural transformation in the face of today’s complex crises. Through intentional spiritual relationships—with ourselves, each other, and the natural world—our community emphasizes the power of narrative co-creation in building social cohesion and collective action for environmental stewardship. Our work is not solely contemplative, but also relational and integrative—embodying values through lived practice, community, and ecological engagement. Our activities focus on developing cultural capacities and self-awareness as essential foundations for fair and sustainable social transformation. By integrating diverse perspectives, including ancestral wisdom and Indigenous knowledge systems, we enrich worldviews and deepen our connection to the planet. The Earthrise community seeks to cultivate a sense of belonging, nurturing the meaningful relationships that foster compassion and care. Central to our approach is the use of creative emergence, leveraging the arts to inspire change and catalyze new paradigms. Through this exploration of interconnected themes, we contend that spiritual and cultural transformation is vital to advancing a thriving future, where human flourishing and planetary health are understood as inseparable and interconnected goals. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ee2952ce8d33418ea4cc375fe9650158 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2078-1547 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-05-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Challenges |
| spelling | doaj-art-ee2952ce8d33418ea4cc375fe96501582025-08-20T03:27:26ZengMDPI AGChallenges2078-15472025-05-011622410.3390/challe16020024The Earthrise Community: Transforming Planetary Consciousness for a Flourishing FutureSusan L. Prescott0Aterah Nusrat1Richard Scott2David Nelson3Heidi Honegger Rogers4Mona S. El-Sherbini5Knellee Bisram6Yvonne Vizina7Sara L. Warber8David Webb9Medical School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaOsher Center for Integrative Health, Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USANova Institute for Health, Baltimore, MD 21231, USANova Institute for Health, Baltimore, MD 21231, USACollege of Nursing, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131, USAFaculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo 11562, EgyptAHAM Education, Tamarac, FL 33321, USAFaculty of Education, University of Winnipeg, Winnipeg, MB R3B 2R6, CanadaDepartment of Family Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USABusiness School, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Perth, WA 6009, AustraliaIn the face of the growing challenges of the Anthropocene—marked by climate change, biodiversity loss, and increasing rates of disease and despair—this paper explores the need for holistic solutions that integrate cultural and spiritual transformation as essential dimensions of change. Recognizing that the interconnected challenges to planetary health stem from destructive socio-political agendas and unhealthy economic structures, we underscore the importance of worldviews and value systems as root causes of social and ecological injustices. Solutions require an understanding of the complex interdependence of systems, fostering mutualistic mindsets, and healing the ‘relationship crisis’ between humans and the natural world by cultivating a deeper level of consciousness. In response to these urgent needs, we describe Earthrise—a community of engaged contemplative practice led by the Nova Institute for Health in collaboration with the Planetary Health Alliance—dedicated to spiritual and cultural transformation in the face of today’s complex crises. Through intentional spiritual relationships—with ourselves, each other, and the natural world—our community emphasizes the power of narrative co-creation in building social cohesion and collective action for environmental stewardship. Our work is not solely contemplative, but also relational and integrative—embodying values through lived practice, community, and ecological engagement. Our activities focus on developing cultural capacities and self-awareness as essential foundations for fair and sustainable social transformation. By integrating diverse perspectives, including ancestral wisdom and Indigenous knowledge systems, we enrich worldviews and deepen our connection to the planet. The Earthrise community seeks to cultivate a sense of belonging, nurturing the meaningful relationships that foster compassion and care. Central to our approach is the use of creative emergence, leveraging the arts to inspire change and catalyze new paradigms. Through this exploration of interconnected themes, we contend that spiritual and cultural transformation is vital to advancing a thriving future, where human flourishing and planetary health are understood as inseparable and interconnected goals.https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/16/2/24planetary healthspiritualitycultural transformationclimate changebiodiversity lossindigenous knowledges |
| spellingShingle | Susan L. Prescott Aterah Nusrat Richard Scott David Nelson Heidi Honegger Rogers Mona S. El-Sherbini Knellee Bisram Yvonne Vizina Sara L. Warber David Webb The Earthrise Community: Transforming Planetary Consciousness for a Flourishing Future Challenges planetary health spirituality cultural transformation climate change biodiversity loss indigenous knowledges |
| title | The Earthrise Community: Transforming Planetary Consciousness for a Flourishing Future |
| title_full | The Earthrise Community: Transforming Planetary Consciousness for a Flourishing Future |
| title_fullStr | The Earthrise Community: Transforming Planetary Consciousness for a Flourishing Future |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Earthrise Community: Transforming Planetary Consciousness for a Flourishing Future |
| title_short | The Earthrise Community: Transforming Planetary Consciousness for a Flourishing Future |
| title_sort | earthrise community transforming planetary consciousness for a flourishing future |
| topic | planetary health spirituality cultural transformation climate change biodiversity loss indigenous knowledges |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2078-1547/16/2/24 |
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