Inspired by my work with the Irish mythologist, Sharon Blackie, the Earth Allies process encourages people to connect deeply with the World around them for healing of both person and place. This revolutionary process encourages people to identify the parts of their landscape or animals they are attracted to and then determine what stories they had to share. In order to heal the planet, we need new myths—not only to reconnect us to the planet, but also to discover parts of our Selves. The Earth Allies help us do that work. Based in Jung’s theories on archetypes and the individuation process, Earth Allies are plants, animals, minerals, stones, and parts of the landscape on which a person lives. In this 4-Week Webinar, Dr. Pamela Hancock will explore the overall importance of Nature in Depth Psychology and how we can evolve as a result. This unique Earth-based system can then be used by participants each month to reveal important messages and bring awareness to the land. The process can also be harnessed by therapists to bring in a ecological dimension to their practice and help heal the souls of their clients by holding up a mirror to the world around them. Participants will also be lead through the guided visualization process in a workshop at the end of the series.

• Therapists looking for new and exciting ways to help their clients.
• Jungians interested in exploring new ways to help address the Climate Crisis.
• Depth Psychology curious folks wanting to try something new.
• Artists and writers looking for inspiration.
• Anyone interested in the ways that spirituality and Depth Psychology intersect.
• Folks interested in fostering new ways to create lasting bonds with the land around them.      

Course Overview:

Week 1 – Understanding Jungian Ecopsychology and How We Can Connect to the Land

During this first class Dr. Hancock will lecture on the roots of our current ecological crisis, the Jungian Ecopsychological remedy for moving forward, and discuss how humans can reconnect with the land. An outline of the following classes will be provided so that participants understand the method of working with their Earth Allies. There will be a Q & A Session that follows the lecture to ensure that participants understand the concepts and the method.

Week 2 – The Importance of Sacred Space that Honors the Land

During this class Dr. Hancock will delve into the importance of altar building and showing reverence for the world around one’s life. Diving into ecopsychological and spiritual concepts, this second week will provide students with detailed instructions on crafting a personal sacred space and routine that allows them to pay closer attention. This process enables students with the groundwork for the method. There will be a Q & A Session centered around the process as well as offering therapists a way to incorporate this into their practice.

Week 3 – The How and the Why of Discovering Your Earth Allies

In this third class, Dr. Hancock will go into specific details on the way in which the Earth Allies method works and why it is important in helping to heal the planet. Explaining how one can do this in groups or alone, while following a monthly schedule, Dr. Hancock will share the specifics of the method. This will include how therapists can use this in group or individual sessions. The class will also be instructed as to which easy to obtain art supplies they will need to gather for the final class session. A Q & A Session will close out the session ensuring that all participants understand what they will need for the following week.

Week 4 – Earth Allies Workings—A Guided Visualization Workshop

In the final class of this series, participants will be guided through the group process of working with Earth Allies. A guided visualization followed by working with a specially designed worksheet (provided before the final week’s class) and art-making process will allow participants to be fully immersed in the method. A group sharing process will follow. A final Q & A Session will allow participants to ask any last questions before they leave, so they can fully integrate the use of the method into their lives or work with clients.

Learning Objectives: (For CECs)

By The End of This Course, You will be able to:

• Identify three key principles of the collapse of man’s connection to nature.
• Explain how an ecopsychological approach to looking at the world can help get humans back in right relation with the earth.
• Identify three techniques to establishing a direct connection with nature through a depth psychological lens, enabling therapists to utilize these methods with clients.
• List the five aspects of the Earth Allies process to help foster a lasting connection with the land on which they live. For therapists, this can be used in a clinical setting.

References: (For CEC students)

• Adow, A. H. E., Safeer, M. M., Mohammed, M. G. H., Alam, M. S., & Sulphey, M. M. (2024). A synthesis of academic literature on eco-spirituality. Global Journal of Environmental Science and Management, 10(4), 2163-2178. doi:https://doi.org/10.22034/gjesm.2024.04.40
• Borges, C. C., dos Santos, P. R., Alves, P. M., Borges, R. C. M., Lucchetti, G., Barbosa, M. A., Porto, C. C., & Fernandes, M. R. (2021). Association between spirituality/religiousness and quality of life among healthy adults: a systematic review. Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12955-021-01878-7
• Pihkala, P. (2018). ECO-ANXIETY, TRAGEDY, AND HOPE: PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE : with Karl E. Peters, “Living with the Wicked Problem of Climate Change”. Zygon®, 53(2), 545–569. https://doi.org/10.1111/zygo.12407
• Pihkala, P. (2018). ECO-ANXIETY, TRAGEDY, AND HOPE: PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE : with Panu Pihkala, “Eco-Anxiety, Tragedy, and Hope: Psychological and Spiritual Dimensions of Climate Change”. Zygon®, 53(2), 545–569. https://doi.org/10.1111/zygo.12407
• Pihkala, P. (2018). ECO-ANXIETY, TRAGEDY, AND HOPE: PSYCHOLOGICAL AND SPIRITUAL DIMENSIONS OF CLIMATE CHANGE : with Matthew Fox, “Climate Change, Laudato Si’, Creation Spirituality, and the Nobility of the Scientist’s Vocation”. Zygon®, 53(2), 545–569. https://doi.org/10.1111/zygo.12407

Suggested Texts:

Blackie, S. (2016). If women rose rooted: The journey to authenticity and belonging. September Publishing.

Fideler, D. (2014). Restoring the soul of the world: Our living bond with nature’s intelligence. Inner Traditions.

Jung, C. G. (1989). Memories, dreams, reflections (A. Jaffe, Ed.) (R. Winston & C. Winston, Trans.). Vintage Books. (Original work published 1963)

Kiehl, J. (2016). Facing climate change: An integrated path to the future (Kindle edition). Columbia University Press.

Schroeder H. (1992). The spiritual aspect of nature: A perspective from depth psychology. Retrieved from: https://www.nrs.fs.fed.us/pubs/jrnl/1992/nc_1992_Schroeder_001.pdf

Tarnas, R. (2013). Is the modern psyche undergoing a rite of passage? Retrieved from: https://cosmosandpsyche.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/revision-rite-of-passage.pdf