Eating as a Sacred Act: Living in Harmony With Our Food System

In a time of ecological unravelling and conflict, spiritual values have the potential to provide the foundation from which to respond, rebuild and reconcile our relationship with the earth, our common home. Spiritual Ecology is an emerging field that joins ecology and environmentalism with a deeper awareness of the spirit, sacredness or divinity within all creation.

In this talk, Nessie Reid will be sharing how we can apply the five core values of spiritual ecology: interconnectedness, reverence for nature, compassion, service and stewardship - to the ways in which we produce and consume the food we eat. Nessie will also be bringing her insights from creating The Milking Parlour: a performance based public exhibition which explored the values we hold towards our food and farming systems in which Nessie lived with two pure-bred Guernsey cows in Bristol City Centre for 5 days and 4 nights. She constructed a temporary milking parlour which was free and open to all throughout the 5 days and held daily discussions between farmers vegans, philosophers, academics and who else wanted to join!

Schedule#

19.15 Doors Open

19.30 Talk by Nessie Reid: Eating as a Sacred Act: How the Principles of Spiritual Ecology Can Bring us into Harmony with our Food System

20.30 Vegan Banquet by Petersham Nurseries

22.00 End

What is Spiritual Ecology?#

Spiritual Ecology is a spiritual response to our present ecological crisis. It is a developing field that joins ecology and environmentalism with the awareness of the sacred within creation. It calls for responses to environmental issues that include spiritual awareness and/or practice. The principles of spiritual ecology are simple: In order to resolve such environmental issues as depletion of species, global warming, and over-consumption, humanity must examine and reassess our underlying attitudes and beliefs about the earth, and our spiritual as well as physical responsibilities toward the planet. Thus, ecological renewal and sustainability necessarily depends upon spiritual awareness and an attitude of responsibility.

Central to Spiritual Ecology is an understanding of the interdependence and living unity of the ecosystem. Real sustainability refers to the sustainability of the whole ecosystem rather than our energy-intensive, consumer-driven culture. This will require a re-evaluation of the central aspects of our materialistic culture as we move towards a way of life that is in harmony with the earth as a living whole, a culture that cares for the soul as well as the soil. Spiritual Ecology is not based upon any single religion or spiritual path, rather the primary recognition of the sacred nature of all of creation.

Wendell Berry is one of the forefathers of Spiritual Ecology. He is an American novelist, poet, environmental activist, cultural critic, a prolific author and very importantly, a farmer also! This is Berry speaking on some elements of farming and spirituality.

Suggested film to watch: Cry of the Earth short film (approx. 3 mins)

Suggested film to watch: Overview film - (approx. 19 minutes)