The Web of Life Imperative: Regenerative Ecopsychology Techniques That Help People Think in Balance with Natural Systems

I did not take the course however even reading the book gave me some very healing experiences. However the main things that bothered me about it were: the fact that at the start of the book many pages devoted to saying over and over how great this method is. I felt: please get on to the lessons themselves. As a result of this the free sample provided in Kindle edition consists only of quotes of how great the method is. A sample exercise might make more buy this. Second there was a lot of black and white thinking such as "other ways of connecting to nature other than this way do not go far enough/you can't just put a plant by your desk at work: you have to do it our way". I also saw too many uses of terms like always and never which to me may indicate narrowness (as in (I am paraphrasing not quoting) "studies have shown that cultures that are aware of nature NEVER have any problems with substance abuse, crime, etc."). I guess what annoyed me was that parts of the book were a sales pitch and I had to sift to get to the great parts the exercises themselves: but once I sifted I enjoyed it and it made me think: AND feel/experience. I guess also that the book seemed a little hung up on its own terms like "webstrings" and "five legged or four legged thinking" which can sometimes get in the way of its own writing. This method is about show not tell: "get out into nature and experience it": but the format of book does not reflect this but is more about "our method is so great". I would still recommend it but if you are interested in this topic would recommend reading along with other similar books such as Starhawk's book "The Earth Path" (which has a more spiritual flavor to it) and one which I think is entitled "Last Child in the Woods" and which coins the term "nature deficit disorder". I agree wholeheartedly that our society is sick because of our disconnection from nature, but this is not one true way to experience it, but is a good one.

I not only read this book, but recently took it as an online course. I wasn't quite sure what to expect, and at first quite frankly, I thought it perhaps naive to believe that simply doing the activities in this book to reconnect to nature could be a changing mechanism. I am thankful to say I was wrong. The power of this book lies not in the reading, but in the hands-on nature focused, mindful activities contained within its pages. Again and again I did what seemed to be similiar activities, but in doing them each result was uniquely its own. Because the learning is cooperative (in the online course), it was startling how very different all of our experiences were. It is not repetative at all. This book provides a powerful reaffirmation of our ability to find healing and sustain ourselves through our attraction and integration of nature into our daily lives. The activities in this book gave me motivation to set aside time, time that is precious, yes and time that I would not have otherwise taken to connect with nature. But it was not time wasted. As it turned out, it has also not been a selfish pursuit. I have three children with autism spectrum disorder, they are high need and experience a great deal of anxiety. As I have increasingly spent more time in nature focused activities, my children have become naturally attracted to joining me. The benefits we have experienced are many. First, we are spending more time together in a relaxed setting, sometimes talking, sometimes not, but always in communion together with nature. Second, my children have directly benefited from the activities themselves. Sensory Integration is a well-accepted treatment option for individuals with autism. This book provides so many different ways to enhance and enchant the senses in a delightful way for kids with autism. Through these activities my children have experienced a deeper sensory connection with nature. As a result I have seen them begin to express greater empathy toward other living things: people, animals and all nature around them. Along with their increased connection and awareness I have also noticed my daughter showing signs of improved self-esteem. The activities have also helped provide me with the ability to renew and recharge myself in order to be a more relaxed and calm parent even when things get very stressful (and with three kids with autism--trust me--it's often stressful.) This book and the related connection with other course participants has changed the way I literally see and experience the world around me. I have a greater attraction toward nature in all settings and my ability to fulfill that need for it has correspondingly increased as well. My need for other less fulfilling pursuites has diminished a great deal (mindlessly watching TV, for example). Whether you read this book alone or take the online course at www.ecopsych.com , it is worthwhile pursuit. Don't just read the activities, really do them. It doesn't take that much time

After having involved myself in the reading of this book, perhaps it might seem repetetive in concept and theory. The reading of this book is not where it garners its importance. The importance of this text lies in its practices of each connecting activity that reweaves the web of nature into the human psyche. If these practices were woven throughout our Western education system, from prenatal classes to graduate study, our earth would not be in the crisis it is today and the human populations of earth would not be so entrenched in their suicidal mission to consume nature so voraciously that there will be nothing left for us and for other beings to thrive upon. The activities of this book are a reprogramming of the psyche that allows us to come back to our roots as natural beings and parts of this earth, if delved into deeply and with abandon, each exercise re-educates, re-connects, and re-members us into the natural community of being. What human progress and Cartesian principles of philosophy have created is a suicide machine in which each human is a pilot of self destruction, this book re-awakens the desire to live in harmony with all that is. It is my belief that these concepts should be instituted at the very least into K-12 public education as a way of beginning to turn the tides of the ravaging of the earth and all of nature to the end of life for us all. The concepts herein are basic, anyone can do them if they allow themselves to be open to them and to practice them with authenticity and sincerety. This is not a book for philosophical debate, or intellectual discourse, but one of experiential learning at the deepest level, that of human origin and development from our most primal roots in nature. I suggest this book for families concerned with educating each member with an environmental, ecological ethic, respect for the greater world of natural beings, and for esteem building in a positive and connected way.

The wonder of this book is in following the directions in each chapter. Each chapter takes you out into nature to do an activity of getting in touch with nature a little closer each time. This is not something to think lightly of and can be one of the most life changing experiences we can have. It is not a thinking book. It is a doing book. It is a letting nature back into our life book for all who clearly see our tendency to disconnect from nature. So much care and nature intelligence has been taken into account here in this book that I encourage all to partake of it.