Rachael Alaia joins me on the Belonging podcast for a potent and important conversation about facing an uncertain future in the midst of eco collapse, ecocide, and the grief and anxiety that comes with it. Many of us across the globe are experiencing more extreme weather and natural disasters (the fires here in California being just one example), and Rachael helps folx engage in body awareness, ecological sentience, and personal inquiry for personal planetary healing.
Together we talk about the physiological response to trauma as a result of ecogrief, finding community to co-regulate and creating a plan for environmental disaster, how to feel safe coexisting with others despite trauma, examining our reality through Systems Thinking, and honoring enjoyment and pleasure in the midst of grief work.
"We're building our capacity to be with what is happening—not to just be comfortable, but to be able to face and shape the future together." -Rachael Alaia
Resources:
- Glenn Albrecht coined the term "solastalgia" describing the mental or existential distress caused by environmental change
- The Polyvagal Theory in Therapy by Deb Dana
- The Work that Reconnects - the framework that Rachael is trained in, pioneered by Joanna Macy
- George Monbiot has coined this time the Age of Loneliness
- Healing Trauma by Peter Levine
- Somatic practices: pendulation and titration
- Pleasure Activism by Adrienne Maree Brown
- Emergent Strategy by Adrienne Maree Brown
More from Rachael Alaia:
How are you navigating ecogrief in these times?
Share in the comments below!
Credit for the phrase "be a good ancestor" goes to Arianna of Quw'utsun' Made
Episode 42 was so powerful for me, and not just in terms of the eco-crisis and uncertainty we are all facing, but in a deeply personal way as well. My husband was recently diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor and my entire world has been turned upside down. I had to pack my bags, get my 2 children situated, and find a place to stay all at a moments notice. I had to rely on others and force myself to accept that nothing about this was going to feel comfortable. I found myself wondering why accepting help was so terribly uncomfortable, and why sharing my situation with others felt so unsafe. This episode was exactly what I needed to hear to begin understanding where I am emotionally, and what I need to do in order to heal and move forward. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
I’m glad to know this episode brought you comfort, Catherine. I’m so sorry for everything you are going through.