Deep Connection and Collective Renewal with Restore NYC
In May, I co-led a retreat that was part of a larger initiative through the Garrison Institute’s Contemplative-Based Resilience (CBR) program to support the staff of Restore NYC. This extraordinary organization stewards powerful, trauma-informed work serving survivors of trafficking and exploitation. I am still deeply moved by my time with the Restore team – filled with lasting inspiration, profound gratitude for their vital work. . .
Rights of Nature
Stephen Posner, PhD, Garrison Institute’s Director of Pathways to Planetary Health, is coauthor of a research article recently published in the Earth System Governance journal titled, “Frogs, Coalitions, and Mining: Transformative insights for planetary health and Earth system law from Ecuador’s struggle to enforce Nature’s rights.” The article highlights Ecuador's pioneering legal recognition of the Rights of Nature. This approach has led to significant environmental protections, such as halting large-scale mining projects that threatened biodiversity hotspots . . .
Crossing the Commons: From Inner Change to Systemic Change
“Be the change you want to see in the world!” is the familiar counsel of great social movements. The advice echoes the lyric from the great African-American song, “This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine!” But how, exactly, might our inner epiphanies and transformations catalyze systemic change? We may individually develop new insights and values from wisdom traditions and contemplative practice, but how might they radiate out into . . .
Earth Day Reflections on the Planet and Her People
As we honor this year’s Earth Day celebration, we find ourselves reflecting on human relationships with nature and the complex ecologies that have supported life on Earth for millions of years. As a species, it’s clear we face a quandary rooted in mindsets that separate people and nature. However, cultivating gratitude, community resilience, and deep relationship with the land offers a hopeful path for a more harmonious future.
The Ecological Turn
Bridging Wisdom from Contemplative Traditions with Ecological Ways of Life The Pathways to Planetary Health initiative hosted a conversation to explore …
Exploring Wellbeing Economies
In a world grappling with rapid and interconnected social, ecological, and economic changes, a growing movement is reimagining a future …
Exploring Personality and Wholeness: A Conversation with Dr. Dan Siegel
In November 2024, Dr. Daniel Siegel joined the Garrison Institute’s managing director Steve Varley for an engaging discussion of Dr. Siegel’s new book, Personality and Wholeness in Psychotherapy. Together, they explored how personality patterns, often viewed as fixed traits, can be transformed into dynamic pathways for growth, integration, and self-discovery.