rights of nature - Quito University Students exploring waterfall in jungle -Credit Carlos Zorrilla

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.