Read
Listen
Watch
Participate
A Conversation with Author Ethan Nichtern
On July 9, we had the pleasure of hosting a Garrison Institute webinar with author and teacher Ethan Nichtern. If you’re familiar with Ethan’s teaching from The Road Home podcast or perhaps his essays on Substack, you can appreciate him for his clear, contemporary voice on spirituality.
Joanna Macy (1929–2025): A Life of Sacred Activism, Deep Belonging, and Wild Love for the World
With deep gratitude and sorrow, we honor the life and legacy of Joanna Macy, PhD—environmental activist, scholar, teacher, and beloved friend—who passed away peacefully on July 19, 2025.
The Gift of Centering Prayer
Feeling the weight of global and personal unrest, writer Mary DeTurris Poust came to the Garrison Institute for our 2025 retreat honoring the work of Father Thomas Keating, a Trappist monk, leader of contemplative inter-spiritual dialogue, and founder of the Centering Prayer movement.
This is What Liberation Feels Like
I sat in the meditation hall, bringing awareness to my in and out breath as the sunlight streamed in from the stained glass windows.
As the bell sounded and we began to walk around the meditation hall together in silence, I looked at the beautiful sangha that surrounded me and was overwhelmed by the amount of warmth, support — and most importantly, safety.
WE MUST HAVE COURAGE
How do we connect to our inner – and collective – strength during these challenging times?
Crossing the Commons: From Inner Change to Systemic Change
By David Bollier “Be the change you want to...
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...
Exploring Wellbeing Economies
In a world grappling with rapid and...
Grounding and Depolarizing
Creatively exploring the scientific meaning of grounding with diverse ways of knowing this concept can lead to insights for mindful action and collaboration.
Two-Eyed Seeing
The Pathways to Planetary Health initiative partnered with See Change Sessions to introduce the power of applied contemplative practice to a new diverse audience at the February 2024 See Change flagship event in Vermont.
This partnership helped a community of change agents engage with contemplative practice to develop insight into inner change, embrace innovative social presencing practices, and build capacity for collaboration and compassion while addressing today’s pressing social and environmental issues.
How to Practice Effortless Mindfulness
Effortless mindfulness is the letting go of attention, thought and present moments in order to open to an already awake awareness that is naturally focused, compassionate and non-conceptually intelligent in the Now.