Dr Kylie Harris – Treating the Climate Emergency as a Spiritual Emergency

Can we address the current ecological crisis through a spiritual lens?

Join Dr Kylie Harris, research psychologist, writer and activist in a theoretical discussion about the spiritual nature of the climate emergency and the psychological tools we can use to become part of the solution.

“Spiritual emergency” refers to a process of spiritual awakening, or expansion of conscious awareness, that becomes psychologically challenging for some people. These experiences often express themselves as various types of mental illness, including psychosis, anxiety, and depression. However, spiritual emergency offers a unique opportunity for personal transformation when treated appropriately. The current ecological crisis may be conceptualised as a collective spiritual emergency, a “rite of passage” for humanity, especially when we consider the issues of social and racial justice that it highlights.

In this discussion, Kylie will unpack the interrelatedness between spiritual emergency, climate emergency, social and racial justice, and describe how we can harness the power of “flow” states to collectively transform and heal our society. Facing the truth of the climate emergency is painful and daunting, but it doesn’t have to leave us paralysed. By working collectively in the present moment, we can unleash our individual and collective power and create healing solutions.

Kylie will offer an account of her personal journey through crisis and mental illness, including depression, anxiety, hypomania, post-traumatic stress, existential dread, and eventually, metamorphosis. Kylie’s personal experiences and academic research have led her to believe that the climate emergency is a spiritual emergency and that we have the power to address it before it is too late. Her message is: if you have ever wanted to step into your power, the time is NOW.

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About the speaker:

Kylie P. Harris, PhD is a research psychologist, writer and activist from Melbourne, Australia. She teaches casually at the University of New England, where she earned her PhD. She is a founding board member of The Australian Centre for Consciousness Studies, a member of the Emergent Phenomenology Research Consortium, and an Ambassador of Hope for the WallOBooks program.

Her research interests include spirituality and mental health, the psychology of climate change, social and racial justice, Indigenous wisdom traditions, healing, and rites of passage. In addition to academic research and writing, Kylie enjoys creative writing and projects that advocate for social rights and help to advance human conscious evolution.

More information at: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Kylie-Harris/publications and https://medium.com/@drkylieharris.

TICKETS

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