Emotion and ecology

To face climate change, we will need a deep emotional well. And that will require rich language for us to share stories, inspire action, transform culture, and mourn losses. I hope we can become more fluent together. 

To this end…I recently read two research papers* on the feelings aroused by nature and ecological crises. The writing was so vivid that I began mapping the vocabulary. The arrays below describe an arc of:

  • feeling a deep, meaningful connection with nature,

  • experiencing the crisis of ecological threat or loss, and

  • actively engaging and responding to that crisis.

1. Words used to describe meaningful encounters with nature:

2. Words used to describe the experience of ecological crisis:

3. Words used to describe the work of conservation and eco-justice:

It’s just a start, but an important one.

Language is power, life and the instrument of culture, the instrument of domination and liberation.

—Angela Carter

*Research citations:

  • Deal, P. J., & Magyar-Russell, G. (Accepted). A qualitative study of sanctification: How nature becomes sacred for environmental activists. Spirituality in Clinical Practice.

  • Deal, P. J, O’Grady, K. (2020). Environmental Justice Activism: A Transformative, Contemporary Nature Religion. Review of Religious Research, 62, 315–332. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13644-020-00409-y


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