Contemplating educations of ecological well-becoming, with gratitude to (Mother) Earth, wildlife, and women

Abstract

Given ecological atrocities and widespread ill mental health among humans, this article contemplates possibilities for educations of ecological well-becoming. It introduces contemplative, emotion-aware, and cosmospolitan embraces as part of such educations. Additionally, with reference to psychoanalysis, Buddhist thought, and Indigenous, specifically Anishinaabe, wisdom, I consider and complicate literacies steeped in gratitude for (Mother) Earth, wildlife, and women. I also wrestle with such dualisms as contemplation/action, mind/body, wilderness/civilization, self/other, inner/outer, and knowing/not knowing. By way of conclusion, I introduce Lifeworld educations, nondual ecological well-becoming and gratitude, and also briefly consider select implications of ecological well-becoming for contemporary schooling.