What is Ecofluency?

Ecofluency is paradoxical - it is as much about learning something new, as it is about unlearning the barriers to ecofluency that we have been taught.

ACADEMIC DEFINITION

The definition that I published in 2019 for ecofluency is “the ability to fluidly and accurately converse with more-than-human nature using the expanded spectrum of human sensory awareness”.

In that same open access journal article, which has an agricultural focus, I expand on it as follows (a simpler explanation follows below):

“Etymologically, ‘eco’ is derived from oikos (Greek) meaning ‘house’ or ‘habitation’, and ‘fluency’ from fluentem (Latin) meaning ‘free-flowing’ or ‘relaxed’.

This builds on ecoliteracy, which applies a more holistic understanding of complex systems thinking in order to ‘read’, or sense, into “the book of nature”. [But ecoliteracy] is limited by both one’s definition of ‘book’ and what it actually means to be ‘literate’: literacy tends to be dependent on explicit knowledge and one’s ability to effectively comprehend and interpret it.

Additionally, perceiving nature as a book implies that there is a passive uni-directional ‘reading’ of ‘nature’. Ecofluency, as I propose, goes a step beyond: it not only requires fostering an intimate comprehension of the functioning of interconnected ecological systems, but it invites us to acknowledge and apply our understanding of the bidirectionality of our participation with/in ‘nature’, to cultivate a sense of harmony (flow) through a process of co-creation (dialogue) with the more-than-human world.

This requires an expanded perspective of ‘nature’: one that shifts from seeing it as a background for human activity and food growing, to an animate web of inter-related organisms with which we can commune through a range of intuitive approaches.

…Integrating the rational and intuitive faculties of human awareness allows one to develop ‘a feel’ or ‘attunement’ for the more-than-human world and, in time, bring one into closer relation with biodiversity - an approach deemed vital for averting the ‘extinction of experience’…

… the primacy of direct experience needs to be emphasized… The practice of ecofluency also encourages more regular, direct and meaningful contact with nature and the sublime - elements that inculcate a sense of connectedness and, in turn, fosters a conservation ethic that supports pro-environmental behaviour…”

IN OTHER WORDS

Ecofluency means not just reading Nature’s facial expressions, body language and lips, but meeting Nature and other-than-humans as kin, as relatives, and learning (or remembering) a language, or a deeper way of communicating with them, in which one can develop fluency.

Why is this important? Communication is fundamental to finding harmony in any relationship, as it engenders trust and facilitates healing. This applies to all relationships, including the one we have with ourselves (we are Nature) and with the other-than-human beings in the external landscape.

It also means awakening all the senses, being aware of our sensations, feelings and emotions, to be more in-tune with one’s larger home in Nature, because that is also how Nature transmits information. A bit like how you become familiar with the sounds, smells, sights, tastes, feel of your built home, like the sound of certain doors, or the different footsteps of people you live with, the way you feel when you close the front door, the smell of the kitchen, the texture of certain surfaces. These are all ways we interact with our environment.

It’s about remembering how to speak and listen, and feel, move, dance, laugh, touch, sing, cry, in and with the rest of Nature, as ways of attuning and being.

Rather than actively searching with our eyes, relaxing, listening with all of yourself, and allowing that which needs to come into focus, we allow Nature to reveal itself.

This embeds the communion in the communication, and brings us closer to knowing Nature, others and ourselves.

So the invitation is to try less hard, and simply be, at peace, in our larger home of Earth.

And it is knowing that we are our own home. Because, again, we are Nature itself too. Which again emphasizes the role that listening to our bodies plays in listening deeply to Nature.

The best part is that all of us can do this, but many of us have just forgotten how. Which is why I offer what I’ve learned to other people.

Watch this interview I did with Peter Daniel for his series Conscious Conversations, August 2020. Bookmarks in the video description if you watch it on YouTube. The sound is ok, but please forgive the poor video quality!

WHAT OTHERS SAY

Since the word ‘ecofluency’ dropped into my awareness in 2017, I’ve asked people what comes to them when hearing or reading it for the first time. Some descriptions I’ve received are:

Learn, or remember, Ecofluency

For many people, learning ecofluency can be easy. A weekend workshop teaches you the tools, but it takes commitment and practice to become fluent, like learning any skill.

And I’ve found that it takes longer to unravel the psycho-socio-cultural programming that most of us have been taught, e.g. that plants don’t have feelings, that Nature is not conscious, that magic isn’t real…

This process can be challenging, and requires embarking on a deeper journey into the landscape of personal development and healing. The most important and possibly (definitely) most challenging part is to be kind and gentle with yourself and others.

And… it is the most rewarding journey I have ever made so far! I finally know and feel like I belong.

If you’re interested in (re)learning or remembering ecofluency, i.e. conversing with Nature with a wide range of senses, there are many ways you can do so.

You could book a Consultation with Nature, a Nature Constellation, or attend a workshop, course or retreat. The way I teach is a synthesis of the various methods that I’ve learned, and I tailor my services to meet your needs and level of experience.

There is also a host of Resources to help you get started and/or continue in your ecofluency practice.

Or simply stay in touch and keep up to date about how Ecofluency grows, to benefit you and the rest of Nature.