University of Earth: An EcoSpiritual Wisdom School

"The reinvention of the human is the central mission of our times…"
~Thomas Berry, PhD, Cultural Historian

 

Our Vision & Mission
University of Earth is an EcoSpiritual Wisdom School dedicated to helping create a world that works for all, both human and “other-than-human,” where the human community, the natural world and the divine worlds go forward as one sacred community. And while we are far from living in such a world, we hold a firm conviction that this is the emerging zeitgeist, the “Spirit of the Times,” and it cannot be turned back.

How long it takes to get there depends on us. Whether it takes decades or centuries, it will require unending grace and tremendous grit. University of Earth is dedicated to supporting this reinvention of humanity and exploring new ways of living and relating as one sacred community. Let us begin, one step at a time, one foot in front of the other. 

An Integral Age ~ The Age of Wholeness & Truth
Though many adherents of the passing Industrial Age and current Information/Digital Age remain autistic to this emergent Truth, the current of this Spirit can be seen in the rising concerns within the human community around social justice issues, in the natural world around concerns of ecological destruction, and in the divine worlds with the surging interest in spirituality.  We are being called to create a new world, an integral world that works for all.

Reinventing the Human
As Thomas Berry indicated, the key element to this emergence is the “reinvention of the human.” We might ask, what does this reinvention look like? We need to look no further than newer research based human development models to find hope for this possibility. Certain models point to more advanced, more mature stages of human development where we fulfill our greater potentials, stages that honor and integrate the human, natural and divine worlds.  And while the percentage of humans currently at those stages is minimal, the fact that they exist give us a starting point, a goal and encouragement.

Many developmental scholars talk of a sociological “tipping point” when the momentum toward a new way of living and relating will begin to become the prevailing paradigm. Some are predicting that the most likely scenario for this emergence will be in the form of "Islands of Sanity" where the like minded will come together in communities creating a ripple effect that will begin to spread throughout. A central part of our vision and mission at University of Earth is assisting in moving us toward that “tipping point” by helping people learn about and fulfill those greater human potentials.  

It Begins with You
This challenging endeavor starts with you! Thomas Berry called it the “Great Work of our times of which nobody is exempt.”  The great wisdom traditions point to the primacy of personal accountability for one’s life along with an accountability to one’s neighbor and community. “Pulling oneself up by the bootstraps” (Red) and "I am my brother/sister's keeper" (Blue) have become polarities in the politcal world in America, but are in truth woven together into the tapestry of the one sacred community; across faiths, across genders, across races, across species, and across political ideologies. There is no escaping the fundamental truth that we are all in this together.

Moreover, the wisdom traditions point to the fact that deep within us, we are each endowed with an Inner Genius and each encoded with a Particular Work we are made for in this life. We, each one, have a unique gift we are meant to bring to the world as one sacred community.  Before our indoor, now screen addicted modern era and subsequent alienation from the "more-than-human worlds, all societies supported and offered ways to help the youth discover and fulfill their true life purpose.

"Education is in a crisis worldwide."
~Dalai Lama

The four central institutional pillars that hold up modern society, Education, Economics, Government & Politics and Religion have all been usurped by corporations and are all in need of reinvention. Conventional higher education, called by critics “consumer factories,” offers little to no opportunity to discover your unique purpose, in fact, the concept seems completely lost. Instead people are encouraged to pursue careers that earn the most money and give you the greatest purchasing power, which in turn profits the corporations. The tragedy of this model is expressed by this simple equation:
Consumer Materialism = Species Extinction & Climate Change.

Our capacity to create a world that works for all will require more and more of us to fulfill our greater potentials, as well as our "soul purpose"  bringing our unique gifts to our world in need. University of Earth is dedicated to this purpose. There is nothing more satisfying, nothing more fulfilling, nothing more invigorating than working to fulfill your "True Life Purpose." 

Your Particular Work

“We are each made for some particular work
and the desire for that work has been place in every heart.”
~Rumi

Central to our dedication to “reinventing the human” and creating a world that works for all is our online core course, Our Greater Work: Fulfilling Your Soul Purpose & Higher Potential. Course participants from ages 18 ot 78 have found this course extremely valuable in helping them explore life purpose, their higher potentials and a path forward. It is an honor to offer this course to all who hear the call to deeper and greater purpose and a more fulfilling life. 
For Course Info: EcoS 600: Our Great Work ~ Fulfilling Your Soul Purpose & Higher Potentials

"The future of this world is so much in question that each person needs to be considered a potential subject of a genuine 'calling' to serve in
some meaningful way."

~Michael Meade

What We Offer 
Along with our online courses, degree and certificate programs University of Earth offers on campus workshops, courses and events at our Lost Sierra Retreat Center. Join us for our seasonal solstice and equinox gatherings for personal and planetary healing and transformation. In addition, our Retreat Center hosts workshops and events for other organizations that are in alignment with our vision and mission of creating a world that works for all. Personal and family vacation retreats are quite popular here at this beautiful and magical setting.