Transforming Existing Perceptions: Language as a Tool for Accessing the Ecological Self

Abstract

The way we story our lives shapes the way we understand and experience the world. This paper draws on concepts from narrative therapy and examples of traditional wisdom to argue that an important step in recognizing our interdependence and co-extensive relationships with the more-than-human world is to introduce language that acknowledges non-human beings as subjects rather than objects. To frame experiential learning pathways that enter into wild pedagogies of nature, this paper will focus on two reflective touchstones: 1) agency and role of nature as co-teacher; and 2) locating the wild. By exploring the possibility of narratives that are co-created with the wild, we may expand our identification with the more-than-human world, opening us up to experiences of our own, more inclusive, ecological self. Keywords: ecological self, wild pedagogies, language, narrative, nature