12 Jun 2014
9 Jan 2014
Register Now! Permaculture Intro Course (Oxfordshire): Sat May 10th 2014
We are delighted to publicise the following course which takes place at Willowbrook Organic Farm in Oxfordshire in May 2014.
This is an introductory day that promises to be fun, educational and transformative! There will be opportunities for networking with other course participants.
Venue: Willowbrook Organic Farm, Hampton Gay, Oxfordshire.
Date:: Saturday May 10th 2014
Times: 10am-6pm
(Advance Booking Only: see link below)
Permaculture is a practical system for sustainable living, based on observing principles and patterns in nature. By maximising relationships in living systems, permaculture has empowered people worldwide to develop dynamic, resilient projects that work with nature, rather than against it. Whatever scale or aspect of human living, whether the home and garden, community or congregation space, or one’s own life and career, permaculture can be applied to each situation.
This interactive taster day will introduce you to some of the fundamental tools and principles that can be used to design sustainable, resilient projects.
The course content will include:
- What is permaculture?
- Introduction to permaculture ethics and principles
- Nature observation
- Social permaculture
- Permaculture as a design system
- Applying permaculture
- Next steps
Course fees £55 standard rate / £45 concessionary rate
(Advance Bookings Only)
Food: Teas will be provided; Participants will need to bring a packed lunch/any snacks.
Visit 'Routes of Wholeness' for More info / to Book: www.routesofwholeness.org
To support a rich learning space, we are limiting participant numbers to a small group size. If you know you want to participate on the course, we recommend you book as soon as possible in order to secure your place.
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22 Nov 2012
Islam & Climate Booklet: Now Available Outside UK!

This inspiring booklet was produced by our small team of activists
with attention to both process and outcome. No corporate nor government funding.
Powered by the People! 23 Aug 2012
"If People Are Unable to Imagine a Positive Future, They Won’t Create It": Emergence Summit: Sept 2012
"And hold fast, all together, unto the bond with God.." [Qur'an 3:103]
Whatever changes are taking place in the world, the universal heart will be forever present. Can we tune in, to its beat? For its beat is the source of navigation as we traverse waters whether turbulent or still.
Thanks to working within lovely WIN, I have been invited and agreed to participate in what sounds like a kind of ecopilgrimage(!) through Wales this Sept (2012): camping, trekking along lesser travelled routes (partly in silence), and creating with activists, visionaries and artists who recognise that with climate change, peak oil, economic collapse and so on.. humanity has taken a wrong turn.
We intend to imagine together the future we do want. The Summit will culminate at the Centre for Alternative Technology for a weekend conference.
More about the Emergence Summit is here: http://www.emergence-uk.org/
Below is a six minute video about the idea and how it evolved.
I've been told that the summit will be filmed and daily highlights will be uploaded. It will be possible to follow the Summit on twitter and facebook. The Emergence website should have more info (soon!).
I am also happy to be contacted to speak to groups about the experience. I can be contacted through WIN.
5 Jun 2012
WIN at Alternative Rio - London Sun June 17th 2012
Time: 2:30 - 3:45 PM Venue: Institute of Education, Thornhaugh Street of Russell Square (Russell Square Tube)
7 Nov 2011
WIN's Fourth Core Strand: 'Climate Justice'
Away from dependence on fossil fuels;
9 Oct 2011
'Identities in Transition' Seminar - Leicester
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**Registration essential**
Date: Friday 14th October 2011
Registration: The event is free, and lunch is provided: but a place must be reserved in advance. More info including to register:
- How contemporary identities have been shaped by the high carbon economy
- How those identities might change and be reconfigured through the process of transition to a sustainable, low carbon future
- What it means to identify with (movements for) sustainability transitions.
26 Mar 2011
Islamic ecology in the classroom
Facilitator's homework
Prior to the workshop, I had been well primed as to the range and nature of the pupils by the director of CCYDT, Sabino Miranda: I knew that the pupils would be boys, mostly Muslim, but also Hindu, Christian and no formal faith, within an age range of 13-15 years, with a few a little older.
Most workshops I had delivered have been for adults and so I decided to reach out to my good friend and colleague across the pond, Mohamad Chakaki, to explore and hear ideas. Mohamad has given many more workshops to school age children than myself and I value his thoughts.
My ideas following these interactions were as follows: Keep it varied, keep it moving, and allow for some healthy disorder!
Making it universal
I had 1½ hours. We began with a go-round ice-breaker so everyone spoke from the start. Then, rather than going straight into any Islamic eco-theology, I had decided it might work better to explore principles through exercises that stimulated each participant to connect with their own inner compass/sense of ethics first, and then being given a chance to share. I attempted to frame this in a universal language to support inclusively.
Such a foundation can, I feel, potentially lend itself to the terminology and principles associated with any faith tradition. The group would thus be better equipped to look at what initially emerged in an open way, and then later in the workshop, within the framework of core Islamic concepts that underlie the outward aspects of the faith, including action to restore ecological balance.
The first exercise was the 'spectrum line', which is designed to draw out viewpoints and discussion on different issues. Participants choose to stand anywhere along the length of an imaginary line according to how strongly they agree or disagree with a statement. E.g. "Can we have too much of a good thing?" (to later explore the idea of mizan/balance). Varied ideas sprung from this exercise allowing for a healthy spread of viewpoints.
Then, using a numbering system, the pupils were divided into four groups, each taking on one of two questions for discussion (e.g. "Think 'natural world'. Think 'human communties'. Does the natural world have anything to teach us?"). They had fifteen minutes for this which I thought this might end up being too short. However, they got their ideas down faster than I anticipated. Their presentations were both intersting and varied in content.
Afterwards I attempted to weave into a short talk what had emerged from the exercises whilst drawing on key Islamic concepts. I followed this with a five minute slide-show on Muslims engaged in ecological action (Although they can have a place, I like to avoid too many visuals preferring instead to be more directly relating with those present). There was then space for questions, a bit of last minute sharing, and then the distributing of the WIN photo-booklets on Islam & Climate Change for the pupils.
All in all, it was a fulfilling day, and although I am sure I had the luxury of a pretty focussed group of children, I'm looking forward to to engaging more with a younger age group as I am able.
- With children, short varied exercises can engage them better than something that goes on for too long or too much of the same.
- Taking a group of children deep into Islamic eco-theology in a short time can be challenging, and is indeed impossible at 5pm when they've been at school since 8! On the other hand, giving a flavour of 2 or 3 basic concepts such as fitrah (natural disposition/innate goodness, which some seemed to grasp really well), mizan (balance), and tawhid (unity/oneness) is feasible to weave effectively into a single workshop on climate change dynamics and taking action.
- I found I could have addressed key themes/topics - that were raised by the children within the workshop - better than i did during my short talk at the end. What I might do next time in a similar situation is actually note down keywords as the themes/topics came up, and glance and reflect on them at appropriate times before I give a talk.
- A certain level of disorder is to be expected from time-to-time - not everyone can stay focussed the whole time. Thus, a limited degree of chaos or 'play' alongside the intended sequence of events seemed to act as a healthy release that then allowed a more naturally guided return to the formal thread of activities. That's how it felt with this kind group, but I'd be interested to hear of anyone else's experiences!? How much 'disorder' is healthy?...
- I arrived at the school just 5 minutes before the workshop (due to a misunderstanding over timings) so had less time to organise e.g. pre-prepare some flip-charts, familiarise myself with the space etc... than I had imagined. This however pushed me to think more in terms of essentials and go more with instinct, which I have found can be a strength. On other occasions though, I am aware that too little time to settle before a workshop does little to help me be present.
- With regards the 'spectrum line' exercise, after drawing out some thoughts from a group of participants bunched close together, thought-provoking questioning can tap into deeper layers. This of course needs balancing with the comfort level of the person being questioned and drawing our a variety of viewpoints in the time available.
9 Dec 2010
Reflections Across the Pond: Green, Muslim and American
It was 2004. I was at a public meeting on climate change. The lecture hall was buzzing with energy. Ideas, questions and answers were exchanged between the audience - mostly students - and the speakers, one of whom was Mayer Hillman. Mayer is the author of the informative 'How We Can Save the Planet', and during the course of this event did not hesitate in showing his distaste to flying. He also made it more personal and correspondingly more uncomfortable.
"Who will now commit to never flying again?"
He threw the question at us with force, like a long-standing campaigner who believed it was now or never. As he asked this, I checked in with myself and found myself grappling internally. I was aware that the warming effect of flying can be several times greater than other forms of transport because greenhouse gases have more of an impact at high altitude. Also, the distances we fly tend to be large with flying being a cheap and time-saving travelling option. The place that aviation takes with regards social norms and its contribution to climate change is hard to over-emphasise, which is why there is a necessary movement resisting its expansion.
Sarah added that the state of the altered room was basically a metaphor for what we often experience daily in our lives, yet become desensitised to. Following a period of being present to this altered room, the participants were then given a chance to re-arrange it themselves to their liking! The DC Green Muslims have impressed me with their imaginative grassroots approach, and this is but one example.
The sermon (khutba) was given by Imam Feisal Abdul-Rauf, and was one of the most liberating I had experienced. It wasn't just the content, but the way it was delivered - with love and presence, opening up a space that was much bigger than just words being spoken . The content itself was about compassion, and inviting Muslim to move beyond the label 'Muslim' to what the term actually points to, the surrendering of the self to the Divine - and to reflect on what that means including in our caring for those who might have different viewpoints to our own. I left the centre with a feeling of gratitude and hope.
That same evening, we were fortunate to be able to meet Ibrahim Abdul-Matin and to attend a workshop he was facilitating at Columbia University in New York. Ibrahim is the author of the newly released and very readable book Green Deen - What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet. At his workshop, there were about 30 participants, mostly students. After some mostly seated exercises, Ibrahim got us moving - we took positions in different corners of the room according to where we stood in response to questions he threw at us. We then shared with those standing with us, and then with the wider group. It was a well run, engaging workshop, and Ibrahim's background in community organising was evident.
One of the comments he made to the group that stayed with me went something like this,
"You have value not because of what you own, what you wear, nor because of what you earn. You have value simply because God created you".
This wasn't academic stuff, rather a way - albeit pitched for those who believe in God - of getting to the basis of our self-worth that necessarily brings down the walls of an artificial value-system which society imposes onto us, and out of which arises consumerism and the compulsive pursuit of status.
After an extended seven hour coach journey back to New Jersey, I took to the phone to be interviewed by Saadia Aslam from Radio Tahrir. Radio Tahrir is a weekly programme about the Arab and Muslim Community and is broadcast on the independent New York radio station, WBAI Radio. Saadia asked me about the work Wisdom In Nature is doing in the UK. I talked about our new booklet, Islam & Climate Change: A Call to Heal, our Islamic Community Food Project, and our emphasis on process and working in a holistic way that includes consciously integrating social ecology into our work. Saadia was also keen to hear my experiences of the Green Islam movement in the US. I enjoyed sharing and am impressed by the dedicated work the radio station is doing.
The podcast of my interview can be found on the following webpage - It's the November 23rd 2010 broadcast, and the interview starts at about 30 minutes after the music piece by Maher Zain.
I discovered that IMAN aims to weave together social justice with the arts, and to also bring in the environmental. One of their projects is called Project Green Reentry. This involves supporting ex-offenders in Chicago with on-the-job training as they essentially construct their own homes sustainably. This is meant to help them to socially integrate whilst simultaneously respecting the earth. As a keen believer in a holistic approach - I increasingly feel that isolated environmentalism, or indeed isolated activism of any kind, is ultimately self-defeating as it will work against the interconnected nature of things - I am keen to learn more about the intelligent work that IMAN is doing.
Whilst I haven't explored the movement in the US sufficiently enough to give a confident answer, it was clear that the folks I met there hold alot of respect for the work going on here! Whilst it's true, however, that we've been working with this for a longer period, perhaps they underestimate what they have achieved in such a short space of time.
My own sense about the movement in the US, from direct contact with a few key individuals, is that it has set in motion a creative energy and quality of work that is refreshing. There also seems to be a healthy experimenting with ways, verbally or otherwise, to express Islamic principles so they can be practical and alive to those of us growing up in contemporary western culture. I felt that our more 'mature' movement in the UK can certainly take inspiration and lessons from the movement there.
At the same time, we have a grounding and a history through which many lessons have been learnt and a certain degree of resilience developed. All in all, there appears to be much scope for a mutually nurturing relationship, whose benefits can and must extend beyond our immediate space and time.
So, now it's also time to get some more work. The economic situation. Hmm, that's another aspect which, in this inter-connected world, needs co-healing...
1 Sept 2010
Can You Help Us? Financial APPEAL for Print Copies of Islam & Climate Photo-booklet

To get the first batch printed (we are going for recycled paper, using a printing company with a strong ethical stance) we need at least an additional £800 for one-thousand copies of the 20-page colour booklet. We ask if you would be willing to help us reach this amount so we can have copies available as soon as possible. They would be distributed for free with donations suggested (which will help cover the next batch and so on! - this would make it sustainable in the longer run!)
Our bank account details are on our donate page
If you have any questions please contact us, or feel free to use the comments tag at the bottom of this blog post.
23 Aug 2010
Islam & Climate Change ~ A Call To Heal: Online Booklet Launch
We've been dedicating our time to this for quite a bit longer than we had originally planned - a few months longer in fact! - and whilst painful at times, we managed to patiently work through the difficult parts to experience the joys that follow, and which come from working within a great team. And yes, we are pleased with the outcome as well! We invite you to take a look.
The Wisdom In Nature team
From a small team of faith-inspired community activists...
This picture guide outlines an Islamic perspective on one of the most pressing challenges of our time. In simple language and with pictures, it introduces the following themes:
Disturbance of the Natural Order; A Call to the Fitrah; Unnatural Disasters; Islam: A Religion of Harmony; Fulfilling our Role as Khalifah; A Revival towards Wholeness; The Power of Many…
Climate Change is a signal that humankind has lost its course. By drawing on spiritual wisdom, we can respond to this call - this call to heal. This booklet was produced by a team of community activists to educate, cultivate reflection and inspire holistic action to help build a fairer and more sustainable world for all.
Download for free from here
The booklet was produced through voluntary efforts by a team of committed activists along with design support as we neared completion.






