A Word About the Ecological Principles

You may be wondering where I came up with the four ecological principles and why I started calling them "habits".


In 1994 a workshop called, Habits of Creation, was developed under the authorship of the Ecological Working Group of the Catholic Diocese of Richmond.  It's purpose was to "engage people in an active learning process about ecology, faith and justice in order to help them take effective action in their own lives and communities.  It was reviewed by Fr. Thomas Berry because much of the material included in it came from his writings.  It is my understanding that the main authors of the workshop were Anthony Flaccavento and Sr. Clare McBrian who worked in the Appalachian Office of Justice and Peace.


My first introduction to the workshop was in 2007 when I began work as the ecological educator for the Diocese of Richmond.  The workshop format was quite useful because it brought together the church teachings on caring for creation as well as an increased understanding of current issues and a call to take action. I have given the workshop many times over the past two years and adapted it to the location and age group who would be attending.


Following the thread of references given in the original document of the workshop took me to three books:  Dream of the Earth by Thomas Berry; The Universe Story by Brian Swimme & Berry; and What Are People For Essays by Wendell Berry.  The authors of these books have discussed three of the four principles that I now call "habits".


It occurred to me that learning to live by these principles would be a fine place to start a life long journey in living a sustainable life style.  This is why I write this blog; it's not just to tell people about what I do but to help me grow in my own understanding and sustain me as I attempt to develop healthy habits of my own.