The Work That Reconnects: Finding Hope and Belonging in Difficult Times

Many of us feel the weight of these times—the grief of environmental loss, the uncertainty of the future, and the disconnection that can come from living in a world that often feels out of rhythm with nature. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed or powerless in the face of such vast challenges. Yet within this discomfort lies an invitation: to remember our belonging to the web of life and rediscover the strength that comes from connection.

The Work That Reconnects (WTR) is a framework and set of practices developed by scholar and activist Joanna Macy to help people face ecological and social crises with courage, clarity, and compassion. Rooted in deep ecology, systems theory, and spiritual traditions, WTR guides participants through a process of reconnecting—with themselves, with others, and with the living world.

At its heart, this work is about transforming despair into empowered action and finding meaning in the shared experience of being alive at this moment in history.

The Spiral of the Work

The Work That Reconnects unfolds in a spiral—a reflection of how healing and growth naturally occur. Each stage of the spiral invites us into deeper awareness and connection:

1. Coming from Gratitude
   We begin by grounding in appreciation for the beauty and resilience of life. Gratitude softens the heart and opens us to presence, helping us see that even amidst difficulty, we are still held within a living, breathing world.

2. Honoring Our Pain for the World
   Grief is not a sign of weakness—it’s a measure of our love for the world. In this stage, we make space for the sadness, anger, and fear that often go unspoken. By acknowledging our pain together, we begin to transform isolation into solidarity.

3. Seeing with New Eyes
   Here, we shift from an individual perspective to a systems view, recognizing the interconnection of all life. This expanded awareness helps us remember that we are not separate from the Earth—we are the Earth, expressing itself as human.

4. Going Forth
   Finally, we move toward action that is grounded in love and purpose. This doesn’t always mean doing more; often it means living in deeper alignment with our values and the natural cycles around us.

Finding Belonging Through Connection

The Work That Reconnects reminds us that we do not heal in isolation. Healing happens in community, in relationship, and in the presence of the more-than-human world. Through group circles, mindfulness, and experiential practices, participants often rediscover a sense of belonging—to self, to others, and to the greater web of life.

As someone who has experienced this work personally, I’ve found it to be a powerful process of remembering—of coming back into right relationship with the living world. It offers a pathway to navigate eco-grief and despair while rekindling a sense of purpose and hope.

An Invitation to Reconnect

If you feel called to explore The Work That Reconnects or to engage in eco-grief and nature-connection practices, I invite you to reach out. I’ll be offering Work That Reconnects-inspired workshops in the future and would love to stay in touch with those who feel drawn to this work.

Together, we can learn to meet these times with open hearts and a renewed sense of belonging—to ourselves, to one another, and to the living world.

Sources: https://workthatreconnects.org/