Thresholds

 Luke Edwards is a Melbourne-based educator, facilitator, musician and writer, exploring ways of integrating the best science, theology and spirituality to the pursuit of being human today in a way that serves the greater good. Currently with Edmund Rice Education Australia's Liberating Education project, Luke has also served with Catholic Earthcare Australia and the EarthSong Council.

Amber Hiscott is a wildly imaginative, award-winning glass artist. Hailing from Wales, she has an international reputation for her extensive portfolio of site-specific architectural and sculptural work in the public domain. Amber's inspiration flows from her love of the natural world and fascination with evolution. In 2019 she installed the "Cosmic Windows", inspired by the work of Thomas Berry, for Green Mountain Monastery, Vermont, USA.

Margaret Broadbent rsm is a Melbourne-based Sister of Mercy and artist who carries within the mystical vision of Viriditas, Hildegard’s “greening power” of all things. After wanting to be an artist from the age of 6, Margaret’s dream was put on hold while she joined the Sisters of Mercy in the post-Vatican II era and became a teacher. Years in the wilderness of the Great Sandy Desert with an aboriginal community, solitary time in the Cathedral Ranges, and adventures into Russian Iconography were transformative experiences that are still taking expression in her artwork today. Margaret told us about a new phase for her life as an artist she is entering now, explorations into the Tree of Life.

Dr Michelle Maloney is the co-founder and national convenor of the Australian Earth Laws Alliance (AELA). With more than 25 years’ experience creating and managing social justice, community development and ecological justice programs, including ten years working with First Nations Peoples in Queensland, Michelle drives the strategy and governance of AELA and has also completed a PhD in Law at Griffith University. Her work includes maintaining the extensive partnerships and networks that AELA has with the legal, academic, indigenous and environmental advocacy communities as well as designing and managing AELA programs and events, including AELA’s Rights of Nature Tribunals.

Ayya Soma is a Buddhist monastic, public presenter and retreat facilitator now based at the New Jersey monastery she co-founded, Empty Cloud. She took up this path just 2 years ago, after realising her successful global career in journalism and creative strategy left her feeling still unhappy despite her success. Through her initiative Buddhist Insights and her free weekly retreats open to all, Ayya Soma now offers the tools and practices for tuning in to ourselves, each other and the Earth community in a way that helps us glimpse reality again, and courageously respond to the global crises we are in.

Mary Judith Ress, known as Judy, is an eco-feminist theologian, journalist and editor who has been living and working in Latin America since 1970. A retired missionary and founder of the Conspirando collective and magazine, Judy has continued to live in Chile where she is a force in the ecological and women's movement. She has a master's degree in Economic Policy , obtained from the Graduate School of Social Studies New York; and in Spanish Language and Literature , obtained at the Universidad Internacional in Saltillo (Mexico). Also a degree in theology from the Latin American Biblical University in San Jose ( Costa Rica ) and a doctorate in ecofeminist theology at San Francisco Theological Seminary ( California - USA) (CA). Among her writings is the widely acclaimed non-fiction work Ecofeminism in Latin America, which won second place in Best Gender Issues at the Catholic Press Association in 2007. She has also penned two works of fiction: Blood Flowers and Different Gods, taking up contemporary theological questions.

Anne Curtis is a Sister of Mercy of the Americas who has given her life to what she calls “the two feet of justice – direct service and structural change”. In more recent times, this means not just human justice, but Ecological justice. Through integrating the spirituality of ecology into programs, practices and decision-making, Anne hopes humanity will come to know what Teilhard de Chardin called the “breathing together of all things.” After 12 years on the leadership team of the Sisters of Mercy and as a lobbyist in Washington DC, she is now the executive director of Mercy Ecology, whose mission is “to inspire reverence for Earth and to live in harmony with all creation”. Anne’s work is in collaboration with Mercy by the Sea on the Long Island Sound in Madison, Connecticut, and Mercy Farm, in Benson, Vermont.

Bridget Sperduto is the Executive Director of The Well Spirituality Centre in Le Grange Park, Illinois. The Well fosters an awakening to our Unity with the Divine, One Another, and all Creation. Through reflective experiences, education, conversation, the arts, prayer, and ritual, we discover and nurture: A deeper understanding of ourselves, A spiritual community of belonging and action, An appreciation for our place and our part as agents of healing in the unfolding Universe Story.  Bridget describes herself as committed to cultivating and participating the Christic field of inclusive out poured and communing love. Weaving storytelling, scripture, theological and scientific concepts, Bridget invites adults and children into the profound presence and mystery of the sacred around and within. Bridget is an associate of the congregation of St Josephs, a spiritual director, educator and retreat facilitator.  

Brenda Peddigrew RSM (NL) has been a Sister of Mercy of Newfoundland and Labrador for fifty-one years. She has worked as a high school teacher, a vocation director, Diocesan Director of Adult Faith Development, Retreat Leader and Facilitator of Chapters and Assemblies of Religious Communities of Women and Men for twenty-five years, in many parts of the world. Presently she lives in Northern Ontario, on a river in a forest, writing, guiding religious congregations and steeping in the natural world. In this podcast she discusses writing “Original Fire: The hidden heart of religious women”, and her depth of experience facilitating Chapters for religious congregations around the world. This podcast is also available on iTunes, Stitcher, TuneIn and Spotify. If you want to listen to the full interview, unedited, please go to our Thresholds Unedited Page. For a list of resources that relate to this podcast click here.

Doctor Gillian Ross is someone who has embraced many different world views over her lifetime and so because of this, could be described as a Christian, Buddhist Yogi and Mystic with a penchant for Taoism. She is the author of four books and studied behavioural science and philosophy before training as a Shiatsu massage practitioner and yoga teacher. Her audio recordings and CD’s of guided meditations and Yoga Nidra put out by through the ABC, have been hugely popular over the years and she now runs a mediation and retreat Centre in the Nimbin Valley of NSW.

Tracy Sorensen is a much-loved author, activist, filmmaker and journalist who is currently completing a PhD in Craft and Climate Change communication. She is a vital part of the Bathurst community having been the president of BCCAN (The Bathurst Community Climate Action Network) and co-founder of The River Yarners (a knitting activist group) and has been vocal and involved in protecting our waterways, parks and nature reserves here in the Central West.

Margie Abbott is a Sister of Mercy based in Geelong who has worked with groups and individuals for many years sharing her love of the evolving universe story, creation and Celtic spirituality, and the Divine Feminine. With experiences in education, spirituality, theology, counselling, facilitation and psychodrama, Margie highly values inner independence and capacity development. She integrates action methods, myth, Earth-centred spirituality and ritual to enhance her work. Through her books and private practice “Igniting Sparks” Margie has worked extensively with school systems, leadership teams, retreats and eco spirituality groups. In this episode Margie discusses her childhood and experiences as a facilitator working with eco-spirituality.

Yanhadarrambal also known as Jade Flynn is an emerging Wiradyuri elder. He is part of a new enterprise called Gunhigal Mayiny Wiradyuri Dyilang Enterprise which runs cultural immersion days where people of all cultures can connect with country and learn about local Wiradyuri history. In this episode Yanhadarrambal discusses his experiences growing up, Wiradyuri history and Wiradyuri rituals and culture.

Trevor Parton is a Christian Brother who defies expectations. Since the early 1990s, he has been at the emergent edge of ecological spirituality and Earth literacy education. Once a passionate science educator, he later founded the Centre for Spirituality and Ecology at Glenburn in Victoria, Australia. In this interview he discusses the history of the Centre and reveals some of his thinking influenced by the Mystic tradition. He talks of the need to re-imagine the concept of original sin, as well as embracing non-dualistic spirituality and spiritual ecology. Trevor also leaves us with some practical advice for how to deepen our connection to Earth.

Rowe Morrow is a leading permaculture educator and author. She is the co-founder of the Blue Mountains Permaculture Institute and has most recently begun Permaculture for Refugees to heal communities and the landscapes they live in. In this vibrant interview with Sally Neaves, Rowe speaks of her transformative encounters abroad working in war zones and refugee camps. She shares her hard-won wisdom with us on a range of issues from permaculture practicalities and philosophy to the intertwining ways our lives intersect. This is an interview that will appeal to many but especially to those who are passionate about permaculture, climate change and the refugee crisis.

Sally Neaves of Rahamim Ecology Centre interviews Sister Patricia Powell (rsm) about her life's work and the philosophy that underpins it. She discusses how Indigenous culture and the Universe Story had a profound impact on her theology which set her on a new path. She is also talks about the birth of Rahamim and shares her thoughts on where we might be headed. 

Sally Neaves of Rahamim Ecology Centre interviews Sister Anne Boyd (csb) about her life as a Brigidine Sister and her work with Earthsong. She also speaks of her transformational philosophy and journey through understanding, sharing with us the ideas and words that allowed this transformation to take place. 

Sally Neaves of Rahamim Ecology Centre interviews Pat Long about her life and work. In this candid interview Pat discuses her role in the formation of EarthSong and the transfomation she encountered while at Genesis Farm.