On June 20th, as the Solstice marked the turning of the seasons—the sun at its summer peak in the North and the darkness of winter deepening in the South—over 100 people from around the world gathered virtually for a Solstice Earth Listening Circle hosted by Pachamama Alliance. Across continents and cultures, we came together in a shared act of reverence: to listen to the living Earth for guidance in these times.

Tending to The Roots 

In a world shaped by the polycrisis of environmental and social collapse, Earth Listening Circles invite a return to something ancient and essential: the practice of attuning to life itself. Listening—real listening—is not passive. It is an embodied act—an opening of our will to receive instructions, rather than grasping for answers. A sacred turning of our attention to the web of relationships and to the intelligence that lives in all things—the more-than-human world, the living Earth, and the great animating life force that spins the stars and changes the seasons. It is how we remember that we are not separate from the Earth, but of it. That we are not here to fix or save the world from the outside, but to participate in its healing and evolution from within. We belong to the Earth and to each other.

At the root of today’s polycrisis lie the myths and beliefs of separation and human supremacy. If our actions are not grounded in the truth of our interdependence, we may find ourselves replicating the same patterns of disconnection and domination, perpetuating harm instead of restoring wholeness. That is why Earth Listening begins with reestablishing connection—so that from there, we can begin to sense what is truly needed.

What We Heard: Messages from the Earth

This Solstice gathering was an invitation to return to presence and relationship. Together, we opened a field of intention: to share what breaks our hearts and what makes us glad to be alive in these times. To drop beneath the surface of our daily lives and “…listen with our whole bodies—our senses, hearts, and spirits—for what guidance might come from the living world. To ask not “What should I do?” but “What is life asking of me now?”

The insights that emerged were simple and profound. One person shared,

“Spirit honored me for carrying the sadness that I have. This helped me feel connected and remember that I’m not doing something wrong by being sad.”

Another reflected,

“I can allow myself to really relax, knowing there are so many here, sharing the vibration of love. There is a bloodline joining us, like roots of a tree—we are One.”

Some received the wisdom of the waters:

“I felt inspired by water and its life-giving power and importance. We need to trust the flow and align with the currents of change. Perhaps Mother Nature has planted seeds in us for what is needed to carry on into the future.”

Others received messages from the land:

“Use your voice like the jungle. Be grounded. Don’t try so hard to make it happen—then it will happen. There is a rhythm even to the turbulence.”

One participant wrote,

“Listening with my whole body opens me to the unique spirit of every being, so the universe can infuse me with knowing.”

And another,

“To awaken more deeply to the exchange of love and wisdom with Mother Earth, and to commune with beloved souls, was a gift beyond words.”

Receiving Guidance Beyond the Self

These are not just reflections. They are insights emerging from a deeper truth: that the Earth is alive, intelligent, and always communicating with us if we pay attention. When we come together in community to listen, we amplify our capacity to hear—not only for ourselves, but for the collective. We begin to sense that we are not separate from the Earth’s grief or her beauty, but rather participants in a larger unfolding—called to live in the right relationship and to contribute to the flourishing of all life.

Earth Listening Circles are a collective practice rooted in this purpose and remembering. They offer a space to slow down, reconnect, and ask the essential questions: How do we listen for what life needs? How do we respond with humility, reverence, and responsibility?

This Solstice Circle was one of many ripples in a global awakening to transform our way of being: from one of human supremacy to one of human responsibility and sacred reciprocity with the community of all life. And it is just the beginning.

Looking Ahead: A Global Day of Listening

On the Equinox of September 21st, Pachamama Alliance will coordinate a Global Day of Listening—a synchronized moment for people and communities around the world to pause together, attune to the Spirit of Life, and listen. In a time when so much demands our attention, we invite you to first turn your attention toward the wisdom of life itself.

Details will be shared soon. For now, we invite you to mark your calendar, begin or deepen your own listening practice where you are, and remember: The Earth is always speaking. May we become quiet enough to hear her breath. We are not alone.