Local Offerings

From the beginning, the goal has been to cultivate direct relationships between Gaians, cultivating local community building, and inviting others into this community. While Gaianism.org started as primarily virtual (and continues to have a significant online presence) the hope is that over time Gaians create their own local groups (or guilds), to support each other, to deepen connection to the Earth, and to play a restorative ecological role in their area (as this reflection details). Three have taken root so far, one in Honolulu, one in New Orleans, and one in Middletown, Connecticut.

Honolulu, Hawai’i

The Gaian Guild of Hawai’i Nei meets on the first Saturday of each month for meditation, discussion, and connection. We meet outdoors at different locations, with a Zoom-in option. To connect with the guild, contact Krista Hiser.

New Orleans, Louisiana

The Crescent City Gaian Guild meets every Saturday to celebrate Gaia and support one another in our efforts to blaze a Gaian path. We generally meet in-person (outdoors) but occasionally online so please sign up for weekly email notices, or see listings via Lamplight Circle Meetup, or contact Bart Everson for more information. All welcome, even the idly curious.

Middletown, Connecticut

The Middletown Gaian Guild hosts monthly forest meditations typically on the second Sunday of the month. The calendar is below. If interested, please email info@gaianism.org for more details and to be added to the email list. Note: only thunderstorms and bad driving conditions will cancel these mediations. Rain and even light snow will not (bring proper clothing and a cushion if you need one). Also: on the fourth Sundays of the month, there is a Forest Bathing 101 session in Middletown also led by Erik Assadourian. All are welcome.

2023 Middletown Gaian Guild Forest Meditations, Middletown Forest Bathing Sessions, and Other Events

September 10, 4pm: Forest Meditation: Portland Riverfront
September 24, 10am: Forest Bathing 101: Middletown Nature Gardens
October 8, 3pm: Forest Meditation: Indian Hill Cemetery
October 22, 10am: Forest Bathing 101: Crystal Lake (Hillside, not peninsula path)
November 12, 3pm: Forest Meditation: Location TBD
November 26, 10am: Forest Bathing 101: Wadsworth Mansion
December 10, 2pm: Forest Meditation: Location TBD
December 17, 10am: Forest Bathing 101: Wadsworth Falls (Main Area not falls)

*Map for location at Wadsworth Falls (when we’re at Wadsworth Falls)*

The Gaian Creed

“We believe that the Earth, Gaia, is a living being. That Gaia is at the same time composed of the vast diversity of life and is alive in Her own right. We understand that we depend completely and utterly on Gaia and are part of Gaia. We recognize that current human actions are fundamentally altering Gaia and that if pushed too far, Gaia will shift from Her current state to one inhospitable to humans and millions of other species. Therefore, we commit to living radically sustainable lives—even to an extent that it may alienate us from our kin, our communities, our cultures. We commit to sharing our philosophy and bringing others to understand and embrace their relationship with Gaia and help heal Gaia—and in the process, themselves, their families, and their communities.”