On October 6, 2025, the Open Spaces gathering brought together members and friends of the International Ecopsychology Society (IES) in a living space of collective learning, facilitated by Belén Martín (IES Spain) and Marian Ríos (IES Colombia).
The purpose of the meeting was to bring ecopsychology from theory into daily and community life, exploring how to create spaces of symbiosis —mutually beneficial relationships— among humans, living communities, and the Earth.
The session began with an opening and tuning-in practice that invited participants to breathe symbiotically with the environment: recognizing the natural reciprocity between the oxygen we inhale and the carbon dioxide we exhale, remembering that each breath is an act of interdependence.
We then moved into “Redefining Symbiosis”, expanding the classical concept of biological mutualism into a universal relational principle. Inspired by Lynn Margulis, Robin Wall Kimmerer, and Glenn Albrecht, the group reflected on how life thrives through cooperation, and how humans can shift from a logic of exploitation to one of reciprocity.
Participants shared examples of symbiosis in action: networks of mutual support, regenerative economies, community gardens, practices of deep listening, nature-based therapies, and rituals of gratitude to the Earth.
One of the most moving moments was the collective reading of inspirational quotes that opened spaces for reflection and resonance among participants:
Lynn Margulis: “We are all communities of microbes. Every plant and animal on Earth today is a product of symbiosis.”
Robin Wall Kimmerer: “At the heart of reciprocity lies the simple fact that all that we take must be given back.”
Glenn Albrecht: “Symbiosis is the foundation of the Symbiocene — an era in which humans consciously choose mutually beneficial relationships with all beings.”
These voices illuminated the deeper meaning of the gathering: recognizing that cooperation is not an alternative but the very essence of life.
Participants also engaged in a “Relational Ecosystem Map”, where each person visualized their own human and more-than-human ecosystem, identifying the types of relationships they maintain (collaboration, competition, neutrality, etc.) and reflecting on how to transform them toward more symbiotic and regenerative bonds.
The exercise revealed that not all relationships are symbiotic, yet all can be understood and redesigned to enhance collaboration, care, and regeneration.
This Open Space IES reminded us that symbiosis is not merely a biological strategy, but a form of consciousness and relational ethics that calls us to co-create a world rooted in cooperation, gratitude, and interdependence.
🎥 You can watch the full recording of OPEN SPACES: Spaces of Symbiosis in Practice here.
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