Seeing the forest for the trees: Exploring the forest aspect of the Tree of Life process to sustain and nourish socioecological activism — Elizabeth Nicholas

This paper presents several additions to the Tree of Life narrative process. By expanding the ‘forest’ section of this process to include collective consideration of mycelium, possibilities were opened to exploring ‘underground’ networks of care and support, including those that might not be seen or recognised by the dominant culture. Exploring the role of hub trees in a forest system enabled conversations about the contributions of elders in a community. Considering forests as place sparked discussion of the contributions of place and the more-than-human world in our lives. The Tree of Life metaphor was modified in this way in the context of a co-research project seeking to elicit the insider knowledge of long-term activists about sustaining activism addressing ecological and social justice issues, particularly climate change.