In this profound and heartfelt talk, guest teacher Leah Penniman weaves together ancestral traditions, ecological mindfulness, and storytelling to explore humanity’s interconnection with the Earth.
Drawing from personal experiences in Ghana, West African contemplative practices, and African-American ecological wisdom, Leah invites participants to rethink their relationship with nature — seeing it not as a resource but as a living relative.
With insights from cultural legends, stories of resilience, and historical examples like Dr. George Washington Carver, this talk emphasizes the transformative power of listening to the Earth and honoring its cycles. Penniman’s reflections inspire a renewed commitment to moderation, interdependence, and healing, offering practical guidance for integrating mindfulness with ecological care in everyday life.
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Meditation: Black Earth Wisdom
Talk: BLACK EARTH WISDOM: Afro-Indigenous Ecological Thought and
Practice
Leah Penniman (Manye Ifagbamila) is founding co-ED and Farm Director of Soul Fire Farm in Grafton, New York, an Afro-Indigenous farm that works toward food and land justice. She also serves as a traditional priest (Olorisa, Omo Awo, Manye) in the West African Indigenous religions of Vodun and Ifa, and is a dedicated member of the Grafton Peace Pagoda Nipponzan Myohoji Sangha. Her books, Farming While Black and Black Earth Wisdom, are love songs for the land and her people. You can learn more at www.soulfirefarm.org.
