Begins January, 1 2025

Course Details

Beginning on Wednesday, January 1, 2025, this year-long course invites students on a transformative journey to explore the ethics, health impacts, and environmental significance of compassionate living. Designed primarily for participants who are not yet vegan, the course welcomes those who identify as plant-based or vegan to join the conversation. We will meet every Wednesday evening from 6pm CST - 9pm CST on the Jitsi Meet platform, which is an open-source video conferencing tool that is completely free. 

Using ‘Intentionally: The 90-Day Transition to Veganism Holistically’ as a guide, we will support non-vegans in their transition as a New Year's resolution during the first 90 days of the course. Participants will engage with a varied curriculum consisting of educational books and videos that address the intersectionality of diet, health, and social justice, creating a holistic understanding of how our food choices impact both humans and non-humans.

The urgency of this transformation cannot be overstated. Animal agriculture is one of the leading causes of environmental destruction, responsible for significant greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and the pollution of our oceans and waterways. Statistics show that livestock production is a major contributor to habitat loss, with forests being cleared for pasture and feed crops, while toxic runoff from farms contaminates our water supply. This environmental crisis demands our immediate attention and action. By stopping the consumption of non-human beings, we take a critical step toward healing our planet and restoring ecological balance.

Moreover, we must confront and dismantle speciesism, the belief that non-human animals are inferior and can be treated as mere commodities. This mindset perpetuates the exploitation of animals and reinforces the social hierarchies that allow for the oppression of marginalized communities and women. The consumption of non-human beings has been deliberately woven into cultural narratives, creating what we refer to as "generational curses." These cultural practices and beliefs not only harm the animals but also propagate cycles of disease, environmental degradation, and social injustice across generations. 

By rejecting the colonialist mindset that perpetuates harm, we open the door to a more just and equitable world. The journey toward compassionate consumption is not just about individual dietary choices; it’s a collective movement toward true liberation and interconnectedness across all living beings. As we explore these themes together, we will empower ourselves and our communities to create lasting change and foster a world where all beings are respected and valued.

Pay What You Can

We are offering a monthly pay-what-you-can model for the 12 month program, which includes books, articles and videos. Additionally, this donation is tax deductible, as the Nature Center for Meditation is a 501(c)3 non profit organization. We are making this program affordable so that no one with a desire to transition to a whole foods plant diet and help do their part to stop the suffering of non-human beings is prevented from taking this course due to prohibitive cost. 

REGISTER FOR THIS COURSE BY USING THE FORM BELOW