Mending Humanity’s Broken Inner Ecology: An Integral Ecology and Theory in Action Towards Ecological Preservation

Abstract

The ecological crisis is a pressing global challenge, manifesting in climate disasters, environmental degradation, and rising inequality. Frameworks like the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals highlight the urgency of action, supported by religious leaders such as Pope Francis in Laudato Si’ and Laudate Deum. While these calls for change are crucial, this study explores a deeper aspect: the human inner ecology. It posits that lasting ecological solutions must begin within the individual. Grounded in biblical Christian anthropology, Pope Francis’s vision of integral ecology, and Ken Wilber’s Integral Theory, the research presents ecological preservation as an internal, transformative process. Using a qualitative narrative inquiry approach, the study examines personal stories from diverse spiritual traditions of individuals who have undergone significant transformation in their relationship with nature. These narratives highlight shared practices such as mindfulness, soul purification, non-violence, and earth-centered rituals that fostered reconnection with both self and environment. The research also led to the development of a conscious ecological workshop program, aimed at cultivating self-awareness, emotional resilience, spiritual renewal, and ecological responsibility within youth and community groups. By emphasizing practical application, the study offers a model for ecological conversion, asserting that meaningful change begins not just in policy but in the healing of the self.