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Cosmic Themes & Human Development

(3 customer reviews)

$35.00

Dr. Michael Dorer
Levels: All
1 PD Hour

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Description

Description

 

Dr. Michael Dorer, a Montessori Trainer in Cosmic Education                                                                                 

with Dr. Michael Dorer
Levels:  All    
CPD Hours: 1

 

[To take an in-depth professional development course in Cosmic Themes with Dr. Dorer, offering 4 CPD hours, click here.]

 

This webinar is an inspiring introduction to Montessori Cosmic Themes that start at birth and develop throughout life.  Although it’s primarily oriented toward teachers, it’s really for everyone.

Dr. Dorer gives an overview of cosmic themes and human development and how they relate to how we experience the larger world: experiencing the world through the senses (0 to 6), learning the Great Lessons and how they introduce the five Cosmic Themes (6 – 12), seeing ourselves in the Great Stories (12 – 18), and exploring our cosmic gifts and tasks inside the Cosmic Story in which all things are connected, as Thomas Berry discussed with such profundity in his work.  Maria Montessori focused on the first four planes of development, but the Cosmic Themes and human development continue to unfold throughout life.

Kyle Herman further delves into the adolescent years, bringing in Montessori’s idea of Cosmic Gift & Task and relating it to Thomas Berry’s idea of the Great Work. Brian Tucker, of the Guild for Spiritual Guidance, who studied Erik Erikson links the early planes of development to later stages in life. 

 

Cosmic Themes and Human Development

Five cosmic themes unfold developmentally throughout life — universe, earth, humans, communication, and math — and help us to discover our Cosmic Gifts and Tasks (Montessori) and our Great Work (Thomas Berry).  The themes can viewed as a nested egg, with theme nested inside the theme that comes before.

A combination of overview, inspiration, and how to — particularly for teachers, parents and grandparents, but also for everyone who wants to connect their lives to the larger context of an evolving universe — this webinar is ultimately about meaning, purpose, and engaging fully at every single stage in life inside an evolving universe, and nurturing engagement in our students, children, grandchildren, and others around us.

A Deeptime Perspective undergirds the work of everything we do on the Network.

*AMS approved continuing professional development hour.  Our certificates are recognized by many schools.  Check with your supervisor to see if these courses meet your requirements.

 

Who is this for?

Teachers, parents, grandparents, and anyone interested in understanding the stages of human development and how we orient to a cosmic and deeptime perspective.

 

In This Webinar, You Will:

  • Be introduced to planes of development and how they relate to understanding/loving the universe.
  • Be inspired to orient your life, teaching, parenting, and more to these themes and the universe as an all compassing context.
  • See how learning, living, teaching, and parenting becomes easier and deeply engaging inside of the Cosmic Story.

Reviews (3)

3 reviews for Cosmic Themes & Human Development

  1. Jennifer Morgan

    Here are comments we received by email:

    I totally enjoyed Michael’s presentation and gained lots of Cosmic Education information.
    — Linda Aaquist

    I’m an Early Childhood Montessori Teacher and I do feel that we can address Cosmic Education on this level, however, as a mother with a child in her last year in Children’s House, I’m very excited after listening to this recording for what she has to look forward to in hearing these stories of the universe when she enters her Elementary class next year…and, as our school has a Middle School, continuing – hopefully with a teacher like Kyle! – after that.
    — Nanci Guartofierro

    Surely the Universe is rejoicing with such rich and beautiful and interesting and helpful material! As an elder, I realize how affirming this is, and how much suffering happens when elders have missed the early stages, and despair when they cannot be active! (I was so fortunate to have had poor health and learned rather by force that my task was not getting “work” done, but contributing to the consciousness and compassion of the universe, which I could do in bed.  Thank you, thank you for all the time and effort and love you have put into these marvelous programs!
    — Terri Mackensie

    FYI, in the 80’s Catholics and Catholic educators were becoming aware that charity wasn’t enough; justice was needed. Some of us did “infusion workshops” to help teachers integrate justice-awareness and action into everything else — exactly what your speakers indicated should be done with cosmic education. I’m out of the Catholic education scene, but certainly hope we are “infusing” these cosmic concepts and goals!
    — Terri Mackensie

    Thanks so much and thank you for presenting this course!  Jay

    I LOVED IT. I had developed years ago Yogagaia.com…  The yoga that reconnects us to the Kosmos.  
    — Hasita Nadai

    Thank you so much for the lecture and discussion last night. It was invigorating. 
    I have, and regularly share with my LE class, Jennifer’s books. Every single time, their story and the accompanying artwork is met with awe and wonder.
    —Andrea Clark

    Hi, Jennifer. It did not register with me that you were the author of three of my favorite books! We read each one of them in class as we go through the stories of the universe, and life, and enjoy them so much. They are beautiful books, and I keep them in my personal library. Thank you for contributing in such a lovely way to the education of young people!
    — Cyndy Terrien

  2. Jennifer Morgan

    More comments by email:

    I enjoyed Cosmic Themes and Human Development, especially the ideas around people in their elder years. I think that taking Montessori into facilities where seniors need care is a fantastic idea. I will contemplate that some more!
    — Cyndy Terrien

    I thoroughly enjoyed last night’s Cosmic Themes!
    — Jane Lemon

    THANK YOU!
    Your program(s) are sure to fill a huge, gaping hole I have had not being able to continue in Montessori-teacher-training past that of ages 3-6. Here in my last planes of life I study, in a rather disjointed way, holistic educations, social justice, history, Sociocracy, Partnerships, and math. I will be sure to share your online presence with others. (Heart) ❤️
    — Sheryl Morris

  3. Wendy Agnew

    Marvellous and inspiring – I sent to friends and it became a “Road to Damascus” moment for one of them!

    I sent the link to many colleagues and the one who watched responded with vast enthusiasm. We both struggle with the ever-present challenge of facilitating a cosmic educational flow when infusions of the industrial paradigm nudge the bliss. It was lovely to find reinforcement during the webinar and to have a continuing frame of reference with which to gird our collective consciousness. We loved the diversity and the luxury of diving deep into those interpretations – the very act being not so much definitive, as creative!

    So Thanks again!!

    Wendy

    Thank you,

    Wendy

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Anthony Robert Zelle, Esq., Tony is an Earth lawyer. While serving as Chair and President of the Earth Law Center, following 30 years in private practice trying cases and arguing appeals, he served as lead editor and author of the only comprehensive book on the subject: Earth Law: Emerging Ecocentric Law-A Guide for Practitioners. Developed for law school curricula, and now part of developing LLM programs internationally, the book has also become the primary reference source for practitioners.

The focus of Tony's current work is developing Earth law in practice and creating revenue-generating opportunities for Earth lawyers.

Learn more about Tony’s journey from a recent Boston College Law School Magazine profile.https://lawmagazine.bc.edu/2025/02/voice-for-the-earth/

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Maisie Paddon, Maisie is spearheading the advancement of Earth Law by integrating its principles into transformative policies and business strategies that resonate with Earth-centric practices and Nature's patterns. At the helm of Project 2040, she seeks to revolutionize financial systems, foster circular economies, and develop regenerative food systems. Her extensive experience in top-tier management consulting, with roles at Ernst & Young and Capgemini, showcases her ability to lead complex innovation programs and engage with C-suite leaders. With a solid foundation in Philosophy and Climate Science, Maisie is deeply committed to beneficial systemic change. She champions the inclusion of Nature's voice in discussions that tackle the multifaceted crises of today's modern world, while aligning her efforts with global frameworks like UN SDGs, ESG principles, and ISO standards. Her holistic and emotionally intelligent approach underscores her pursuit of sustainable and equitable solutions.

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Kerry Hudson, Hudson works as an activist and public interest lawyer with a focus on social justice, and an academic and employment history addressing heirs' property reform and protections of the Florida aquifer. He served as co-founder and manager for a medical practice that focused on Environmentally Acquired Diseases, and the effects of that most macro of human phenomenon—climate change, on the most granular, personal issues—individual health and the chronic and intractable maladies brought on by changing climate. He has served as Education Director for Rights of Nature and eco-centric education, creating informational content addressing topics such as environmental protections and property law, and the Public Trust Doctrine, and creating supplemental educational content for the law school textbook Earth Law: A Practitioner’s Guide. He holds an MFA in writing, has a publication history with both fiction and non-fiction, and has authored funded grants examining strategies to mitigate generational heirs' property abuses. He holds a J.D. with a focus on Environmental Justice, social equity, and restorative justice and has created informational and educational content addressing the intersection of environmental and legal issues such as the one-percenters' climate change preparations. Currently based in London, He works on a long-form manuscript addressing the importance of property law, social justice, and the climate change crisis.

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April Elizabeth Finlayson, April Elizabeth Finlayson is an “Edu-neer” dedicated to designing holistic and transformational learning experiences. She has a fervent commitment to reimagining education, promoting lifelong learning and creating uniquely curated, humanizing educational experiences for youth, and the young at heart. This has led to the development of nearly a dozen innovative schools and numerous educational programs in the K-12, after-school learning, adult development and Higher-Ed spaces.

April’s style of leadership and service is rooted in making space for learner voice, agency and empowerment. She believes that the best teaching and learning is reciprocal, interwoven and interchangeable. April asserts that “if a learner knows that they are seen, affirmed, “in-powered” and protected while learning, they will feel loved, and will henceforth thrive!”

April's students and graduates have gone on to international and national renown in philanthropy, entrepreneurship, professional athletics, entertainment, and being great, enjoyable people. April was cross culturally raised and educated between The Bahamas, the USA and Canada. She completed her undergraduate degree in International Development Studies, Political Science and Management from McGill University, and earned both her Master's Degree in Mind, Brain and Education and her Doctorate Degree in Education Leadership from Harvard Graduate School of Education.

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Tara A. Pierce, Tara holds degrees in painting, the humanities, a J.D., and an LL.M. in Oceans, Environment, & Sustainability. This transdisciplinary background enriched her legal studies and contributed to the successful publication of several papers on Earth Law and Restorative Ocean Farming. Her latest thesis synthesised her entire academic and hands-on experiences into an approach to transforming the law into a healing practice. Tara regularly guest lectures on Ocean & Coastal Law developments for various institutions in the United States and Europe.

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Cat Haas, Cat Haas is the Director of the Eco Jurisprudence Monitor (EJM), where she oversees the research and development of the world’s most comprehensive database of ecological jurisprudence initiatives globally. Since 2022, she has led efforts to document and analyze the global evolution of Earth-centered law, with a particular focus on the Rights of Nature movement, ecological law, and Indigenous ontologies. Cat holds an M.A. in Global Studies from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where her research explored the influence of Indigenous cosmologies and pluriversal ontologies on the development and globalization of the Rights of Nature movement.
She also serves on the Steering Committee of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature (GARN) Academic Hub, an interdisciplinary network of scholars specializing in ecological law and governance.
With a background in environmental education, Cat is passionate about fostering awareness and advocacy for sustainable, equitable legal frameworks that address the climate crisis and center ecological well-being

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Ava Roche, Ava is currently a pre-law focused senior at Columbia University studying Political Ecology, conducting her senior thesis on the socio-political effects of deep-sea mining in the Cook Islands. She is attending Columbia University’s Climate School next fall, and aspires to be an earth lawyer, with experience as the student director of the Earth Law Centers, “Earth Law: Emerging Ecocentric Law- a Guide for Practitioners” course last summer. She is an avid scuba diver who is passionate about protecting earths vital oceanic ecosystems, and is interning at Columbia Law Schools, "Sabin Center for Climate Change Law” this coming summer under Michael Gerrard. Above all, she can’t wait to TA with Earth Law Practice and work in such an impactful environment.

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Aurélie Rodzynek, advances Earth Law by uniting global advocacy, legal strategy, and community-led action. As Communications, Marketing, and Strategy Lead for the Earth Law Alliance, she works to embed Rights of Nature principles into governance systems worldwide. She has held leadership and coordination roles across North America, Europe, Asia, and the Pacific, guiding water governance initiatives, supporting international advocacy campaigns, and developing education programs on climate resilience and biodiversity. Leveraging her expertise, Aurélie has contributed to major UN-based gatherings and COP, promoting a holistic legal approach to protecting nature.

Holding an MPA in Environmental Science and Policy from Columbia University and a BA in International Relations, she works at the nexus of law, science, and community priorities to help restore ecological integrity and strengthen the relationship between people and the planet.

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Janet Marley is completing an MA in Ecopsychology at Naropa University. She is currently researching styles of governance in traditional indigenous societies of Turtle Island and how such wisdom ways can positively influence modern ecocentric regenerative residential communities and bioregional initiatives. She has a BA in Religious Studies from Brown University. Janet is a community organizer with an abiding interest in designing and co-creating intentional living and learning centers that model and teach connection, communication, and reciprocity with the natural world. Her gifts and roles include Teacher, Naturalist, Healer, Event Producer, and Facilitator of ceremony, council, rites of passage, vision quests, ecotherapy, and trauma integration work. She is a Montessori-trained educator and mom of two young children. She currently serves as a board member for The Circle for Change Initiative and is the Director of Programming and Events at the Manitoulin Eco Park, an indigenous-led nature connection facility in Ontario, Canada.

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Urwa Hameed, is a final year law student at Boston College Law School. She is a graduate of Boston College with degrees in International Studies and Political Science and has taught a course in Environmental Law at her alma mater. Urwa is the author of two published books, including her most recent, Hosting Earth: Facing the Climate Emergency (Routledge, 2024), which examines the environment through a philosophical and theological lens, framing humans as both hosts and guests of the Earth. Her work blends academic rigor with a deep commitment to exploring humanity’s moral and spiritual responsibilities toward the planet.

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