Our journey into the Universe turned our awareness inward—to our own destiny and that of our living planet—a shift in consciousness we must now deepen to solve our greatest challenges. — Susan Prescott
Earthrise is a contemplative community inspiring spiritual and cultural transformation for a new era of planetary consciousness, co-creating new narratives and deepening emotional and spiritual connections for meaningful change. We provide a visionary space to nurture action rooted in love and kindness, wisdom and compassion, hope and faith—understanding that meaningful change is driven as much by the heart of our shared humanity as by logic alone.
The iconic Earthrise photograph, taken in 1968 from Apollo 8, became one of the most significant images of the 20th Century, awakening a deep, collective awareness of our shared home and the potential of human unity. One planet. For all. This shift in consciousness inspired many modern social, environmental, and spiritual movements—and serves as the inspiration for our community.
We went to the Moon as technicians and returned as humanitarians.
Purpose: We cultivate a space of deeper connection and creative exploration for individual and community awakening—where imagination and bold ideas shape new narratives for wiser, kinder, courageous choices toward a flourishing future. “Inspiring transformation through deeper connection and shared stories.”
Mission: We curate meaningful and creative conversations that elevate spiritual perspectives and emotional connections, recognizing their vital role in addressing our grand challenges. “Through deep dialogue and shared wisdom, we nurture a connected planetary consciousness for transformative change.”
Our vision is to integrate holistic approaches into wider discourse, enriching scientific discovery and guiding wise action to address challenges facing people, places, and our planet. Here, ‘the journey is as important as the destination.’ How we engage—through our interactions, values, and behaviors—reflects the transformation we seek. By embodying this shift, we demonstrate what is possible on a broader scale.
We welcome diverse voices from all disciplines, traditions, and geographies to create a community of care—one that normalizes mutualistic approaches, and elevates creativity, imagination and self-development in solving complex challenges at all scales.
Many global challenges arise from the erosion of emotional and spiritual connections—with ourselves, each other, and nature. We seek to cultivate intentional relationships and reshape narratives to shift worldviews and break cycles of despair, destruction, and division. Through dialogue, practice, and collective inquiry, we explore emergent ways of being that nurture deeper connection, shared responsibility, and values that support flourishing for all.
By energizing meaningful connections, we support both individual growth and collective momentum for transformative change. This reflects the power of building a critical mass—where shared attitudes, behaviors, and collective consciousness drive profound societal shifts—especially when fueled by love and inspiration.
The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.
The origins of our community trace back to 2012 with the formation of a global network through the Worldwide Universities Network, led by Professor Susan Prescott. This initiative promoted transdisciplinary and ecological approaches to health, aiming to transform individual, community, and planetary well-being through deeper awareness and collaborative change. This vision was formally articulated in the 2018 Canmore Declaration: Statement of Principles for Planetary Health, which emphasized relationality, values, purpose, self-awareness, cultural competency, critical consciousness, and spirituality in Planetary Health.
In 2019, Project Earthrise was conceived in collaboration with the Nova Institute for Health (Nova) to advance these principles through conferences, academic papers, and working groups. Inspired by the iconic 1968 Earthrise photograph—widely credited with sparking a global shift in planetary consciousness—this initiative explored how imagination, kindness, and creativity could inspire transformative action, as explored in our narrative review, Project Earthrise: Inspiring Creativity, Kindness and Imagination in Planetary Health. Nova’s Project Earthrise Conference in 2020 reinforced the need to integrate social and spiritual ecology into Planetary Health, a vision echoed in initiatives such as PHA’s Constellation Project, led by Dr. Sam Myers and Terry Tempest Williams.
At the 2022 Planetary Health Annual Meeting (PHAM2022) at Harvard University, a growing call emerged for greater emphasis on spirituality, creativity, and emotional connections in tackling global challenges. In response, a new contemplative community of practice was established in December 2022, providing a dedicated space for deep connection and dialogue. Convening monthly, we built on the shared philosophies of Project Earthrise and the Constellation Project, fostering collaboration rooted in relationality, creativity, and spirituality for planetary stewardship—to create this community of practice.
While contemplative practices are deeply personal, meaningful connections with others help cultivate inner development and collective momentum for change. The Earthrise community exists to nurture a critical mass of shared consciousness—where collective awareness and inspired action can drive profound societal shifts toward a flourishing future.
Susan Prescott M.D., Ph.D
Professor of Planetary Health,
University of Western Australia
