Hark: to pay attention.
Holobiont: an assemblage of relationships that constitute a greater whole.
Mike R. Christie
My writing likes to play with the idea that a “thing” does not end at the boundary of its own “thingness”. It flows past, tumbles towards, finds confluence with… some larger, integrated, flow-like whole.
My first book, Freeing the Firefly, was about leaving behind a version of Christianity imparted to me as a child. Replacing it with a more open view of the Divine and spirituality. I realized that similar to the fireflies I’d catch in mason jars as a kid, the Divine dies and loses its light when contained within a limited and narrow scope. It suffocates and, as a result, loses its ability to be the wondrous reality it is when left free and unconfined.
My second, Are We Seeing This, was a collection of poems and essays — observations really — about ways in which the world is trying to invite each of us into participation and communion. To step past the categorical self and find a more thematic whole trying to integrate with other. Seeing earth as a relational whole rather than a competing arena.
These days I find myself noodling on the idea of a holobiont. A holobiont is, “an assemblage of relationships that create a greater whole”. The word “hark” is all about listening, paying attention to something.
The two words together seemed a perfect synthesis of a theme I’ve become drawn to. All around us, pieces of this beautiful planet are stepping beyond their pond-like categories into larger river-like themes.
I write about and have conversations with people about these ideas over on Substack. You can follow along HERE.
Projects Through the Years
All These Branches
A community that started out as as a progressive Christian church that has evolved over the 8 years I have pastored into an eco-spiritual, interfaith community. A lot of our focus is centered around our place within the Spokane River Watershed. Read more about it HERE.
Anam Cara Meditation Studio: Beginning the Week In Wonder
Weekly meditation classes focused on finding wonder in the everyday.
Are We Seeing This?
Book of essays and poems published in 2022 focused on the beauty in the ordinary. Limited number still in print, no present distribution. Reach out if interested!
Freeing the Firefly
A book I wrote at 23; more or less a series of journal entries exploring my journey of leaving organized Christianity behind.
Hardwired4Security (No longer affiliated, but supporter of the cause!)
Co-led groups, breathwork events, reiki, and mens retreats focused on integrating the whole self. "To confront a person with their own shadow is to show them their own light." -C.G. Jung
Hark the Holobiont
A podcast and blog focused on spiritual ecology.
Poetry Moment
An NPR program out of Spokane where I have hosted a week of readings.
Within (not currently active)
Annual retreat focused on internal and external confluence of the Divine within all things.
Wonderfully Made (No longer affiliated, but supporter of the cause!)
A non-profit I co-founded focused on creating pathways for allyship between Spokane Christian and the LGBTQ+ community. Played the role of pastoral ally in conversations.
Publications
The Dew Drop
Knock, Knock, Knock; poem
Poetry Moment
The Door Knob; poem
Buried and Forgotten Gods, poem
Progressive Christianity
The Ghost, the Witch, and the Curse; essay
Sport Literate
Short Shifts, Long Game; poem; 30th anniversary issue
The Wildness We Tend
Forsaking Heaven; poem, 4th edition
The Astorian
Buried and Forgotten Gods; poem