In an era of deep ecological anxiety and spiritual seeking, IM25 Ignatian Earthing is a unique and timely initiative that weaves together Ignatian Prayer forms, ancient Christian wisdom and the sacredness of God in nature. Created by Michael Hansen SJ, IM25 offers a fresh way to encounter God.

The Inspiration Behind IM25

IM25 is the convergence of two rich spiritual streams: the time-tested prayer methods made accessible by Ignatius of Loyola and the sacred ecologies of earth. This unique way of learning Ignatian prayer was sparked when Michael wrote ocean-themed prayer exercises for a young Jesuit’s retreat last year. This experience encouraged Michael to develop more of these exercises to embody and deepen Ignatian prayer through direct engagement with God in nature.

Michael’s lifelong mission to make prayer simple, effective, and accessible coupled with his passion to hand on the nine ‘spiritual gold coins’ of Ignatian prayer, has created practices that don’t require specialist knowledge but can lead to profound experiences of God. Michael’s recent four-month sabbatical, during which he journeyed through Australia’s deserts, mountains, coasts, and cities, became not just scenic backdrops but living lessons for prayer.

Pray Ignatian Prayer Methods

Central to IM25 are the foundational prayer methods of Ignatius. Michael often refers to these practices as “gold coins” – valuable spiritual tools that are adaptable, reusable, and accessible to anyone. They are Ignatius’ simplified versions of older monastic and Franciscan prayers, reimagined for each one of us, navigating our busy lives.

In IM25, these methods are not taught through lectures or handouts., they are learned in the doing – by praying with mountains, deserts, oceans and cities in the landscapes of our hearts. People of all ages can discover prayer, not just as words, but as a relationship – an attunement to God’s presence in all things.

Experience the Four Key Ecologies in Christian Spirituality

One of IM25’s core insights is that Ignatian spirituality has always been shaped by place. Through history, four key ecologies – desert, mountain, ocean, and city – have formed distinctive Christian spiritual movements. IM25 reclaims these spaces as active partners in spiritual growth.

Desert: From the 3rd century, early Christian monks, the Desert Fathers and Mothers, retreated into the desert to confront distractions and meet God in silence. Today, these arid lands still offer the raw, uncluttered horizon where spiritual clarity can emerge.

Mountains: Across all major religions, mountains have drawn seekers longing for sacred encounter. They symbolize ascent, solitude, and perspective – gifts that contemplative traditions cherish.

Oceans and Islands: The Celtic Christians and many indigenous peoples found inspiration on windswept coasts and remote isles. Here, the rhythm of the tides and the vastness of the sea evoke the mystery and movement of the Spirit.

Cities: Often overlooked in nature-based spirituality, cities are vital places of encounter. In the Renaissance and beyond, they became centres of Christian action, particularly around justice and service. Cities remind us that spiritual life is not separate from human life – it is deeply immersed in it.

Michael’s Personal Spiritual Experiences in Nature

Michael’s personal encounters in these varied ecologies breathe life into IM25. In the Warrumbungle ranges in NSW he felt a profound connection to the Earth’s deep time and ancient geological rhythms. In the vast outback deserts of Australia, he tasted a radical freedom, the kind that only comes when one is dwarfed by true horizons and stripped of distractions. In the cities, Michael saw the face of Christ reflected in the diversity of human lives – a powerful affirmation of God living among us – in every language, culture, and struggle. By the oceans, he meditated on his own life story, carried by the ebb and flow of memory, just as the tides carry sand and driftwood. Each location offered not just beauty, but revelation.

IM25: An Invitation

IM25 is more than a program, it is an invitation – to see with new eyes, to pray with your whole body, and to let God in nature speak to your soul. It’s a return to a way of being that our ancestors understood well: that God is not distant, but near, and that creation is not a backdrop, but a sacred partner in prayer.

Whether you are seeking a deeper spiritual life, a connection to the Earth, or simply space to pause and listen, IM25 offers a path – ancient yet fresh, grounded in Ignatian prayer and animated by our living world. In a time when both the soul and the Earth cry out for healing, IM25 might just be one way the Spirit is moving.

Join us online for Ignatian Earthing I
Sunday 22 June – Wednesday 25 June 2025
Daily 10.00-12.00 pm or 6.30-8.30 pm AEST

REGISTER HERE

Compiled by Robyn Wunder as shared by Michael Hansen SJ. Michael is the Director of JISA’s First Spiritual Exercises ministry, a creator, author, speaker, and spiritual director. Robyn is an Ignatian Spiritual Director, giver of the full Spiritual Exercises and looks after JISA’s ministry of the Spiritual Exercises in Australia.