The Contextual Founding of Our Mission:

Environmental Soulutions is designed to assist organizations and individuals navigate significant change through the lens of biomimicry. This all started in the aftermath of a deadly derecho in the Midwest.  Read about it here: https://storymaps.arcgis.com/stories/f98352e2153b4865b99ba53b86021b65

"Derecho" signifies "direct winds," but the term doesn't do it justice. Ours featured deadly sustained winds exceeding 140 mph that swept slowly across this gorgeous bio-region of the Midwest, affecting over 90,000 square miles of habitat, crops, homes and businesses, and decimating over 65% of the mature tree canopy. Hundred-year-old arbor elders were uprooted, twisted, and mangled in what was once hailed a tree-lover's paradise. In the derecho's wake, an arboreal hospice meant extensive loss of wildlife habitat, seriously compromised air, soil, and water quality, a devastated infrastructure for our human-kin, and hundreds of thousands of people suffering the effects of collective trauma and PTSD. This derecho was also experienced in the context of a global pandemic.  In light of not only the derecho, but increased and intensified massive storms that continue to erupt globally as a direct result of planetary degradation, our own dedicated action on behalf of people and planet came into sharp focus. How well we navigate macro- and microcosmic change is up to us. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Laura A. Weber, Ph.D.

 

Who are We?

Environmental Soulutions was founded by Laura A. Weber, Ph.D., to foster the symbiotic relationship of humanity and the natural world. Laura's approach is grounded in the concepts of Biophilia, the innate human instinct to connect with nature and other living beings, and Anima Mundi (<L. 'World Soul'; <Gk. ψυχή κόσμου 'Cosmic Soul'), which recognizes an intrinsic connection among all living things, an interconnected life-force or "soul." The Greek letter psi (ψ), the first letter of the word for "soul," is embedded in our logo for this reason.

 

Classically trained in philosophy, theology, spirituality, and classical languages (St. Louis University; Marquette University), Laura grounded her professional career in higher education and non-profit administration, adult education and formation, community relations, grants administration, teaching, writing, and publishing.  Her vocation evolved while leading inter-disciplinary, community-oriented, environmental justice research, all the while championing justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) principles in training leaders in sustainability and environmental justice. Her teams implemented robust monitoring, evaluation, and learning (MEL) systems for organizational health and wholeness, and co-created the fundamentals of green mission integration through applied systems theory. Her research focused on linguistic hermeneutics (the art of interpretation), eco-feminist philosophy, vocational discernment and accompaniment, and environmental justice. She has relished working with eco-focused students and adults on a soul journey to explore and fulfill their vocation, "that place where our deep gladness meets the world's deep needs." (F. Buechner)

Laura is a licensed Missouri realtor with Keller Williams St. Louis, and she works with those in the midst of the major life transition that is selling or buying a home.  But "moving" means so much more than a superficial change of address. With certification in environmental justice/global health (University of Michigan), and certified as a life coach (International Association of Professions), nature therapy guide (Association of Nature and Forest Therapy), and spiritual director (Aquinas Institute), Laura specializes in executive coaching for transitions, and life coaching for adaptive change with the lens of biomimicry to let nature lead the way toward vocational renewal and healing. Laura delights in working with eco-professionals, organizations, entrepreneurs, empty-nesters, retirees, and other spiritual sojourners who love creation and desire to embody that passion fully in their daily lives.

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Offering seasoned experience in:​

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• Change Management through Biomimicry (Imitating Nature)

• St. Louis, Missouri Realty

• Organizational Administration, Environmental Justice Consulting, & Green Mission Integration

• J(ustice) E(quity) D(iversity) I(nclusion) - JEDI Integration

• Leadership Training and Formation through Biomimesis

• Equity Framework for NbS

• Community-Centered Research and Systems Analysis

• Personalized Retreats for Adaptive Change

• Training and Mentoring Leaders in the Fields of Environmental Justice, Eco-Justice, & Holistic Health

• Nature Therapy, Forest Bathing 

• Accompaniment for Vocational Discernment/Life Coaching for Adaptive Change

• Soulscapes - Nature-Inspired Design to Stoke the Wild Soul

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Mary Boehm, LMT

Licensed Massage Therapist/Reiki Master for Retreatants

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Mary is a licensed massage therapist with a passion for helping children and adults in all stages of health and wellness. She received additional training in Reiki, oncology massage and geriatric massage. Her career spans more than thirty years of working with children, people with disabilities, those dealing with life-changing health issues, seniors, and those in hospice care.  When her son suffered a spinal cord injury, she spent the following year assisting him through rehabilitation, using massage, myofascial release, and aromatherapy techniques to complement his physical therapy. His recovery journey motivated Mary to pursue her ambition to become a licensed massage therapist. She offers healing energy services to those who participate in retreats and days of reflection.

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Offering:

• Reiki

• Pranic Healing

• Myofascial Release

• Oncology Massage

• Geriatric Massage

• Pediatric Massage