I'm Julie Filiatrault Durga Devi, yogi and guardian of the Earth, all living things and all her children. My mother often says that I was born this way: gentle, welcoming and sensitive. That it was there from the very beginning. My earliest memories tell of a particularly precious connection with the Earth, the cosmos, nature, the elements, plants and animals. At the age of 7, I was already climbing trees like a squirrel, snorkeling to think like a fish, building cabins in the forest, cooking my little hand-picked raspberry jams, sailing my canoe, talking to plants and fairies, and taming animals with ease. Throughout my life, I've always sought to deepen my relationship with nature and the world around me. I think this is perhaps what sets me apart: a deep, holistic and sensitive humanistic approach.
I created La Mère Nature and initiated Earth Pedagogy (Sensitive Ecoeducation) to inspire a relationship with oneself, with others and with nature that is gentler, more alive, creative, trusting and connected to the Earth, to what is essential and wonderful, and that is rooted in an ecological (not pyramidal) understanding of human needs. I'm also convinced that the ultimate goal of education, if there is such a thing, would be to learn to know ourselves, nature and the land with which we are interrelated and with whom we share our lives. Put in another way, I think we have a lot to unlearn if we are to feel better collectively.
In the course of my career, I became the mother of 4 children (now adults) and founded and directed La Garderie Verte and Le Jardin de Julie, two of the very first nature-based educational environments in Quebec (2000-2019). I've also had the privilege of being a trainer, mentor and pedagogical advisor for several nature-based daycare centers, including Garderie Nature, the first large-scale (over 70 children) nature-based education center in Quebec, right from the project's inception. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, Karine, for your trust and our collaboration!
I'm also the founder of the Koala Approach (2017) for children experiencing challenges and a certified consultant in primitive reflex integration (PRI), an effective and enjoyable method of neurosensory therapy. I'm also a teacher of Nature Ecoeducation at the Cégep de Rivière-du-Loup (Quebec, Canada) and a Yoga Siromani (a teacher trained to spread Yoga Sivananda from the Yoga Vedanta Forest Academy for peace in the world and within each of us). I received my name Durga Devi from Swamiji Rajeshwarananda.
My studies, interests and research focus on nature and the ties and relationships that bind us, holistic and radical (root) education, ecological literacy, art and sharing as a means of discovering our deepest truths, the human continuum, deep ecology, human needs, survival, permaculture, bird language, tracking, ecopsychology, neuroscience, Brain Gym, neurological reflexes, yoga and meditation, drumming, quantum physics, cosmology, herbalism, ayurveda, mindfulness, ancestral wisdoms, indigenous peoples, nature spirituality, ecopedagogy, soul and living healing and much more.
