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Teaching
Amanda teaches both physical and cultural geography courses as a classically trained geographer. The specialty courses she has designed and teaches include: Spiritual Landscapes and another course called Sacred Spaces, Sacred Paths. With a focus on discussions and critical thinking for human-environment case studies and earth stewardship, she encourages her students to explore their world through the lens of Spiritual Ecology. Through understanding religions and belief systems for different cultures, she inspires students to reflect on cross-cultural commonalities and differences in relationship with nature. Amanda has been teaching within the Anthropology and Geography department at Coastal Carolina University since 2018.
Amanda is available for speaking engagements at colleges, universities, churches, academic conferences, and for community groups on spiritual landscapes, rituals and ceremonies, labyrinths, and Hawaiian Hula.
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SACRED SPACES
RITUALS AND CEREMONIES
SPIRITUAL LANDSCAPES
Today Amanda also explores experiences people have with intentionally constructed sacred spaces such as within labyrinths, stone circles, and temples. Amanda is a Veriditas trained Labyrinth facilitator and focuses on the use of labyrinths in higher education. In her Sacred Spaces, Sacred Paths course, students build a labyrinth to create an inclusive sacred space on campus for contemplative practices in teaching. Watch the CCU Coastal Now videos highlighting the first class to build a labyrinth on campus here.
SPIRITUAL LANDSCAPES
RITUALS AND CEREMONIES
SPIRITUAL LANDSCAPES
During her doctorate she focused on natural landscapes within the Southern Appalachian region and the spiritual experiences people were having within nature, particularly in public parks. Within her research she explored people’s experiences in nature through three different lenses. These include the perception of beauty, group and individual rituals and ceremonies, and awe and wonder through strong religious or spiritual personal experiences. You can read her dissertation here.
RITUALS AND CEREMONIES
RITUALS AND CEREMONIES
RITUALS AND CEREMONIES
Over the past two decades, Amanda has spent time in person with her teachers from different cultures learning earth honoring rituals such as a water blessing ceremony from an Aymara healer and a despacho from a Peruvian paqo to honor a sacred mountain (apu). Amanda is also an Ordained Interfaith Minister. She also has researched and been trained in traditional Scottish wedding rituals and as a Funeral Celebrant.