Blog — Wisdom In Nature: Islamic Ecology ~ Permaculture ~ Inclusive Leadership

WiN endorses Zack Polanski (Green Party) for Holborn and St Pancras by-election

We are aware of the upcoming by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, London, on 8th October following the (very welcome!!) departure of Keir Starmer.

While party politics is not our main focus, we do occasionally take a public position - depending on factors such as our capacities, and how crucial an election feels to be.

Wisdom in Nature is taking a clear stand for this election, and is endorsing Zack Polanski, of the Green Party.

Win Notices22 September 2026Comment

Listening Circle on the Polycrisis (London) - after Silent Walking Vigil

Date: Saturday 19th September 2026: 4.15pm, Waterloo

At this time of a several simultaneous global crises, we may be feeling overwhelm, rage, anxiety, passion, or perhaps emotions we find hard to name.

This in-person gathering is an opportunity to immerse in the collective, and to open ourselves to one another, as we co-hold a space for heart-felt sharing and being witnessed as we are.

It is a space where we acknowledge the pain of human suffering and ecological disruption. It is a space where we are open to the possibility of a new story, however remote that may appear right now.

Win Notices22 August 2026Comment

“That’s What the Right Would Say”

By Muzammal Hussain

With some exceptions, one of my observations when interacting with many strongly identifying as ‘on the left’, is there is often little willingness to explore views outside a narrow bandwidth.

Instead, despite believing in diversity and inclusiveness, there can be premature judgement and a scarcity of curiosity and imagination, reinforcing brittle boundaries limiting what we are ‘allowed’ to explore.

The response to a different view, presented perhaps over a coffee, or at a social, might be something like, “that’s what the right would say”. Another response, in the context of closing off an exploratory conversation might be, “we should be united and fight the right”. It is as though unity is only possible if we hold almost exactly the same view, or focus only on a ‘common enemy’.

All, Deep DemocracyWin Notices11 March 2026Comment

Personal and Collective Liberation through the Power of Felt Experience

We are living through intertwined social, ecological and spiritual crises fuelled by a system of patriarchy, capitalism, white supremacy and settler colonialism.

WiN organised two online forums on this topic and a recording of some parts of the forums can be watched here. The first forum centred on felt experience in relation to wider societal and global issues, the second on the gift of tensions in our groups, teams, and movements.

All, EventsWin Notices3 November 2025Comment

The Passing of a 'Most Mystical' Beautiful Friend of WiN: Afnaan Mizaan (aka Sharon Baron)

Sharon Baron, a lovable, quirky being, who after her conversion to Islam also became known as Afnaan Mizaan, had been involved intermittently, yet passionately with Wisdom In Nature (WiN).

Two core members of WiN write a legacy piece following her passing last year.

AllWin Notices30 December 2024Comment

Willowbrook Farm Restoration Weekend - Partnership event [Photos from the Event]

Friday 24th - Sunday 26th November 2023

Do you want to participate in a weekend of collective ecological restoration?

Do you want to engage in deepening relationship with fellow participants, including the other than human natural world?
Are you open to conscious conversations across difference and facilitated activities?

All, Climate, Community, Diversity, FacilitationWin Notices21 October 2023Comment

Book Review: Islam and Anarchism: Relationships and Resonances

This book shakes things up!

It also opens a dialogue space that welcomes Muslims, anarchists and all engaged with creating a just, peaceful world.

It attempts to offer a vision for building a community of mutual partnership, as an alternative to nation-state structures - capitalist or otherwise.

Such a community is inclusive of diverse faiths and spiritualities and grounded in shared, lived, ethico-political values. It also engages with justice in relation to indigenous land…

Book Review by Muzammal Hussain

Deep Democracy, Community, Islam, AllWin Notices3 February 2023anarchismComment

Power, Anarchism, Islam

The term 'anarchism' may evoke the idea of chaos and destruction.

You may be forgiven if you hold this impression - this is how it is so consistently and incorrectly portrayed by the mainstream media (just as Muslims are often unfairly portrayed into a certain narrative).

Instead, one simple way, thus, of looking at anarchism, is that at its heart, rather than about chaos, it is about creating systems whereby people are able to collaborate and organise themselves.

Deep Democracy, Community, IslamWin Notices31 January 2023anarchismComment

Floods in Pakistan; Cost of Living Crises and Strike action in UK

We have been deeply affected by recent wider happenings - the devastating floods in Pakistan that have displaced millions, and the cost of living crisis.

We see these happenings as sharp indicators of what our recent online forums have articulated: that the dominant systems and structures we are intimately woven into are a destabilising and destructive force; and also that they are creeking and will not remain

All, Climate, CommunityWin Notices28 September 2022trade unions, pakistan, climate, communityComment

Photos and Rumi Reading Video from ‘Muslims Walk, Listen, Talk’ Brighton

In the summer of 2022, Wisdom In Nature organised an in-person outing in Brighton for Muslims and friends to walk, listen, talk and eat together.

The outing included a walk through grass and woodland, partly in collective silence, with opportunities to converse with fellow participants.

View Photos and Video of the event>>

All, Events, CommunityWin Notices26 September 2022nature, walk, sharing, brightonComment

Launching of Islam and Permaculture Online Starter Course! [Self-Paced]

With much effort put in over the last year, trialling and lots of tweaking, we are ready to launch our Islam and Permaculture Online Starter Course.

This is a self-paced, self-study course that will give you the nuts and bolts of permaculture within the context of an authentic spiritual tradition!

Permaculture, Ramadan, Islamic Ecology, AllWin Notices2 April 2022permaculture course, muslims, social permacultureComment

Grounding & Alignment: Reflections on a WiN Team Dreaming Day

Valentina Maccario, the newest WiN Team Member, describes her thoughts and experiences surrounding her first facilitated 'Dreaming Day' with the WiN team.

The morning of our team's Dreaming Day coincides with the autumnal signs of seasonal changes; the turning of the leaves, drops in temperature and shortening of the days. As these shifts bring a later Fajr, it's been a little easier to rise before the sun….

All, FacilitationValentina Maccario16 November 2021Comment

Meeting Revolutionary Peasants - the Zapatistas - from Mexico: Muslim Perspectives and Sharing

Beyond COP26: Regenerative Structures for a New Society

Inspired by Meeting Revolutionary Peasants - the Zapatistas - from Mexico: Perspective from Muslims

You are invited to join us for this participative, online event, organised by Wisdom In Nature

All, Deep Democracy, CommunityWin Notices12 November 2021Comment

Muslims: Emotions, Spirituality and Justice ~ Sabnum Dharamsi with Muzammal Hussain [Video Conversation]

A conversation with our guest, Sabnum Dharamsi, Co-Founder of Islamic Counselling Training, in conversation with Muzammal Hussain (WiN founder, medical doctor, therapist)

A heart-opening conversation for anyone interested in the relationship between the inner and outer, in the context of Islamic spirituality, Muslim culture and social justice.

Community, Personal Healing, Diversity, AllWin Notices27 April 2021emotional healing, islamic psychology, islamic counselling, racismComment

Radical Healing, Wholeness and Islam: Transforming Emotional Pain (FREE E-Book)

“This E-book is essential reading for anyone interested in emotional healing and spirituality. It is also relevant to any Muslim looking for a radical healing approach that aligns to an Islamic model of the soul. Equally, it will be illuminating to individuals experiencing emotional distress whether anxiety, depression, loss, uncertainty, relationship tension, feeling a lack of wholeness,or a physical condition, who are looking for deep healing work that includes the spiritual dimension.

Islam, Personal HealingWin Notices1 January 2021journey therapy, emotional healing, wholenessComment

WiN on Faith Panel @ Climate & Ecological Emergency Conference: Full Video

The Climate & Ecological Emergency Conference took place on Friday 13 November 2020.

At the faith session, each speaker contributed for 5-10 minutes and there was then a discussion with audience members. Speakers at the faith session (in speaking order) :

Dr Muzammal Hussain (Wisdom In Nature), Rabbi Jonathan Wittenberg (Co-founder of Eco-Synagogue), Revd Canon Professor John Rodwell (Environmental Officer of Blackburn Diocese), Andy Lester (A Rocha).

All, Climate, Events, Islamic EcologyWin Notices14 December 2020Comment

Story Medicine: A Taster of the Power of Traditional Storytelling - Cultural Repair & Earth Stewardship [Event Video & Notes]

In this interactive online gathering, Jumana Moon will narrate a traditional story related to earth & communities and other themes. Listening to a story becomes an active process where the meaning is not static and may change as you recall the story or hear it again.

All, Events, CommunityWin Notices4 November 2020storytelling, traditional storytellingComment