Awakening a Forest Sense: Grief, Mystery, and the Reformation of Faith with Michael Ellick

In this conversation, Victoria Loorz and pastor-activist Michael Ellick explore the lifelong dance between wilderness, spirit, and faith. Michael shares stories of his mystical childhood in the forests of Washington—his first teacher in wonder and interconnection—and how that early “forest sense” eventually brought him through disillusionment with the church into a deeper, embodied Christianity. Together they reflect on grief, reciprocity, and the call to live as part of creation rather than separate from it. From the undulating forest floor to Holy Saturday’s sacred grief, from ancient language to feminine images of the divine, this dialogue traces a hopeful reformation of faith rooted in relationship, wildness, and love.

Michael Ellick is the Lead Minister at University Congregational United Church of Christ in Seattle. A former community organizer and early leader in the Occupy movement, he works to help faith communities confront racism, colonialism, and disconnection from the natural world. Trained in comparative religion, philosophy, and depth psychology, he integrates insights from Christian, Buddhist, and Indigenous traditions in his ministry and teaching.

Connect with Michael: 

• Website: universityucc.org
• Podcast: Gospel of Direct Experience

Mentioned in the episode:

• Gary Snyder essay on reinhabitation
• Romans 8
• Gospel of Thomas

Connect with the Center:

• Website: wildspirituality.earth
• Victoria's Website: victorialoorz.com
• Email: hello@wildspirituality.earth
• Linktree: linktr.ee/ctrforwildspirituality
• Instagram: @center_for_wild_spirituality

Timestamps:

• 0:00 Introduction
• 7:28 The Land Who Raised Michael
• 9:20 Big Rock
• 10:56 Forest Sense
• 14:25 Coming Out Into the Wild
• 15:50 Language to Speak Of
• 18:24 What It Means to Be of a Place
• 20:25 Swapping Image for the Real Thing
• 22:56 Trained in Reciprocity
• 26:10 There Is an If in Romans 8
• 30:50 Separation Is Part of It
• 34:17 Open to Grief
• 40:19 Trickster Coyote
• 44:45 Shifts from the Inside Edges
• 50:08 The New Story
• 55:53 Wild Invitation
• 59:34 Credits