top of page

Discover the wonder of the sentient forest. Immerse yourself in the natural and cultural heritage of Finnish Lapland. Connect with the spirits of the forest and learn techniques that foster creativity, imagination, and spirituality.
Click the image to view the Welcome Video

GSF Welcome.jpg
About

Francis Joy is a photographer, researcher, and Druid based in Rovaniemi, Finland, with an interest in pareidolia (the recognition of meaningful patterns, shapes and forms in nature). John C. Ryan is a poet and researcher based in New South Wales, Australia, who focuses on the senses, plants, and creative writing.

Project

Gifts from the Sentient Forest is a collaborative, international. and interdisciplinary research project involving the University of Lapland Arctic Centre, Finland, and Southern Cross University, Australia with support from the Kone Foundation, Finland, 'In the Woods' Funding Programme (2024 --26).

Events

Take part in our 2024-26 programmes. Attend a free online seminar on forest sentience. Or become a member of our two-year cohort, meeting twice a year for residential intensives in Northern Finland to explore methods of connecting to forest sentience and intelligence.

Resources

Interested in learning more about intelligence, sentience, and perception in plants and forests? This is an exciting new area of interdisciplinary research that involves the arts, humanities, and sciences. We've curated a selection of readings and videos for you to browse. Come inside and have a look.

GSF Logo 1.png
Koneen_Säätiö_logo_fin+eng_black.png
University of Lapland.jpg
GSF Logo 2.png
bottom of page