Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
A Journey into Indigenous Wisdom, Plant Kinship, and Reciprocity
For our Early Fall Read, Divine Reads invites you to weave scientific knowledge with Indigenous wisdom through Robin Wall Kimmerer’s transformative masterpiece, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants. As an Indigenous botanist and Potawatomi woman, Kimmerer shows us how other living beings—asters and goldenrod, strawberries and squash, salamanders, algae, and sweetgrass—offer us gifts and lessons, even if we’ve forgotten how to hear their voices.
Divine Reads is more than a book club; it is a sacred container for collective reflection, decolonized learning, and the reclamation of indigenous wisdom. Whether you are re-visiting this cherished text or opening its pages for the first time, our circle provides an intimate space to explore reciprocity with the earth and witness how plant wisdom can guide us toward living in right relationship with the natural world.
New members are always welcome! You do not need to attend both book club sessions or finish the entire text beforehand to join and participate in the dialogue.
How We Gather
To honor our diverse community, we are offering two ways to sit in circle for this reading:
The Virtual Connection (This Gathering): An intimate Zoom gathering to share initial impressions, core themes, and reflections on reciprocity from the comfort of your own space.
The In-Person Sanctuary: A soulful, grounded gathering at our Pilsen studio to dive deeper into the text through guided dialogue and shared community presence (Thursday, October 1st, 2026).
Gathering Details
The Text: Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
Virtual Circle: Sunday, September 20th | 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM (via Zoom)
In-Person Circle: Thursday, October 1st, 2026 (Pilsen Studio)
Note: We recommend securing your copy early to allow time for the medicine of the text to settle before we meet.
Your Offering Sustains the Lineage
In the spirit of Tequio—the Mesoamerican tradition of communal labor for the collective good—Divine Reads operates on a donation-based model. Your participation directly fuels the Viva la Verde Community Fund, which provides scholarships for workshops and holistic programming, ensuring wellness remains accessible to everyone.
Suggested Minimum Donation: $25
Note: A minimum of 5 registrations is required to ensure a vibrant and meaningful dialogue.