For most of human history, the cosmos was not a distant backdrop of cold stars and empty space. It was alive with meaning and relevance. The rhythms of the heavens shaped culture, ritual and identity. Our ancestors did not simply observe the universe – they belonged to it. And yet in the modern West, something has shifted.

In this talk, science writer Jo Marchant and astrophysicist/meditation teacher Mark Westmoquette explore how we became disconnected from the cosmos – and how we might find our way back.

Drawing on the research behind her book The Human Cosmos, Jo will trace the historical and scientific story of how Western culture gradually separated mind from matter, subject from object and humanity from the wider universe. From the Scientific Revolution to industrialisation and light-polluted cities, she will show how this separation has shaped not only science but our inner lives.

Mark will offer a complementary response drawn from his book The Mindful Universe and practice of mindful stargazing: practical, embodied ways to restore a felt sense of belonging within the cosmos. Through simple guided practices, participants will explore experiencing gravity as relationship rather than force, realising that we’re made of material that was once forged inside stars, and using the breath to blur the boundaries between us and the universe.

At a time of ecological crisis, anxiety and cultural fragmentation, many people feel disconnected from the world they live in with a pervasive loss of meaning. This event offers a grounded exploration of how science, history and contemplative practice can converge to restore wonder, connection and a sense of participation in the living cosmos. Participants will leave not only informed, but with a new perspective on being a being of the universe – with simple tools for rekindling wonder in daily life.