This autoethnographic article explores the intricate relationship between ecosomatic experiences and academic pathways, illustrating how embodied and place-based spirituality informs research inquiries and personal development. Using the concept of ‘meta-ecologies’ – the interwoven ecological and cultural conditions that shape individuals – I reflect on how my experiences across varied environments have influenced my scholarly journey. Introducing the term ‘eco-body-story’, I highlight the role of the researcher’s subjectivity and emphasize how the relationship to place and body shapes a sense of belonging, personal well-being and research practice. The research is grounded in over a decade of autobiographical reflections, analysed through a symbiotic autoethnographic methodology and hermeneutic phenomenology. By outlining my own eco-body-story, I demonstrate the inseparability of practice and research, proposing that recognizing more-than-human influences can enrich both personal and academic growth. Ultimately, I suggest that an ecosomatic approach can bridge rational and spiritual ways of knowing, enriching research and foster a more inclusive academic environment by embracing diverse perspectives shaped by diverse contexts.
Ester Eriksson (2024) studied this question.