The Earth, its life am I. The Earth, its feet are my feet. The Earth, its legs are my legs. … [click on title for the rest of the post]
Navajo chant
The Great Spirit
We should understand that all things are the works of the Great Spirit. We should know that He is within all things: the trees, the grasses, the rivers, the mountains, and all the four-legged animals and the winged peoples; and even more important, we should understand that He is also above all these things and peoples. When we do… Continue Reading →
Neurotoxins in our environment threaten our brains, bodies and the planet
We are actively poisoning ourselves and the environment. Insult after insult, from the time we’re in the womb. Those of us struck gravely ill from psychiatric drugs are part of this continuum of toxic exposures leading to all manner of illnesses and disability. … [click on title for the rest of the post]
Not only human beings, but all life is equal
I must warn you that the Creator made us all equal with one another, and not only human beings, but all life is equal. The equality of our life is what you must understand and the principles by which you must continue on behalf of the future of this world. Economics and technology may assist you, but they will also destroy you if you do not use the principle. … [click on title for the rest of the post]
Gratitude: Where Healing the Earth Begins
We have received an inestimable gift. To be alive in this beautiful, self-organizing universe—to participate in the dance of life with senses to perceive it, lungs that breathe it, organs that draw nourishment from it—is a wonder beyond words. It is an extraordinary privilege to be accorded a human life, with self-reflexive consciousness that brings awareness of our own actions and the ability to make choices. It lets us choose to take part in the healing of our world….
…That our world is in crisis—to the point where survival of conscious life on Earth is in question—in no way diminishes the value of the gift of life; on the contrary. … [click on title for the rest of the post]
Transforming despair
To reframe what we’ve generally been told about mental anguish and suffering by the mental illness system is a very important part of healing. Psychiatry makes out that the individual is sick. A much more honest as well as empowering way to view much mental anguish is to see ourselves as part of the web of life. Our despair is telling us something very real and valid. We should listen to it and pay attention and learn. Feeling pain is not a weakness it is a capacity. We can learn to let it fuel us rather than cripple us.… [click on title to read and view more]
What does it mean to live as part of the web of life, but to behave as if we don’t?
The question about what it means to live life as though we are not connected to all is urgently important at this point in our history on this planet. Because if we don’t collectively come to understand that everything matters, we will sadly be headed for doom. It’s wonderful to see this line of thinking enter into the realm of what mental health professionals are thinking about. … [click on title for the rest of the post]
How Life Organizes
Open systems not only maintain their balance amidst the flux, but also evolve in complexity. When challenges from their environment persist, they can fall apart or adapt by reorganizing themselves around new, more responsive norms. This, too, is a function of feedback–positive or deviation-amplifying feedback (also called “cybernetics two”). It is how we learn and how we evolved from the amoeba. But if our changing behaviors are not compatible with the challenges we face, and do not achieve a new balance with them, the positive feedback loop gets out of control and goes into “runaway,” leading eventually to systems breakdown. … [click on title to read the rest]
To be alive in this beautiful, self-organizing universe (Joanna Macy)
Bits and pieces from Joanna Macy’s work:
To be alive in this beautiful, self-organizing universe – to participate in the dance of life with senses to perceive it, lungs that breathe it, organs that draw nourishment from it – is a wonder beyond words. Gratitude for the gift of life is the primary wellspring of all religions, the hallmark of the mystic, the source of all true art. Furthermore, it is a privilege to be alive in this time when we can choose to take part in the self-healing of our world … [click on title to read the rest]
Uncertainty
Joanna Macy on Uncertainty…she is just stunning. Beautiful. In this inspiring film clip Joanna Macy talks about the gift uncertainty plays in sparking our passion, creativity and focus for the work of The Great Turning, coming into a sustainable relationship with the earth. Other wonderful posts on Beyond Meds featuring Joanna Macy’s work see: ●… Continue Reading →
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