Recomedia: Ascent of Humanity
Charles Eisenstein's Ascent of Humanity came up in conversation today. Again. It seems to come up frequently, perhaps because this is one of those books that the world sorely needs. How many books can you say that about?
This is a book about the world of separation we have created, both within and without, from the infamous mind-body split to the increasingly unsustainable results of our science and technology. Eisenstein traces the history of this sense of separation, its negative consequences so far, and predicts some of the disastrous results it could wreak in the future.
This is not some backward looking Luddism, though. Eisenstein also looks forward to ask (and offer some possible answers to) the question, what would science and technology look like in a world healed of our illusion of separation?
Along the way he debunks our oft-cherished beliefs about separation and, perhaps most importantly in a world full of people convinced that the right technological fix to all our problems is just around the corner, uses science to show not just why science won't save us, but why it can't.
The entire text is online for free, or you can purchase a paper copy if you prefer.
The importance of language preservation
This passage in The Shamanic Wisdom of the Huichol made me think of the work that the Where Are Your Keys? folks are doing to preserve languages in the world.
Recommended events: April 2010
Lots of neat stuff going on in April!
Green Festival Spring
April 10th & 11th
San Francisco, CA
Previously yearly, now the Green Festival is a biannual event in SF! The speakers at this festival are absolutely top notch. Totally inspiring and educational.
Psychedelic Science Conference
April 15th–18th
San Jose, CA
The largest conference of its kind, with world-famous presenters (Dr. Andrew Weil, Alex Grey, Erowid, Ralph Metzner, more) and an entire track dedicated to ayahuasca.
Seeding Gift Culture
April 15th–18th
Philo, CA
A retreat with Charles Eisenstein, author of The Ascent of Humanity. This looks choice. Are you ready to start telling a new story about yourself and the world? A sustainable story full of life? This looks like the place to start, or strengthen, a truly better world for yourself and your children's children.
Integral Anatomy Class
April 17th
San Francisco, CA
A one day intensive with Gil Hedley, creator of Integral Anatomy.
Earth Day 2010: Creating a Healthy Future—Where Do We Go From Here?
April 21st
Berkeley, CA
Do not miss this. This is your chance to see the preview video for Four Years. Go. the exciting new ad campaign that Pachamama Alliance is helping to spearhead.
World Change Conference
April 24th–May 2nd
Berkeley, CA
Looking at the lineup of teachers (Joanna Macy, John Kinyon, Starhawk, Kevin Danaher, more), one immediately sees that this conference means business. Organized by my amazing friend Slav of Common Circle Education.
The Feminine Fire: Power and Leadership with Sobonfu Some
April 30th
San Francisco, CA
Sobonfu was in a video we watched in Pediatric Craniosacral class. She was delightful; I'd love to see her speak in person. Her work involves ritual, community, welcoming children into the world, and more.
Upcoming ayahuasca talk in San Francisco, Feb 18
A co-participant from an ayahuasca ceremony I was in sent me a link to the following talk at the San Francisco Botanical Garden:
Encompassing the Amazon: Ayahuasca, Vegetalismo and Cultural Survival
a special presentation by Susana Bustos, Ph D. & Robert Tindall, author
Thu, Feb 18, 7:00pm–8:30pm
Importantly, the website says they will address "the role this ancient medicine can play in healing our contemporary ecological crisis."
Sounds great! I'm going to be there if I can make it.
More info:
Blog of the presenters: http://www.roamingthemind.com
Book of one of the presenters: The Jaguar that Roams the Mind.
The importance of you
How much impact do you think you have on the people and world around you? Do you know how important you are? My grandma didn't. My grandma always wanted our family to be closer. She didn't like the drama, the disconnects, the ancient history that could still stand between two people. And yet it continued, until shortly after she died.
Who else wants to know about the fourth pillar of sustainability?
If you stick with me here, I'll take you from Greek theatre all the way to good nutrition, tying it all together through sustainability along the way. In the end you'll know about the fourth pillar of sustainability and why it's important for you and everybody else.
So to start, two of the Greek entertainment traditions that were held as muses in their own right, Comedy and Tragedy, could seem confusing. If Muses contribute to sustainability, how does Tragedy help us?
Building inner wealth through amusement: 3 investments in one
In my home, the bag containing the gifts I gave my roommate Des travels fairly quickly from the gift bag stash to his desk and back to the gift bag stash. Des and I know that the important thing isn't having a new gift bag every year (you already have a stash of them by now, right? Who needs more??), the important thing is having a new glass dog ornament every year to add to your increasing glass dog stash.
GML: 3 steps to greener gift wrapping
Filed under, "What do you mean, green my life?"
It's hard sometimes to know where to begin. Why not start with the simple stuff.
- Find a place in your home to store gift bags — do this part right now.
- Whenever you:
- receive a gift in a gift bag
- flatten the bag and save it in the spot you've designated.
- are ready to shop for, or give, a gift
- check your gift bag stash first.
- receive a gift in a gift bag
- Make it easier for folks you give gifts to by:
- packing the gift simply. Just a sheet of tissue paper wrapped loosely around it or on top is enough.
- not using tape on anything.
- not writing their name on the bag's pre-attached gift tag. This keeps the gift bag looking new to future recipients. Instead, write a card for them and sit the envelope amongst the tissue paper with their name showing.
Holiday sustainability: the 3 considerations for getting more with less
The holiday season traditionally presents some particular challenges to sustainability, in the three key areas of life: personal, interpersonal, and environmental. What are these challenges and how can we gracefully sidestep them in order to get more of what we want: a happier, more peaceful, and meaningful ending to the year?
Letter to the SF Bay Guardian on food sustainability
To the SF Bay Guardian:
The framing of your article on food sustainability stokes the same class issues it decries. Unfairly hanging all of the responsibility for solving social justice problems on food sustainability movements simply encourages blaming and distracts readers from a more productive and comprehensive understanding of the issues.
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