“We are at the point of return from gross to subtle, from glamorous to gracious, from hedonism to healing, from conquest of the Earth to conservation of Nature, and from quantities of possessions to quality of life.” ~ Satish Kumar, E.F. Schumacher Foundation
Jamie is an inspiration partner and lantern-holder for her fellow transformation leaders, change catalysts, and creative nonconformists who are living, inspiring, and (intentionally or not) leading the way in these chaotic times. Jamie is a long-time servant of the Muse, a writer and author, and an intrepid walker and feline-tender. She has great appreciation for dark chocolate and cooking other nourishing, delicious meals -- often plant-based -- to nourish her partner and her peeps. She's also the director of a women's health clinic in her community, emphasizing in-person, for-real compassionate care. (Aquarius Sun & Saturn, Chiron & Jupiter Pisces, Ur-Plu Virgo conjunction, and HD 6/2 Projector) Be well! Thanks for visiting! Wishing you well. Learn More: http://sophias-children.com
February 18, 2014 at 2:01 am
I love that quote and would love to believe that it was really true. Whilst ever we are run on Keynesian economics, and since the advent of free-market enterprise in the ’80’s and the consequences of this-economic rationalism and the casualisation of the workforce- we can not achieve this.
CEO’s of Corporations such as The World Bank, Media Magnates through NewsCorp International, Mining and Deforesation CEO’s will do whatever they can to exploit the natural environment and the poor for their own profits.
I like to think that there was an window of opportunity for transformation in the 1960’s, yet the very ‘baby boomers’ who preached love, communal living and started environmental movements, are the wealthiest people on the planet today!
Just 2 weeks ago, the Great Barrier Marine Park Authority gave authority to Gina Rinehart (the richest woman in the world) to create the world’s largest coal mine at Abbott Point, only 50 km’s north of the Whitsunday’s! Was it a bribe? Was it force? Australian’s have been fighting this cause from the beginning of its industrialisation, and want no part of it, as eocide is not on, and the loss of tourism and fish stock, it makes no sense. Even now funds are being raised to take this decision to court and hopefully gain justice through a high court injunction. But how can we compete against multi billionaire mining magnates? We must have hope!
The list goes on with environmental exploitation; drilling in the Arctic Circle, Russia, Mexico, deforrestation of the Congo and Amazon Basins, Borneo, Indonesia, Australia, USA, Madagasca…
We have the technology to go green and people are going solar to reduce carbon impact, yet ‘the powers that be’ have invested interest in fossil fuels and the timber industry, and will do anything to gain profits from these until they run out, and then it will be too late. Have you looked at Google Earth lately? Zoom down and check out the destruction, it is not pretty!
I think that there has been a huge influx of young souls lately, as youth are so seduced by glamour, and the amount of plastic surgery is on the rise! Maybe the bubble will break soon, and an equalising effect will happen. Yet, if we continue in our bombastic, chauvanistic, hedonistic, greedy ways, there will we no earth in 100 years! Have you watched Carl Sagon’s, Cosmos? It’s an excellent documentary and is very poignant as we are on the threshold. Do we choose life or death for this planet?
February 18, 2014 at 8:08 pm
Bridget, thank you for the straight-forward and heartful sharing. Have you written a blog post on this? If so, do include the link or send me a direct email with it.
I’m in agreement about the eco-exploitation and environmentally devastating (and thus Life-devastating) activities of the ‘industrial titans’ so invested in the extractive industries (mining, drilling, clear cutting, mountain-top removal mining**, etc., so called. One has to be (in agreement with what you’ve written), really, since all one has to do is look; it’s pretty clear.
But many don’t like looking because then one has to think, feel, and change one’s behavior … transform, for real. Easier to stay in the comfort zone, no matter how uncomfortable or unhealthy it is, and remain drunk on the orgy of distractions.
As Rumi said, in one of my favorites, “Sit down and be quiet. You’re drunk, and standing at the edge of the roof.”
This is a big conversation – a series of posts and comments and behind-the-scenes conversations and so on, so let it continue (and I know many of us have long been in deep reflection, witnessing (as in looking unflinchingly), being in dialogue, spiritual practice (by whatever name or tradition) – which does have a ripple-out effect (more on this in coming posts, and I’ve mentioned it before, too).
You also share an insightful comment about “a huge influx of young souls … as youth are so seduced by glamour…etc”. True enough – more Age of Distraction, which includes very sophisticated strategies to strengthen ‘consumer mind’ and behavior (as many of you know).
There is ‘on the surface’ action or activism, but it’s also important to view through the lens of the indigenous wisdom traditions (which all of us have, since all of us have ancestors who practiced indigenous wisdom traditions, wherever on the planet they were) — they recognized that some power and influence happens in the Unseen, that shifting energy is powerful, etc. Some have used these knowings for ill purposes (sorcery), and others for life-affirming, healing purposes. It’s one realm of activism that many don’t recognize.
In any case, thank you again for diving into the conversation. May it continue, sharing inspiration, ideas, practices, etc. that leads to wise action … in the seen and Unseen! 🙂
Big Love,
Jamie
** Check out Jeff Chapman Crane’s sculpture, The Agony of Gaia – this is one of many links; google for more.
April 4, 2014 at 8:09 pm
Aaah so Lovely!
April 4, 2014 at 9:25 pm
So glad you resonate. Thanks for visiting.