I've been articulating my thoughts on the collapse by writing papers that explore the view that we're entering the next renaissance. The intro is posted here. The complete paper
is available as a (PDF)
As we slide deeper into what is being called the 'greater depression' I suggest we consider that this collapse is the renaissance in disguise. Temptations to savor what was: scarcity, materialism, separation, will only detain our escape from a lifeless world. Our task is transcendence as each of the areas of decay (economy, war, materialism, environmental destruction) contain beautiful qualities waiting to emerge in better form. As the default world falls away we are offered paradise, abundance and the rediscovery of our humanity, if we are able to escape the pitfalls that captured us when we made the world that’s now slipping away.
It is tempting to ask ourselves “what can I do to fix this mess?” And the question has merit. Each of us, as a differentiated part of the unified whole, has something to offer, something no other can. But the statement also reflects a mode of thinking that outlived its usefulness, one that begs for new understanding. It suggests that humanity is at the top of the totem pole. Our collective ego is responsible for the creation of Dunya (an arabic word for the world made by man and placed on top of the world as it is). To live in ‘multiplicity in unity’ one must detach from the notion than any species controls the totality or that man is the all knowing in the domain of life. It is a time for listening not just to one another but also to all the forms of life as they reveal their contributions and gifts and invite us into new healthier and more vibrant relationships. Without this fundamental shift in thinking we might be likely to set in a slightly better world than the one that’s dying now.
The need for transcendence:
War is an act of fear that stems from our feeling separate from the whole. We cannot love what we do not know. The true nature of the universe is unified and interconnected – loving of all it's parts. Our debt- based economy evidences our feeling of lack and scarcity, yet the universe is actually abundant. Materialism and consumerism demonstrate our stagnancy yet the universe is emergent and creative. Environmental destruction is a symptom of our isolation from the rest of life on earth. The totality is unified and interdependent.
To continue reading... click here for full paper (pdf)
I realized that I can create other events like Swap-O-Rama-Rama that can be shared through the Creative Commons. Here's a new event I've created, one that can be used as an ecological teaching tool. Through experiential play guests are walked through each element in a way that helps them to reunite with the natural world. The intent is that this reunion leads to greater care for the planet, a kind of care that comes not from cerebral understanding but from experience. I'll post the components so they can be shared soon. Meanwhile here's the lead in text.
