Joanna Macy's "The Great Turning"
 |
 |
|
|
Joanna Macy, PhD, scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory, and deep ecology, is Contributing Faculty at the Institute of Imaginal Studies. Joanna is the author of several books including: Coming Back to Life, Widening Circles, World as Lover, Mutual Causality, and In Praise of Mortality, and is a leading voice in movements for peace, justice, and a safe environment. Interweaving her scholarship and four decades of activism, she has created both a ground-breaking theoretical framework for a new paradigm of personal and social change, as well as a powerful workshop methodology for its application. Her work helps people transform despair and apathy, in the face of overwhelming social and ecological crises, into constructive, collaborative action.
Learn more about the Great Turning and the teachings of Joanna Macy the weekend of November 10-12 at the Institute of Imaginal Studies.
A global revolution is underway: the transition from a self-devouring consumer society to a life-sustaining civilization. Joanna Macy terms this transition "The Great Turning." The Great Turning entails the rediscovery of our interconnectedness with all life forms and the power it provides us for the healing of our world. In Joanna's words:
The Great Turning is a name for the essential adventure of our time: the shift from the Industrial Growth Society to a life-sustaining civilization.
The ecological and social crises we face are caused by an economic system dependent on accelerating growth. This self-destructing political economy sets its goals and measures its performance in terms of ever-increasing corporate profits—in other words by how fast materials can be extracted from Earth and turned into consumer products, weapons, and waste.
A revolution is underway because people are realizing that our needs can be met without destroying our world. We have the technical knowledge, the communication tools, and material resources to grow enough food, ensure clean air and water, and meet rational energy needs. Future generations, if there is a livable world for them, will look back at the epochal transition we are making to a life-sustaining society. And they may well call this the time of the Great Turning. It is happening now.
Whether or not it is recognized by corporate-controlled media, the Great Turning is a reality. Although we cannot know yet if it will take hold in time for humans and other complex life forms to survive, we can know that it is under way. And it is gaining momentum, through the actions of countless individuals and groups around the world. To see this as the larger context of our lives clears our vision and summons our courage....
Although it may not be recognizable at this moment in our lives, the Great Turning is a reality. Even though we cannot know it yet, it is essential that we move in ways that creatively catalyze life-sustaining civilization. The Great Turning is gaining momentum. Will you be one of the individuals who takes creative action to help catalyze this essential revolution?
 |
|
 The Institute of Imaginal Studies offers advanced degrees in psychology and counseling. |
|
|
Joanna utilizes spiritual teachings to help us understand and explore the grief that we are carrying for our world. This collectively carried grief is living proof of our mutual belonging, and an integral part of humanity's awakening. Drawing on systems theory, Joanna helps us understand how self-organizing systems use adversity to evolve in complexity and intelligence.
With her concept of "Deep Time," Joanna explores the necessity to take a vacation from society's addiction to speed and short-term thinking. Assisting us to open to vast stretches of time and to see our lives in ever wider contexts, Joanna presents how Deep Time work brings buoyancy and staying power for the long haul. Through the process of Deep Time work, our evolutionary journey will become more real to us and to future generations as well, helping us to understand what these future generations need us to do now.
| Top of Page |  |