Charles Eisenstein on human civilization & the story of separation | Living Mirrors #26

In this book, Weston A. Price documents his nearly 10-year global journey to understand the secret to health. He focused on healthy individuals in isolated primitive cultures and observed their excellent health, including perfect dental arches, minimal tooth decay, and high immunity to diseases. Price found that when these populations adopted modernized foods such as white flour, white sugar, and refined oils, they quickly showed signs of degeneration, including dental caries, deformed jaw structures, and increased susceptibility to chronic diseases. The book includes hundreds of photos and detailed analyses of the nutritional content of indigenous foods versus modern diets, emphasizing the critical role of fat-soluble vitamins and minerals in maintaining health.

This book delves into the narratives that underpin our society, contrasting the 'Story of Separation'—which views everything as separate—and the emerging 'Story of Interbeing'—which sees everything as interconnected. Eisenstein argues that our current planetary crises are rooted in the old story and invites readers to adopt a new worldview of interbeing. He relates real-life stories to illustrate how individual acts of courage, kindness, and self-trust can transform our culture and contribute to a more beautiful world. The book emphasizes the need to surrender the old worldview of separation to create a more connected and harmonious world.

Sacred Economics traces the history of money from ancient gift economies to modern capitalism, revealing how the money system has contributed to alienation, competition, and scarcity, destroyed community, and necessitated endless growth. The book explores avant-garde concepts of the New Economics, including negative-interest currencies, local currencies, gift economies, and the restoration of the commons. Eisenstein considers the personal dimensions of this economic transition and presents a vision that is original yet commonsense, radical yet gentle, and increasingly relevant as the crises of our civilization deepen.