John Seed: A Cosmic Walk to Discover Your Ecological Identity
Sep 17, 2024
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John Seed, a leading environmental activist and founder of the Rainforest Information Centre, shares his insights on reconnecting with nature after nearly five decades of activism. He discusses the transformative shift towards collective ecological consciousness, intertwined with spiritual practices. Seed emphasizes the power of shared experiences to overcome despair, revealing the importance of ceremony and gratitude in activism. The conversation delves into the 'Council of All Beings' practice, fostering deep connections to the natural world and inspiring action to heal our planet.
John Seed emphasizes that transforming our ecological identity and fostering deep connections with nature are essential for meaningful environmental action.
The Council of All Beings practice allows individuals to transcend human-centered perspectives, fostering empathy and a sense of interconnectedness with all life.
Deep dives
The Importance of Deep Ecology
Deep ecology emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life and the importance of shifting our understanding of our place within nature. John Seed discusses the illusion of separation between humans and the natural world, suggesting that human-centered ideologies have led to a profound environmental crisis. He argues that mere awareness of environmental issues is insufficient, and true change requires a deeper transformation in consciousness and identity. This transformation can be achieved through experiential practices that foster a sense of ecological identity, connecting individuals to the broader tapestry of life around them.
Transformative Experiences in Activism
John Seed shares his personal journey into environmental activism, starting with a life-changing experience in 1979 when he felt a deep calling to protect the rainforest near his home. Initially motivated by direct action to halt logging, he realized that emotional and spiritual dimensions were crucial in fostering lasting change. This led him to collaborate with Joanna Macy, where they developed transformative practices to engage and empower individuals in their activism. Seed highlights that understanding ecological principles is essential, but true empowerment comes from acknowledging our emotions and reconnecting with nature.
The Council of All Beings Ceremony
The Council of All Beings is a powerful ceremony designed to deepen participants' connection with the natural world. In this practice, individuals embody the voices of non-human beings, allowing them to express their needs and perspectives. This process helps people move beyond their human-centered identities and fosters a profound sense of empathy and interconnectedness. Participants often report transformative experiences where they transcend their ordinary selves and recognize their place in the ecological community.
Nurturing Ecological Identity and Action
Acknowledging one's ecological identity is a crucial step in motivating action for the environment. John Seed reflects on the shift from passive awareness to proactive engagement among increasingly diverse groups of individuals. He notes that creating safe spaces for people to share their feelings about environmental crises facilitates empowerment and encourages collective action. This growing movement suggests a potential for widespread change, with more individuals seeking to align their identities and actions with the needs of the Earth.
After almost 50 years as one of the world's leading environmental activists, John Seed has started to see an encouraging shift: "Caring about the Earth isn't just for hippies and pagans," he says. "More and more people are moving from having these ideas to exploring what we can do about them." In this podcast, Tami Simon speaks with the founder of the Rainforest Information Centre and co-author of Think Like a Mountain about his ongoing commitment to serving as a tireless steward of our planet and all its inhabitants.
Give a listen to this inspiring conversation exploring: the illusion of separation underlying the environmental crisis; experiential ecology, or "the work that reconnects"; engaged Buddhism and activism as a spiritual practice; Joanna Macy's renowned despair and empowerment work; waking up a culture in denial; transforming numbness into energy and action; creating a container for safely witnessing what's going on; ceremony and bringing the sacred into our activism; the Council of All Beings practice; gratitude; a guided experience of "the cosmic walk"; Thomas Berry and the call for a creation story that unites us all; and more.
Note: This episode originally aired on Sounds True One, where these special episodes of Insights at the Edge are available to watch live on video and with exclusive access to Q&As with our guests. Learn more at join.soundstrue.com.
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