This landmark work, first published in 1988, offers a new perspective that recasts our understanding of science, technology, politics, religion, ecology, and education. Berry argues that our current vision of progress is misguided and has led to a disconnection from the planet. He advocates for breaking free from the 'technological trance' and fostering mutually enhancing human-Earth relationships to heal the global biosystem. The book draws on Western philosophy, Asian thought, Native American traditions, and contemporary physics and evolutionary biology to propose a biocentric approach to human progress.
The Overstory is a sweeping and impassioned work of environmental fiction that follows the lives of nine individuals whose paths are intertwined by their connections to trees. The novel is structured in four parts – 'Roots', 'Trunk', 'Crown', and 'Seeds' – mirroring the parts of a tree. It delves into themes of ecology, climate change, and the interconnectedness of trees and humans, using a blend of science, history, and magical realism. The book advocates for the protection of trees and the natural world, posing critical questions about humanity's relationship with the environment and the long-term consequences of human actions[2][4][5].
On the 126th episode of the What is a Good Life? podcast, I’m delighted to welcome our guest, Geneen Marie Haugen, PhD. Geneen grew up a little wild, with a run amok imagination, and has lived at the wild edge for most of her life. Once upon a time, she was a whitewater river guide and a tipi dweller who loved knowing that only thin canvas separated her from the the world. In her wild wanderings, she’s been amazed to have had dozens or maybe hundreds of close encounters with creatures such as moose, elk, grizzlies, wolves, black bears, cougars, bison, and more. For her, the sulpher-scented hot springs of Yellowstone smell like home. A content creator and guide to the intertwined mysteries of nature and psyche with the Animas Valley Institute, she has been on the faculty of the Esalen Institute and Schumacher College. Her writing has appeared in Spiritual Ecology: The Cry of the Earth; Thomas Berry: Dreamer of the Earth; Parabola; Kosmos Journal; Ecopsychology; The Artist’s Field Guide to Yellowstone, and many others. She believes in the world-shifting potential of the human imagination allied with the planetary psyche.
In this glorious conversation, we explore the nature of reality and the role of imagination in shaping it. We discuss the current suppression of imagination, the vast possibilities that remain, and how imagination has profoundly influenced Geneen’s life. She shares captivating stories of connection with the world around us and moments of shimmering aliveness.
This conversation is a powerful invitation back to our imaginations—to a world rich with possibility, connection, and aliveness.
To find more of Geneen Marie Haugen's work:
Wild Pilgrimage Essay: https://starborne.substack.com/p/wild-pilgrimage
Animas Valley Institute Guide: https://www.animas.org/guides/22/geneen-marie-haugen-ph-d/
Kosmos Journal: https://www.kosmosjournal.org/kj_article/reemergence-of-animate-world-experiences/
Perceptual Portal: https://greatturning.net/perceptual-portal-by-geneen-marie-haugen/
Wild Imagination: https://www.dailygood.org/story/2359/wild-imagination-geneen-marie-haugen/
Participatory Consciousness: https://participatorystudies.wordpress.com/2011/04/16/thomas-berry-and-the-evocation-of-participatory-consciousness/
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00:00 What is the nature of reality?
05:45 Our childhood connection to imagination
09:50 A sense of shimmering aliveness
15:00 Awareness of intelligent presence in others
19:45 Why are we here?
25:45 The disturbance and suppressing of our imagination
30:00 Disconnection with our imagination
35:45 Imagination shaping a life
39:55 Imagination as a way of knowing the world
44:00 A magical experience of nature speaking
50:00 Being in states where our imaginations are activated
56:55 The source of our ideas and possibility
1:01:45 Summary and what is a good life for Geneen?
What is a Good Life? 
