Joanna Macy, an author and eco-philosopher, reflects on her childhood experiences on a farm, her anti-nuclear activism, and her ongoing work with deep ecology. She discusses the importance of love, courage, and connection during the climate crisis. Macy also explores the transformative power of despair and shares the impact of a book and a poem on her spiritual path.

Joanna Macy, Ph.D, author & teacher, is a scholar of Buddhism, systems thinking, and deep ecology. A respected voice in movements for peace, justice, and ecology, she interweaves her scholarship with learnings from six decades of activism. Her wide-ranging work addresses psychological and spiritual issues of the nuclear age, the cultivation of ecological awareness, and the fruitful resonance between Buddhist thought and postmodern science. The many dimensions of this work are explored in her thirteen books, which include three volumes of poetry of Rainer Maria Rilke with translation and commentary.She addresses the question of “What Could Possibly Go Right?” with thoughts including:Choosing “to be starkly present in this moment and now” is a radical act“Don't be afraid of your sorrow or grief or rage. Treasure them. They come from your caring.”These emotions “will nurture in you a fierce clarity for what can be done”“There's so much joy and courage… in finding a purpose”Support the showComplete Show Notes

We’ve noticed that many people have been seeking out this poem by Rilke on our website this week. It feels like a meditation and a salve for this fraught, uncertain moment in the world. So, we’re sharing it here as well. Rainer Maria Rilke was a Bohemian-Austrian poet and novelist. His poem, “Let This Darkness Be a Bell Tower,” is read here by Joanna Macy. It was translated by Joanna Macy and Anita Barrows, and originally read in the On Being episode “A Wild Love for the World.” Watch a film version of this poem on our YouTube channel. 

Jess Serrante, a dedicated climate activist, teams up with Joanna Macy, a renowned figure in the movement, who offers insightful wisdom on resilience and aging. Their conversation delves into the challenges of emotional pain amidst global crises, emphasizing transformative grief and finding hope. They explore the importance of community, the complex emotions tied to activism, and the necessity of shifting perspectives. Expect touching stories that foster understanding and connection, illustrating how relationships can navigate the tumultuous waters of activism.

Joanna Macy and Jessica Serrante discuss embracing optimism and sustainability, exploring emotional pain in the climate crisis, the Work That Reconnects, and leaving a legacy of love. They invite listeners to connect with possibilities in challenging times and reflect on how meeting Joanna changed Jess's life.

Renowned activists Joanna Macy and Jess Serrante discuss embracing feelings, cultural amnesia, and the Work That Reconnects in a climate crisis conversation. They emphasize the importance of transforming grief and anger into agency and action, facing the challenges of living on Earth at this moment with heart and integrity.

Joanna Macy and Jess discuss connecting with possibilities in precarious times, awakening environmental consciousness, life-changing encounters, and the power of love, laughter, and heartbreak. Dive into 'the Work That Reconnects' and a bonus exercise to deepen belonging and community.

In this engaging talk, facilitator Sally Ludwig and activist Joanna Macy delve into the Work That Reconnects, merging Tibetan Buddhism with community action against environmental crises. They discuss the therapeutic bond between personal well-being and activism, highlighting the importance of collective emotional responses. The conversation also addresses misconceptions about carbon pricing in Canada, urging a deeper understanding of climate policies. Personal stories and community healing strategies make this a thought-provoking and inspiring discussion.

Joanna Macy is an environmental activist, author, a scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory, and deep ecology. She has written and co-authored many books, including translating much of Rilke’s workEric and Joanna discuss her translations of Rilke along with her important “Work That Reconnects”.But wait – there’s more! The episode is not quite over!! We continue the conversation and you can access this exclusive content right in your podcast player feed. Head over to our Patreon page and pledge to donate just $10 a month. It’s that simple and we’ll give you good stuff as a thank you!Joanna Macy and I Discuss her Work That Reconnects and…Her book translation, Letters to a Young Poet by RilkeThe joy she experienced translating the work of Rilke with her coauthor Anita BarrowsHaving patience, curiosity and learning "to live the questions now" Asking ourselves how can we trust and be trustedHer important work called "The Work That Reconnects"Her three visions of living"Business as Usual" refers to the growth economy and capitalism"The Great Unraveling" refers to the world losing its coherence"The Great Turning" is the slowing down the destruction of the world and building new ways of doing thingsHer important activist workKnowing what we can control, but still caring about what we can't controlHow this work is a "celebration of the awareness of the great reciprocity at the heart of the universe"Joanna Macy Links:Joanna’s WebsiteWork That ReconnectsWhen you purchase products and/or services from the sponsors of this episode, you help support The One You Feed. Your support is greatly appreciated, thank you!If you enjoyed this conversation with Joanna Macy you might also enjoy these other episodes:Curiosity and Activism with Sophia BushThe Questioning Mind with Stephen MitchellSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A new translation of Rainer Maria Rilke’s Letters to a Young Poet has been released in a world in which his voice and vision feel as resonant as ever before. In ten letters to a young person in 1903, Rilke touched on the enduring dramas of creating our lives — prophetic musings about solitude and relationship, humanity and the natural world, even gender and human wholeness. And what a joy it is to delve into Rilke’s voice, freshly rendered, with the translators. Krista, Anita and Joanna have communed with Rainer Maria Rilke across time and space and their conversation is infused with friendship as much as ideas.Joanna Macy is a philosopher of ecology and Buddhist teacher, and the root teacher of The Work That Reconnects. She’s the author of many books. Our previous On Being episode with her is “A Wild Love for the World.” That’s also the title of a lovely book of homage to her published in 2020.Anita Barrows has translated three books of Rilke’s writing with Joanna, in addition to Letters to a Young Poet: Rilke’s Book of Hours: Love Poems to God; In Praise of Mortality; and A Year with Rilke. Anita is a psychologist and poet. She was a voice in the On Being episode, “The Soul in Depression.” Her most recent poetry collection is Testimony.Find the transcript for this show at onbeing.org.