When we have this “team spirit” heightened sense of spiritual connection with life. Chapter 8: A Larger View of Time When giving talks, Chris sometimes guides audiences in imaginary time travel to a hoped-for future hundreds of years from now. The challenge is to listen for the vision that calls us most strongly and to recognise that to follow this well, we will need to refine our focus so as not to dissipate our energy.

In this pandemic moment, many of us are hearing the call to cultivate hope, resilience and deep connection (to ourselves, our community, and our earth)… these things are innate to each of us, but they are also skills that can be honed, so that we have access to them in trying times such as the moment we are in. What comes into view when we see with new eyes is this interdependence. There is no such thing as a “self-made man” or a “self-made woman”Most of all, the book invites people to engage in a strengthening and transformative journey designed to nourish and build our capacity and commitment to play our part in the Great Turning. Each chapter has been revised to better support this journey from the context we face now.

The Work That Reconnects is a set of practices developed by Joanna Macy that moves through a transformational process informed by deep ecology, Buddhist psychology and systems thinking. This process equips us with tools to face the mess we’re in and play our role in the collective transition, or Great Turning, to a life-sustaining society. Going forth involves clarifying our vision of how we can act for the healing of our world, identifying practical steps that move our vision forward. Chapter 3: Coming from Gratitude Begin with the end in mind is based on the principle that all things are created twice. There’s a mental or first creation, and physical or second creation to all things.” Joanna Macy speaks with Rev. Joan Jiko Halifax about the pandemic and the climate catastrophe - Aug 19, 2020I think a lot of the ideas presented in this book tie in beautifully with the things I learned in Braiding Sweetgrass as well. (another book I highly recommend). The authors frequently speak of a spiritual connection with Gaia (or Earth and all life on it). This had me pondering the spiritual experiences I've had and so many that others have shared with me. It seems that if you were to ask almost anyone to describe a spritiual experience, it would center on communion with nature, or connection to humans on either a very grand or very intimate scale. How then, can we expand our sense of self to include such? The authors use a 4 part framework for developing such a sense. They emphasize the need to look at where an issue overlaps with the self, the immediate community, society-at-large, and all of life on Earth. They speak of gratitude as more than just "politeness" but rather as a necessity in recognizing our place in the web of life. They also emphasize that connectedness with a healthy community brings out our latent, distinct gifts. The second chapter brings a new practice that offers a way for two people to go round the spiral of the Work That Reconnects in a half hour conversation. Chris has been a trainer in the Work That Reconnects for more than three decades, working with Joanna on many occasions and running facilitator trainings in the United Kingdom. He has been active in the Transition movement since its very beginnings and contributed to a chapter on the psychology of change in The Transition Handbookby Rob Hopkins. 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.

Learning to live in a larger timescape opens us to new allies and sources of strength. Our ancestors can be our allies, and we ourselves, as the ancestors of future generations, can play the role of ally to them as well. Is there a place where you feel more connected to the web of life? Chapter 12: Maintaining Energy and Enthusiasm Two threads that help us stand tall and not shrink away from the immensity of what’s happening to our world. An action that might seem inconsequential by itself adds to and interacts with other actions in ways that contribute to a much bigger picture of change. Static thinking assumes that reality is fixed and solid, resistant to change. When people say things such as “the problem is human nature, it is never going to change”or “you can’t change the system “they’re taking this approach.Join us for a special evening exploring Active Hope and the Seventh Generation Experience. Step into the future and hold a conversation with your descendants to hear their advice and support! Take turns with each of you taking five minutes in each role, one asking “Tell me, who are you?” ad the other replying. Active Hope is a practice. Like tai chi or gardening, it is something we do rather than have. It is a process we can apply to any situation, and it involves three key steps. First, we take in a clear view of reality; second, we identify what we hope for in terms of the direction we’d like things to move in or the values we’d like to see expressed; and third, we take steps to move ourselves or our situation in that direction. Linda and Gwyneth were wonderful guides to this empowering and profound work. If anyone is thinking about giving this a try, I would encourage you to just do it - you won't be judged and you will definitely connect with others and be both reassured and inspired.” There comes a point in many adventure stories when the main characters have seen the true nature of the crisis they face and it is far worse that they’d previously imagined. Part Two: Seeing With New Eyes Chapter 5: A Wider Sense of Self