Great Turning Times June 2004
Hello
reader,
June
1st 2004
This newsletter has changed its name. If you’ve not
read it before, let me give you some background to start with. For
the last two years or more I’ve been sending out an email
newsletter every three months to keep people informed about
workshops, courses, resources and news around the themes of Deep
Ecology, ecopsychology and the bringing together of personal and
planetary change. I called this “Deep Ecology News” and the focus
has been on events in the UK. To me Deep Ecology is about seeing
ourselves as part of life, as deeply embedded in a wider ecology,
rather than viewing ecology as a subject separate from our lives.
I like this approach because it emphasises connection with life.
It brings together spirituality, holistic perspectives and
positive action for our world. So why change the name?
In the last newsletter I shared my concern about
identifying with a position rather than a process. A position is
something that is fixed and defined. A process is something that
involves activity and movement. Positions can be useful in helping
clarify what we think and feel. But they also easily become things
to be defended and attacked in the battle of wanting to be right.
I know I’ve done plenty of this. What concerns me is that people
may be involved in and committed to the same process (eg the
process of compassionate action for life on this planet) but
because they name their positions differently, this sometimes gets
in the way of acting well together. This newsletter aims to
promote a process of empowered response to the current ecological
crisis. I don’t want the issue of whether or not you call yourself
a Deep Ecologist to get in the way of you finding this email
useful. I’m much more interested in the process that you and I may
share – the process of being a human on early 21st century Earth,
looking around at what’s happening in the world, and asking
ourselves “what can I do about this?”. This is where I find the
term
“The Great Turning” useful.
Part of my motivation for producing this newsletter
is a concern that the process of responding to world problems is
so often blocked. You don’t need me to tell you how ecological
issues are commonly played down by politicians or how our society
seems to be locked into way of doing things that is destroying our
world. In my work as an addictions treatment specialist I see a
similar process at work. People get stuck in a way of doing things
that they know is damaging, but it seems so difficult to change
that they continue even though this might (and sometimes does)
kill them. How do we turn such stuck patterns of behaviour around?
The good news from the addictions field is that I often see people
get well. The bad news is that I also see people die. It can go
either way. For people to get well there needs to be a turning
away from the process of addiction towards one of recovery. What
the Great Turning refers to is a similar shift of process, but
occurring not only in individuals, but also at the collective
level of human society. Can such a shift really happen? I’d like
to share another parallel from my work in the addictions field
that suggests that it can.
For an addict to move into recovery, two things are
needed – having the will and finding the way. Will is about
motivation, way is about possibility. But both of these things
grow out of the kind of story that someone inhabits. I find story
a useful term – it brings together so many levels of the way we
see ourselves and the world. This includes our view of the roles
we play, plots we are part of and also the rules we think reality
is based upon. If someone believes that the world is difficult and
alcohol makes it easier, then the story they inhabit won’t be one
of wanting to stop drinking. If they see themselves as weak willed
and a failure, then even if they want to stop they may not see
this as possible. Recovery is based on finding and inhabiting a
story where there are good reasons to change, where it is
attractive to do so and also where this seems to be achievable.
The same is true of the recovery of our world. The Great Turning
is one such story.
Imagine that somehow it did happen - that humans
managed to prevent the massive ecological catastrophe we are
heading for, that we began to give concerted attention to the many
problems of our world, that we underwent a deep level
transformation that created a future we’d dream of rather than
dread. If it happened, how did it occur? When we look from the
perspective of an imaginary future, The Great Turning can be
thought of as a historical process that took place in early 21st
century. Early on in this story, like in most great adventures,
success looked pretty unlikely. But that didn’t stop people like
you and me taking the steps needed. When I think of how I can
participate in this, I inhabit a story of possibility that
inspires me. All the slight turnings, like composting my kitchen
waste, cycling to work or typing up this email, they all seem part
of a bigger picture, part of a larger cultural shift. That’s what
this newsletter is about. It aims to keep you informed of courses,
resources, information and events that contribute to this larger
shift in story. You will see that the entries are quite diverse.
This is a big story. But it is one that I find exciting!
With you in this great adventure of earth recovery
Chris Johnstone
editor, The Great Turning Times.
Ps
Thank you all those who sent emails about the change
of title. Very helpful. If you have any comments on this
newsletter, please send them me at
dreambeat@tantraweb.co.uk
PPs
If you like this email newsletter, please do pass it
on to anyone else you think might be interested. If it has been
forwarded to you and you’d like it regularly, please email me with
SUBSCRIBE in the subject header. If you want to stop receiving it,
please email me with “REMOVE” as a subject header.
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(1.) It was Joanna Macy who coined the phrase ‘The
Great Turning’ to describe the story of change required in our
times. An article by her about this is viewable at
http://www.rainbowbody.net/Ongwhehonwhe/MacyGreatTurn.htm
There is more material on her website at
http://www.joannamacy.net
She is coming to the UK in May 2005 and
will be running a week long intensive workshop at Monkton Wyld in
Dorset from May 15th-22nd (details nearer the time from me at
dreambeat@tantraweb.co.uk).
Future newsletters will give details of this and
other events in the UK.
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(2.) The Art of Living Courses – 8th-13th June,
Bristol, 23rd-25th June, Scotland.
How do we keep ourselves in well balanced,
energised and effective states to work for this Great Turning?
Earlier this year I participated in an Art of Living course in
Bristol. Based on the teachings of Indian spiritual teacher H.H.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the course introduces self-healing breathing
techniques that have been clinically proven to reduce stress and
depression. The courses promote a positive approach to living that
has service to the world and non-violent approaches to conflict as
central strands. There is a course in Bristol over 4 evenings and
2 days from June 8th to 13th. Normally costing £150, as a one off,
this is being offered on a by donation only basis. Contact Malindi
on 0117 9559090 or email oceanheart@btinternet.com for details.
Also there is a course in Edinburgh, Scotland over 3
days, 23rd to 25th June, cost £150 (£100 concs),
Contact
thevisit@artoflivinguk.org
phone The Art of Living Foundation 01224 573676
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar will be visiting the UK and
speaking in London, Leicester, Edinburgh and Glasgow in June.
Check for details at www.artoflivinguk.org
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(3.) Marshall Rosenberg; workshops in London,
June 8th and June 11th
On the theme of non-violent approaches to
living, Marshall Rosenberg, author of the book “Non-violent
communication”, will be offering two workshops in London. If you’d
like to find out more about his approach, read the article sent as
an attachment with this email. Andy Taylor sent in this entry -
Can we undertake environment work without
getting people's backs up or giving ourselves ulcers? Can we bring
despair and fear work out into personal, social and political
space using Nonviolent Communication?
Joanna Macy is enthusiastic
about the synergy between the Great Turning and Marshall
Rosenberg's training on Nonviolent Communication (NVC), according
to Andy Taylor who went to her recent workshop in Barcelona. Many
in her network in the US have learned how to use NVC to
communicate with those who see things differently, and with other
deep ecologists when there is a disagreement on strategy. Andy has
organised an event with Marshall as the main trainer on June 8th,
starting 9.30 at 153 Drummond Street, Euston, London. For info and
bookings please call Andy on 077654 77305 (lunchtime or 8-10pm is
best) or email
sky@andy-taylor.org
. This is a rare opportunity to be with Marshall in person (he's
booked till 2006) and a chance for the UK Deep Ecology network and
the UK NVC network to come together. Even if you can't come on
June 8th, a supportive phone call and email would be much
appreciated, and can be the start of useful connections. Be warned
that Andy got a lot of energy from his despair work and will
probably want to tell you about how flexible this event is and how
there are other events if you can't manage the 8th. However, if
he's remembering his NVC, he will check first if you are happy to
hear all that.
Andy Ray Taylor, 25 Hawthorn Avenue, Headington,
Oxford OX3 9JQ
Mobile/texts: 077654 77305 (usually the
quickest way to reach me)
Day/evening: 077 1273 1172 (missed calls to
this number will be returned)
Messages: 07666 519816 (pager)
also
Transforming Our
World
Fri Jun 11 10.00 am -
4.30 pm
Marshall Rosenberg, originator of Nonviolent
Communication, will describe how NVC can support us to transform
our families, communities, society, and world so that we can live
in harmony with our values.
East Ham Town Hall, London £50 / £25
Info / Booking: Lorraine 0208 470 7550
mr11june@nvc-resolutions.co.uk
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(4.) Vision Quests and Trails with Bill Petrie
Bill will be running two vision quests in the UK
this year - 23-27 June and 7-11 July.
You can find details on the Ecotherapy Institute
website at
http://www.ecopsychologyinternational.co.za/The%20Five%20Day%20Vision%20QuestS%202004.htm.
.
There will also be a trail
in the South African wilderness in October this year. You can get
the details at
http://www.ecopsychologyinternational.co.za/THE%20SPIRIT%20OF%20AFRICA%20TRAIL.htm
Contact
Bill Petrie bill.petrie@telkomsa.net
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(5.) For information about vision quests in the UK,
contact Jeremy Thres on
01647 432840
Here’s
some examples of what he is up to this summer.
Walk About -
Initiatory style journeys for young adults
A guided journey deeper into Nature, both our own
and that of which we are a part. Includes Walking the Land, low
impact camping, initiatory style exercises and tools for
self-discovery, bushcraft and navigation skills for inner and
outer worlds.
July 27/28th –Aug 1st Dartmoor with Chris Salisbury
& Jeremy Thres
September 18th -21st – this one’s a chance for fully
fledged adults Jeremy Thres & Chris Salisbury, Dartmoor
November, de big one, Sea to Source for men, Nov
12th-24th travelling alongside the reddening Salmon from the Coast
to the Moor.
Also on offer is the chance to do a Wilderness Quest
for Vision & Self-healing - a Vision Fast/Quest: A powerful
initiatory experience with ancient and pancultural roots.
July 12th – 18th, Jeremy Thres & Suzannah Uren
Sept 18th –Oct 3rd All Quests have preparation
meetings and exercises and time for incorporation so it is
important to be in touch sooner rather than later if you feel
drawn to doing one. There is a comprehensive handbook (£5 +50p
p&p), the Sacred Mountain written by Steven Foster & Meredith
Little of the School of Lost Borders and adapted by us for Uk use.
with Jeremy Thres + other guides, Jeremy trained
with the School of Lost Borders, and has been supporting this work
for ten years.
For further information or booking on all the above
you can contact Jeremy on 01647 432840, for Walk About you can
also talk to Chris on 01803 868269 or Charlie on 01647 281217
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(6.) Wild at Heart Gathering, Scotland, 11th-12th
September 2004.
The big annual gathering about outdoor education,
nature connecting and other things
2004 Wild at Heart Gathering at Glenmore Lodge in
the
Highlands of Scotland on the 11th & 12th September,
2004.
A list of presenters and session titles, along with
information
on price options, booking and getting to Glenmore
Lodge is
available on the Wild at Heart web site:
www.footprint-education.org/wildatheart
There are only 70 places in total at this event and
demand
has been high! Please book as soon as you can to
avoid disappointment.
The event is organised by Footprint Education,
hosted by
Glenmore Lodge, Scotland's National Outdoor Training
Centre, and is sponsored by The Great Outdoors
Magazine.
Please book direct with Glenmore Lodge:
T: 01479 861256
E:
enquiries@glenmorelodge.org.uk
=
FOOTPRINT EDUCATION LIMITED
Education for a fair & sustainable future.
=
e:
info@footprint-education.org
w: www.footprint-education.org
=
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(7.) ECOPSYCHOLOGY GATHERING AT LAURIESTON HALL 19th
–26th June 2004.
A week long ecopsychology gathering at Lauriston
Hall in Dumfries and Galloway, SW Scotland.
Our intention is to make
an event which is sustainable – not only practically, but
in emotional/political energy. Rather than a central investment in
star performers, we aim to circulate and collectivise our
creativity and knowledge. Many of the best-known and most active
people in the field will be at the Gathering, but as
participants rather than as performers, offering their skills
in exchange with others. It is open to anyone to offer a workshop,
seminar or other event, probably running in parallel with other
offerings, and people can participate as they choose.
Some elements which we as organisers are building
in: a Dream Matrix each morning to share the voyages of the
night. A daily meeting of the whole Gathering. Small
home groups for support. A Summer Solstice celebration.
An
ecological work project running through
the week, creating a practical gift to the land at Laurieston,
together with the solidarity which flows from working physically
together in nature.
You will be able to read about workshops and events
currently on offer, and to add your own offerings and requests, at
our website:
http://ecopsych.org.uk. There is also space
there for thoughts, news and visions of any kind related to the
Gathering.
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(8.) Writing for Change - The Pen is Mightier than
the sword. 15-20th November 2004,
Totleigh Barton, Devon UK.
Chris Johnstone (editor of The Great Turning Times)
and Elisabeth Winkler (editor of Soil Association magazine) will
be running a five day course on using writing to express your
concerns and to promote change at many levels, from personal, to
organisational through to wider social and political change. We
will look at writing press releases, campaigning letters, articles
and books. We will also look at the psychology of promoting change
in yourself and our world.
Guest speaker – Dave Hicks.
Course fee £435 (full board, residential, some
grants available)
For details contact The Arvon Foundation, Totleigh
Barton, Sheepwash, Beaworthy, Devon EX21 5NS
Tel 01409 231338 Email:
t-barton@arvonfoundation.org
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(9.) For information about Deep Ecology workshops
run by Layne Gibson, contact him at
laynegibson@hotmail.com
or by telephone; home 01271 860 385, mobile 0791 996 1421. You can
also write to him at Tapeley House, Tapeley Park, Westleigh,
Bideford, North Devon EX39 4NT.
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(10.) Some good news!
Greenpeace 1, Ashcroft
0
A federal judge threw out the US government's
attempt to shut down Greenpeace. In the clearest indication that
the case was harassment, the judge didn't even need to hear our
defense before he acquitted us of all charges and dismissed the
jury. This is a great victory for freedom of speech, but the
question remains: Why did the US spend all that time chasing us
instead of tracking down the illegal mahogany we were protesting
against?
You, dear cyberactivists, broke all the records in
standing up for us. We asked you for 50,000 letters to Bush and
Aschroft asking them to prosecute illegal mahogany imports rather
than Greenpeace, and you knocked our socks off with a response
that shot past 100,000 in a matter of days. Well done!
You can read more about the case and the decision
here:
http://www.greenpeaceusa.org/index.fpl/10386/article/1131.html
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(11.)
Weekend Courses
2004, in the
Golden Valley
organised by the
Gaia Cooperative
Please also see flyer as attachment.
June 25-27 Holistic
Science
-
Brian Goodwin
Chaos & complexity
theory, Gaian science and systems thinking have brought new
insights to conventional science that demand a synthesis of
intuition, analysis, & ethics.
July 2-4 Resurgence
Retreat with Satish Kumar
Satish
explores the inspiration of nature and spiritual, creative, and
practical paths of positive change, drawing on experiences with
Jain teachers & the Gandhian movement.
July 30 – Aug 1
Herbs for Health
-
Elaine Brook
& Paul Swatridge
Everyday knowledge of
safe and gentle herbs to grow, prepare and use for common ailments
and deficiencies is everyone's birthright, awaiting rediscovery.
Aug 6-8 Sustainable
Communities -
Herbert Girardet
Urban lifestyles have
global impacts. Communities need to reconnect with local
landscapes. Herbert will draw on his new book and his world-wide
work on sustainability.
Sept 3-5 The Singing
Field
Chloe Goodchild
Entering the Singing
Field, we meet others on life's journey, and discover ‘home’, a
place of deep inner rest inside ourselves. Chloe's inspirational
way of effortless singing enables beginners and professionals to
discover sound in ways they never thought possible.
Sept 10-12 Quantum
Medicine -
Roger Taylor
Roger Taylor has spent
15 years researching the scientific basis for energy medicine, and
will discuss and demonstrate a radically new approach to the
science of life.
Courses at
Nurse’s Cottage Long
Lane Peterchurch Hereford HR2 0TE
Phone
0845 458 4718
elaine@gaiacooperative.org
These weekends are an opportunity to
relax and enjoy a holistic lifestyle including solar hot water,
swimming pool and solar electricity. Home-grown organic food, and
beautiful country walks.
Courses start
between
6pm and 8.30
pm on Friday, as some people take longer to arrive than others. A
simple snack of soup and rolls is available during this time.
People have a chance to relax and meet each other. There is a
short session 8.00 – 9.30 before bed.
Breakfast is at
8 am Sat and
Sun, and everyone departs after lunch Sunday, at about 3pm.
Accommodation is
in twin or double cottage bedrooms, or camping. Campers use the
showers in the cottage. Single supplement is £8 per night (there
are not many single rooms so early booking advisable).
Food is fresh,
home-cooked, home-grown organic as much as possible.
To book;
please include your name, address, email and phone number,
If you would like
to car-share, include place & time you plan to leave home
Cost per weekend £120 residential, £90 camping, £80
non-residential
Please make your
enclosed cheque for £30 deposit to Gaia Partnership Ltd/Courses
Please add £16 to your deposit if you wish single
supplement
There is a 5% discount
for members of Hereford Nature Trust
Elaine Brook and Paul
Swatridge
elaine@gaiacooperative.org
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(12.) Gaia Theory for Beginners – a one day course,
Sat Nov 6th 2004
9.30am to 4.30pm. At 8-10, Berkeley Square, Bristol
with Chris Johnstone.
Gaia Theory could
represent one of the most important shifts in scientific thinking
over the last three hundred years. It proposes that the Earth is
more than just a dead lump of rock that we happen to live on.
Rather it can be viewed as a single living system, or
‘super-organism’, that we are part of. This course introduces the
science behind Gaia Theory but also explores what it might mean
for us in the fields of psychology, philosophy, ecology and
spirituality.
To book, phone Bristol
University Public Programmes Office, Tel 0117 9287165
Cost £22 (concs £16.50) Advance booking essential.
details: dreambeat@tantraweb.co.uk
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(13.) SWITCH TO NPOWER JUICE - A very simple step
for The Great Turning!
The North Hoyle Offshore Windfarm started generating
electricity in December last year, and when it’s fully operational
will generate enough electricity for 50,000 homes. For initiatives
like this to grow, it needs people to switch their electricity
supplier to one offering power from renewable sources. This is
really easy to do. For example, to change to npower juice, all you
need to do is phone 0800 316 2610 and go through a number of
simple steps. (You can also do it on the web at
www.switchtojuice.com). All you electricity you pay for with
npower juice comes from renewable sources, but it costs no more
than npower usual rates. Plus they donate £10/year per juice
customer to a special Green fund supporting clean energy
developments.
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(14.) Life Training
I’ve been to several workshops organised by The Life
Training Programme. They offer intensive weekend workshops that
are life changing for many participants. Focusing on personal
development, letting go of old stuck patterns, promoting inner
healing and a more generous open hearted and skillful approach to
life, I see their work as part of The Great Turning. Check out
their website at www.MoretoLife.org
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(15.) DIRECT ACTION
AGAINST WAR ((DAAW))
Visit us:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/directactionagainstwar/
To join our network
send a blank email to:
directactionagainstwar-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
The DAAW Message Board was initially formed in Jan
2003 to improve
communications around Direct Action, with
communications around RAF
Fairford especially improved in the lead up to the
Fairford & Menwith
Hill National Demos on 22nd March 2003.
After some interim problems, with the group
overwhelmed by excessive
levels of spam & off-topic mail, DAAW is now
reinvigorated, well
moderated, and able to continue functioning as a
network hub for the
exchange of information on all issues around Direct
Action.
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(16.) Schumacher College continues to have a range
of inspiring courses
Details of which can be found at
www.schumachercollege.org.uk
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(17.) Copydate for next issue of the Great Turning
Times is last day of August 2004. GTT comes out every three
months, at the beginning of March, June, September and December.
If a historian from the year 2404 was looking back in time and
researching how The Great Turning happened, what events would they
see? What news? Or Courses, resources, ideas, quotes? We are all
part of this story, so if you have something for the next
newsletter please send it to me at
dreambeat@tantraweb.co.uk
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‘the future is that part of history that we can
still change’