100 Days of Nonviolence

Today's character is Joanna Macy. She founded a methodology for cultivating Active Hope, or in other words, "how to face the mess that we're in as a planet without going crazy."  She introduces herself, saying, "As the root teacher, still vigorous in my eighties and exhilarated with this life path, I am delighted to welcome you to the Work That Reconnects. I have long desired a place for the growing numbers of people whose lives have been changed by this work and who want to connect and collaborate in taking it forward. Here you will be reminded and refreshed to read the essential foundations and features of this work, as well as find out where things are happening and who is facilitating.

I am regularly asked by people how they can learn to facilitate the Work That Reconnects. Since I have made it available to everyone, certain guidelines are all the more important. Here are some things I have grown to see are essential:

• Know Your Roots  Steep yourself in the world view that animates this work. New paradigm thinking from science and spiritual traditions that are essential to this work are distilled in my books and especially in the first four chapters of Coming Back to Life, as well as in World As Lover, World As Self and Mutual Causality.

• Listen to the People  In the Work That Reconnects, you are inviting people to speak the truth of their experience on an endangered planet. In so doing, they open themselves to the grief of our world and the intelligence of Earth. You can trust that. This elicits your respect; there is no need to fix, preach or comfort.

• Stick with the Spiral  Recognize and follow the power of the Spiral as it moves through its four stages

• Honor the Source and Pay it Forward  As with anything you have learned from another tradition or body of work, you will want for the sake of your own integrity to attribute it explicitly. As with any gift, the gratitude you experience will compel you to share this work with others.

• Know How It Works Before You Change It  I love the way the practices of the work can change and become yet more relevant as we face new challenges. Let any changes we make be based on a clear understanding of the original form.

• Do Your Own Work Before You Lead The Work  Proceed from an engaged and committed life. Leading this work is not a substitute for your own engagement.