Collapse is a grieving process, a great composting. It is bittersweet—a threat and a promise —a threshold we will have to cross. What lies behind it is up to our actions now.
There is little doubt that this is in train. The question is only what it will look like which is unpredictable and variable in pace and nature. Where there is community-wide collapse I am hopeful of a community-wide response. Where it creeps in as an ever-worsening economic descent the default individualistic zeitgeist is likely to throw up walls as poverty picks families off one by one. Organising ahead of time will be crucial.
You’re right - “ahead” does seem to suggest nothing has happened yet. My sense is while a collapse has already started it’s going to be a slow, relatively uneven affair so “ahead” is referring to a time when we are forced to change rather than choosing to albeit under pressure!
This is beautifully written and inspirational to read, but I'd take out this paragraph:
"Resilience is a beautiful word. But it’s become a poisoned one. They want us to believe that resilience means weathering the storm while doing nothing to stop the hand that stirs it. They want community gardens that don’t feed rebellion. Mutual aid that doesn’t question property. Spirituality without solidarity. But real resilience doesn’t conform. It rebels. It bites. It grows where they told us nothing could. It refuses to be polite while the world burns."
It doesn't have the power that cheering us on has.
It goes with what I just cross-posted to my subscribers: "From Within, We Rise:" https://crisistransition.substack.com. I said: "This is what I've been saying. Change how people see themselves, not as primordial sinners supplicating to an external god, but as divine creatures in a sacred universe serving Earth."
Brilliant. I was so fucking excited to read this this morning! I think I’ll start dancing! The beginnings of a real manifesto for this moment.
Btw, I’ve read your community building series but it seems I missed the part about spiritual practice communities, so I’ll go back and look it over.
My own small contribution to try to help us not make things worse is starting a small community to sit in awareness and cultivate compassion and wisdom together. You can check it out here: https://www.sittinglab.com
I absolutely loved this piece. It’s brilliant. I’d have to quote too much of it to say what I liked. I liked so much in so many ways . It is so profound. Thank you very much for writing this and thank you Suzanne for sharing this.
I cross-posted this to my 3000 subscribers with this note:
"This, plus David Suzuki from the link that it starts with, are the best TUNE-INS TO REALIITY. We need that. Suzuki is a hero, a pioneer about consciousness, and if I were a genie I'd use my magic power to tune you into him."
Collapse is a grieving process, a great composting. It is bittersweet—a threat and a promise —a threshold we will have to cross. What lies behind it is up to our actions now.
The path to resilient, sustainable communities, is ALSO the path to social and economic equality and a stable climate.
But it's up to us to connect, join forces and build that better world.
Excellent piece!
J.
Fantastic. Full agreement.
1. Order out of chaos
2. The revolution will not be televised
3. Freedom and servitude evolve together
Beautifully written, Anarcasper. I’m glad to have found you.
There is little doubt that this is in train. The question is only what it will look like which is unpredictable and variable in pace and nature. Where there is community-wide collapse I am hopeful of a community-wide response. Where it creeps in as an ever-worsening economic descent the default individualistic zeitgeist is likely to throw up walls as poverty picks families off one by one. Organising ahead of time will be crucial.
You are absolutely correct, and it is why I put together the Prefigurative Community Building series. Which I summarized here: https://anarcasper.substack.com/p/building-tomorrow-today
We can’t be ahead anymore; we are way behind. But there’s always hope.
You’re right - “ahead” does seem to suggest nothing has happened yet. My sense is while a collapse has already started it’s going to be a slow, relatively uneven affair so “ahead” is referring to a time when we are forced to change rather than choosing to albeit under pressure!
It is essential to start telling the stories of places in the world where this new world is being born.
Everything from a community garden in an abandoned lot to Rojava and how it has attempted to create a non-hierarchical state out of the ruins of war.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Democratic_Autonomous_Administration_of_North_and_East_Syria
These stories provide schemas and roadmaps for others to follow.
This is beautifully written and inspirational to read, but I'd take out this paragraph:
"Resilience is a beautiful word. But it’s become a poisoned one. They want us to believe that resilience means weathering the storm while doing nothing to stop the hand that stirs it. They want community gardens that don’t feed rebellion. Mutual aid that doesn’t question property. Spirituality without solidarity. But real resilience doesn’t conform. It rebels. It bites. It grows where they told us nothing could. It refuses to be polite while the world burns."
It doesn't have the power that cheering us on has.
It goes with what I just cross-posted to my subscribers: "From Within, We Rise:" https://crisistransition.substack.com. I said: "This is what I've been saying. Change how people see themselves, not as primordial sinners supplicating to an external god, but as divine creatures in a sacred universe serving Earth."
Brilliant. I was so fucking excited to read this this morning! I think I’ll start dancing! The beginnings of a real manifesto for this moment.
Btw, I’ve read your community building series but it seems I missed the part about spiritual practice communities, so I’ll go back and look it over.
My own small contribution to try to help us not make things worse is starting a small community to sit in awareness and cultivate compassion and wisdom together. You can check it out here: https://www.sittinglab.com
Thanks for your good work and keep it coming!!!
I absolutely loved this piece. It’s brilliant. I’d have to quote too much of it to say what I liked. I liked so much in so many ways . It is so profound. Thank you very much for writing this and thank you Suzanne for sharing this.
I cross-posted this to my 3000 subscribers with this note:
"This, plus David Suzuki from the link that it starts with, are the best TUNE-INS TO REALIITY. We need that. Suzuki is a hero, a pioneer about consciousness, and if I were a genie I'd use my magic power to tune you into him."