Here are a few of the many inspirations for my decade-long experiment and, more broadly, for my work in the world.
All children of all species and the ones yet to come.
Joanna Macy, her “Work that Reconnects,” and all her inspiration to practice “Active Hope.” “The Spiral of The Work That Reconnects,” which begins with coming from gratitude, enabling us to honor our pain for the world, then seeing with new eyes, and going forth, significantly influenced the structure of the Mindful Movement Conservation practice, which, thanks to Joanna, I envision as an open spiral that begins with gratitude and enables an empowerment process that we engage with again and again. I’m also grateful that I had the chance to hear her tell the story of how Buddha touched the Earth. It helped me understand on a deeper level that, to use her words, “since we are one with all beings, we can act on behalf of them.” I’m grateful that my wife and I had the chance to be with her and participate in her training in July 2015. It was life changing.
Greta Thunberg and her “School Strike for Climate” and other youth led movements.
Bill Plotkin and all his books, musings, and wise words, including his timely reminder that “it is vital that we each believe in and perform our impossible dreams, those with roots in the Mystery.”
Thich Nhat Hanh and his teachings on Engaged Buddhism, mindfulness,”being peace”, and how “our life has to be our message.”
One Earth Sangha for building community and inspiring responses to the current climate emergency rooted in Dharma.
David Loy and his insights into the practice of EcoDharma.
Mentor and friend Dori Langevin for her embodiment of loving awareness and her teachings on “looking inward and reaching outward” and practicing with “fierce tenderness.”
Tibetan Buddhists who are engaged in a full body prostration practice as an offering of compassion to all sentient beings.
All the people who are weaving together contemplative practice and compassionate action.
Geneen Marie Haugen for her many musings that have helped me see and engage with the world in a more soulful and imaginative way. Her idea that “Imagination itself may be our best resource for experiential recovery of a vibrant, participatory, and wildly sacred Earth” resonates deeply. I also greatly appreciate her encouragement to offer “intentional enactments of sacred reciprocity to the world.” Mindful Movement Ceremonies in their various forms can be offered in this way. (more)
Bill McKibben for being a moral visionary, truth teller and activist.
Amma and the way she embraces the world with compassion one hug at a time. “The world should know that a life inspired by love and service to humanity is possible.”
Gandhi’s “experiments with truth” and his inspiration to “be the change.”
Thomas Berry and his teaching on the “Great Work” of our time….”the need for us to move from being a disrupting force on this earth to a benign presence.”
John Robbins for his integrity and “his dream of a society at peace with its conscience because it respects and lives in harmony with all life forms. A dream of a society that is truly healthy, practicing a wise and compassionate stewardship of a balanced ecosystem.”
Charles Eisenstein’s many insights, especially his living planet worldview, have been of great benefit to me and have influenced my approach to and the expression of my experiment. Charles’ thoughts on the power of story as well as his many thought provoking questions such as: “Is it too much to ask, to live in a world where our human gifts go toward the benefit of all?; Where our daily activities contribute to the healing of the biosphere and the well-being of other people?”, have influenced me. Charles’ books, his talks on the “Story of Interbeing,” his essay “Every Act a Ceremony,” and his teachings on morphogenesis are all woven into Mindful Movement Conservation as a practice and Move for Our Living Planet.
Paul Salopek’s Out of Eden Walk, a 24,000-mile odyssey and decade-long experiment in slow journalism. When I first learned about Paul’s decade-long experiment in slow journalism, I thought, “how cool that he is doing this project as an experiment to explore something that is vitally important and inspiring to him. That’s what I’m doing with Mindful Movement Conservation. I’m going to make my experiment a decade-long experiment too.”
Brene Brown’s teachings, particularly on vulnerability and her encouragement to “step into the arena.”
My wife and daughter.
And, of course, our Living Planet.
Photo: Michael Hannum. Springtime in the Swiss Alps. “The hills are alive with the sound of music.”
Move for Our Living Planet 