A Wild Love for the World: Joanna Macy and the Work of Our Time

(Paperback)

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Spiritual teachers, deep ecologists, and diverse writers and activists celebrate the life and global impact of pioneering Buddhist philosopher and environmental advocate Joanna Macy. A leading figure in Buddhist-informed social and ecological activism since the 1980s, Joanna Macy's life work is rooted in a profound study of the parallels between Buddhist and scientific worldviews. Her innovative efforts at the intersection of systems theory, Buddhist practice, and social and environmental justice have produced important developments in areas ranging from anti-nuclear activism and climate change to grief work and indigenous rights. In this unprecedented collection, some 40 prominent artists, writers, activists, scientists, and religious leaders offer reflections on Macy's contributions to their personal development and to the growth of their fields. Interspersed with these essays are ten stories from Macy herself, narrating pivotal moments that changed the course of her life. Taken together, these offerings illuminate Macy's fierce, hopeful vision of an alternative way forward for ourselves, our society, and our future.

Reviews

The conversation I had with Joanna Macy early in our tender, tumultuous century has shaped me ever after. I first discovered Joanna through her gorgeous translations of the poet Rilke, a voice of the last centurys turnings that she has brought to accompany us in ours. I marvel at her many callings and adventures. She attended to the human trauma as Rilkes central European world disappeared in the aftermath of World War IIand in the exile from Tibet of a young Dalai Lama. She was an environmentalist before that term was on every tongue. And she became a great Buddhist teacher before anyone understood how this tradition would meet twenty-first-century people and potentialities. Through all of this, Joanna has come to embody a singular clarity of vision about the totality of what it means to be humanat this moment in time. Her wild love for the world is a beacon to us alland an exuberant invitationto join our passion to hers, whatever the lives we lead. This book is a precious offering toward life-giving possibility.Krista Tippett, host of On Being

Joanna Macy is one of the planet's treasures, not least for the remarkable cadre of people who have learned from and been inspired by her rooted and unstinting life. This fine book combines her insights and those who have learned from her, and it will be a joy to anyone who approaches it with an open heart.Bill McKibben, author of Falter: Has the Human Game Begun to Play Itself Out

We cant save our world, we can only love our larger body, this living earth, and take the next healing step. To guide us, we have Joanna Macy, who embodies this active loving in her brilliant teachings, The Work That Reconnects, and through her decades of serving our planet. This new book captures the great depth and breadth of Joannas wisdom through her own stories, as well as through the richly shared stories of her colleaguesactivists, thinkers, and teachers. Throughout, Joannas understandings, group practices, and passionate heart offer us an urgently needed pathway of hope for this precious world.Tara Brach, author of Radical Acceptance and Radical Compassion

I am wildly in love with A Wild Love for the World. I can truly say that the stories in this book, and its life-transforming ideas and their practical applications, have changed me. The personal stories and focus on positive collaborative engagement offer a breath of energizing fresh air as we move forward. Joanna Macys life, celebrated here in an engaging, inspiring, and practical compendium of approaches catalyzed by her Work That Reconnects, offers each of us a light to cultivate resilience and illuminate the path ahead.Thank you to Stephanie Kaza and all the contributors, and to Joanna, for the love and brilliance that shine so brightly in this lifes work of heart.Daniel Siegel, author of Aware and Mind

How do we live in solidarity on this warming planet This book captures a lifetime of grappling with this most important of questionsand invites readers into a thriving community of people who, like me, have been transformed by Joanna Macys thought and practice.Naomi Klein, author of On Fire: The Burning Case For a Green New Deal

If the ecological crisis is the greatest challenge that humanity is facing today, then Joanna Macy is the most important teacher of our time. For those who dont yet know her work, this anthology is an excellent place to start. For those of us who have already benefited from it, it provides an overview of an extraordinary woman and her remarkable career.David Loy, author of Ecodharma: Buddhist Teachings for the Ecological Crisis

Serendipitous that this volume by and about one of our most far-seeing, exuberant, and empathic radiators of necessary wisdom is emerging in the midst of a worldwide pandemic. The book will be a talisman for many, a seed bundle, a way through the calamity.David Abram, author ofThe Spell of the Sensuous

Author Bio

STEPHANIE KAZA is Professor Emerita of Environmental Studies at the University of Vermont. She is the author of Green Buddhism- Practice and Compassionate Action in Uncertain Times and Conversations with Trees- An Intimate Ecology, as well as editor of Hooked!- Buddhist Writings on Greed, Desire, and the Urge to Consume. JOANNA MACY is an internationally known scholar, eco-philosopher, teacher, activist, and author of twelve previous books, including World as Lover, World as Self- Courage for Global Justice and Ecological Renewal, Coming Back to Life- The Updated Guide to the Work that Reconnects, and Widening Circles- A Memoir.