The Heart and Soul Group has changed its name to the Inner Transition Group to more accurately reflect our mission, which is to support each other as we come to terms with our new reality. Inner transition includes finding ways to nurture body, mind and spirit as we navigate our way out of the Industrial Growth Society and into a life-sustaining civilization.
Inner transition begins with removing the veil of denial and awakening to the state of our world. It involves looking open-eyed at climate disruption, species extinction, pollution, explosive population growth, the Industrial Growth Society, and how the belief in endless growth impacts the Earth’s finite resources. We seek to understand the part we have personally played in the unraveling of our world so we can make better choices.
We found ourselves undergoing an inner transition as we learned about The Great Turning. Before we could truly begin the journey, we had to realize that humanity is facing a crisis. Reading and discussing Active Hope by Joanna Macy and Chris Johnstone helped us to move beyond denial and gave us the passion and the tools to begin.
Active hope is about becoming active participants in bringing about the change we’d like to see. Given the condition of our world, we feel an urgency to move into action. We are taking steps to change our lifestyles, armed with new knowledge, potent tools and the support of our group members.
Some of us are activists who protest, demonstrate and bear witness to the unspeakable acts that are harming all life on Earth. Others are creating, supporting and participating in a new paradigm of life-sustaining culture (think Timebanking, local food, sustainable agriculture, skill sharing, swapping and sharing, creating community). And we are all rethinking what we value and how we perceive the world. It seems we are part of the evolutionary shift in consciousness that is taking place today.
We are opening to a richer experience of community that is giving new meaning and purpose to our lives. We are learning to rely on each other. And we are finding that everyone can play a role and everyone has something to offer.
We are yet another example of the truth of this quote by Margaret Mead:
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.
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