Yes
It could happen any time, tornado,
earthquake, Armageddon. It could happen.
Or sunshine, love, salvation.
It could, you know. That’s why we wake
and look out––no guarantees
in this life.
But some bonuses, like morning,
like right now, like noon,
like evening.
~ William Stafford ~
The term “Deep Adaptation” has found its way into mainstream environmental circles. The term originated with an academic paper written for professional environmentalists by Professor Jem Bendell. Much of the paper was a direct challenge to them.
The paper has gone viral and the words “Deep Adaptation” are being used by many people around the world. With respect to this, Jem Bendell said in a recent post:
“If you haven’t read the paper, then I recommend you do, because “deep adaptation” is not the latest buzz term in the fields of environmentalism or sustainability. About a third of my original paper details why professional environmentalists (myself included) were psychologically and institutionally wedded to pretending that we can reform our current systems to prevent climate change from collapsing our societies………..Deep Adaptation is about how we prepare for societal collapse which we take as likely, inevitable or unfolding. That is our starting point in this space. There is so much to discuss and to do, and to stop doing, from that starting point.”
Sarah-Jane’s work is evolving and constantly informed by her sense of the unravelling happening in the world.
In the intensity of these times is the potential to more deeply engage with each other in support of human reorientation and reconnection to our place in the living system we are part of.
The invitation to live life from a base of transparent intent, (that has always been the only way forward) feels more urgent now. This invitation includes the opportunity to act in ways that are the right thing to do, for their own sake, not because we can be confident of outcome.
There is deep value in endings and taking time in daily life to come to terms with impermanence, death and letting go. The imperative to do so is now being honed along with the intensifying call to live our lives fully invested in every moment, whilst knowing that equanimity about outcomes is at the heart of any creative response.
As each of us digest and come to terms (in our own ways) with current circumstances, we will each find our own right “place” with respect to the here and now. From that place, a sense of what’s uniquely our own to do in response begins to emerge. In a recent review by Alice O’Keeffe of “This is not a drill” was this line:
“…..even if we can’t escape its consequences, it is not too late to escape the mindset that brought us here.”
Get in touch if you’re exploring this territory too.
Ways in which Sarah-Jane currently engages some of these themes include:
