Insight and inspiration in turbulent times.
The less work we put into this system, the more we do for ourselves. The more time we spend in celebration of life, the less time we spend supporting hierarchy and lazy elites. And the more we follow that path, the faster this system will crumble.
When I last wrote that Washington in transition was a chaotic—even surreal—political environment, I had no idea just how weird things would get.
Like so many people and organizations, we at Post Carbon Institute have been reflecting and recalibrating since November 5th. Wherever you fall on the political spectrum, Trump’s victory, along with his campaign pledges and cabinet nominations, should be an indication that the status quo is in the rearview mirror if not actually crumpled and smoking on the side of the road.
Increasingly, it seems that the ongoing spread of bird flu among cattle and the possible evolution of a strain that can be transmitted between humans will be the biggest story of 2025. I hope I’m wrong.
Someone once told me in reference to a hurricane in Florida that all over the news you see what a tragedy it is. News shows show the destruction and the horrors. But, this person said, remember to look for the helpers—helping, doing their work. The same is true now. Look for the helpers. They’re doing their work.
I light the candles in the dark room as a pledge, to be honest with myself and truthful with others. To do no harm. To create a safe haven, a sanctuary. To stay present. To listen harder. To act with intention. To shine my own light into the darkness no matter how faint it might be.
We don’t need to save the world, but we might want to think about saving ourselves. No, not think, do. We need to do more and think less and maybe not order anything at all.
Rather than exalting brains and our thoughts, a successful human culture will be suspicious of where these narcissistic, unconstrained, decontextualized shortcut machines might lead us, if left unchecked.
What does it feel like to be confronted with the uncomfortable realities of the systems synthesis? Is it worth it? And are you ready to join a growing community of changemakers leaning into this challenge?
The United States today faces inherent challenges that have weakened the republic, making lessons from the Roman Republic even more necessary to avoid greater political instability.
Thinking about civilisations as being time-limited immediately leads you to a particular perspective about them, which is in effect, that as civilisations age they are more likely to show signs of decline, in the same way that we can make the same kinds of assumptions about people.
Let us collectively offer those around us a loving, nurturing container of sense-making that can attract those who are feeling despair and enjoin them to help us lay down a pathway together to a brighter future.
