Joanna Macy is one of the best known eco-philosophers and spiritual activists in the country. She is a scholar of Buddhism, general systems theory, and deep ecology. For more on her life and writings go to www.joannamacy.net. Norbert Gahbler has translated several of Macy's books into German and teaches workshops on deep ecology. They both agree that we are living in the midst of "a Great Turning" from industrial-growth societies to a life-sustaining civilization. Pass It On contains five stories of people in Canada, India, Russia, Australia, and Tibet who have brought about changes to mend the broken world. These accounts are designed to give hope to spiritual activists all over the globe.
In a visit to the Onondaga, one of the Six Nations in America, Macy is buoyed up by their spiritual practice of gratitude which is seen as the wellspring, the hallmark of the mystic, the source of true art, and an alternative to consumer society. Spending time with some survivors of the Chernobyl disaster, the author confronts the strength and courage that can come to those who face the dark and refuse to whitewash the truth. In Tibet, Macy is inspired by a monk rebuilding an old monastery destroyed by the Chinese; hope grows from daring to envision something helpful or healing. An account of John Seed's identification with the rainforest is proof positive of the solidarity we can achieve with others. The last story challenges us to "act our age" and relate our days and experiences on earth to the great evolutionary journey of the evolving universe.
