REVIEW BY PEGI EYERS
We cannot dispute humanity’s incredible achievements and expertise, but the current wave of social and environmental disasters are the result of errors in our thinking. As we face an uncertain future, clearly it is time to transition forward (or back) to knowing ourselves as embedded in Earth Community once again, and Morgan Caraway’s new book Ecological Awakening is an excellent companion for the journey. He identifies the root cause of our separationist thinking as part of the ancient shift from hunter-gatherer societies to the agrarian era, and how the arrival of patriarchal imperialism divided us from the natural world. He points out that the conceptual thinking behind religion and other systems has alienated us even more, and as capitalism continues to commodify nature, our toxic worldview of disconnection is at an all-time high. With keen insight and wry humor, Caraway points out the idiocy of destroying the very elements in nature that give rise to life itself – the air, forests, lands and waters.
It is fascinating how Caraway recognizes the narrow scope of popular self-help movements, and how modern spirituality has left out the earth connection! He says that “finding personal happiness is important, but keeping the Earth livable is at least equally crucial,” and goes on to say “that a spirituality or philosophy that doesn’t include nature isn’t complete.” With a concise and enjoyable style, Ecological Awakening makes clear links between current statistics on climate change (2017), primal survival conditioning, the integrated outlook of Indigenous societies, “wild mind,” non-duality, sustainable off-grid building practices, renewable energy, reducing our carbon footprint, neurodecolonization (changing how we think), thoughts on countering despair, and the universal need for belonging and community.
It is fascinating how Caraway recognizes the narrow scope of popular self-help movements, and how modern spirituality has left out the earth connection! He says that “finding personal happiness is important, but keeping the Earth livable is at least equally crucial,” and goes on to say “that a spirituality or philosophy that doesn’t include nature isn’t complete.” With a concise and enjoyable style, Ecological Awakening makes clear links between current statistics on climate change (2017), primal survival conditioning, the integrated outlook of Indigenous societies, “wild mind,” non-duality, sustainable off-grid building practices, renewable energy, reducing our carbon footprint, neurodecolonization (changing how we think), thoughts on countering despair, and the universal need for belonging and community.
 Author Morgan Caraway | In a set of wonderful chapters Ecological Awakening reminds us of what really matters, or more succinctly, what is essential to all life, and explores our human relationship with the elements of air, water and earth – and our material culture as sourced from the land such as food, clothing and shelter. |
Ecological Awakening charts a pathway to shifting from Me to We by “highlighting the intrinsic, unbreakable connection between all things, ourselves included,” and how a true understanding of this dynamic can bring about an almost mystical awakening. Knowing ourselves as ecological beings once more “has the potential of simultaneously solving both our social and ecological problems.” Caraway offers valid solutions to the cascading crises by engaging with social change, inner transformation, and the readiness for collapse. Resisting business as usual and the insanity of putting economy ahead of ecology, he urges us that the time to act is now, and that it is imperative for humanity to come together across ideological, racial, national and political lines. Ecological Awakening is a clarion call that leads directly to personal action!
The fact that Caraway continues to have faith in humanity is ultimately inspiring, and Ecological Awakening is an amazing accomplishment from a true eco-warrior who not only models how to live sustainably on the land, but to care deeply about the Earth. He invites us to continue the conversation, as “eco-awakening is a grassroots movement - it’s really about each of us. Our modern economy and worldview hangs on this false conceptual model of reality. Realizing that this view is absurd and that we are connected to each other (and the Earth) has the potential to revolutionize our lives, our way of relating to each other, and everything else in between.”
The fact that Caraway continues to have faith in humanity is ultimately inspiring, and Ecological Awakening is an amazing accomplishment from a true eco-warrior who not only models how to live sustainably on the land, but to care deeply about the Earth. He invites us to continue the conversation, as “eco-awakening is a grassroots movement - it’s really about each of us. Our modern economy and worldview hangs on this false conceptual model of reality. Realizing that this view is absurd and that we are connected to each other (and the Earth) has the potential to revolutionize our lives, our way of relating to each other, and everything else in between.”
Ecological Awakening is available on Amazon Kindle >link<
Print Edition >link<
Website for Morgan Caraway ~ Sustainable Life School >link<
 | Pegi Eyers is the author of Ancient Spirit Rising: Reclaiming Your Roots & Restoring Earth Community, an award-winning book that explores strategies for uncolonization, social justice, ethnocultural identity, building land-emergent community & resilience in times of massive change. Available from Stone Circle Press or Amazon. |
