Thinking Like a Mountain provides a context for ritual identification with the natural environment, inviting us to begin a process of "community therapy" in defense of Mother Earth. It helps us experience our place in the web of life, rather than on the apex of some human-centred pyramid. An important deep ecology educational tool for both groups and personal reflection.
Thinking Like a Mountain: Towards a Council of All Beings F New Edition Used
by John Seed (Author), Joanna Macy (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars 17 ratings
Editorial Reviews
Review
This book of readings, meditations, rituals and workshop notes prepared on three continents helps us remember that environmental defense is nothing less than "Self" defense. Including magnificent illustrations of Australia's rainforests, Thinking Like a Mountain provides a context for ritual identification with the natural environment, inviting us to begin a process of "community therapy" in defense of Mother Earth. It helps us experience our place in the web of life, rather than on the apex of some human-centred pyramid. An important deep ecology educational tool for activist, school and religious groups, Thinking Like a Mountain can also be used for personal reflection.
Thinking Like a Mountain has been made available through New Catalyst Books. New Catalyst Books is an imprint of New Society Publishers, aimed at providing readers with access to a wider range of books dealing with sustainability issues by bringing books back into print that have enduring value in the field. For more information on New Catalyst Books click here.
(2007-05-30)
About the Author
John Seed continues to direct the Rainforest Information Centre and raise funds for cutting-edge environmental activists and groups in South America, Asia, Africa and the Pacific. Most years he visits North America or Europe offering workshops and presentations. He has made several new films and collections of environmental music, and been honoured by the Australian government with an OAM-Order of Australia Medal-for services to conservation and the environment. You can email John at johnseed1@ozemail.com.au for information about his forthcoming workshops, or find updated information at www.rainforestinfo.org.au.
Joanna Macy is a scholar, eco-philosopher, teacher and activist from Berkeley, California. She is the author of 8 books including Coming Back to Life and Widening Circles and has also produced a 3-DVD set entitled The Work that Reconnects.
Pat Fleming lives and works on Dartmoor, Devon, UK, where her passions include researching, growing, writing about and advising on medicinal plants. Over many years she has run a range of courses, trainings and events relating to earth-care, including deep ecology events, organic and biodynamic growing, and growing and using plants for medicine. A poet herself, she published Moor Poets-Volume One in 2004, which draws together voices from all over Dartmoor, including from men inside HMP Dartmoor prison, to speak out for the wild in poetry. Contact Pat at pat@wylde.gn.apc.org, or see www.wylde.gn.apc.org.
In 2006 Arne Naess was 94 years old. The Selected Works of Arne Naess (SWAN) is now available as a complete, boxed set. Information about SWAN is available from Springer Publishers (www.springeronline.com). Arne's last publication in English was Life's Philosophy: Reason and Feeling in a Deeper World (University of Georgia Press, 2002).
Product details
Item Weight : 6.4 ounces
Paperback : 128 pages
ISBN-10 : 1897408005
ISBN-13 : 978-1897408001
Publisher : New Catalyst Books; F New Edition Used (March 13, 2007)
Dimensions : 5.51 x 0.31 x 8.5 inches
Language: : English
Best Sellers Rank: #193,351 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
#109 in Ethics
#109 in Gaia-based Religions
#399 in Ecology (Books)
Customer Reviews: 4.2 out of 5 stars 17 ratings
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M. M. Grady
5.0 out of 5 stars Deep Ecology guide
Reviewed in the United States on July 16, 2017
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THE BEST "manual" for Deep Ecologists for use in ceremony!!
2 people found this helpful
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Happy Doc
5.0 out of 5 stars Nature's Advocate
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2012
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This is a classic work pioneering advocacy for the natural world using a group experiential process. Each person becomes an aspect of the natural world and speaks for that living entity in council. How would your feelings and attitudes change if you spoke for the trees?
5 people found this helpful
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dp
5.0 out of 5 stars An inspiring antidote
Reviewed in the United States on January 19, 2014
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This is a wonderful and inspiring book that provided much needed encouragement for both my personal and broader engagement with Global Climate Change.
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Amanda Peck
5.0 out of 5 stars Not apathy, despair
Reviewed in the United States on June 26, 2008
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My "aha!" moment in this short and not at all new book came when John Seed says that the refusal to change everything right now that we all have with the problems the planet faces is not from apathy but despair.
"Experience with group work has shown that this despair, greef and anger can be confronted, experienced and creatively channeled. Far from being crushed by it, new energy, creativity, and empowerment can be released."
11 people found this helpful
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Elliott C. Maynard
5.0 out of 5 stars Echoes of the Ancient Wisdom of the Earth
Reviewed in the United States on August 2, 2004
"Thinking Like a Mountain" is an elegant tapestry of writings, poems, and observations which plumb the depths of Ecological Philosophy. This little book is a labor of love,crafted skillfully, with fascinating illustrations that convey the harmony, complexity, and uniqueness of the Natural World.
the Reoccurring Theme which is centeral to this book is that in order for Humans to be Balanced and Functional, it is necessary that they open themselves and learn to develop an increased sensitivity to the incredible diversity and richness of Nature. Within this context the Human Self, over time, becomes gradually transformed into the "Ecological Self" in an intricately and infinitely bonded universe within which the boundaries between Humans and their Ecological Selves become merged and indistinguishable from each other.
From the different, yet complementary perspectives of the three authors, the reader will come to realize that "whatever befalls the Earth befalls the sons of Earth," and that Man himself does not "weave the Web of Life" but instead exists as a mere "strand" within this interactively intricate web.
This is a simplistic, yet profound, book of "Discovery," where we learn that Gaia is becoming increasingly aware of Herself, and the intricate cycles and interactions of her countless Life-Forms within the Global Biosphere. For anyone who loves Nature, and wishes to better comprehend the philosophical interactions between Humans and Natural World, this book will prove to be a rich resource for both Mind and Spirit. Elliott Maynard, Arcos Cielos Research Center.
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LA4321
5.0 out of 5 stars Highly recommended.
Reviewed in the United States on May 2, 2017
I was gifted this book as a teenager nearly 20 years ago. It transformed my philosophical outlook and paved way to my adulthood, educational path, and ultimately career path. At risk of sounding cliche, it was a book that changed my life. I don't know if it would have been as transformative if I had read it at a different stage in life; however, I would still recommend the book. It's a quick and meditative read.
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Dmitry Poletayev
5.0 out of 5 stars We are the rocks dancing
Reviewed in the United States on December 6, 2007
The book is a collection of unique essays, essays with a single aim in mind - to spark a radical expansion of human consciousness. With a lofty goal as this, how does it fair? How deep is deep ecology? How vital is it, given the current massive environmental decline? Should we be concerned with the earth? These are some of the questions that will be tackled in this volume. To begin with, let us look into the text itself. Midway into the text, the reader is intentionally awed by an imposition of a radically different view of himself: "What are you? What am I? Intersecting cycles of water, earth, air and fire, that's what I am, that's what you are" (John Seed 1988, 41). The best way to characterize the text in a couple of words is - meditations on the earth. However, saying these words invariably undercuts the intricacy of exquisite poetic alliterations, metaphoric presence and a penetrating gaze, that the authors invoke on each page. Their work began in Australia, as a small grass-roots circle that held environmental rituals. They traveled, published, inspired, protested, performed, they traveled again. A journey of commitment to something beyond individual goals, their personal stories and essays seem more unified than a story of one man's life. The resulting book is filled with a sense of unceasing directed education, education that transcends classrooms and all conversation - powerful, meaningful words, cerebrally integral to the human being, penetrate the reader, and it is impossible to remain indifferent to the message.
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Gaia
5.0 out of 5 stars Experiential learning
Reviewed in the United States on August 23, 2018
I did a workshop once years ago. This is a great book.
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gertrude
5.0 out of 5 stars inspiring
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on January 6, 2013
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this book helps me to reconnect with myself, other living beings, and the earth. it includes beautiful poems and exercises.
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julian ortleb
5.0 out of 5 stars A nice introduction to an extremely important topic
Reviewed in Germany on November 17, 2014
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Behind the abundant dry term “deep ecology” lies the only conclusive holistic approach to conceive ourselves as individuals, as species and in our involvement in this world. This booklet would not necessarily be my recommendation for the “theoretical-academic” introduction to the topic - for this I recommend “The Deep Ecology Movement: An Introductory Anthology”, which bundles many basic texts - but “Thinking Like a Mountain” impresses with a narrower but very coherent and all the more versatile compilation, which also includes poetic texts, and thus perhaps also enables a smoother entry. I find
particularly valuable that the guide for Joanna Macy's “Council for all Beings” is included here, a great workshop concept, with which we can re-expose our inner attachment to natural creation as part of a group work, which in most of us can be found through the hostile mechanisms of our materialistic consumer society.
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Thinking Like a Mountain: Towards a Council of All Beings
by John Seed, Joanna Macy, Pat Fleming, Arne Næss
4.08 · Rating details · 118 ratings · 18 reviews
Thinking Like a Mountain provides a context for ritual identification with the natural environment, inviting us to begin a process of "community therapy" in defense of Mother Earth. It helps us experience our place in the web of life, rather than on the apex of some human-centred pyramid. An important deep ecology educational tool for both groups and personal reflection.
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Paperback, 128 pages
Published March 13th 2007 by New Catalyst Books (first published 1988)
Original TitleThinking Like a Mountain: Towards a Council of All Beings
ISBN1897408005 (ISBN13: 9781897408001)
Edition LanguageEnglish
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Michelle
Dec 25, 2019Michelle rated it liked it
This book is a collection of essays and poems aimed at a sort of newly created ritual called a "Council of all beings", as part of Joanna Macy's process that goes by the name "the work that reconnects". It's a noble goal, I think - to help us humans become more vibrantly aware of our connection to the Land, to all beings, both animate and inanimate. And some of the writings in the book are quite beautiful.
My issue with this book - and with the other things I've read about the work that reconnects - is that all the writings I've seen dwell deeply and almost exclusively in the pain of our loss, in our terror at the ongoing destruction of our world. And these are important fears, important sorrows, ones we need to acknowledge and, somehow, try to process so we can function. But no solutions are offered. No joy is shared. There's nothing here - nothing - to give us the kind of audacious hope required to get up, day after day, and TRY. All I feel from it is an intense hurt and fear of what is happening to the planet - and I'm well aware of that every day on my own. What we need, now, is ideas of new ways to act, new ways to operate in the world. Maybe these things are offered at the conferences and events that are lead by this group, but I don't find them in any of my readings from them.
Still, it's a good thing to try to cultivate empathy for the non-human world in humans, and there are some lovely pieces in this little collection. (less)
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Philippa
Feb 20, 2012Philippa rated it really liked it · review of another edition
A poetic evocation of all creatures of the earth. Through prose and poetry, the 10 or so writers invite us to connect deeply with the earth and with all life, in order to restore the imbalance that we humans have created in the world.
The Council of All Beings (of the subtitle) is something I first heard of when reading Starhawk (The Fifth Sacred Thing, I think), and it sounds like a very powerful ritual.
After reading this you can never think of yourself as separate from nature. It shows how anthropocentric we have become, to our detriment, and shows new ways of relating to other beings and the earth herself. (less)
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linda
Jan 11, 2009linda rated it it was amazing
WoW - I love this book!
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CTEP
Jun 17, 2020CTEP added it
Shelves: 2010-11
Thinking like a Mountain towards a Council of all Beings by John Seed, ,Joanna Macy, Pat Fleming and Arne Naess This is a collection of essays, meditations, poetry and guidelines for group workshops called “A Council of all Beings”. The name “Thinking like a Mountain” is taken from a chapter in “A Sand County Almanac” written by Aldo Leopold (Forester and Ecologist) back in 1948. He wrote that unless we as humans can identify with the eco-system and “think like a mountain” disaster is inevitable. John Seed writes about his experience when he first became aware of his feelings about his connection to the earth. Feelings as he puts it, that we all have and the necessity that we all have to tap into this consciousness (knowing) in order to stop the destruction of the earth. He ponders and questions how to bring forth these realizations in order to awaken us to actively fight and defend life on earth. Joanna Macy is an activist in movements for peace and justice. She addresses the issue of despair and empowerment in her workshops. From discussions, emerged the “Council of all Beings” a form of group work which as she puts it prepares and allows people to hear “within themselves” the sounds of “the earth crying”. “It is a form which permits people to experience consciously both the pain and the power of their interconnectedness with all life”. The Council of all beings refers to a set of group processes and practices of which ritual enactment is a part. The work of the Council of all Beings is about confronting the despair and numbness and apathy that we feel, and to integrate, and to creatively channel it, and which empowers us to action on peace and or environmental issues. The other root of the Council of all Beings is the philosophy about nature called “Deep Ecology”. Deep Ecology questions the fundamental premises and values of contemporary civilization.. Pat Fleming runs trainings and events relating to “Earth Care “including deep ecology events, organic and biodynamic growing, and growing and using plants for medicine . Arne Naess, coined the term “Deep Ecology” in 1972 to express the ideas that “nature has intrinsic value, value apart from its usefulness to human beings”, in other words deeply felt spiritual connections to the earths living systems, and ethical obligations to protect them. I consider this book to be a little gem. It is usefull and inspirational . It is a book that I would pass down to my children. It is a book that makes the case and helps to remind me of my spiritual connection to mother earth, and interconnectedness to all life. I have had the opportunity to participate in a “Council of all Beings” workshop. The experience deepened my awareness, and belief in the idea that we are all one really, .and that we need to work together for peace. I do not know how this connects directly to the work that I do at Casa, except perhaps in an indirect way. When I become aware of my interconnectedness to the earth I also become aware of the larger community , of a larger self, and I realize that the only way that I can make a difference in the world is by taking direct action. I am taking direct action when I educate, teach and make available resources and information that empower community, and this can only help the cause for peace and justice (less)
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Gus Johnson
Nov 13, 2019Gus Johnson rated it it was amazing
John Seed helped save our NSW Australia Northern Rivers rainforests from Cedar cutting and clearing; rare and exceptional ecosystems now with World Heritage protection. John explored how and why our culture is so destructive, how did we lose our way that we can authorise, vote for and participate in such irresponsible and emotionless destruction of unique precious ecosystems and diverse life. John's research led him to meet, learn from and collaborate with fellow thinkers and conservationists including Professor Arne Naess, Joanna Macy and Pat Fleming. In so doing they discovered that our violence indifference and destructiveness in part derives from a disconnection from the natural world from where we evolved. Where once we needed to value and protect our environment in order to survive, our security now lies in our technology and economy, aspects totally dependant on a healthy planet. That collaboration and insight led them to produce this book.
Observing indigenous rituals and lore, the authors developed lessons, practices and exercises that help individuals and groups to reconnect to country, nature, even God if you interpret meaning, purpose and life that way. I commend this book to any who wish to better themselves, grow in wisdom, joy and compassion and protect this precious vulnerable and much endangered living world we share. (less)
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Kris
Feb 16, 2020Kris added it · review of another edition
Při čtení jsem si připomněla, proč jsem si knihu před 10 lety pořídila - hledala jsem spojení s přírodou. Měla jsem zrovna deprese. Tahle kniha mi pomohla. Přestala jsem vnímat smrt jako něco konečné a něco, čemu musím běžet naproti, nebo se toho bát. Začala jsem vnímat svět okolo jako různé projevy Země a lidi jako jinou formu projevu vesmíru (materialisticky), a tak i já jsem jen kus vydělený z přírody, prozatím, než zemřu. Tahle myšlenka mě uklidňovala, a doteď mi pomáhá, a tahle kniha ji umocnila, nebo možná mě k ní přivedla. A jednou za čas je příjemné ji zase vytáhnout. (less)
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Dan Power
May 17, 2020Dan Power rated it liked it
This is a real mixed bag - part meditation, part eco theory, part poetry and part biography, all from a bunch of different writers.... there are some parts which are v inspiring and beautiful, and other parts which are a bit dull or even a bit egotistical (which really jars with a lot of the book's transcendental pre-post/humanist vibee), and the book not knowing exactly what it's trying to be is sometimes exciting and sometimes a bit tiring. Some very good and some not very good, but overall an interesting read! (less)
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Diana
Jun 17, 2018Diana rated it it was amazing
In this age of pipelines and hopelessness, this is a book worth rereading, especially if you need to experience, and then get past, your grief.
Expect an emotional meltdown, and expect a broadened perspective that takes in past and future generations and our evolution as biological creatures.
My hope is that people everywhere will hold Council of All Beings sessions to reignite their commitment to creating the just and green future we want.
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Michelle Keiser
Apr 23, 2019Michelle Keiser rated it it was amazing
Deeply moving, touching a subject that is incredibly important to humankind. There is a deep need to rekindle our connection with the earth on a level that goes beyond intellect. I recommend this book to every human being.
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Joseph Carrabis
Aug 01, 2017Joseph Carrabis rated it it was amazing
I first read this book as part of my anthropology studies and promised myself I'd read it again (kept it on an easy to reach bookshelf). Although it's a typical western cultural paradigm questing for more, it's still an entertaining read from the time when neo-shamanism and neo-paganism thrived.
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Dani Scott
Jul 11, 2019Dani Scott added it
Beautiful. Poignant. Relevant, fortunately and not, still.
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Naomi
Sep 05, 2011Naomi rated it liked it
Shelves: 2011
Not what I expected, but a useful, insightful book nonetheless. Should one plan to conduct such a retreat, however, this would be a five-star book. I had just hoped for more ecological essays, especially less familiar ones.
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Joshua
Jun 20, 2009Joshua added it
Shelves: hippie, summer09
"Threat of extinction is the potter's hand that molds all forms of life."--p.38
I thought I would enjoy this book more, but it sort of fell flat. I really can't see myself responding to the type of ritual development that this book proposes.
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Brian
Jul 16, 2014Brian rated it it was ok
Some of the pieces in this collection were thought-provoking. Some of them, especially the ritualistic, may not be everyone's cup of tea.
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Sasha
Sep 04, 2008Sasha rated it did not like it
Naess' essay is very good.
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Mark
Aug 14, 2014Mark rated it liked it
Meant as a guide to leading a Council of All Beings, this book was useful to me as a way to imagine one, to understand a bit more about the idea.
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Rissa
Feb 13, 2008Rissa rated it it was amazing
Amazing!
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Eden
Jun 16, 2012Eden rated it did not like it · review of another edition
Shelves: reviewed
I thought this book sounded really interesting and my type of book. But I really couldn't get into it and didn't really enjoy it.
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