An invitation to take a clear look into the hellish realms of the techno-optimist's "sustainable" civilization and ponder the question of what kind of world we really want to live in.
This reminds me of a debate I often get into with one or two of my 'truther' friends who, locked in a dualistic struggle with what they perceive as a neo-Malthusian world elite, tend to fall into the opposite trap - there's plenty to go around, peak oil is a psy-op, etc etc. I say to them, you'd damn well better hope peak-oil *isn't* a psy-op, because if there really was enough to go around, the elites might actually have a shot at creating their dystopian hellscape.
I usually don’t take time to watch the videos in articles I read - there just isn’t enough time to take in everything that is coming at me - but having grown up in Bolivia, I couldn’t resist watching the video link in this article, showing the country of Bolivia. To me, the shape of Bolivia is the most beautiful shape of any country on earth. Of course, I was hoping there was more about Bolivia in the video, but at least there was a little bit. :) I spent a summer (winter down there) with a tribe in that northern area as a child in 1977.
This morning, I just ran across a related video that I thought might be of interest. I have only watched this one, but I plan to go back to the previous episodes to get the background of what he is talking about.
I have quite a bit of “Native American” in me from both sides of my family, but of course I also have European ancestry (Scottish) as well as French Canadian. As such, I just want to know the truth. I don’t “take sides.” For me, it’s just about finding/knowing the truth. History has been violent and bloody, sad to say.
Thanks for sharing more about your experiences in Bolivia and your genetic lineage.
He seems to be sharing some interesting ideas regarding various stages of ethnogenesis between various people's who lived on Turtle Island.
I personally do not place as much emphasis on the importance of genetic lineage in the context of warfare or territory claimed as I do studying the aspects of cultures that defined them as either living with a reciprocal relationship with the land and ecosystems they depended on to survive or defining them as takers, consumers and extractors.
Written accounts, stories passed down through generations and even mounds or stone structures tell us relatively little about what defined a culture and what we can learn from them when compared to studying the impact those cultures had on the living soil. The soil is a living record of thousands of seasons of growth, decomposition, death, new life and through examining the soil one can discern what type of people lived in that place.
I will re-share part of what I shared in another comment to Mishelle recently in the hopes it can help you to find out and know the truth.
The soils in the dominant European epicenters of imperialistic "civilizations" tell us the story of ecologically illiterate and/or greedy short sighted ways of living and interacting with the ecosystems they depended on to survive. That Roman pattern of extractive monoculture food cultivation was brought with the Colonial Christians everywhere they went in the world, leaving a trail of deforestation, loss in soil mass, depth and fertility and ecological devastation in its wake.
For some historical and scientific background on this issue, I suggest reading: "Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations" by David Montgomery
The anthropogenic Terra Preta of the Amazon and the deep dark soils of the Great Plains of Turtle Island (aka "north america") however tell a different story about how humans interacted with the ecosystems they depended on to survive.
As Charles C. Mann wrote, in a piece that drastically changed the perception about native populations in the New World before contact, contrary to the popular isolated hunter-gatherer notions of natives, the New World was a highly advanced civilization that manipulated their environment on a large scale. He believed that humans were a keystone species—that is an animal that plays a crucial role in the functioning of an eco-system.
Charles C. Mann writes about terra preta, “Faced with an ecological problem, the Indians fixed it. The indians were in the process of terraforming the Amazon when Columbus showed up and ruined everything.”
As I said to someone recently who was speculating about whether or not an anarchist revolution took place at some point in Mayan history (resulting in a sort of ethnogenesis) I do not know if the Mayans were anarchists or not, but here is some information on something I do know about their culture which I would suggest is worth consciously integrating into our modern day process of Ethnogenesis.
Some people get excited about Mayan pyramids saying that those structures show how "advanced" that culture was. I would contend that a man made food forest that persists for millennia feeding and providing a home for myriad beings, fostering life and beauty to unfold into ever higher levels of complexity and symbiosis is a far more impressive accomplishment than piling up a bunch of stones (as impressive as the stone structure may be). The same can be said for big mounds or stone monuments. Ecological literacy and botanical awareness is far more complex and practically applicable in our day to day lives than monument building skills.
The post above shares a recipe from my book and some information about the Mayan Milpa crop rotation system, their forest gardens and other soil regeneration techniques developed by indigenous peoples.
I think we have a lot to learn from long term food cultivation systems that align with knowledge of the succession of forest ecosystems and work with fire as a regenerative force of nature.
The Mayan Milpa crop rotation system could be adapted to help accelerate the succession of presently degenerated landscapes and bring them into full level food forest production here in Canada where we have millions of acres of monoculture farmed land that is barely producing now due to the stupidity and arrogance of modern agriculture methods.
Some people get really excited about religions or praying to the right name for God, thinking that is of paramount importance and will make or break our civilization. I contend that how a culture interacts with the ecosystems that they depend on to survive and how they either give back to and build up the soil or deplete and erode it, is a the more fundamental variable in determining the longevity of a culture and civilization.
Thus, I am more interested in engaging in a type of ethnogenesis which is defined by practically applicable techniques for cultivating food and medicine which also enhance biodiversity, clean water, create microclimates, stabilize rain patterns and enhance the beauty and productivity of the land (for both humans and non-humans to harvest from) and less interested in focusing on genetics, religion or outward appearances.
Thanks for the comment and the link. I would be interested to hear more on what you get out of the man's video presentations once you have a chance to watch the earlier episodes.
Interesting title. The question is rhetorical as the Earth is decidedly finite.
There are basically 5 sorts of people, those who believe the answer is NO and may subscribe to the religious "be fruitful and multiply" ideals that make sense after global or regional depopulation calamities. Then there are the group who says I don't know and would often be fart of the easily led flock. The last three groups believe the answer is YES and either believe the number should be more or less than what we have now. There are probably a small group of people that say the number we have now is perfect, it requires a certain kind of moral blindness to accept the suffering due to resource shortage that some of the planet labours under is fine in perpetuity.
I am in the YES and should be fewer group. My test is that there are too many of just one person is hungry. If a population crash were to happen where humanity is again on the brink of extinction I would lift my hungry clause and revert to the multiply recommendation.
So should be turn the planet into a feedlot, obviously not as it would fail but that is unlikely to happen, unchecked the number of people will be culled by war, famine or pestilence or if technology advances enough then by technocrats.
With abundant energy I think 5 billion may be a cosy number, with end of fossil and nothing to replace it except current renewable tech I think 2 billion would be sustainable. Remember that populations grow with cheap food, guano and then fossil feedstock fertilisers were responsible for feeding the planet. I hear uncritical people say there is enough food for 20 - 50 Billion if we shared it fairly yet they seem ignorant of the fact that nitrogen (and other) fertilisers are limited by feedstock and energy and supply could be reduced.
Thanks for elaborating on your thoughts on the title.
Just so you know, in the post above I clearly stated "the title of this post was not about the growth of the human population, it is about the perpetual growth of industrial civilization (or as the billionaires and their puppets in government like to call it “sustainable development”).
Besides, in reality, most people who have been paying attention to fertility rates over the last decade acknowledge that our population on Earth is actually decreasing, not increasing.
RE: "I am in the YES and should be fewer group. My test is that there are too many of just one person is hungry."
I will leave your advocation for population reduction aside for now to address the statement about hunger.
Built into your statement and supposition ("test") is the assumption that humans are cultivating food efficiently and distributing it fairy and rationally. None of those things are the case.
For example, industrial GMO agriculture has not only resulted in decreased crop yields and decreased nutrition, unlike its corporate PR advertised it has increased hunger and starvation globally. For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuTHBjl8XZA
As noted in my article above, current conventional agriculture methods are a sad primitive devolution from how efficiently indigenous peoples using regenerative agroforestry were cultivating food centuries ago.
In addition to how miserably our industrial civilization is failing at using our knowledge and technology to grow trustworthy food efficiently, almost half of the low quality (and often glyphosate laced) "food" that our industrial civilization's mainstream method produces is wasted. For more info: https://web.archive.org/web/20160314133721/http://www.worldfooddayusa.org/food_waste_the_facts
We do not have a lack of food or a lack of land for growing food, we have an abundance of greed, stupidity and the unfair distribution of resources.
RE: "nitrogen (and other) fertilisers are limited"
The rhizobia on the roots of my bean plants disagree with you.
Now lets get back to your stating you think the world should have less humans.
If it were up to you, how would you accomplish that state goal?
Industrial civilization is a malignant growth pattern and I aim to empower individuals all over the world to act as 'agents of apoptosis' through embracing the path of satyagraha.
I tried to post the BBC YouTube video about the destruction of the rainforests on my Facebook page and they wouldn't allow it. They said it was "against community standards"!! We are truly fucked when the only way info like this can be shared is through places like Substack. I only hope more people will migrate to this platform to learn and be enlightened.
Person by person. I DO use FB to try and "gently" nudge my friends to go to Substack. I have a substack page and a few have gone over there. So it's one person at a time for each of us. BTW, the link to my Substack is at the top of the post here if you're interested. (-:
Also, I have adventure bikes I like to travel on in the summertime. But I'm now building a garden, I think there's going to be a conflict there, maybe I'll get a dog now and put that aside. :(
If you build raised beds with deep fertile soil (especially with something like an inverted hügelkultur underneath) and plant drought tolerant and/or perennial deep rooted crops (and mulch heavily) you can do summer road trips and your garden will get along fine without you for a few weeks to a month.
I grow things like Amaranth, Goji berries, Hopi Corn, Hopi Sunflowers and berry/fruit trees that are able to survive on rain water alone so we can do camping trips if our work schedule allows.
I've said to friends many times that FB is just a tool. Like a firearm. It's how you use it. Responsibly or carelessly. I also highly recommend getting a dog. I've had them in my life for over 40 years and am so grateful. But only if you're willing to put in the time to really care for them, as I suspect you would.
Are the elites correct? Keep the population of Earth at no more than 500,000,000. Let the Earth regenerate. All people live in 15 minute cities in tiny, tiny boxes (apartments).
I clearly expressed what I think of the "elite" and their eugenicist views and agendas in the post.
Regenerative agriculture, Regenerative Gardens and Food Forests require less landmass than current farming methods and they produce more food of a higher quality. Food forests are stacked vertically, with 7 or more layers of productive crops in each square foot that is cultivated in that way. Not only plants but edible and medicinal fungi are also cultivated in an integrated system which requires no fertilizer and no irrigation. The yields produced by that system are many magnitudes greater than the yields of conventional agriculture methods (measured in both quantity, and nutritional density/diversity). Therefore, if instead of cramming people into unnatural concrete jungles we empowered them to create regenerative gardens, fund regenerative farms and food forests we would be able to support the current population of humans (and more if need be, though as I said in my essay the population of humans is actually decreasing). Given what we now know thanks to the knowledge of the ancient forest gardeners in combination with modern soil science we are capable of doing all that while simultaneously helping to heal ecosystems and provide habitat for wildlife.
15 minute cities are a greenwashing scam and trojan horse for tyranny, the Earth does not need governments imposing laws to force us to use less CO-2 emitting vehicles, it needs more trees, more loving hands tending the living Earth and more people choosing to do their small part of be an agent of regeneration.
No we do not need to "let the Earth regenerate" by stepping away and closing ourselves off in bubbles; that view of humans as an imposition on the land is a lie and a scam. We are capable of using our hands and our gifts to create increased biodiversity, abundance and beauty through increasing our impact on the Earth (not decreasing it as the elite's propaganda suggests). It requires us getting off our asses and learning about plants, fungi, soil and ecosystems but that is a really fun and rewarding process so it is not a very big ask considering what is at stake.
Yes! She remembers when we were young and naturally sought her loving embrace and she remembers when our ancestors looked upon her with reverence and cherished her many gifts. She wants us to remember our own gifts and combine them with hers so we can create beauty and abundance together again. <3
P.S. After I left my comment, Gavin, I opened this email from one of my favorite herbalists, Rosemary Gladstar. Thought this would be a good place to share it! 🌎💚
"Oh my beloved Earth,
You are the ground beneath my feet, the wind in my hair, the water running through my body. The green beings that you nurture and grow provide food for my body and soul.
Your forests, with their lush canopies, your oceans, teeming with unseen life, perform a ritual of such beauty and significance, it humbles my heart. They transform the golden rays of our celestial star into the very air we breathe, an act of love so profound, so essential, it binds me to you, irrevocably.
To you, my Earth, I offer my deepest gratitude and love. For your resilience, your beauty, and the boundless gifts you bestow upon us, I am eternally thankful and vow to do my best to protect and cherish you forever.
As I lay on your rich green verdancy gazing up at the vast blue sky, I ask to be a reflection of you...so that when people look at me, they see your fields and wildflowers and the depth of sky in my eyes.
May I learn to mirror your generosity, to protect and cherish you always.
With all my love,
A child of your endless bounty" -- Rosemary Gladstar
Thank you for that beautiful gift my friend. Words imbued with the warmth of truth rooted in our innate affection for our Great Mother are a much needed medicine in these times. Whispers of wisdom that flowed with a strong current through our hearts and minds when we first arrived on this world full of awe, wonder and innate love for all beings, often dammed up by the clutter of fallacies pushed upon us by a dominant industrial culture that has lost its way. Words like those help tug at the weak points in that dam holding back the love that swells within the hearts of all humans, inviting it to flow forth freely.
May these words and the truth behind them speak to millions of receptive humans far and wide, whispering to them on the tall grass and through the pine needles, speaking in soft lullabies from the babbling brooks and enlivening their spirit with the reassurance of the morning bird song.
Thank you, as always, Gavin, for sharing your Earth-loving insights. When I get overwhelmed by the enormity of environmental problems on our planet, I tend to come back to myself and my immediate surroundings, doing what I can in the moment. When I lived in an apartment in NYC for many years, my fire escape was always teeming with plants. Morning Glories climbed the rail up to the other floors and I grew all sorts of plants. My houseplants would go outside to get watered and get some "fresh" air. I used to wonder why everyone didn't do this - imagine how beautiful the city would be (like in Europe) where fire escapes and balconies are teeming with plant life. Well, I found out why - it was against the law and there was a $500.00 fine (oops!) I didn't care - I knew someone who was dating the fire chief down the block. :) Once, there was a fire in the restaurant down below and the firemen managed to get up the stairs just fine.
Now, I live on the edge of a forest in a state with the second largest tree coverage. I feel so grateful to have landed here and try my best to be a good steward to the plants and animals. I still can't believe how long I lived in that concrete jungle. Thanks for being the caring human that you are, Gavin. 💚
When I read your comment I thought of a section from a book I am currently reading called "Trees Of Power: Ten Essential Arboreal Allies" by Akiva Silver. I added some pertinent pages into an updated version of the post above so if you scroll down about 4/5ths of the way down you will find a section titled "Sphere Of Influence" that speaks to the wisdom which you expressed in your comment above.
Your fire escape garden sounds lovely. I am sure the pollinators living in that nectar desert were grateful for the oasis you created for them :)
Here in Ontario we have silly laws that attempt to fine people for feeding birds on their own property and some municipalities will fine you if you do not have a clean cut monoculture of grass in the front yard *shakes head in exasperation* what a strange world we live in.
I am grateful there are people like you in it planting the seeds of love and wonder through tending to little gardens and talking to trees.
Thank you for being you, and thanks for the lovely comment.
Thanks, Gary! Just took a peek. Amazing. That Fox! I've seen so many wild animals here but I've yet to see a Fox. So beautiful. At first, I thought you threw her a dead mouse...😬 then realized it was chicken.
I'm working on befriending the Crows. I love them so much. They like to visit my compost pile. I had a Coyote pup stopping by last summer. She was eating the seeds I put out for the Wild Turkeys. In the fall, I got a delivery of wild Alaskan salmon and they forgot to put dry ice in the box so I threw it in the compost pile and the next morning I saw Coyote Pup back there. She ate all 12 fillets... 😬 Have a beautiful day!
A brilliant piece, chock full of thought-provoking ideas. Lots of thoughts pouring through my mind, going in various directions, but I must get up and get ready to go to work.
Thanks for takin the time to read what I shared and share your thoughts.
If any of the seeds this post planted in your heart and mind bear the fruit of new ideas or courses of action in the physical world I would enjoy hearing about them.
May your work days be full of opportunities that remind you that the Creator's wisdom, truth and genius is imbued into every leaf, every water droplet, every sunray and every random act of kindness chosen by one of his children.
I appreciated this well written article , especially the video of Derrek Jensen on the democracy technologies and the authoritarian ones…your thoughts on what is a Citizen…then I zoned out…as they was so much, all of value undoubtedly . Could you send them in separate posts , so your readers could reflect and not be overwhelmed ?
Also, considering your interest in "democracy technologies" I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this essay I wrote about how involuntary governance structures (such as democracy) are antithetical to the Permaculture Design Ethics:
Hi Susan, thanks for dropping by and thank you for the candid comment.
I am glad you resonated with the first section of the post.
When I write, I allow myself to draw from the inspiration that is alive in my heart until I no longer feel moved to continue writing.
One of the most concerning trends I have been observing to accelerate in modern industrial society over the past decade is the increasingly diminished attention spans of those who spend many hours a day plugged into the endless scrolling feeds of social media. While I certainly like the idea of reaching a wider audience and attempting to 'throw a rope ladder down' into the hyper-digitally stimulated, superficial objectification/materialism addicted and sensationalized click-bate world of spaces like Tiktok, or Twitter or similar online places (to provide empowering information to the youth and others who spent many hours there and hopefully help them reconnect with nature) I do not have the time to attempt to formulate "twitter" or "tiktok" compatible versions of my writing to share in that way as I am attempting to write my 2nd book.
When substack started their "notes" I was leery that this would mark the downhill slide of attention spans on Substack. As people get quick fixes of little hard hitting blurps, quotes and flashy images, rather than nourishing essays, referenced articles and indepth self-expression we become more accustomed to fast food for the mind.
It seems to be making substack more like facebook, Instagram or twitter will likely mean we see an increase in all that comes with all those types of platforms. I see a lot more superficial discussions (where people do not even read the entire article or even note, and then comment based on a title or image, as someone apparently did just now on this post asking "Are the elites correct?" which seems to indicate they did not even read the article). I also see a lot more behavior that seems to express the same type of mental issues that arise from the “i need more likes syndrome” that platforms such as facebook, twitter and instagram were designed to elicit.
Thus, I am concerned that “notes” seems to be attracting more and more people that prefer twitter type discussions and post lengths, serving to feed into the proclivity of most people to embrace a severely impaired attention span due to widespread addictions to social media frameworks that have limited character counts.
This, for the most part, keeps posts superficial and not able to comprehensively inform or educate the reader, leading to endless re-posting of meaningless screenshots of other people’s posts… echoing around.
I see this trend to make everything ‘facebook-esk’ and ‘twitified’ as pathway that will likely lead to mental atrophy for many and an entire generation of children that find it hard to sit down and read a book because it contains more than 280 characters.
Thus, while I do see value in trying to reach a wider audience that prefers shorter posts, I am also leery of using my time to cater to their preferences rather than write and self-publish books that can help and empower those who are already willing and able to read what I write and are interested in putting the practical material I offer to use in their lives.
Hi Gavin, I appreciate your response and agree with all you are saying. I recognise that most content on Substack is fluffy and comforting . I therefore seek out those who are writing about what matters and take the world seriously. It’s interesting how my suggestion has been interpreted as requesting TikTok or X type content. That was not what I meant…I really enjoy long form essay. What I find in my reading is that if I read a long piece about a subject , that then goes into another subject in a newsletter I like to reflect on what I have gained..not go straight into yet next subject . This is my process and thats for me to manage, so thats ok . The other point is it seems my comment has been to seen to suggest you go for more “likes”, again not my intention. I believe you are helping and supporting people with what you write and it is about making that available to more people. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into your work.
When i read your comment, a few things came to mind. Firstly, if you are a subscriber to Gavin's newsletters i would think you would expect an indepth newsletter and if you read it on substack, it tells you the length before you start. So either way, no surprise. Secondly, I'm curious... would you ask an author of a book to send you the book chapter by chapter so that you could reflect and not be overwhelmed? The idea seems so unreasonable, doesn't it? Yet that is what you asking this author to do. I personally do not agree that a writer should kowtow to the reader by giving them the length of the article/ book they want but rather that they should write what is in them and allow the reader to decide if they want to read the material and whether they want to read it in one sitting or break it down and read it in sections. I, myself am not overwhelmed with the length of this piece. I have read several other articles written by Gavin that are much longer and still have not felt overwhelmed. In fact, i appreciate that he explains in depth and gives great attention to detail. Unlike, the TikTok people, i am not interested in a fluff piece but want to read something that is thought provoking and heartfelt. I would encourage Gavin to continue writing such informative and knowlegeable pieces that make the mind wotk and the heart open.
Thank you for taking the time to respond, you raise some interesting points. My intention was to be helpful , as the suggestion might make this valuable content more accessible to more people. If I am reading a book I can mark where I left off and easily return. That is not the case in a long article. My reality is I am unlikely to return if I have left something. It was not my intention to impose or be unreasonable to the author , it is still their choice and I respect that.
I can appreciate that you are not reading in 3D but I know there are ways to make it easy online to jump back into an article or book you are reading. Indeed, some of my friends often do not have time to read a whole article or online book because they have children, so they will highlight where they left off or even something uber simple as copying and pasting the sentence where they left off and leaving themselves a note of that sentence. I am sure if you google it, you can find a way that works for you.
Some prophecies are the result of perceptually advanced human beings developing their conscious awareness to be capable of perceiving that which exists beyond the veil of this experience of space, time and matter (to see from the perspective of the spirit, which exists in a multi-dimensional realm). Those visions sometimes become written down as prophecies may or may not describe events that are likely to happen given the current trends and currents of consciousness being assessed but in truth, no human being (divinely ordained, blessed or otherwise) can know the exact date that a divinely initiated event (or chain of events) will happen, only the Creator possesses that knowledge.
The problem I see with embracing prophecies that speak of a time when all our problems will be solved for us in an instant is that such beliefs often feed into behavior patterns of complacency (since they tell a story of how good things will come if we just sit on the sidelines, wait and see).
I sought (and continue to seek) to cultivate my own relationship and two way means of communication between myself and the Creator of all things through directly engaging with the living embodiment of his love, genius and wisdom.
What I have discovered is that when one learns to understand what nature is communicating to us one is invited to read a ‘scripture’ that is far older than all man made religious texts. In this ancient gospel as old as the mountains and as ancient as the seas wisdom is inscribed which teaches us to live in peace, abundance, symbiosis and harmony with our fellow beings.
Through opening our eyes to the symbiosis present in all levels of nature (a living library) we are invited to become one with a resilient and learned community of life. When we pay attention to these interwoven facets of nature which have coexisted in perfect balance on earth for countless millennia we are then able to emulate and embody those living systems and apply their tested and proven wisdom to our relationships in our lives and societies on earth. Through learning from those ancient living libraries of knowledge (that were created through eons of adaptation and change) we can let go of our unsustainable path and choose a new direction as a species. With the ancient symbiotic relationships in nature as our teachers we can begin to release the arrogant and backwards path we have been on and embrace a new path that can lead humanity into a new paradigm and a new civilization on earth which is reverent, equitable, regenerative and prosperous.
I discovered this ancient scripture when I learned to read the soil, watch the sky, and help the things that live in between to grow and thrive. For me, the seasons are sacred, they are chapters in a story with much wisdom to share. In spring time I am reminded how even after the darkest coldest nights the light will shine again, and new life with unfold if we nourish it. In the summer I am in awe of the infinite diversity and resilience of all the life forms in creation, I walk in cathedrals with mossy floors, proud tall walls of trees with arms outstretched that paint the blue stained glass roof speckled in green. In the autumn I learn about acceptance, releasing what no longer serves me, and giving my time and energy so that future generations can enjoy the same blessings I have. In the winter I am learn about trust, faith, courage and seeing the beautiful in moments that most would consider less than. The seasons speak to us of ancient agreements between the elemental kingdoms and lessons learned through eons.
Each time you cradle a handful of rich soil in your hands you are holding our most precious inheritance. In your hands is the story of a thousand bountiful seasons and the hope of a thousand that have yet to be.
When you work with the earth and nourish things to grow and achieve their highest potential you are showing reverence for this sacred gift we have been given, a sanctuary, a home that provides all we need to live in peace, happiness and prosperity.
"As a soul grows and unfolds it's leaves outstretched in search of nourishment the God is always near, showering smiles and offering food for the soul (in the form of stimulus that offers the souls opportunities to rise to the occasion and achieve their highest potential)."
Religious institutions on the other hand often attempt to condition people into seeing the Creator as a sort of angry temper tantruming anthropomorphized toddler God that seeks eternal retribution if you do not behave or swear fealty to its rule (and chooses sides in wars, depending on who does the right rituals and calls him the right name).
God is not a control freak with human-esk issues, but rather a non-human non-physical yet distinct, whole and complete being which initiates the existence of our souls as an intentional act of love and joy.
The Creator allows us to exercise our own free will, as we learn, grow and evolve as conscious beings with an eternal spirit (being present and responsive in various ways to those who seek guidance and support, but not intrusive nor overriding of our free will, despite the obviously often horrible consequences of our choices as humans).
Thus, I do not advocate adopting infantilizing worldviews that tell us things like “you just have to wait for this savior or that judgment day and then you`ll get whooshed off to a better place, so just hang tight and sit on your hands” and rather I seek to invite people to become the ones they have been waiting for.
God does not want us to be passive worshippers waiting for his will to be done on the sidelines. The Creator's call is heard by those with the courage to learn from the ancient wisdom he inscribed into the forests, the soil, the mountains, rivers and the oceans to align with the regenerative capacity of the living Earth so that we can unlock our true potential as human beings.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and perspective.
Re: "No, the Creator's call is heard (or read) in the Holy Scriptures, not in nature."
Well I disagree with you there, as the bible has gone through many middle men and has been twisted, altered and censored over the years (in instances such as the Council of Nicaea when an unbaptized Roman guy decided he would alter the text for his own selfish reasons and several times since then) where as nature is Creation, no middle men involved. Nature is a distillation of Creator's truth, genius and architecture and it can be directly perceived and emulated by those who are willing to develop their pattern recognition aptitude.
I am sure you have nothing but benevolent intent but you may want to avoid saying things like "For God is literally going to give us the planet, forever. Specifically He's giving it to me.. ..But I tell you something, when I am given the earth and rule it, people will behave very differently from today" in the future as it comes off as a bit megalomaniacal and I do not think it will attract many people to join your flock/religion.
Personally, I do not think that threatening people or attempting to scare them into behaving with respect, honor or kindness is very effective (humans have been trying that in religions and governments for ages with very poor results) and rather I encourage people to become capable of using their heart as a compass so they can choose actions that are in service of life out of love, rather than fear, but I understand that each must walk their own path.
I wish you all the best with the "mighty miracles" on social media and in your endeavors to reign over Earth as the benevolent ruler you prophesize that you will become.
Gary Morgan, You have said that, "The Holy Scriptures are not man made, they are given to us through men, by God.“ And you have said that you have been given the exact date of wrath. I am curious how it is that you know the exact date when Jesus, in the bible said, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." ?
Answering a question with a question is avoiding the question. As for Noah, he was not told the date until after the ark was built. The building of the ark was somewhere between 50 and 75 years to build. And the reason he was told that it would happen in a week was to give Noah an opportunity to load the ark and seal it shut. However, it is not like the situation of which you speak because in this situation of which you have said that you have been given the exact date, Jesus has already said "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." So again i ask, how is it you know the exact date?
This reminds me of a debate I often get into with one or two of my 'truther' friends who, locked in a dualistic struggle with what they perceive as a neo-Malthusian world elite, tend to fall into the opposite trap - there's plenty to go around, peak oil is a psy-op, etc etc. I say to them, you'd damn well better hope peak-oil *isn't* a psy-op, because if there really was enough to go around, the elites might actually have a shot at creating their dystopian hellscape.
Assuming the elites don't have access to power by means not available to the rest of us.
I can relate and that was well said.
Thanks for the comment Luke.
I usually don’t take time to watch the videos in articles I read - there just isn’t enough time to take in everything that is coming at me - but having grown up in Bolivia, I couldn’t resist watching the video link in this article, showing the country of Bolivia. To me, the shape of Bolivia is the most beautiful shape of any country on earth. Of course, I was hoping there was more about Bolivia in the video, but at least there was a little bit. :) I spent a summer (winter down there) with a tribe in that northern area as a child in 1977.
This morning, I just ran across a related video that I thought might be of interest. I have only watched this one, but I plan to go back to the previous episodes to get the background of what he is talking about.
I have quite a bit of “Native American” in me from both sides of my family, but of course I also have European ancestry (Scottish) as well as French Canadian. As such, I just want to know the truth. I don’t “take sides.” For me, it’s just about finding/knowing the truth. History has been violent and bloody, sad to say.
Here’s the video: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=S3kiEbQJ8xw
Greetings lilac dragonfly
Thanks for sharing more about your experiences in Bolivia and your genetic lineage.
He seems to be sharing some interesting ideas regarding various stages of ethnogenesis between various people's who lived on Turtle Island.
I personally do not place as much emphasis on the importance of genetic lineage in the context of warfare or territory claimed as I do studying the aspects of cultures that defined them as either living with a reciprocal relationship with the land and ecosystems they depended on to survive or defining them as takers, consumers and extractors.
Written accounts, stories passed down through generations and even mounds or stone structures tell us relatively little about what defined a culture and what we can learn from them when compared to studying the impact those cultures had on the living soil. The soil is a living record of thousands of seasons of growth, decomposition, death, new life and through examining the soil one can discern what type of people lived in that place.
I will re-share part of what I shared in another comment to Mishelle recently in the hopes it can help you to find out and know the truth.
The soils in the dominant European epicenters of imperialistic "civilizations" tell us the story of ecologically illiterate and/or greedy short sighted ways of living and interacting with the ecosystems they depended on to survive. That Roman pattern of extractive monoculture food cultivation was brought with the Colonial Christians everywhere they went in the world, leaving a trail of deforestation, loss in soil mass, depth and fertility and ecological devastation in its wake.
For some historical and scientific background on this issue, I suggest reading: "Dirt: The Erosion of Civilizations" by David Montgomery
https://www.pdfdrive.com/dirt-the-erosion-of-civilizations-e185700369.html
https://www.ucpress.edu/book/9780520272903/dirt
The anthropogenic Terra Preta of the Amazon and the deep dark soils of the Great Plains of Turtle Island (aka "north america") however tell a different story about how humans interacted with the ecosystems they depended on to survive.
As Charles C. Mann wrote, in a piece that drastically changed the perception about native populations in the New World before contact, contrary to the popular isolated hunter-gatherer notions of natives, the New World was a highly advanced civilization that manipulated their environment on a large scale. He believed that humans were a keystone species—that is an animal that plays a crucial role in the functioning of an eco-system.
Charles C. Mann writes about terra preta, “Faced with an ecological problem, the Indians fixed it. The indians were in the process of terraforming the Amazon when Columbus showed up and ruined everything.”
For more info:
- https://web.archive.org/web/20210622043615/https://www.nature.com/articles/s41477-018-0205-y?WT.feed_name=subjects_evolution
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2311424/
-https://web.archive.org/web/20210615170106/https://returntonow.net/2018/08/01/the-amazon-is-a-man-made-food-forest-researchers-discover/
- https://underwoodgardens.com/terra-preta-magic-soil-of-the-lost-amazon/
- https://underwoodgardens.com/terra-preta-magic-soil-of-the-lost-amazon-part-ii/
- https://www.pnas.org/doi/full/10.1073/pnas.1805259115
As I said to someone recently who was speculating about whether or not an anarchist revolution took place at some point in Mayan history (resulting in a sort of ethnogenesis) I do not know if the Mayans were anarchists or not, but here is some information on something I do know about their culture which I would suggest is worth consciously integrating into our modern day process of Ethnogenesis.
https://gavinmounsey.substack.com/p/sopa-de-lima-yucatan-style-lime-tortilla?
Some people get excited about Mayan pyramids saying that those structures show how "advanced" that culture was. I would contend that a man made food forest that persists for millennia feeding and providing a home for myriad beings, fostering life and beauty to unfold into ever higher levels of complexity and symbiosis is a far more impressive accomplishment than piling up a bunch of stones (as impressive as the stone structure may be). The same can be said for big mounds or stone monuments. Ecological literacy and botanical awareness is far more complex and practically applicable in our day to day lives than monument building skills.
The post above shares a recipe from my book and some information about the Mayan Milpa crop rotation system, their forest gardens and other soil regeneration techniques developed by indigenous peoples.
I think we have a lot to learn from long term food cultivation systems that align with knowledge of the succession of forest ecosystems and work with fire as a regenerative force of nature.
The Mayan Milpa crop rotation system could be adapted to help accelerate the succession of presently degenerated landscapes and bring them into full level food forest production here in Canada where we have millions of acres of monoculture farmed land that is barely producing now due to the stupidity and arrogance of modern agriculture methods.
Some people get really excited about religions or praying to the right name for God, thinking that is of paramount importance and will make or break our civilization. I contend that how a culture interacts with the ecosystems that they depend on to survive and how they either give back to and build up the soil or deplete and erode it, is a the more fundamental variable in determining the longevity of a culture and civilization.
Thus, I am more interested in engaging in a type of ethnogenesis which is defined by practically applicable techniques for cultivating food and medicine which also enhance biodiversity, clean water, create microclimates, stabilize rain patterns and enhance the beauty and productivity of the land (for both humans and non-humans to harvest from) and less interested in focusing on genetics, religion or outward appearances.
Thanks for the comment and the link. I would be interested to hear more on what you get out of the man's video presentations once you have a chance to watch the earlier episodes.
Interesting title. The question is rhetorical as the Earth is decidedly finite.
There are basically 5 sorts of people, those who believe the answer is NO and may subscribe to the religious "be fruitful and multiply" ideals that make sense after global or regional depopulation calamities. Then there are the group who says I don't know and would often be fart of the easily led flock. The last three groups believe the answer is YES and either believe the number should be more or less than what we have now. There are probably a small group of people that say the number we have now is perfect, it requires a certain kind of moral blindness to accept the suffering due to resource shortage that some of the planet labours under is fine in perpetuity.
I am in the YES and should be fewer group. My test is that there are too many of just one person is hungry. If a population crash were to happen where humanity is again on the brink of extinction I would lift my hungry clause and revert to the multiply recommendation.
So should be turn the planet into a feedlot, obviously not as it would fail but that is unlikely to happen, unchecked the number of people will be culled by war, famine or pestilence or if technology advances enough then by technocrats.
With abundant energy I think 5 billion may be a cosy number, with end of fossil and nothing to replace it except current renewable tech I think 2 billion would be sustainable. Remember that populations grow with cheap food, guano and then fossil feedstock fertilisers were responsible for feeding the planet. I hear uncritical people say there is enough food for 20 - 50 Billion if we shared it fairly yet they seem ignorant of the fact that nitrogen (and other) fertilisers are limited by feedstock and energy and supply could be reduced.
For additional information on the source of world hunger:
World Hunger: A Crisis by Design : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wUOmx7e8iEA
Industrial agriculture is a food system that creates hunger by design.
Thanks for elaborating on your thoughts on the title.
Just so you know, in the post above I clearly stated "the title of this post was not about the growth of the human population, it is about the perpetual growth of industrial civilization (or as the billionaires and their puppets in government like to call it “sustainable development”).
Besides, in reality, most people who have been paying attention to fertility rates over the last decade acknowledge that our population on Earth is actually decreasing, not increasing.
(Watch "We Are No Longer Replacing Ourselves": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OONLMSbG8Y&t=15s and/or read a book called “The Countdown” for more info)
RE: "I am in the YES and should be fewer group. My test is that there are too many of just one person is hungry."
I will leave your advocation for population reduction aside for now to address the statement about hunger.
Built into your statement and supposition ("test") is the assumption that humans are cultivating food efficiently and distributing it fairy and rationally. None of those things are the case.
For example, industrial GMO agriculture has not only resulted in decreased crop yields and decreased nutrition, unlike its corporate PR advertised it has increased hunger and starvation globally. For more info: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DuTHBjl8XZA
As noted in my article above, current conventional agriculture methods are a sad primitive devolution from how efficiently indigenous peoples using regenerative agroforestry were cultivating food centuries ago.
In addition to how miserably our industrial civilization is failing at using our knowledge and technology to grow trustworthy food efficiently, almost half of the low quality (and often glyphosate laced) "food" that our industrial civilization's mainstream method produces is wasted. For more info: https://web.archive.org/web/20160314133721/http://www.worldfooddayusa.org/food_waste_the_facts
We do not have a lack of food or a lack of land for growing food, we have an abundance of greed, stupidity and the unfair distribution of resources.
RE: "nitrogen (and other) fertilisers are limited"
The rhizobia on the roots of my bean plants disagree with you.
Now lets get back to your stating you think the world should have less humans.
If it were up to you, how would you accomplish that state goal?
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
First you tell me which group you fall into so I know I am not debating a devils advocate who has no view on the matter.
None of the above.
Obsessing over ideal human population numbers is solving for the wrong variable.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aVnJ7SBjL_4
Industrial civilization is a malignant growth pattern and I aim to empower individuals all over the world to act as 'agents of apoptosis' through embracing the path of satyagraha.
I tried to post the BBC YouTube video about the destruction of the rainforests on my Facebook page and they wouldn't allow it. They said it was "against community standards"!! We are truly fucked when the only way info like this can be shared is through places like Substack. I only hope more people will migrate to this platform to learn and be enlightened.
A laudable positive outlook, what would it take to enlighten someone who is still on Fakebook at this point and hasn't already clued in?
Person by person. I DO use FB to try and "gently" nudge my friends to go to Substack. I have a substack page and a few have gone over there. So it's one person at a time for each of us. BTW, the link to my Substack is at the top of the post here if you're interested. (-:
Also, I have adventure bikes I like to travel on in the summertime. But I'm now building a garden, I think there's going to be a conflict there, maybe I'll get a dog now and put that aside. :(
If you build raised beds with deep fertile soil (especially with something like an inverted hügelkultur underneath) and plant drought tolerant and/or perennial deep rooted crops (and mulch heavily) you can do summer road trips and your garden will get along fine without you for a few weeks to a month.
I grow things like Amaranth, Goji berries, Hopi Corn, Hopi Sunflowers and berry/fruit trees that are able to survive on rain water alone so we can do camping trips if our work schedule allows.
A month would be awesome. See other comment, I explained what I have done so far.
You can be on Fakebook AND be clued it. I did think of saying that. That's your group, not the one I was referring to.
I've said to friends many times that FB is just a tool. Like a firearm. It's how you use it. Responsibly or carelessly. I also highly recommend getting a dog. I've had them in my life for over 40 years and am so grateful. But only if you're willing to put in the time to really care for them, as I suspect you would.
Cant have a dog and go tearing off on motorcycles for weeks on end. Can't go tearing off on motorcycles for weeks on end if you have a garden.
Can't really take a Sheppard on a motorcycle. I think I want a lovely Sheppard puppy with big paws.
Wow, I guess I shouldn't be surprised but that is still disturbing to think that they would not allow you to share that.
How about this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g6E7cZWcwVM
Will it let you share that?
Thanks for the comment.
It posted. Thank you.
Are the elites correct? Keep the population of Earth at no more than 500,000,000. Let the Earth regenerate. All people live in 15 minute cities in tiny, tiny boxes (apartments).
Did you read the whole post?
I clearly expressed what I think of the "elite" and their eugenicist views and agendas in the post.
Regenerative agriculture, Regenerative Gardens and Food Forests require less landmass than current farming methods and they produce more food of a higher quality. Food forests are stacked vertically, with 7 or more layers of productive crops in each square foot that is cultivated in that way. Not only plants but edible and medicinal fungi are also cultivated in an integrated system which requires no fertilizer and no irrigation. The yields produced by that system are many magnitudes greater than the yields of conventional agriculture methods (measured in both quantity, and nutritional density/diversity). Therefore, if instead of cramming people into unnatural concrete jungles we empowered them to create regenerative gardens, fund regenerative farms and food forests we would be able to support the current population of humans (and more if need be, though as I said in my essay the population of humans is actually decreasing). Given what we now know thanks to the knowledge of the ancient forest gardeners in combination with modern soil science we are capable of doing all that while simultaneously helping to heal ecosystems and provide habitat for wildlife.
15 minute cities are a greenwashing scam and trojan horse for tyranny, the Earth does not need governments imposing laws to force us to use less CO-2 emitting vehicles, it needs more trees, more loving hands tending the living Earth and more people choosing to do their small part of be an agent of regeneration.
No we do not need to "let the Earth regenerate" by stepping away and closing ourselves off in bubbles; that view of humans as an imposition on the land is a lie and a scam. We are capable of using our hands and our gifts to create increased biodiversity, abundance and beauty through increasing our impact on the Earth (not decreasing it as the elite's propaganda suggests). It requires us getting off our asses and learning about plants, fungi, soil and ecosystems but that is a really fun and rewarding process so it is not a very big ask considering what is at stake.
Nature wants us back...
(I always tear up when I read this)
"Pretend You are a River" by Derrick Jensen
https://derrickjensen.org/endgame/pretend-you-are-a-river/
Wow that piece by Derrick is very beautiful and moving. Thanks for sharing it with me.
It made me think of a poem by Lyla June called "And God Is The Water":
https://lylajune.bandcamp.com/track/and-god-is-the-water
Yes! She remembers when we were young and naturally sought her loving embrace and she remembers when our ancestors looked upon her with reverence and cherished her many gifts. She wants us to remember our own gifts and combine them with hers so we can create beauty and abundance together again. <3
Thanks for the link, i`ll read when I have time.
P.S. After I left my comment, Gavin, I opened this email from one of my favorite herbalists, Rosemary Gladstar. Thought this would be a good place to share it! 🌎💚
"Oh my beloved Earth,
You are the ground beneath my feet, the wind in my hair, the water running through my body. The green beings that you nurture and grow provide food for my body and soul.
Your forests, with their lush canopies, your oceans, teeming with unseen life, perform a ritual of such beauty and significance, it humbles my heart. They transform the golden rays of our celestial star into the very air we breathe, an act of love so profound, so essential, it binds me to you, irrevocably.
To you, my Earth, I offer my deepest gratitude and love. For your resilience, your beauty, and the boundless gifts you bestow upon us, I am eternally thankful and vow to do my best to protect and cherish you forever.
As I lay on your rich green verdancy gazing up at the vast blue sky, I ask to be a reflection of you...so that when people look at me, they see your fields and wildflowers and the depth of sky in my eyes.
May I learn to mirror your generosity, to protect and cherish you always.
With all my love,
A child of your endless bounty" -- Rosemary Gladstar
Thank you for that beautiful gift my friend. Words imbued with the warmth of truth rooted in our innate affection for our Great Mother are a much needed medicine in these times. Whispers of wisdom that flowed with a strong current through our hearts and minds when we first arrived on this world full of awe, wonder and innate love for all beings, often dammed up by the clutter of fallacies pushed upon us by a dominant industrial culture that has lost its way. Words like those help tug at the weak points in that dam holding back the love that swells within the hearts of all humans, inviting it to flow forth freely.
May these words and the truth behind them speak to millions of receptive humans far and wide, whispering to them on the tall grass and through the pine needles, speaking in soft lullabies from the babbling brooks and enlivening their spirit with the reassurance of the morning bird song.
Yes, please!! 💚
Thank you, as always, Gavin, for sharing your Earth-loving insights. When I get overwhelmed by the enormity of environmental problems on our planet, I tend to come back to myself and my immediate surroundings, doing what I can in the moment. When I lived in an apartment in NYC for many years, my fire escape was always teeming with plants. Morning Glories climbed the rail up to the other floors and I grew all sorts of plants. My houseplants would go outside to get watered and get some "fresh" air. I used to wonder why everyone didn't do this - imagine how beautiful the city would be (like in Europe) where fire escapes and balconies are teeming with plant life. Well, I found out why - it was against the law and there was a $500.00 fine (oops!) I didn't care - I knew someone who was dating the fire chief down the block. :) Once, there was a fire in the restaurant down below and the firemen managed to get up the stairs just fine.
Now, I live on the edge of a forest in a state with the second largest tree coverage. I feel so grateful to have landed here and try my best to be a good steward to the plants and animals. I still can't believe how long I lived in that concrete jungle. Thanks for being the caring human that you are, Gavin. 💚
Greetings soul sister! :)
When I read your comment I thought of a section from a book I am currently reading called "Trees Of Power: Ten Essential Arboreal Allies" by Akiva Silver. I added some pertinent pages into an updated version of the post above so if you scroll down about 4/5ths of the way down you will find a section titled "Sphere Of Influence" that speaks to the wisdom which you expressed in your comment above.
Your fire escape garden sounds lovely. I am sure the pollinators living in that nectar desert were grateful for the oasis you created for them :)
Here in Ontario we have silly laws that attempt to fine people for feeding birds on their own property and some municipalities will fine you if you do not have a clean cut monoculture of grass in the front yard *shakes head in exasperation* what a strange world we live in.
I am grateful there are people like you in it planting the seeds of love and wonder through tending to little gardens and talking to trees.
Thank you for being you, and thanks for the lovely comment.
Another book to buy with the word "Trees" in it!!! :) 🌲🌲🌲 XO
Barbara, I just love reading your comments. You feel so heartful. Thank you for being you! ❤
AWWW! Thank you, dear Johrey! 💚💚
Thanks, Gary! Just took a peek. Amazing. That Fox! I've seen so many wild animals here but I've yet to see a Fox. So beautiful. At first, I thought you threw her a dead mouse...😬 then realized it was chicken.
I'm working on befriending the Crows. I love them so much. They like to visit my compost pile. I had a Coyote pup stopping by last summer. She was eating the seeds I put out for the Wild Turkeys. In the fall, I got a delivery of wild Alaskan salmon and they forgot to put dry ice in the box so I threw it in the compost pile and the next morning I saw Coyote Pup back there. She ate all 12 fillets... 😬 Have a beautiful day!
A brilliant piece, chock full of thought-provoking ideas. Lots of thoughts pouring through my mind, going in various directions, but I must get up and get ready to go to work.
Thanks for takin the time to read what I shared and share your thoughts.
If any of the seeds this post planted in your heart and mind bear the fruit of new ideas or courses of action in the physical world I would enjoy hearing about them.
May your work days be full of opportunities that remind you that the Creator's wisdom, truth and genius is imbued into every leaf, every water droplet, every sunray and every random act of kindness chosen by one of his children.
I appreciated this well written article , especially the video of Derrek Jensen on the democracy technologies and the authoritarian ones…your thoughts on what is a Citizen…then I zoned out…as they was so much, all of value undoubtedly . Could you send them in separate posts , so your readers could reflect and not be overwhelmed ?
Also, considering your interest in "democracy technologies" I would be interested to hear your thoughts on this essay I wrote about how involuntary governance structures (such as democracy) are antithetical to the Permaculture Design Ethics:
https://gavinmounsey.substack.com/p/why-involuntary-governance-structures?
Just a heads up, the essay is long and meandering like a river left to her own devices that is in no rush to get back to the ocean.
Hi Susan, thanks for dropping by and thank you for the candid comment.
I am glad you resonated with the first section of the post.
When I write, I allow myself to draw from the inspiration that is alive in my heart until I no longer feel moved to continue writing.
One of the most concerning trends I have been observing to accelerate in modern industrial society over the past decade is the increasingly diminished attention spans of those who spend many hours a day plugged into the endless scrolling feeds of social media. While I certainly like the idea of reaching a wider audience and attempting to 'throw a rope ladder down' into the hyper-digitally stimulated, superficial objectification/materialism addicted and sensationalized click-bate world of spaces like Tiktok, or Twitter or similar online places (to provide empowering information to the youth and others who spent many hours there and hopefully help them reconnect with nature) I do not have the time to attempt to formulate "twitter" or "tiktok" compatible versions of my writing to share in that way as I am attempting to write my 2nd book.
When substack started their "notes" I was leery that this would mark the downhill slide of attention spans on Substack. As people get quick fixes of little hard hitting blurps, quotes and flashy images, rather than nourishing essays, referenced articles and indepth self-expression we become more accustomed to fast food for the mind.
It seems to be making substack more like facebook, Instagram or twitter will likely mean we see an increase in all that comes with all those types of platforms. I see a lot more superficial discussions (where people do not even read the entire article or even note, and then comment based on a title or image, as someone apparently did just now on this post asking "Are the elites correct?" which seems to indicate they did not even read the article). I also see a lot more behavior that seems to express the same type of mental issues that arise from the “i need more likes syndrome” that platforms such as facebook, twitter and instagram were designed to elicit.
(for more info: https://gavinmounsey.substack.com/p/self-education-vs-behavior-modification )
Thus, I am concerned that “notes” seems to be attracting more and more people that prefer twitter type discussions and post lengths, serving to feed into the proclivity of most people to embrace a severely impaired attention span due to widespread addictions to social media frameworks that have limited character counts.
This, for the most part, keeps posts superficial and not able to comprehensively inform or educate the reader, leading to endless re-posting of meaningless screenshots of other people’s posts… echoing around.
I see this trend to make everything ‘facebook-esk’ and ‘twitified’ as pathway that will likely lead to mental atrophy for many and an entire generation of children that find it hard to sit down and read a book because it contains more than 280 characters.
Thus, while I do see value in trying to reach a wider audience that prefers shorter posts, I am also leery of using my time to cater to their preferences rather than write and self-publish books that can help and empower those who are already willing and able to read what I write and are interested in putting the practical material I offer to use in their lives.
Thank you again for the comment.
Hi Gavin, I appreciate your response and agree with all you are saying. I recognise that most content on Substack is fluffy and comforting . I therefore seek out those who are writing about what matters and take the world seriously. It’s interesting how my suggestion has been interpreted as requesting TikTok or X type content. That was not what I meant…I really enjoy long form essay. What I find in my reading is that if I read a long piece about a subject , that then goes into another subject in a newsletter I like to reflect on what I have gained..not go straight into yet next subject . This is my process and thats for me to manage, so thats ok . The other point is it seems my comment has been to seen to suggest you go for more “likes”, again not my intention. I believe you are helping and supporting people with what you write and it is about making that available to more people. Thank you for all the time and effort you put into your work.
Thanks for the kind words and sharing your perspective.
I hope to be able to engage with you more in the comments section if you read some of my older or future posts.
I will add I am fairly new to writing , so what do I know 😂over and out
When i read your comment, a few things came to mind. Firstly, if you are a subscriber to Gavin's newsletters i would think you would expect an indepth newsletter and if you read it on substack, it tells you the length before you start. So either way, no surprise. Secondly, I'm curious... would you ask an author of a book to send you the book chapter by chapter so that you could reflect and not be overwhelmed? The idea seems so unreasonable, doesn't it? Yet that is what you asking this author to do. I personally do not agree that a writer should kowtow to the reader by giving them the length of the article/ book they want but rather that they should write what is in them and allow the reader to decide if they want to read the material and whether they want to read it in one sitting or break it down and read it in sections. I, myself am not overwhelmed with the length of this piece. I have read several other articles written by Gavin that are much longer and still have not felt overwhelmed. In fact, i appreciate that he explains in depth and gives great attention to detail. Unlike, the TikTok people, i am not interested in a fluff piece but want to read something that is thought provoking and heartfelt. I would encourage Gavin to continue writing such informative and knowlegeable pieces that make the mind wotk and the heart open.
Thank you for taking the time to respond, you raise some interesting points. My intention was to be helpful , as the suggestion might make this valuable content more accessible to more people. If I am reading a book I can mark where I left off and easily return. That is not the case in a long article. My reality is I am unlikely to return if I have left something. It was not my intention to impose or be unreasonable to the author , it is still their choice and I respect that.
I can appreciate that you are not reading in 3D but I know there are ways to make it easy online to jump back into an article or book you are reading. Indeed, some of my friends often do not have time to read a whole article or online book because they have children, so they will highlight where they left off or even something uber simple as copying and pasting the sentence where they left off and leaving themselves a note of that sentence. I am sure if you google it, you can find a way that works for you.
Thanks for the interesting comment and prophecy.
Some prophecies are the result of perceptually advanced human beings developing their conscious awareness to be capable of perceiving that which exists beyond the veil of this experience of space, time and matter (to see from the perspective of the spirit, which exists in a multi-dimensional realm). Those visions sometimes become written down as prophecies may or may not describe events that are likely to happen given the current trends and currents of consciousness being assessed but in truth, no human being (divinely ordained, blessed or otherwise) can know the exact date that a divinely initiated event (or chain of events) will happen, only the Creator possesses that knowledge.
The problem I see with embracing prophecies that speak of a time when all our problems will be solved for us in an instant is that such beliefs often feed into behavior patterns of complacency (since they tell a story of how good things will come if we just sit on the sidelines, wait and see).
I sought (and continue to seek) to cultivate my own relationship and two way means of communication between myself and the Creator of all things through directly engaging with the living embodiment of his love, genius and wisdom.
What I have discovered is that when one learns to understand what nature is communicating to us one is invited to read a ‘scripture’ that is far older than all man made religious texts. In this ancient gospel as old as the mountains and as ancient as the seas wisdom is inscribed which teaches us to live in peace, abundance, symbiosis and harmony with our fellow beings.
Through opening our eyes to the symbiosis present in all levels of nature (a living library) we are invited to become one with a resilient and learned community of life. When we pay attention to these interwoven facets of nature which have coexisted in perfect balance on earth for countless millennia we are then able to emulate and embody those living systems and apply their tested and proven wisdom to our relationships in our lives and societies on earth. Through learning from those ancient living libraries of knowledge (that were created through eons of adaptation and change) we can let go of our unsustainable path and choose a new direction as a species. With the ancient symbiotic relationships in nature as our teachers we can begin to release the arrogant and backwards path we have been on and embrace a new path that can lead humanity into a new paradigm and a new civilization on earth which is reverent, equitable, regenerative and prosperous.
I discovered this ancient scripture when I learned to read the soil, watch the sky, and help the things that live in between to grow and thrive. For me, the seasons are sacred, they are chapters in a story with much wisdom to share. In spring time I am reminded how even after the darkest coldest nights the light will shine again, and new life with unfold if we nourish it. In the summer I am in awe of the infinite diversity and resilience of all the life forms in creation, I walk in cathedrals with mossy floors, proud tall walls of trees with arms outstretched that paint the blue stained glass roof speckled in green. In the autumn I learn about acceptance, releasing what no longer serves me, and giving my time and energy so that future generations can enjoy the same blessings I have. In the winter I am learn about trust, faith, courage and seeing the beautiful in moments that most would consider less than. The seasons speak to us of ancient agreements between the elemental kingdoms and lessons learned through eons.
Each time you cradle a handful of rich soil in your hands you are holding our most precious inheritance. In your hands is the story of a thousand bountiful seasons and the hope of a thousand that have yet to be.
When you work with the earth and nourish things to grow and achieve their highest potential you are showing reverence for this sacred gift we have been given, a sanctuary, a home that provides all we need to live in peace, happiness and prosperity.
"As a soul grows and unfolds it's leaves outstretched in search of nourishment the God is always near, showering smiles and offering food for the soul (in the form of stimulus that offers the souls opportunities to rise to the occasion and achieve their highest potential)."
(above quote from: https://gavinmounsey.substack.com/p/photosynthesis-of-the-soul )
Religious institutions on the other hand often attempt to condition people into seeing the Creator as a sort of angry temper tantruming anthropomorphized toddler God that seeks eternal retribution if you do not behave or swear fealty to its rule (and chooses sides in wars, depending on who does the right rituals and calls him the right name).
God is not a control freak with human-esk issues, but rather a non-human non-physical yet distinct, whole and complete being which initiates the existence of our souls as an intentional act of love and joy.
The Creator allows us to exercise our own free will, as we learn, grow and evolve as conscious beings with an eternal spirit (being present and responsive in various ways to those who seek guidance and support, but not intrusive nor overriding of our free will, despite the obviously often horrible consequences of our choices as humans).
Thus, I do not advocate adopting infantilizing worldviews that tell us things like “you just have to wait for this savior or that judgment day and then you`ll get whooshed off to a better place, so just hang tight and sit on your hands” and rather I seek to invite people to become the ones they have been waiting for.
God does not want us to be passive worshippers waiting for his will to be done on the sidelines. The Creator's call is heard by those with the courage to learn from the ancient wisdom he inscribed into the forests, the soil, the mountains, rivers and the oceans to align with the regenerative capacity of the living Earth so that we can unlock our true potential as human beings.
Thanks again for sharing your thoughts and perspective.
Re: "No, the Creator's call is heard (or read) in the Holy Scriptures, not in nature."
Well I disagree with you there, as the bible has gone through many middle men and has been twisted, altered and censored over the years (in instances such as the Council of Nicaea when an unbaptized Roman guy decided he would alter the text for his own selfish reasons and several times since then) where as nature is Creation, no middle men involved. Nature is a distillation of Creator's truth, genius and architecture and it can be directly perceived and emulated by those who are willing to develop their pattern recognition aptitude.
I am sure you have nothing but benevolent intent but you may want to avoid saying things like "For God is literally going to give us the planet, forever. Specifically He's giving it to me.. ..But I tell you something, when I am given the earth and rule it, people will behave very differently from today" in the future as it comes off as a bit megalomaniacal and I do not think it will attract many people to join your flock/religion.
Personally, I do not think that threatening people or attempting to scare them into behaving with respect, honor or kindness is very effective (humans have been trying that in religions and governments for ages with very poor results) and rather I encourage people to become capable of using their heart as a compass so they can choose actions that are in service of life out of love, rather than fear, but I understand that each must walk their own path.
I wish you all the best with the "mighty miracles" on social media and in your endeavors to reign over Earth as the benevolent ruler you prophesize that you will become.
Gary Morgan, You have said that, "The Holy Scriptures are not man made, they are given to us through men, by God.“ And you have said that you have been given the exact date of wrath. I am curious how it is that you know the exact date when Jesus, in the bible said, "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." ?
Answering a question with a question is avoiding the question. As for Noah, he was not told the date until after the ark was built. The building of the ark was somewhere between 50 and 75 years to build. And the reason he was told that it would happen in a week was to give Noah an opportunity to load the ark and seal it shut. However, it is not like the situation of which you speak because in this situation of which you have said that you have been given the exact date, Jesus has already said "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." So again i ask, how is it you know the exact date?