Joanna Macy often described today’s greed, violence, and ecological destruction as products of an “industrial-growth society” fueled by delusion, greed, and the illusion that we are separate from each other and the Earth. She called these the “real enemies” driving suffering and devastation, warning that this system is in “runaway mode, devouring itself at an accelerating rate.” Rather than blaming individuals, she emphasized that our grief and sorrow for the world can awaken compassion and interconnectedness—helping us turn despair into action and move toward collective healing and responsibility.

In World as Lover, World as Self, Macy draws on deep ecology, Buddhist philosophy, and systems theory to invite a radical shift: from seeing the world as separate to experiencing it as an intimate extension of ourselves, worthy of love and care. She champions interconnectedness as the foundation for healing both planet and people.

Building on Thich Nhat Hanh’s idea of “interbeing,” she shows how the self expands to include the whole Earth—so caring for the world becomes as natural as caring for ourselves. By weaving Eastern spirituality with Western systems thinking, she makes clear that personal well-being and planetary health are inseparable.

Her words are empowering. They teach me to practice grateful presence, to honor my pain for the world, and to find the courage to imagine and build a sustainable future with the Earth.

"Our sorrow is sacred, too. Within us, all is grief for what is happening to our world—the despoiling of earth, the extinction of our brother and sister species, the massive suffering of our fellow humans, the terrible injustice of dominated and colonized peoples. But when we feel isolated, we stifle that sorrow and rage in order to fit in better and to avoid aggravating the loneliness. Experiencing the sacred as immanent helps people to befriend their pain for the world and not fear that it will isolate them."

BOOK: World as Lover, World as Self

‍