State of Emergence
Philosopher, pro-activist and author Jeremy Lent explores the underlying nature of our civilizational crises and how a greater understanding of the physical, biological, noetic & cultural interconnectedness of reality can inspire us into a new level of devotion to life itself. Jeremy’s book The Patterning Instinct traced patterns of thought that led human civilization to its sustainability crisis and his new book, The Web of Meaning offers an integrative worldview for a sustainable, flourishing future.
info_outline 073 Fred LaMotte – From the Temple to the Wilderness of NowState of Emergence
Poet, teacher and interfaith chaplain Fred LaMotte shares the inner processes and revelations from which his luminous poetry arises and explores a place beyond words and beliefs where there is simply presence and dwelling in the tender receptivity of the miracle of each moment. Fred is an author, a graduate of Yale and Princeton Theological Seminary, a director of Religious Studies and Community Service, a college instructor in World Religions, an interfaith chaplain and a meditation teacher.
info_outline 072 Peter Russell – Letting Go of NothingState of Emergence
Futurist, teacher, and author Peter Russell explores how the exponential acceleration of complexity in our civilization may exceed our capacities as a species, and how a radical letting-go of our efforts to counteract that destiny can dissolve whatever gets in the way of us showing up fully, sanely, and gratefully. Peter is a leading thinker and writer on consciousness and spirituality, he is on the faculty of the Institute of Noetic Sciences, and his beautiful new book is Letting Go of Nothing.
info_outline 071 Indra Adnan – The Politics of Waking UpState of Emergence
Social psychotherapist and political entrepreneur Indra Adnan explores the politics and power dynamics of “waking up” to our meta-crisis and to one another. She shares her pioneering work as Founder of The Alternative UK creating “community agency networks” and considers how we can shift from narratives of trauma, disconnection and collapse into a radical certainty of our solutions. Indra has consulted to the World Economic Forum, Indian and Danish governments and NATO, amongst others. Her new book
info_outline 070 David Sloan Wilson – Evolution's Key Practices and Design PrinciplesState of Emergence
In a new and unedited conversation with evolutionary biologist and social theorist David Sloan Wilson, Terry and David continue to explore evolution’s design principles and practices that can enable social experiments and cooperative communities to succeed and grow. They consider the virtues and exploitations of competition, multiple layers of competition, genetic vs. cultural steams of evolution, the role of symbols in evolving our cultural narratives, and the political economist Elinor Ostrom’s eight
info_outline 069 David Sloan Wilson – A Human Superorganism: The Higher Potentials of CooperationState of Emergence
Evolutionary biologist & social theorist David Sloan Wilson clarifies the science of “multi-level selection” and how interpersonal cooperation and altruism are central to evolution. He shares the specific conditions that are required to nurture prosocial behavior in groups, as well as those that would qualify humans as a “superorganism” that prioritizes the wellbeing of the whole. David is the author of several books including a new novel, Atlas Hugged. He teaches at Binghamton University and is Pre
info_outline 068 Stephen Jenkinson – Overwhelming Beauty — and Being OK, DyingState of Emergence
Spontaneous poet, culture activist & shamanic bard Stephen Jenkinson explores the disarming ordeal of bearing witness to death up close, including Terry’s uncertain situation — probable lung cancer with no diagnosis, prognosis, or treatment plan. They wonder together about the overwhelming nature of beauty and the vividness that dying well can bring to living. Stephen co-founded Orphan Wisdom, has authored four books and is now recording with musician Gregory Hoskins, most recently DARK ROADS and ROUGH
info_outline Francis Weller (Rebroadcast) – Letting Grief Open Us to GraceState of Emergence
A rebroadcast of a tender and deeply grounding conversation with psychotherapist and soul-activist Francis Weller, whose presence, wisdom and “soul obligation to register the rips and tears of the world” remains powerful medicine. He and Terry share their griefs and rediscover fierceness to protect all they love. Francis' work as a soul-centered psychotherapist synthesizes insights from psychology, anthropology, mythology, alchemy, and indigenous cultures in healing rituals for those working with grief.
info_outline 067 Jonathan Rowson – Tasting the Pickle: A Personal Relationship with the Meta-CrisisState of Emergence
Chess Grandmaster & philosopher Jonathan Rowson explores our global meta-crisis from new angles — as a crisis of civilizational purpose, a lack of a meaningful global ‘We’, and its various socio-emotional, epistemic, and spiritual features. Jonathan is a sensemaking entrepreneur and the Director of Perspectiva. He is an applied philosopher with degrees from Oxford, Harvard, and Bristol Universities, and the author of The Moves that Matter, Spiritualise, and the brilliant essay "Tasting the Pickle.”
info_outline 067 Jonathan Rowson – Tasting the Pickle: A Personal Relationship with the Meta-CrisisState of Emergence
Chess Grandmaster & philosopher Jonathan Rowson explores our global meta-crisis from new angles — as a crisis of civilizational purpose, a lack of a meaningful global ‘We’, and its various socio-emotional, epistemic, and spiritual features. Jonathan is a sensemaking entrepreneur and the Director of Perspectiva. He is an applied philosopher with degrees from Oxford, Harvard, and Bristol Universities, and the author of The Moves that Matter, Spiritualise, and the brilliant essay "Tasting the Pickle.”
info_outlineIn this episode, we offer recent remarks Terry Patten gave on the topic of "holistic antiracism" to a mostly white community of caring spiritual practitioners. Afterward, several people mentioned that these reflections were useful and requested that Terry share them with others. So, we offer Terry's reflections in this week's episode. Below is a message from Terry about the episode:
"Like so many other caring white people, I’ve been engaged in deep self-examination, I’ve been coming to grips at a whole new level with the enormous suffering inflicted on millions of people over centuries by white supremacy and systemic racism. And I’ve been listening deeply to Black voices, and considering how to be a fuller and more effective ally of people of color.
On one level, I’ve been overjoyed that, finally, millions of white people are really getting that Black Lives Really Matter. There’s a sense of hope that things might really change now. I was raised in an interracial intentional community outside Chicago, and in some sense I’ve been hoping for this shift my whole life.
On the other hand, I want to participate in a genuine cultural transformation of racism, not to blame or shame it into hiding. Our social wounds require honest conversation and truly restorative justice. That begins with candor and courage.
I know I’m very much still in process, still educating myself, still learning, not perfected, not anywhere near the end of this journey yet. Because, like most of my white friends, I’m a little scared of critique, and I know this is a far-from-perfected communication.
But, after reflection, I decided my most caring and courageous way forward is to lay it on the line, in hopes that it will help others who are also on the path. We are all still educating ourselves, still growing. That’s a beginning."
For more information on Terry Patten and A New Republic of the Heart, check out the following resources:
- Our Social Experiment Community: https://newrepublicoftheheart.org/community-spring2020/
- A New Republic of the Heart website: http://newrepublicoftheheart.org/
- State of Emergence podcast website: http://stateofemergence.org/
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