Sep 6, 2024
In this episode of the podcast, we interview deep ecology teacher and rainforest activist John Seed.
Together, we discuss the importance of altering our sense of self such that it includes the natural world, the role psychedelics can play in that process, and how, even if the world as we know it burns and collapses, life itself will thrive through it all as it always has.
We also talk about the philosophy of deep ecology and healing ourselves from the illusion of anthropocentrism; falling into the apathy of the modern world; “honouring our pain for the world” and how, when expressed, despair becomes empowerment. As well as the dance between present ecological crisis and the thriving of life for billions of years; the Disney-fication of nature vs the brutality of life being itself; and where psychedelics fit into deep ecology and environmental activism.
Far from being a downer episode, as one might expect with topics such as these, I found my conversation with John refreshing, empowering, and genuinely inspiring. To me, this is one of the small handful of interviews I have done that impacted me in a significantly positive way. I hope you experience something similar.
Enjoy.
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For links to Seed's work, full show notes, and a link to watch this episode in video, head to bit.ly/ATTMind191
*** FULL TOPICS BREAKDOWN BELOW**
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Episode Breakdown
- (00:00) Opening and Guest Bio
- (04:47) Interview Begins
- (06:20) The value and importance of activism; turning citizens into consumers
- (09:23) The dance between present crisis and the thriving of life for billions of years
- (14:25) Deep ecology and healing the illusion of anthropocentrism
- (27:13) Patreon Thanks
- (29:05) Grief and “honouring our pain for the world”; when expressed, despair becomes empowerment
- (36:08) Seeing the world with new eyes
- (39:38) Falling into the apathy of the modern world
- (44:56) The importance of community in facing our grief
- (47:43) A story of psychedelic cannabis and being healed by the forest
- (52:42) The Disney-fication of nature vs the brutality of life being itself
- (57:27) Exchanging stories of meaningful psychedelic visions
- (01:05:09) How psychedelics put John on his journey into environmentalism
- (01:08:27) Where psychedelics fit into deep ecology and environmental activism
- (01:11:31) What looks like chaos and destruction might be a greater intelligence at work
- (01:19:16) If we can cause less death and destruction, we should try
- (01:22:17) The drinking of psychedelic acacias in Australia; how acacia courtii saved John’s life
- (01:29:22) The challenge of facing one’s aging as one’s desire to give more to the world grows
- (01:33:23) Follow-up links and contact information
- (01:34:24) Outro