Democratic Forest Trusts (PDF)in Watson, Alan; Dean, Liese; Sproull, Janet, comps. 2006. Science and stewardship to protect and sustain wilderness values: Eighth World Wilderness Congress Symposium; 2005 September 30-October 6; Anchorage, AK.Democratic trusts with leadership elected by citizen-members promise to solve many of the problems afflicting both traditional government and corporate ownership of forestlands. This article explores these issues in some depth.Complexity and the Dream of Human Control of Eco-Systems (PDF)in Watson, Alan; Dean, Liese; Sproull, Janet, comps. 2006. Science and stewardship to protect and sustain wilderness values: Eighth World Wilderness Congress Symposium; 2005 September 30-October 6; Anchorage, AK.The title captures it. I then explore the kinds of institutions compatible with both nature and the modern world that are implied from this analysis.Rethinking the Obvious: Modernity and Living Respectfully With Nature (PDF)The Trumpeter: Journal of Ecosophy, Winter, 1997.Modernity is usually considered a wrong turn in terms of respect for and sustaining the environment. I argue the reality is more complex, for modernity has freed us from personal dependence on agriculture, ended the economic value of children, radically reduced the likelihood of large scale wat, and shifted much production to intellectual rather than material capital. This partially decouples society from nature, which gives us important opportunities as well as problems.Towards an Ecocentric Political Economy (PDF)The Trumpeter, Fall, 1996.This paper begins my effort at showing how liberal modernity can be harmonized with an ecocentric perspective on our relationship with the natural world. It is a corrective to much “free market environmental” literature that sacrifices Nature to money as well as to anti-liberal attacks by well-meaning but economically naïve environmentalists.Unexpected Harmonies: Self-Organization in Liberal Modernity and Ecology (PDF)The Trumpeter, Journal of Ecosophy, 10:1, Winter 1993This is my initial paper exploring how what I term ‘evolutionary liberal’ thought can be an important means by which society and nature can be brought into greater harmony. The other Trumpeter papers build on it.Deep Ecology and Liberalism: The Greener Implications of Evolutionary Liberalism (PDF)Review of Politics, Fall, 1996.Liberal thought and deep ecology are usually regarded as mutually exclusive. But the “evolutionary” tradition offers a way to integrate the two through commonalties in the work of David Hume, Michael Polanyi, Arne Naess, and Aldo Leopold, providing a stronger foundation for liberalism while strengthening the case for an ecocentric ethic.(Related subjects: Ecology)Saving Western Towns: A Jeffersonian Green Proposal (PDF)in Writers on the Range, Karl Hess and John Baden, eds., University Press of Colorado, 1998.Developmental pressures in the rural and small town West involve three groups: long term residents, new arrivals, and environmentalists. Today their interests often conflict. This conflict is in part the outcome of institutions which prevent harmonizing competing interests. The concept of developmental trusts, both for rural regions and for small communities offers a means whereby these interests can be harmonized for the benefit of all concerned.(Related subjects: Politics)Social Ecology, Deep Ecology, and Liberalism (PDF)Critical Review, 6: 2-3, 1992.Murray Bookchin is considered a leading radical environmental theorist. However, his analysis is incapable of leading humankind towards a more respectful and sustainable relationship with the natural world. Criticisms of Bookchin from both the deep ecology and evolutionary liberal perspective complement one another, pointing the way towards a better understanding of how modernity relates to the environment.The paper as a whole offers an early discussion of issues that are more clearly addressed in later papers, particularly Deep Ecology and Liberalism (1996) and the three Trumpeter articles in 1997, 1996, and 1993. However, there are other ideas in the article which have not been developed more thoroughly elsewhere.
As in so many earlier years, I will spend Saturday night in Berkeley so as to be up before dawn, drive up to Inspiration Point in Tilden Park, and watch Berkeley Morris dance up the sun. Whenever I’ve been in northern California on Beltane I try to see the Morris Dancers at dawn. Even in a downpour they are out, and so am I and many other Pagans. One year I watched the Apple Tree Morris here in Sebastopol, and it was a wonderful event. But Berkeley is not far away and it was the Berkeley celebration that first penetrated deeply into my spirit. I tend to return to it whenever I can.
The first time I saw Berkeley Morris I was new to Paganism. As I joined the large group forming the circle within which the dancers were performing, something indescribably ancient seemed to pervade the place. Here were people celebrating the triumph of life and fertility as they had in one way or another for thousands of years. Rather than being on the leading edge of “progress” we were deeply immersed in a place of timeless meaning. It was very magickal, and I have never forgotten it.
It is usually cold, and we stand huddled under coats and cloaks and blankets, the occasional thermos of the “water of life” making its way slowly through knots of friends and strangers. As the earth slowly brightens a tall bear, a very medieval bear, makes its way around the circle, sharing pieces of a delicious Morris cake. Sometimes the bear selects a member of the crowd for special and often embarrassing attention.
Most times it is not raining, and the eastern sky slowly and beautifully lightens before the sun’s first rays hit our eyes and beginning illuminating the verdant green hills of a California spring. Everyone cheers. Day comes rapidly then, and the crowd disperses, sometimes to work if it’s a week day, but this time to parties, feasts, and additional celebrations. That night I will serve as High Priest for a Sabbat whereas the night before I was a guest at another.
We will have properly celebrated the energies of life and the life-giving energies of the sun, as so many have for so long in a chain of sacred observance that extend back far longer than any country or culture
Here is a small group of Berkeley Morris performing in much better light. And another of Apple Tree Morris.
posted April 29, 2011 at 3:28 pm
I’ll be there in Sebastopol.
And for those elsewhere……there are Morris Dancers other places. Try googling and see if anyone’s dancing in your area.
As Gus says, it’s amazing to take part in something that’s happened for over 1,000 years (in one shape or another). Bear or no bear .
Plus, be part of this year’s circle round our planet. Morris dancing will start in New Zealand and happen in different places thru the time zones. what a Ripple to be part of!
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posted May 2, 2011 at 2:15 pm
Happy Belated Beltain, all!
In years past, I’ve gone to the Ann Arboretum, where the Ann Arbor Morris Side danced in the May at dawn. I had a great time, and it was a great way to begin the day.
This time, however, I was in a VERY packed car with 4 other Witches, coming back from a private Festival in Tennessee, and we had to leave about that time. So, instead of watching people dancing in the May, I explained to the others what it was all about. We still had fun.
HAPPY (BEL-ATED) BELTAIN!!!!
Puck
posted May 2, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Like you I started out viewing the Berkeley Morris (friends from Monday Night Ceili Dancing at the Starry Plow and Renaissance Faire joined in the dance as well as the supporting on lookers) Last year my family and I attended the Apple Tree Morris Sun Up (I posted a few photos from last year on my blog) . . . it is a family tradition one way or another . . . so even after moving to Colorado. We were feeling a bit homesick, needing to reconnect in some way . . . so we ended up finding the Breathless in Berthoud Border Morris (along with Maroon Bells Morris and their youth team the Tommyknockers Morris) . . . this years photos were not as striking as last years, but we definitely felt more grounded and connected after attending this local event. We were just so relived there was a local team . . . even though we had to be up by 4am and drove an hour to be there to greet the sun with them. They were performing at several locations through the day, all closer to where we actually live, but only the Sun Up event would do.
My knees aren’t what they used to be, but I am hoping I can pass down my own bell pads to our youngest daughter so she can carry on the tradition
Blessed Belated Beltane!
posted May 2, 2011 at 10:42 pm
I wanted to share the photos from last years sun up with you but the URL did not show in the comment above . . .
CysgodCannid.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html