Seeds for Thought: an Ecopsychology Blog

My dog the cotherapist

When I first started to practice as a psychotherapist, I had a home office – and a dog. At first I kept my dog – a little, fuzzy friendly mutt named Pookie – strictly out of my counseling room. But soon it became evident that this wasn’t going to be possible. As soon as clients came to the door, Pookie was there welcoming them, wagging her tail and demanding a kiss and a hug. I was amazed at the effect this had on depressed, traumatized or angry people. Their whole bodies relaxed. Smiles and a softening in the eyes were inevitable.

So more times than not, Pookie followed us into the counseling room and seated herself wherever she was needed – on the floor, on a lap… I watched as tearful clients stroked her as they told their stories. Yes, my human ear and understanding were helping my clients, but so were Pookie’s soft fur and loving eyes!

James Lovelock's new book

Some people are finding it hard going to read it: very depressing. But it certainly brings home the urgency of both crises: energy and climate change. We need to use the precious, versatile energy of which we still have an abundance to put up flood defenses, move people away from coast lines, put in place *real* transport systems to deal with moving food around the country, etc.

Yes, I think these crises are inevitable and irreversible. But why would that mean I think we should all party hardy until the end? First of all, it's not as though we get to party and then one day a meteor hits us and then that's it, we're gone. No, it's going to be much more gradual and Depression-Era-like than that. Secondly, these dual crises give us the perfect excuse for moving towards those great community economies so many of us have wanted! Community building is extremely satisfying (as I'm just learning but have always suspected... just hadn't stuck around a community long enough to try it out!).

I find it infinitely more depressing to try shutting this stuff out and doing nothing about it.

Intelligent Designers

Although the courts seem to have put the issue of "intelligent design" decisively to rest, one aspect of it remains active among REAL scientists and theologians. That is the issue of conscious choice in natural selection. Lamark’s view that “use” determined the path of evolution was clearly wrong but there is a real question of how we “choose” to evolve.

crime and bad behaviour

How lovely to get a long thoughtful comment to last week's blog! Making me think again about choice, coercion, freedom.

Spotted elephant was criticised for criticising a 62 year old woman who recently gave birth to her 12th child. This seems harsh, she was only commenting, not actually doing anything to this woman.

Surely our choices must not be above question. This is not the same as making them illegal.

This one is a can of worms isn't it?

Outrage!

The cartoon issue does not seem to be going away. Whether it represents a genuine clash of cultures or a clever PR campaign by fundamentalists to distract people from other issues is difficult to determine. The “gay marriage” issue served the Republicans well in the last election when growing opposition to the Iraq War was emerging as a “real” issue.
Islamicists have to face the reality that violence has been largely counter-productive in spreading the appeal of their fundamentalisms and the victims of Islamic violence have been mostly other Muslims. We may be approaching a classic “tipping point” in sympathy towards those who preach death and destruction in the name of a God or Prophet. Christian fundamentalists have the same dilemma. How does Jesus come to represent militarism and intolerance in the corridors of power?

one year on

well we've been writing this for a year, where are we? I may be running out of things to say.

I was looking back over old posts, some of mine are seasonal and could roll round. some I really like, enjoyed writing them. but it seems harder to find inspiration. perhaps I should worry less about repetition.

sometimes I get ideas when out walking or on the train but they evaporate, or don't develop any coherence.

I wish I got more comments though, is anyone there? what do you think? even if it's that I'm an idiot. what would you write / do you write?

Tina vs. Lois

It used to be that 'we' used the phrase There Is No Alternative (TINA) to refer to capitalism. Once the Soviet Union fell, voila, no more alternatives.

And now in peak oil literature, we have Lois: Locally-Organized Import Substitution.

Step by step we look at our community's needs and how we are currently meeting them. Then we look at what we import. Then we come up with a way to do it ourselves.

I do believe this lets us use a lot of imagination and creativity. Oh the discussions and plans and workshops you could do around this! It's quite exciting, really!

So yes, Lois has become the new Tina, as, literally, we have no alternative.

Taking a Break

I'm going to be away for the next three weeks -- pilgrimage to the big city to have eyes checked, to visit relatives, to spend real time in a book store, to visit art galleries.... see y'all the first week of March when I think I'm going to widen the scope of my blog and go beyond 'learning'.

Creation Care

Evangelical Christian groups are debating the extent to which they can endorse environmental issues as an expression of “traditional” values. The debate ranges from urging direct and strategic legislation to embody “creation care” to efforts to avoid or deflect criticism of the current “evangelical-friendly” administration. The strength and sophistication of evangelical environmentalists has been welcome by ecumenical environmentalists as an important ally and the conflict with the “powers that be” is not surprising for a populist movement. Christians ought to feel most comfortable when they are in conflict with “the ways of the world” and the reality that “one of theirs” holds the reins of a superpower should give pause.

cartoon violence

It used to mean Itchy and Scratchy. It is tempting to laugh at it,  maybe that's the right approach and after all what cartoons are for.

As an aging fat feminist who is used to being insulted continually by most of the culture I'm surrounded by I find it absurd to even consider that people should have a right not be insulted.
Which is not to say it is a good thing. But there is a difference between law breaking and bad behaviour which seems to be fraying a lot these days.