Writing the Sacred

A lecture + workbook for paid subscribers

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Today I was driving and an elderly man caught my eye. He wore a faded plaid robe and, using his cane, walked slowly with a watering can towards a patch of flowers. And when I say slowly I mean: I worried for him.

Each step looked like a risk, as if he were in pain. As if he were watering his flowers at great cost to himself - it must have meant something to him to do so.

I don’t know why, but this small scene touched me deeply. I think it’s as simple as this: loving and caring for something outside of yourself is a profound act, especially if it involves risk. This kind of love - to me - is sacred.

Alois Delug’s The Norns, Oil on canvas (1895) — Source (more here on the sacred ash tree of Norse)

This week I saw climate scientist Dr. Katherine Hayhoe post that 2/3 of people are worried about climate change, but only 8% are “activated.” She asked readers: Isn't it more important to move 60% of the population from worried to activated than 10% of the population from denial to acceptance?

When I think about what we’re doing together here, this is what I’m thinking about - helping more people get “activated” when it comes to climate and environmental work - helping people create work (both persuasive and artistic) and join or start conversations.

As promised, I’m offering a workbook and a short lecture about writing the sacred to my paid subscribers as a thank you for their support. The quotes below offer a little insight into the ethos of the material:

• “The first act of awe, when man was struck with the beauty or wonder of Nature, was the first spiritual experience.” - Henryk Skolimowski

• “Nature is all the body of God we mortals will ever see.” - Frank Lloyd Wright

• “This web of life, the most complex system we know of in the universe, breaks no law of physics, yet is partially lawless, ceaselessly creative.” - Stuart Kauffman

Roughly 10% of my followers are paid subscribers - and each one means a lot to me. It’s a vote of confidence in this work and in me. Thank you!

The resources for paid subscribers are accessible below, including a video lecture, printable workbook, and reading list.

Reminder: all are welcome to the Op Ed Writing Workshop on September 17 at noon (details at end of post).

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