Simplify – A Reading from Savage Grace
Savage Grace, Women’s Moon Aug 2018
The time to drastically simplify our lives is long overdue. As part of our own de-colonization, we must detoxify from consumerist culture. This does not mean that we must buy a homestead and live off-grid in a remote area. What is most urgent is to start freeing ourselves from the chains of consumerist culture in order to begin to savor a simpler existence and its rewards of leisure, silence, and space for attending to our inner journey and external service in the world.
In a culture of narcissistic entitlement and staggering abundance, the tendency to embrace an individualistic or survivalist perspective is compelling . . . We believe it is important to rid ourselves of the individualistic, survivalist ethic. First of all, we should not assume that we will physically survive anything. All living beings on Earth are facing potential extinction. It is as if we are now living in a kind of planetary hospice condition in which we do not know the outcome and have very little control over it.
. . . we are thrust into the paradox of forging resilient lives while at the same time living as if each day may be our last. Indeed, each day may be our last and we must live it with passion, surrender, curiosity and a commitment to demonstrating love in action.
