The Reciprocity at the Heart of the Universe – In Honor of Joanna Macy

Elizabeth Debold in Dialogue with Joanna Macy

“You cannot work for the Earth without joy – you know why? Because we are leaving the linear, top-down view of reality that has gripped us through most of the patriarchal era, and we are moving by necessity to an understanding of the reciprocity at the heart of the Universe: If you act, you are met. If you act for Earth, you feel her strength right under you and inside you, just as when you act for the forest, it is by the grace of the forest”, says Joanna Macy in an interview with evolve. 

Dr. Joanna Rogers Macy was a religious scholar, Buddhist scholar, environmental activist, and author. For decades she lived out of love for the earth. As a pioneer of deep ecology, like no other she has studied our connectedness with the living earth and has worked for its preservation. In 2020 we spoke with her about her view of the challenges we face today for our evolve issue on the climate crisis.

Joanna died in July this year with 96 years, leaving a legacy of love and heartfelt action for the earth. In honor of her work, we offer the recording of our interview with her.