Person

Joanna Macy

American eco-philosopher, scholar of Buddhism and systems theory, and creator of The Work That Reconnects (b. 1929). Her work pairs deep ecology with Buddhist practice and general systems theory, producing experiential group practices that have helped tens of thousands of people across decades face ecological grief, despair, and the resulting motivation to act. Author of World as Lover, World as Self, Coming Back to Life, Active Hope, and others. One of the most-quoted spiritual-ecological voices of the late 20th and early 21st century.

Life and work

Born May 2, 1929. PhD in religious studies (Syracuse University, 1978). Decades of Tibetan Buddhist practice and study; deep engagement with general systems theory through her teacher Ervin László and others; long activism around nuclear-waste, ecological, and climate issues.

In the late 1970s and early 1980s Macy began developing what became [[the-work-that-reconnects|The Work That Reconnects]] — a structured workshop experience that moves participants through four stages: (1) coming from gratitude, (2) honoring our pain for the world, (3) seeing with new eyes, and (4) going forth. The practices integrate body, story, ritual, and group support.

[[the-work-that-reconnects|The Work That Reconnects]] has been led by trained facilitators in dozens of countries; the book Coming Back to Life (1998, revised 2014) is the standard guide.

Major books

Despair and Personal Power in the Nuclear Age (1983)
World as Lover, World as Self (1991, revised 2007)
Coming Back to Life (with Molly Brown; 1998, revised 2014)
Widening Circles: A Memoir (2000)
Active Hope (with Chris Johnstone; 2012, revised 2022)

Influence

Macy’s framing of [[grief|ecological grief]] as a doorway rather than a paralytic — that allowing the pain of ecological loss to move through, rather than around it, restores the energy to act — has become foundational for the climate-grief, eco-therapy, and ecological-spirituality movements. Her work shapes climate-justice trainings, Buddhist environmental groups, and grief-focused ecological practices worldwide.

Sources

Coming Back to Life (Macy & Brown, New Society Publishers, 2014)
Active Hope (Macy & Johnstone, New World Library, 2022)
Joanna Macy Center / Work That Reconnects published materials

Rooted in life.

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Spiritual

pioneer of

Deep ecology Macy's Work That Reconnects is one of the most-developed practitioner traditions integrating deep ecology with experiential group practice

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