[EnviroEngr]

You might say that the sum total of every human experience as this next segment of history unfolds is what was of major importance in this epoch.

What it means is unclear and what becomes of it is unclear. What comes after this 'climax' can only be pure speculation.

The impacts of these much larger dynamics upon the individual will likely be as varied as the differences between us; and what all this collective 'psychology in process' amounts to in the end is just about unfathomable. That's 6.5 billion humans all simultaneously having various states of mind, feelings and thoughts, and then responding (or not) in some correlated way. What does all this energy do? Where does it go? What does it create? and, What is its purpose?

What do we each do internally with these realizations and their attendant thoughts and feelings? Does this cause anything? Does the process become recursive, and if it does, how much latitude do we really have between stimulus and response? [This is the basis for a discussion in the actual metaphysics of karma.]

Though difficult, if you can imagine wide and narrow scopes of time, number (individual belief systems), epochs, species, inner and outer points of view, etc. -- you can begin to get a better sense of perspective and progression of action. History-in-progress as an understanding of Self and Many helps transition one away from me-isolated-in-place to us-interconnected-everywhere.

In a way, this new crisis seems to be making us face squarely what is important, valuable and necessary in a way we haven't in decades. The meaning of our lives and the meaning of life on the planet somehow gets far more immediate, palpable and lucid when extinction seems imminent. Seemingly more coherent decisions and value judgments would follow such an understanding.

So, why is it that the death of many seems so much more 'terminal' than the death of one?

If we don't understand ourselves, how our 'minds' work, what our own behavioral patterns are (what we're consciously aware of, how we sense and respond) and what we create from this, what hope have we of existing in a future that fits us? In the shadows of dim awareness lie all the monsters of our worst fears and deepest apprehensions. The 'generative metaphysics' rule of thumb is that which is least conscious will gather the greatest force and become manifest. The collective and even the individual unconscious have a way of expressing enormous power not having any regard whatsoever for consequences. Is it possible that that's where we are now?

... on the Map, You Are Here:

"There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy."

--From Hamlet (I, v, 166-167)

[Aaron]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('', 'A')s Amory Lovins have said : "The stone age didn't end because the stone ran out, and the oil age will be just the same."

[EnviroEngr]

There are two other avenues to explore:

Process Oriented Psychotherapy

&

Internal Family Systems approach model

IFS Homepage

[spork]

Man with all the enthusiasm around here I don't know why I read these forums! Sheesh.

I believe something will happen, things change they always do. We may not like the change but it happens.

We've made it this far and the end of the world has always been near.

I could fall off my couch, break my neck and die while watching TV, or get in a car accident while driving home, or get hit on my bike or I might get bit by a mosquito while outside and die from West Nile virus but it doesn't stop me from living my life. I do every one of those things most days.

Why should something that's a theory like Peak Oil stop me from living my life? Yes I've made some changes but I can't do much about it. I don't have much money to buy land and start building an earthship. So I'll just do what I can, bike and walk more (already did a good job of that I was too cheap to buy gas and it's better for my health), using CFL's, etc. I know, I know it won't "prevent" Peak Oil but it makes me feel better knowing I did what I could.

Not saying we won't see something happen in our lifetime but I suspect it's more likely somewhere between the worst and best stuff that you see people saying rather than too extreme in either direction. But hey, I could be wrong. I'm just a plant Dr. in training.

[MrPC]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('spork', 'M')an with all the enthusiasm around here I don't know why I read these forums! Sheesh.

[Chichis]

I know that show =D

[spork]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrPC', '')$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('spork', 'M')an with all the enthusiasm around here I don't know why I read these forums! Sheesh.

[MrPC]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('spork', 'I') was just saying that people act like it's all over already nothing can be done to make it better.

I'm just trying to be optimistic while not unrealistic.

Nothing about the future is ever certain...

[Whitecrab]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('MrPC', 'O')ne worthwhile series of questions posed in an old TV show from the 90s that I enjoyed seems relevant here:

Who are you?
What do you want?
Why are you here?
Where are you going?

Tis worth some thought.

[Ardalla]

Heh, I'm tempted to say that the time to set us on the right course was back during the Robert Kennedy administration. Instead of Bobby we got (sorry I can't say the name).

One of the markers I am watching out for is the prediction made a year and a half ago by Simmons that a natural gas crisis was inevitable within 2 years. The peak oil hypothesis will not drag on year after year with Campbell saying "Well, it didn't happen this year, but soon, soon." The reserves that the Saudis are claiming are real or not. We will soon find out if they are bluffing.

[Tanada]

I was a bit down after reading through all the myriad gloom and doom predictions resulting from the current crisis so I dug deep and found this thread, which encouraged me once again to face the dawn with hope and anticipation instead of dread and depression. Thank you to all who contributed to lifting my spirit!

[jvangi]

Read "A theory of Power" by Jeff Vail.

A thery of Power

In this book, a man of 27 years old (younger than I, doh!) writes about why he thinks we are here and more importantly how to deal with it.
For that, he starts with the last research in quantic physics and finishes with how to organize ourselves to deal with this idea.

That's a great read!

[FairMaiden]

Why be depressed? Were you depressed before Y2K? Were you depressed during the cold war?

Every generation thinks the world is going to end in their time. Yet we are still here. Whether its Peak Oil or something else - it always makes sense to be prepared. Its empowering to plan. Take the reins and do something about it instead of worrying. My bf & I have extra food, extra water, wax for candles around the house. We only drive our one vehicle when we absolutely have to (we have a business that requires equipment). We talk about what we can do better (like paying off the mortgage, growing veggies, moving to a smaller community). We decide if its something we'd like to do - even if Peak Oil never existed. If it is, then we do it. You can't let this run your life bc you have no idea what will happen tommorrow. As much as everyone on here claims PO will destroy life as we know it, there is as much reason to believe we could find cold fusion or thermodynamics to supply enegery we need.

I personally don't think that will happen - but we don't know anymore than PO will destroy our lives.

Remember this - we can have a very happy healthy & full life w/o all the technology if it came to that. Once you are prepared for that, you'll find you worry less.

[Tanada]

$this->bbcode_second_pass_quote('FairMaiden', 'W')hy be depressed? Were you depressed before Y2K? Were you depressed during the cold war?

Every generation thinks the world is going to end in their time. Yet we are still here. Whether its Peak Oil or something else - it always makes sense to be prepared. Its empowering to plan. Take the reins and do something about it instead of worrying. My bf & I have extra food, extra water, wax for candles around the house. We only drive our one vehicle when we absolutely have to (we have a business that requires equipment). We talk about what we can do better (like paying off the mortgage, growing veggies, moving to a smaller community). We decide if its something we'd like to do - even if Peak Oil never existed. If it is, then we do it. You can't let this run your life bc you have no idea what will happen tommorrow. As much as everyone on here claims PO will destroy life as we know it, there is as much reason to believe we could find cold fusion or thermodynamics to supply enegery we need.

I personally don't think that will happen - but we don't know anymore than PO will destroy our lives.

Remember this - we can have a very happy healthy & full life w/o all the technology if it came to that. Once you are prepared for that, you'll find you worry less.

[Macsporan]

Losing hope?

Review Macsporan's posts and see me in the morning.

[rogerhb]

It may be good to lose hope if it is false hope. If you knock down your view of the world and try and rebuild it on more solid foundations you can still have healthy optimism. Work out:

(a) what is really happening in the world
(b) what is important to you personally

Then pickup (b) in a suitcase and roll with the knocks thrown by (a).