Warmest greetings, Peter, and deep gratitude for your ongoing work and all the amazing thought you have put into "Learning how the Land Speaks." I wanted to ask about "Moments of Grace" - are you aware of Thomas Berry's use of that phrase and his articulation of it meaning for him? One place to check that out is Thomas Berry, "Selected Writings" in which there is a section titled Moments of Grace." Again, many thanks and all best, John and Mary Evelyn
Yes indeed, John, I was partly following Thomas but also following my own meaning that a moment of grace is when the world opens to its wider dimensions. I think this is different from Thomas‘s use of a moment of Grace as being some irreversible transition in the cosmos be that at Dawn or dusk, or the explosion of stars to create the elements. The turning of the tide is my particular favourite when the water hangs between flow and and the world seems to hang with it. My second sailing pilgrimage book was called or is called in search of Grace, although of course unless you search for things you won’t find them but if you search too compulsively, you won’t find them either! Thanks for your appreciation of my writing. PX
This essay is an excellent synthesis of the many threads and layers that have brought us to where we are now. There is so much in it that resonates with my own heart/mind, being only 5 years younger than you. It is well worth being widely read. Thank you.
Moments of grace, indeed. Thanks for the Bateson. I read the book back when and guess that the paragraph could have lurked in my sub-conscious. I am three years ahead of you and they have gone as fast as the 21stC accelerates. I had a similar journey to you but never quite made it into the English middle-class, though mum & dad thought they and we had; the roots were still there in the stunned agrarian left-over of southern England. Moving in interesting circles however, I heard my first heads-up on climate change at the Centre for Human Ecology circa 1985 (h/t to a guest of Ulrich Loening) and obsessed over articles in Nature thereafter.
Appreciate very much your historical sketch. I have tried this last week over at Iain McGilchrist's substack to briefly sketch that same history, 30 Years War included, but not sure if I have made it.
How might it go? Nate Hagens suggests the meek will inherit the earth. 'Complexification', what a word, of fossil fuels does suggest a very short leash, but there is a lot to play for.
Moments of grace for me have included help and protection, our small creature world given a place even unto death, even guidance despite my inability to steer the ship as it were.
What an excellent and deeply moving overview of a lifetime of scholarship and serious thought. Thank you.
Warmest greetings, Peter, and deep gratitude for your ongoing work and all the amazing thought you have put into "Learning how the Land Speaks." I wanted to ask about "Moments of Grace" - are you aware of Thomas Berry's use of that phrase and his articulation of it meaning for him? One place to check that out is Thomas Berry, "Selected Writings" in which there is a section titled Moments of Grace." Again, many thanks and all best, John and Mary Evelyn
Yes indeed, John, I was partly following Thomas but also following my own meaning that a moment of grace is when the world opens to its wider dimensions. I think this is different from Thomas‘s use of a moment of Grace as being some irreversible transition in the cosmos be that at Dawn or dusk, or the explosion of stars to create the elements. The turning of the tide is my particular favourite when the water hangs between flow and and the world seems to hang with it. My second sailing pilgrimage book was called or is called in search of Grace, although of course unless you search for things you won’t find them but if you search too compulsively, you won’t find them either! Thanks for your appreciation of my writing. PX
A fascinating and moving journey, Peter. I'm sorry your pitch was unsuccessful. I can't imagine why.
This essay is an excellent synthesis of the many threads and layers that have brought us to where we are now. There is so much in it that resonates with my own heart/mind, being only 5 years younger than you. It is well worth being widely read. Thank you.
Thank you for this personal & insightful account of how we got to where we are now.
Thanks Peter, including references.
Moments of grace, indeed. Thanks for the Bateson. I read the book back when and guess that the paragraph could have lurked in my sub-conscious. I am three years ahead of you and they have gone as fast as the 21stC accelerates. I had a similar journey to you but never quite made it into the English middle-class, though mum & dad thought they and we had; the roots were still there in the stunned agrarian left-over of southern England. Moving in interesting circles however, I heard my first heads-up on climate change at the Centre for Human Ecology circa 1985 (h/t to a guest of Ulrich Loening) and obsessed over articles in Nature thereafter.
Appreciate very much your historical sketch. I have tried this last week over at Iain McGilchrist's substack to briefly sketch that same history, 30 Years War included, but not sure if I have made it.
How might it go? Nate Hagens suggests the meek will inherit the earth. 'Complexification', what a word, of fossil fuels does suggest a very short leash, but there is a lot to play for.
Moments of grace for me have included help and protection, our small creature world given a place even unto death, even guidance despite my inability to steer the ship as it were.
Such powerful inquiry here. Thank you.