Books, DVDs & Online Videos
On this page and the next two you’ll find a list books (the DVDs & online videos are on the third page) that I have found helpful and inspiring. They are not presented in any order of preference, though I have created sections which might prove helpful for reference.
Deep Ecology
Thinking Like a Mountain: Towards a Council of All Beings (New Society Publishers, 1988, Joanna Macy, John Seed, Arne Naess, and Pat Fleming) - a collection of essays, poems, rituals and mediations for inspiration and leading deep ecology workshops. Currently out of print, though the full text is available from John Seed’s website.
World As Lover, World As Self (Parallax Press, 1991, Joanna Macy) - a collection of essays, and talks given by Joanna Macy covering her travels in Asia, exploration of Buddhism, deep ecology and deep time work.
Coming Back to Life: Practices to Reconnect Our Lives, Our World (New Society Publishers, 1999, Joanna Macy) - the theories and methods for the group practise of Despair & Empowerment work that Joanna Macy and colleagues have developed. An invaluable resource.
Toward A Transpersonal Ecology (Green Books Ltd, 1995, Warwick Fox) - subtitled Developing New Foundations for Environmentalism, this is a scholarly and pioneering work exploring the key ideas (political, methodological and psychological) involved in deep ecology. The first book that I read on the subject. Not always easy going if philosophy is not your subject, but offering a new and exciting way of looking at our world.
The Spell of the Sensuous: Perception and Language in a More-Than-Human World (Vintage Books, 1997, David Abram) - a beautifully written book exploring how language and the written word has effected our perception and so interaction with the natural world. Rigorous scholarship exists side by side with poetic prose.
Ecopsychology
Ecopsychology: Restoring the Earth/Healing the Mind (Sierra Club Books Publication, 2002, Editors: Theodore Roszak, Mary E. Gomes, Allen D. Kanner) - essays on ecopsychology from a variety of authors. A good introduction to the subject.
Wilderness Experience
SOULCRAFT: Crossing into the Mysteries of Nature and Psyche (New World Library, 2003, Bill Plotkin) - a rich book guiding us back to our sacred connection with the natural world. More information about the book can be found on the website of Bill Plotkin’s Animas Valley Institute.
The Book of the Vision Quest (A Fireside Book, 1992, Steven Foster, Meredith Little) - stories from experiences of renewal and personal transformation through contemporary Vision Quests. Written by the founders of the School of Lost Borders.
The Roaring of the Sacred River (Lost Borders Press, 1989, 1997, Steven Foster, Meredith Little) - following on from The Book of the Vision Quest, this book more deeply explores the ancient rite of passage. Written by the founders of the School of Lost Borders.
Soil and Soul: People versus Corporate Power (Aurum Press Ltd, 2001, Alastair McIntosh) - I love this book. Alastair McIntosh weaves spirituality, poetry, non-violence and myth together in a book that looks at how a group of islanders in northern Scotland bought back the ownership of the island from the governing Laird. Having a long interest in these themes and the non-violent struggles of Mahatma Gandhi, it was a joy to see them brought together in a modern day context.
The Voice of the Earth: An Exploration of Ecopsychology (Phanes Press, U.S., 2002, Theodore Roszak) - originally published in the early 90s, for many this book was the first attempt to explore the terrain of ecopsychology. Still an important book in the field with an afterword by the author reflecting on the development of ecopsychology since the book’s first publication.
