A Fulfillment of the Great Story

An Interview with Joanna Macy

What are your images of life? Why are we here?

Macy: We are here as a fruit of the great story, the unfolding of the universe. We are here to celebrate that and to evolve it further. Such celebration involves awe and great humility because it is forever beyond our complete understanding. Think of that relation of part to whole; the part can never fully understand the whole and is meant to live in harmony with it and to not cause harm. We are here to take part in the great dance of creation with the particular abilities that life has evolved in us.

How do these images affect your everyday life?

Macy: It helps me stay sane in a society that is increasingly myopic and destructive. It helps me stay sane in a society ruled by fear, greed and hatred, which is really what drives the industrial growth society. This vision helps me keep my eyes open. It gives me courage to keep on loving life and to take part in all efforts to respect it.