Search Results

Here's a list of some upcoming online and Rogue Valley in-person eco-spiritual activities that may interest you. Check back, as this post will be updated during July as we get additional information, and a new calendar listing will come out in late July 2025. Don't be intimidated by the scope of this list; choose to participate in just what calls to you. June 25, 2025 - July 30, 2025 , Wednesday evenings from 5-7 p.m. PDT - The Cobb Institute offers   Exploring Crises and Possibilities for Ecological Justice and Wellbeing This 6-week, Zoom course "explores visions of ecological civilization, drawing upon process-relational understandings of the cosmos, ecological movements, and central ideas and practices in diverse human communities and fields of thought. The purpose is to gather and build upon practical wisdom, seeking to dive deeply into crises and possibilities. Practical wisdom has power to transform the downward spiral of ecological destruction and to foster movements for protecting, healing, and regenerating our broken planet.  Register here . June 28, 2025 , from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. PDT - Sustaining Climate Activists is having their monthly gathering at Blue Heron Park 4385 Pacific Hwy, Phoenix, Oregon, or at the Talent Public Library for social time, resilience tool education, and sharing. June 30, 2025 - July 3, 2025 - The   Global Systems Institute  at the University of Exeter, the   Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research ,  and th e   Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology   will co-host the Global Tipping Points Conference . "The program will cover the latest developments in both negative and positive tipping points, at scales from local to global, and from theory to practice. It will consider the risks from climate tipping points and opportunities for positive tipping points for different regions, communities, sectors, and supply chains. " Global Tipping Points is led by Professor Tim Lenton from the University of Exeter’s Global Systems Institute with the support of more than 200 researchers from over 90 organizations in 26 countries. Registration has closed, but you might want to read a writeup in the Guardian on June 24, 2025: ' This is a fight for life’: climate expert on tipping points, doomerism, and using wealth as a shield . The New York Times on August 11, 2024 also has a visually compelling interactive article How Close Are the Planet’s Climate Tipping Points? July 4, 2025 , at 9:30 a.m. PDT - SOCAN will have a booth at Lithia Park in Ashland, OR for the July 4th Parade . The 2025 Theme is  "Celebrating the Magic of Community" and the start is at Triangle Park. July 8, 2025 , at 9 a.m. PDT - IFTF offers a foresight talk: Foresight for Movement Leaders in a Time Such as This. IFTF Foresight Talks  are moderated one-hour sessions filled with tips, insights, and first-hand experience. They spark rich dialogue among futures thinkers from leading organizations as they discuss how to navigate today’s global turbulence — and transform challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities. These monthly talks are free, open to all, and ideal for graduates of the IFTF  Foresight Essentials training . Each session includes a period for questions from the audience and is archived on the site one week after its airing.  Register here. July 12, 2025 , from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. PDT - The Work That Reconnects Network is offering a webinar with Matthew Fox: Four Paths of Creation Spirituality . " Reawakening our authentic awe and gratitude for the miracle of life is essential to our ability to meet the challenges and opportunities of this complex moment. Through his lifelong journey as a spiritual seeker, teacher, and scholar of Christian Mysticism, Matthew Fox, invites us to activate this mystical relationship with life so we can engage in the sacred responsibility of living our lives in service of compassion and collective wellbeing." Register here. July 20, 2025 , from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. PDT - Rogue Valley Farm Tour  with 30 farms participating. Medford Food Co-op will have brochures, or check at the info booth at the Medford Growers Market on Thursday. Wear sturdy shoes, a hat, bring your water bottle, leave the pets at home, and have a good time! For more information, co n tact Flavia Franco July 26, 2025 , from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. PDT - Sustaining Climate Activists  is having their monthly gathering at Blue Heron Park, 4385 Pacific Hwy, Phoenix, Oregon, or at the Talent Public Library for social time, resilience tool education, and sharing. July 29, 2025 , at 6 p.m. PDT - SOCAN is having its monthly General Meeting : How Climate Science Divides Us: Social Dimensions of Climate Change Mitigation in the Large Meeting Room, Medford Public Library, 205 South Central, Medford, OR. " Dr. Rob Winthrop argues that climate change is not an environmental problem. It is a social problem with profound environmental consequences. While acknowledging the soundness of climate science, he questions how the science has been used to shape policies around highly technical objectives (such as “net zero” emissions) that lack social salience and fail to build consensus. He suggests that we should encourage social mobilization for a climate-positive future around shared goals, not beliefs (including a belief in human-caused climate change). Thus, he thinks that rather than focusing primarily on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, we should pursue climate action as a co-benefit of other socially desired goals, such as energy efficiency and self-reliance."  September 2025 to June 2026 - The   Center for Wild Spirituality   is now making plans for their Seminary of the Wild Earth  program (their foundational, year-long, eco-spirituality certificate) and their Vocational Eco-Spirituality  certificate (specializing in Eco-Spiritual Direction or as a Wild Guide) . Click here  to join the waitlist for their 2025 cohort. September 22, 2025 – September 12, 2026   -   The Center  for  Action and Contemplation  (CAC) offers an online course   Essentials of Engaged Contemplation ,   featuring: Brian McLaren, James Finley, Richard Rohr, Dr. Barbara Holmes, Carmen Acevedo Butcher, Randy Woodley, and more. Cost: $2,100, $1,575, or $1,050. More information and registration are available here. October 24-26, 2025  - The Center  for  Action and  Contemplation  (CAC) is holding its annual fall conference,  ReVision: What Do We Do With Christianity? , in person in New Mexico and online. More information and registration are available here. September 24, 2025, 6  a.m.–2 p.m. PDT   - The New York Times flagship live event, Climate Forward , will feature a full day of interviews with world leaders, executives, activists, and lawmakers about our rapidly warming planet. You can apply to attend in person or register to be notified about the livestream here . September 20-30, 2025  - Faith in Place's Annual Environment & Spirituality Summit will feature  Keynote Speaker Robin Wall Kimmerer. Session 1 will be with Rev. Dr. Randy Woodley ( a virtual session exploring the interwoven paths of Indigenous wisdom, faith, and Earth justice); Session 2 with Dr. Carolyn Finney (storyteller, author cultural geographer) who is passionate about interrogating our past and dreaming of a future that is liberatory, just, and green, and Session 3 is with Lyanda Lynn Haupt . ( award-winning author, naturalist, and ecophilosopher). Register here . Rogue Valley Voice aggregates and curates information from many third-party sources and does not necessarily endorse all aspects of others' work. Still, we find their viewpoint provocative and interesting enough to encourage the reader to engage with and come to their understanding and actions, as they deem appropriate.

https://youtu.be/JQPlhdbfrC8?si=_kgjXr81yfUljF40 The Snowmass Interreligious Conference was held from 1984 until 2015 by Father Thomas Keating (1923-2018) at the St. Benedict's Monastary in Snowmass, Colorado. The Conference invited "deep practitioners" from Christian, Jewish, Buddhist, Hindu, Native American, and Islamic traditions to compare notes, connect, and clarify. One result has been to distill out eight profound points of agreement shared by each of the participants: The world religions bear witness to the experience of Ultimate Reality, to which they give various names. Ultimate Reality cannot be limited by any name or concept. Ultimate Reality is the ground of infinite potentiality and actualization. Faith is opening, accepting, and responding to Ultimate Reality. Faith in this sense precedes every belief system. The potential for human wholeness - or, in other frames of reference, enlightenment, salvation, transcendence, transformation, blessedness - is present in every human being. Ultimate Reality may be experienced not only through religious practices, but also through nature, art, human relationships, and service to others. As long as the human condition is experienced as separate from Ultimate Reality, it is subject to ignorance and illusion, weakness and suffering. Discliplined practice is essential to the spiritual life; yet spiritual attainment is not the result of one's own efforts, but the result of the experience of oneness with Ultimate Reality. Until 2006, few people even knew about these Conferences, so the publication of The Common Heart, An Experience of Interreligious Dialogue , was "a great gift to the world in providing a window into this rarefied spiritual think tank." With a forward by Ken Wilbur, the book Includes the thoughts of eight participants: Fr. Thomas Keating, Roshi Bernie Glassman, Swami Atmarupananda, Dr. Ibrahim Gamard, Imam Bilal Hyde, Pema Chödrön, Rabbi Henoch Dov Hoffman, and Grandfather Gerald Red Elk. Initiated in 2016, with the blessing of Father Thomas Keating, the Charis Snowmass Dialogues continue the spirit of the original Snowmass Interreligious Dialogues. These week-long, invitation-only dialogue retreats are held in a relaxed, contemplative atmosphere with an intimate group of twelve teachers, thinkers, and practitioners from diverse backgrounds. Each dialogue highlights an aspect of spiritual life, with topics such as The Future of Religion, Spiritual Practice, The New Monastery, Spiritual Formation and Spiritual Community. The Dawn of Interspirituality Conference in 2013 brought together a reunion of attendees from 30 years of the Snowmass Interreligious Conference. The Interfaith Observer (TIO )  thrives in the Center for Ecumenical and Interreligious Engagement  (CEIE) at Seattle University, alongside CEIE’s Theolab, Religica . #Interfaith #Interspirituality #ThomasKeating #SnowmassInterReligiousConference #TIO #CEIE #Religica

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RJjG54LI4SE Human Energy has released the above video of the June 12, 2025, New York City Salon: Human Energy for Work & Life: Cultivating Agency, Connection, and Purpose in the Age of AI , This inaugural event in their  Global Salon Serie s was an evening of dialogue, connection, and insight hosted at Fordham University’s Lincoln Center Campus. "The salon brought together innovative voices in evolutionary biology, business, psychology, neuroscience, and AI to explore how we can harness our individual and collective energy to meet today’s complex challenges." Featured speakers were: Sheila Hassell Hughes - CEO, Human Energy Cornelia C. Walther - Director, POZE, a global alliance for systemic change that benefits people and planet. Wharton AI & Analytics Visiting Scholar Raj Sisodia - FEMSA Distinguished University Professor and Chairman, Conscious Enterprise Center, Tecnológico de Monterrey James A. Coan - Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology and Director of the Virginia Affective Neuroscience Laboratory, University of Virginia David Sloan Wilson - Human Energy Advisory Board Member and SUNY Distinguished Professor Emeritus of Biology and Anthropology, Binghamton University Inspired by the conversation and community? Whether you’d like to respond to this panel, host your own Satellite Salon , or help shape the future of the Global Salon Series, Human Energy would love to hear from you. Join the dialogue on their Discord server  in the #GlobalSalonSeries channel or reach out directly at hello@humanenergy.io .

July 20, 2025 , from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. PDT - Rogue Valley Farm Tour with 30 farms participating. Medford Food Co-op will have brochures, or check at the info booth at the Medford Growers Market on Thursday. This is a great way to reconnect with what makes Rogue Valley so special. Wear sturdy shoes, a hat, bring your water bottle, leave the pets at home, and have a good time! For more information, co n tact Flavia Franco , a member of Southern Oregon Food Solutions (SOFS), whose vision is "t o have a more self-sufficient, sustainable community, and to minimize food waste that causes greenhouse gas emissions.." The SOFS mission is "to educate and inspire action for food production, usage, and disposal."

Spiritual community for generations X, Y, and Z usually does not mean church or organized religion, but several networks offer resources for conscious living, empowerment, and inspiration. Community is created both in person and online. These groups are all about helping people connect, grow, and make the world a better place. Here’s a partial list. 1. Human Energy What They Do : This nonprofit is all about advancing research into the future of human collective consciousness. They focus on how we can work together as a global community to solve big challenges like climate change, AI ethics, and social media’s impact. Cool Projects : N2 Conference : Bring together experts to discuss the future of human collective consciousness. Master Class - Science of the Noosphere : A graduate-level course exploring how humanity can evolve together. Why It’s Inspiring : They believe in the power of collective intelligence and that humanity is part of a bigger cosmic story. 🌌 Website : Human Energy 2. The Shift Network What They Do : Online courses, summits, and events help people live more consciously and create positive change in their communities. A powerful 21-day journey of inner awakening, daily inspiration, and practical conscious living. Each day offers a short message, reflection, and simple action to ground you in your Higher Self and help co-create a more unified, loving world. Cool Projects : Global Peace Week : A worldwide event promoting peace and unity. Empowerment Courses : Topics like mindfulness, leadership, and personal growth. Why It’s Inspiring : They’re all about empowering individuals to make a difference while staying connected to a global movement. 🌍 Website: https://theshiftnetwork.com/ 3. The Pachamama Alliance What They Do : Focuses on creating a sustainable future by connecting modern society with Indigenous wisdom. Cool Projects : Awakening the Dreamer : Workshops that inspire people to take action for a just and sustainable world. Jungle Mamas : Empowering women in the Amazon to lead their communities. Why It’s Inspiring : They blend ancient knowledge with modern solutions to tackle global challenges. 🌱 Website: https://pachamama.org 4. HeartMath Institute (HMI) What They Do : Researches the connection between heart intelligence, emotions, and well-being. They teach techniques to reduce stress and build resilience. Cool Projects : Global Coherence Initiative : Aims to unite people worldwide in creating positive change. Heart-Based Living Programs : Tools for personal and community empowerment. Why It’s Inspiring : They show how small changes in our emotions can ripple out to create big impacts. 💓 Website: https://www.heartmath.org 5. Bioneers What They Do : A hub for social and environmental innovators working to create a more equitable and sustainable world. Cool Projects : Annual Bioneers Conference : Bring together changemakers to share ideas and solutions. Youth Leadership Program : Empower young people to lead in their communities. Why It’s Inspiring : They focus on practical solutions while celebrating the interconnectedness of life. 🌿 Website: https://bioneers.org 6. The Center for Humane Technology What They Do : Tackles the “techno-social dilemma” by promoting technology that aligns with humanity’s best interests. Cool Projects : The Social Dilemma Documentary : Explores the impact of social media on society. Humane Design Guide : Helps tech creators design tools that empower rather than exploit. Why It’s Inspiring : They’re reimagining how we use technology to build a better future. 💻 Website: https://www.humanetech.com 7. The Wellbeing Project What They Do : Support social change leaders in prioritizing their own well-being to create healthier communities. Cool Projects : Inner Development Programs : Focused on mindfulness and emotional resilience. Global Wellbeing Summit : A gathering of changemakers to share insights and practices. Why It’s Inspiring : They remind us that taking care of ourselves is key to taking care of the world. 🌈 Website: https://wellbeing-project.org 8. The Global Coherence Initiative (GCI) What They Do : A project by HeartMath that unites people worldwide to create a harmonious and sustainable future. Cool Projects : Coherence Meditations : Group meditations to promote global harmony. Scientific Research : Studies the impact of collective emotions on the planet. Why It’s Inspiring : They show how collective energy can literally change the world. Website: https://www.heartmath.org/gci/ ✨ 9. The Omega Institute for Wholistic Living What They Do : A retreat center offering workshops on mindfulness, sustainability, and personal growth. Cool Projects : Mindfulness Retreats : Help people reconnect with themselves and nature. Sustainability Initiatives : Focused on green living and environmental education. Why It’s Inspiring : They create spaces for people to recharge and find inspiration. 🌺 Website: https://www.eomega.org 10. The Sunrise Movement What They Do : A youth-led organization fighting for climate justice and a sustainable future. Cool Projects : Green New Deal Campaigns : Advocating for policies to combat climate change. Youth Training Programs : Empowering young leaders to take action. Why It’s Inspiring : They prove that young people have the power to drive real change. 🔥 Website: https://www.sunrisemovement.org 11. The Heart Mind Community What They Do : Ongoing Community Activities, including Guided Meditations, Monthly Meetups & Coaching Videos, Online Workshops, Live Meditation Retreats, and Weekly Meditation Sessions Cool Projects : Why It’s Inspiring : They help you create relationships, possibility, and abundance for yourself and others in service of humanity and a sustainable future for everyone. 🔥 Website: https://community.heartmind.co 12. The Deeptime Network What They Do : Vision of a  world in which an evolving interconnected universe, with its unique community of life on our home planet Earth, is a context for understanding, belonging, inspiration, decision-making and creating the future. Cool Projects : Deeptime Forum Why It’s Inspiring : Big Picture, New Story, Montessori Cosmic Vision and Education, Big History, Journey of the Universe, Universe Story , and  Gaia Systems Theory, to name a few 🔥 Website: https://dtnetwork.org/category/all/ 13. Ubiquity University What They Do :  They offer transformational higher education for people ready to make a positive contribution toward solving current global challenges. Cool Projects : Ubiquity Community Why It’s Inspiring : From healing past traumas to working with consciousness to co-create the future and the radical collaboration needed to make an impact at scale; all are grounded in a lived experience of interconnectedness. 🔥 Website: https://www.ubiquityuniversity.org 14. Center for Action and Contemplation What They Do : Founded by Franciscan Richard Rohr, this center offers spiritual seekers wisdom and practices to transform themselves and the world. Learn about its programs, offerings, and vision of action and contemplation as inseparable. Cool Projects : Oct. 24 – 26, 2025 - ReVision: What Do We Do With Christianity ? In-Person in Albuquerque, NM, and Online Why It’s Inspiring : Contemplation gradually rewires our brains to meet and respond to reality as it is, without judgment or comparison. There are many ways to practice contemplation , from chanting to breath work, sitting in silence or moving with intention. 🔥 Website: https://cac.org 15. Center for Christogenesis What They Do : Deepen the integration of science and religion by understanding the contribution of each discipline to the whole field of knowing and loving. Reflect on the human person as an integral member of the cosmic whole and advance development toward integrated consciousness. Enkindle an awareness of love as the core energy of the universe, the impulse of evolution. Cool Projects : Christophany Groups transform lives and heal our world through communal reflection on the insights of Ilia Delio, Teilhard de Chardin, and other like-minded thinkers. These small communities are committed to meeting regularly, either virtually or in person, to discuss books, articles, podcasts, and webinars offered by the Center for Christogenesis. Why It’s Inspiring : The Center for Christogenesis organizes conferences, offers live virtual webinars, and holds online workshops featuring Ilia Delio and others at the cutting edge of the intersection between science and religion. 🔥 Website: https://christogenesis.org 16. Science and NonDuality What They Do :  We come together to explore beyond ultimate truths, binary thinking, and individual awakening while in deep reverence of the beauty, complexity, pain, and great mystery that weave the infinite cycles of existence. Cool Projects : A Global Community Why It’s Inspiring : Discover support and inspiration in a thriving community guided by spiritual teachers, wisdom keepers, scientists, visionaries… and you. 🔥 Website : https://scienceandnonduality.com 17. Institute of Noetic Sciences What They Do :   Belong to a community at the intersection of science and spirituality that is making a unique difference in our world. . Cool Projects : Participate in members-only webinars, including our ongoing Noetic Global Gatherings for Members, a series of community discussion groups for Noetic explorers worldwide. Why It’s Inspiring : Gain access to a vast Member Media Library filled with exclusive video content. 🔥 Website : https://noetic.org 18. ProSocial World What They Do :  They " use science to help groups become more cooperative, adaptable, and resilient." Cool Projects : August 26, 2025 - ProSocial Action Lab Groups from around the world will come together to learn, research, play, and practice their collaborative skills. More information here . September 4, 2025 - Becoming ProSocial: Building Trust and Collaboration in our Groups and Networks. More information here. Why It’s Inspiring : Groups or members of groups who want to apply ProSocial in their context with personal coaching support and action research tools..  🔥 Website: https://www.prosocial.world These organizations are proof that when we come together, we can create a world that’s not just surviving but thriving. 🌟 Whether it’s through technology, sustainability, or personal growth, they’re all about empowering people to live consciously and make a difference. Which one speaks to you the most? 😊

Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility is a combined wind/solar/battery power generation facility near Lexington, Morrow County, Oregon. It is owned by Portland General Electric and NextEra Energy. On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the so-called One Big Beautiful Bill into law. JPR reports that passage of Trump's OBBB "will impact Oregon with fewer funds to fight climate change . Oregon had been promised nearly $200 million in federal funds to fight climate change through the Inflation Reduction Act, but the OBBB will eliminate much of the federal government’s involvement in climate change response. It stops federal tax credits for people buying electric vehicles or making homes energy efficient, and it restricts programs that seek to limit carbon emissions from industry. Tracking climate change could become more difficult; the bill claws back funding for greenhouse gas reporting programs. Even the Inflation Reduction Act renewable projects that are already in the works could be penalized if not completed by 2027." Oregon will see more logging, less timber money going to local communities, and less support for private forest owners. And renewable energy projects planned for federally owned lands could cost much more to develop and run. OBBB calls for the U.S. Forest Service to boost logging by 75% over the next decade, and a dds new fees for solar and wind projects on Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management land, and it introduces new taxes on the energy generated by those projects. “It’s the most anti-environment and anti-climate bill in history,” ~ Lindsey Scholten, Oregon League of Conservation Voters The New York Times gives a national perspective on How the G.O.P. Bill Will Reshape America’s Energy Landscape . Meanwhile, the New York Times also reports that "In China, more wind turbines and solar panels were installed last year than in the rest of the world combined. And China’s clean energy boom is going global. Chinese companies are building electric vehicle and battery factories in Brazil, Thailand, Morocco, Hungary, and beyond."

" Museums provide the first draft of art history. They decide which artists get to share wall space with masters like Michelangelo, Rembrandt and Picasso." ~ Zachary Small New York Times Reporter New York is the global epicenter of the art market. It is estimated that New York accounts for up to 90% of the value of sales in the US, making it the global epicenter of the art market. The US was the largest art market in the world in 2019, with a market share of 44%. There are more than 760 galleries in New York City alone, according to a 2020 analysis . An April 25, 2025, New York Times article by Zachary Small and Julia Halperin noted that museums that have the responsibility to curate who to feature have in recent years increasingly turned for logistical and, at times, financial support for their shows to major commercial art galleries, an elite slice of the art world which account for a sizable chunk of the $57.5 billion art market. Thus, t he gallery system is the vehicle for art history in the making. Read their full story with this link . Hyperallergic reports that the annual Artlogic Gallery Report is now out, and "its findings capture a portrait of an art world and gallery sector at a pivotal crossroads. One that’s simultaneously embracing innovation and grappling with intensifying challenges." Here are the four key insights: Hybrid Is the New Normal Running a Gallery Is Tougher Than Ever Keep Your Collectors Close One Size Doesn’t Fit All Want the full picture? Download the 2025 Artlogic Gallery Report to explore all the insights, data, and recommendations shaping the future of galleries. Interact with Digital Art Augmentation: Google Arts and Culture Bonjour Vincent, at the Musée d’Orsay in Paris is a lifelike doppelgänger of the Dutch artist who chats with visitors, offering insights into his own life and death (replete with machine-learning flubs). National Gallery Imaginirium Google Virtual Tour of the National Gallery, London Explore Leading Art Periodicals: Artforum Art in America Hyperallergic ’s journalism offers trustworthy perspectives on everything from art history to contemporary art. It spotlights artist-led social movements, uncovers overlooked stories, and provides global coverage without the elitism often found in art journalism. It is not beholden to large corporations or billionaires. Its journalism is funded by readers,   ensuring integrity and independence in its coverage. ArtAsia Pacific Visit one of America's leading museums in person or online: Whitney Museum of American Art Museum of Modern Art New York Metropolitan Museum of Art New York Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum Frick Collection Morgan Library & Museum Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago Baltimore Museum of Art Dallas Museum of Art Museum of Fine Arts Houston Museum of Contemporary Art in North Miami Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco National Gallery of Art National Museum of Women in the Arts Glenstone J. Paul Getty Museum Los Angeles County Museum of Art Crocker Art Museum Schneider Museum of Art Cantor Arts Center at Stanford University Oakland Museum of California International Art The Louvre Musée d’Orsay Musée d’Art Moderne de Paris The National Gallery, London Art Gallery of New South Wales 100 Of The World’s Top Art Galleries The Purpose of Art Suzi Gablik's 1995 book The Reenchantment of Art asks: How might we restore to our culture its sense of aliveness, possibility, and magic? "We live in a culture... a particular way of life for which we have been programmed lack any cosmic, or transperson dimension, but its underlying principles of manic production and consumption, maximum energy flow, pointless waste, and greed are now threatening the entire ecosystem in which we live." Thirty years ago Gablik wrote: "My sense is that what we will be seeing over the next few decades is art that is essentially social and purposeful, art that rejects the myths of neutrality and autonomy....forms evoking the feeling of belonging to a larger whole rather than expressing the isolated, alienated self... a new connective, participatory aesthetics.. a value-based art that is able to transcend the modernist opposition between the aesthetic and the social." Fine Art Wikipedia says that "In European academic traditions, fine art (or, fine arts ) is made primarily for aesthetics or creative expression , distinguishing it from popular art , decorative art or applied art , which also either serve some practical function (such as pottery or most metalwork) or is generally of limited artistic quality to appeal to the masses. The decline of the concept of "fine art" is dated by George Kubler and others to around 1880. When it "fell out of fashion." Art Education A fine arts degree, such as a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA), is an undergraduate program focused on professional education in visual and performing arts, emphasizing practical studio work over traditional lecture-based courses. Students typically specialize in areas like acting, music, painting, or graphic design, preparing them for careers in creative fields. Patrick Collier notes that "very few artists achieve any sort of financial independence by making art... and approximately five percent of art students continue to make are five years out of school."

The Human Energy Project is a catalytic hub for evolving collective consciousness. The non-profit organization was founded "to share a new scientific and cosmic story re-introducing the Noosphere as a source of meaning for future generations in our globalizing world." The project addresses the current "challenges of unprecedented technological and social change which, together with the scientific picture of an aimless universe, have created a crisis of orientation." Four years ago cosmologist Brian Thomas Swimme narrated a series of 30 short videos for Human Energy on   YouTube  introducing a Third Story of the Universe - exploring eight conditions that gave rise to the Noosphere in five stages of human history: Paleolithic (300,000 - 9,000 years BCE); Neolithic (9,000 - 3,000 BCE); Classical (3,000 BCE - 1,400 CE); Modern (1,400 CE - present); and the Future, "The Third Story of the Universe   offers  a meaningful way to understand this moment in the history of our species. This new cosmic story contrasts with rigid interpretations of religions and myths (the First Story) as well as current versions of science that eliminate meaning and purpose from the universe (the Second Story)." The Third Story that Human Energy is proposing is about renewing the sense of purpose... through a deeper understanding of the evidence-based scientific method and evolutionary theory. As Pierre Teilhard de Chardin put it, ‘There is something afoot in the universe, something that looks like gestation and birth.’ In other words, a plan, a purpose to it all." Human Energy sponsors a variety of opportunities for in-person interdisciplinary conversation. Most recently they hosted a Global Salon on June 12, 2025, in New York City: C ultivating Agency, Connection, and Purpose in the Age of AI . Human Energy is now offering GenOptimist AI  - a customized version of ChatGPT  " emphasizing science-based optimism and collective decision-making," Among the other resources Human Energy offers are a Glossary , links to various publications , recommended books , and blog   essays. To engage in community conversation Human Energy has periodic live, Discord, "Ask Me Anything" (AMA) events. First, you join Human Energy Discord : then you can submit your questions ahead of time via or ask them live during the event and tune in to the AMA Voice Channel to listen, engage, and participate in the conversation. Learn about Human Energy’s latest research, new projects with leading scholars, and upcoming live events. sign up for their newsletter using the form at the bottom of their landing page. Listen to their weekly podcasts on Apple or Spotify.

April 18, 2023, from 11 a.m.-12:30 p.m, PDT or on Zoom - Congregational UCC-Ashland , as part of their Adult Education program, is presenting: Human Energy Project , a series of videos on the Noosphere, "…the sphere of thought enveloping the Earth.” Bring a lunch or snack and join the group in person in the Common Room, 717 Siskiyou Blvd. Ashland OR or online. Human Energy Project "Ben K. Kacyra is co-founder and President of the Kacyra Family Foundation (KFF), which initiated the Human Energy pilot project to study the techno/social dilemma of human action until its independent spin-off in July 2021." Human Energy was founded "to share a new scientific story introducing the Noosphere and Third Story as a source of meaning for future generations in our globalizing world." From Human Energy's YouTube Channel : "Human Energy was founded to share a new scientific & cosmic story introducing the noosphere as a source of meaning for future generations in our globalizing world. "Today we face the unprecedented challenges of rapid social change and new technologies which, together with the scientific picture of an aimless universe, have created a crisis of orientation." "Human Energy was founded by scientists, scholars, artists, and storytellers to highlight the causal conditions of our challenges and provide solutions for current and future generations. We articulate these solutions through the " Third Story " worldview with a focus on the emerging noosphere." "We are beginning to visualize the noosphere’s formation; study its potential future scenarios as humanity takes more and more control of its future course; and explore how human beings connecting across the world may realize themselves socially and individually in its development." A 2019 KFF YouTube video reveals the early discussion among participating scholars. A 2020 KFF YouTube video captures highlights of a 2020 workshop discussion of "a hopeful vision of humanity’s future." Participants include Terrence W. Deacon , Kevin Kelly , Brian Thomas Swimme , Paul Turnbull , Francis Heylighen , Paul Verschure , David Sloan Wilson , Ellen Rigsby , Michael Pirson , and Marta Lenartowicz This PowerPoint presentation by Ben Kacyra can help us understand the context of these video. The Noosphere According to Wikipedia, “The noosphere is a philosophical concept developed and popularized by the Russian-Ukrainian Soviet biogeochemist Vladimir Vernadsky , and the French philosopher and Jesuit priest Pierre Teilhard de Chardin . " As a Jesuit priest, Teilhard had a perspective of ecumenism , encouraging cooperation and union among Christian denominations and churches. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin’s book The Phenomenon of Ma n , “postulates man as situated in an evolving universe, describing the evolutionary process of matter, life, thought and mind as originating from a oneness that has an evolutionary purpose.” Global Consciousness The Global Consciousness Project (GCP) at Princeton University postulates that “subtle interactions link us with each other and the Earth… when a great event synchronizes the feelings of millions of people, our network of Random Number Generators (RNGs) becomes subtly structured.“ Evidence suggests an emerging noosphere or the unifying field of consciousness described by sages in all cultures.” The Institute of Noetic Sciences provides a logistical home for the GCP. Roger D. Nelson runs the Global Consciousness Project (GCP), an international collaboration studying mass consciousness. and has a 2019 book Connected: The Emergence of Global Consciousness. DeepTime Network Deeptime Network is a diverse community of people looking for the grand narrative of the universe as a foundational context for everything. DTN draws for four lineages: Cosmic Montessori Education, New Story, Big History, and Gaia and Systems Theory lineage. DTN is a project of The Deep Time Journey Network, a 501(c)(3) non-profit in Princeton New Jersey, founded to build a global community, offer courses, and share resources. DTN is Inspired by the work of Thomas Berry, Brian Swimme, Maria Montessori, Lynn Margulis , James Lovelock , and numerous others, DTN founder is Jennifer Morgan . Some Spiritual/Faith-Based Climate Movements Although the Human Energy Project is humanitarian, not theological, and concepts of Omega, singularity, etc. are beyond its scope, the concepts are embraced by some spiritual communities and movements. Creation Spirituality Communities is connecting with the Deeptime Network in their Global Kinship: Exploring the Emerging Noosphere interview with Brian Swimme. Check out their Global Kinship Matthew Fox interview of February 2, 2023 . The 2014 book From Teilhard to Omega: Creating an Unfinished Universe (Ilia Delio, editor) reviews Teilhard de Chardin's books and thoughts from a Catholic point of view. Delio's 2020 book Re-Enchanting the Earth: Why AI Needs Religion explores axial consciousness, relational wholeness, and posthuman spirituality; this is a must-read book in my opinion. The book is well-written and worthy of study, but it is dense with concepts that build upon each other and the viewpoints of numerous scholars.

What should we be doing in the face of the rise of a new sort of intelligence? Can there be such a thing as an ethical AI? And in what cases is it best to think of AI as a baby? Yuval Noah Harari joins Poppy Harlow at the ‪@WSJNews‬  Leadership Institute to examine the role of AI in business and decision-making, how the AI revolution is like the Industrial Revolution, and what such revolutions mean for our jobs. Recorded on June 21, 2025 as part of the WSJ's CEO Council in London.. On June 6, 2025, PBS News Weekend   reporter Ali Rogin interviewed Karen Hao about her new book Empire of AI: Dreams and Nightmares in Sam Altman's OpenAI  released May 20, 2025, i nvestigating OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT. Hao says: " Many, many different types of AI technologies are hugely beneficial - task-specific models that are meant to target solving a specific, well-scoped challenge -like integrating renewable energy into the grid, weather prediction, drug discovery, health care, where you identify cancer earlier on in an MRI scan," but... "The threat is when we reach an age where people at the top can just do whatever they want, develop this technology however they want, deploy it however they want, and potentially lead to mass environmental consequences, mass economic consequences, huge amounts of job loss." ~ Karen Hao Wikipedia says Hao's book "focuses on the history of OpenAI and its culture of secrecy and devotion to the promise of artificial general intelligence (AGI). It includes interviews with around 260 people, correspondence, and relevant documents. Hao visited OpenAI's offices and covered the company for the MIT Technology Review   two years before ChatGPT was released. Her experience there and reporting on topics of AI for seven years led her to write Empire Of AI ." The book's title refers to the colonial empires of the 1800s. " What we are seeing in the real world right now is that this particular AI paradigm is creating an enormous consolidation of economic and political power in the hands of these companies. "Empire of AI" is a nod to the argument that these companies need to be thought of as new forms of empire because they are laying claim to extraordinary historic levels of resources. They are exploiting an extraordinary amount of labor, they are monopolizing knowledge production." "Most of the people in the world are going to feel this loss of agency in determining their own future. And when people do not feel that they have a voice to self-determine, democracy dies. So the greatest threat is to democracy." AGI refers to a theoretical pinnacle of AI research: a piece of software that has just as much sophistication, agility, and creativity as the human mind to match or exceed its performance on most (economically valuable) tasks.

This Image was generated by ChatGPT and has errors in only showing 6 Ages (missing the Ocean Age 1,500-1,800 BCE and using a wrong image for the Industrial Age). It is shown here to illustrate both the potential power and problems with AI technology, which has accelerated since Sachs' 2020 book! Jeffrey D. Sachs' 2020 book T he Ages of Globalization: Geography, Technology, and Institutions grew out of three lectures given in 2017 at the Oxford School of Geography and Environment. The book was published as the COVID-19 epidemic was emerging, adding emphasis on our current accelerating globalization. Sachs emphasizes the need for new methods of international governance and cooperation to prevent conflicts and to achieve economic, social, and environmental objectives aligned with sustainable development. " Today’s most urgent problems are fundamentally global. They require nothing less than concerted, planetwide action if we are to secure a long-term future." The book traces the Seven Ages of Globalization - distinct waves of technological and institutional change shaped by geography: Paleolithic (70,000 - 10,000 BCE) Neolithic (10,000 - 3,000 BCE) Equestrian (3,000 - 1,000 BCE) Classical (1,000 BCE - 1500 CE) Ocean (1,500 - 1,800 CE) Industrial (1,800 - 2,000 CE) Digital (The 21st century) As a geographer, I love the book because it is full of maps and presents a visual history of humanity's interrelationship with the natural environment as it has evolved and is now facing an uncertain future. It is the book I wish was written 60 years ago during my college and university studies because it integrates cultural evolution, economics, politics, technology, institutions, and ethics/religion. It is consistent with the most recent understandings of science and cosmology of the universe. Sachs' book reminds me of the Human Energy Project's 30 short YouTube videos narrated by Brian Thomas Swimme about the 3rd Story of the noosphere - a planetary mind, an evolving living organism, the unfolding of a mind-like universe with a common sense of meaning and purpose. We have stumbled into the twenty-first century with our "Stone Age emotions, medieval institutions, and godlike technolgy." ~ E. O. Wilson Jeffery Sachs  is an economist, the Director of The Earth Institute's Center for Sustainable Development   at Columbia University, President of the United Nations   Sustainable Development Solutions Network , and UN Advocate for the   Sustainable Development Goals  (SDGs) , - a set of 17 global goals adopted at a UN summit meeting in September 2015. Sachs' other most recent book is A New Foreign Policy: Beyond American Exceptionalism (2020), where he says: " The American Century began in 1941 and ended on January 20, 2017 [when Donald Trump was sworn into his first Presidency]... The current turn toward nationalism and “America first” unilateralism in foreign policy will not make America great. Instead, it represents the abdication of our responsibilities in the face of severe environmental threats, political upheaval, mass migration, and other global challenges." Sachs also authored three earlier New York Times best-sellers The End of Poverty (2006), Common Wealth: Economics for a Crowded Planet (2008), The Price of Civilization: Reawakening American Virtue and Prosperity (2011). In addition, Columbia University Pres s has published several books by Sachs: To Move the World: JFK's Quest for Peace (2014), The Age of Sustainable Development (2015), Building the New American Economy: Smart, Fair, and Sustainabl e (2017), and A New Foreign Policy: Beyond American Exceptionalism (2020). Sachs is also a contributing editor in Ethics in Action for Sustainable Development (2022), Against Happiness (2023), and Escaping the Resource Curse (2007). #JefferySachs #globalization #Sustainability #SDG #UnitedNations #ForeignPolicy #HumanEnergy #BrianSwimme

June 24, 2025 - Today the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network   (SDSN) released their 10th edition of the Sustainable Development Report   (SDR). "Produced by the SDSN’s SDG Transformation Center , the SDR has provided the most up-to-date data to track and rank the performance of all UN Member States on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) since 2016." This year’s SDR includes the SDG Index and Dashboards , which rank all UN Member States on their performance across the 17 Goals and features a new Index (SDGi), which focuses on 17 headline indicators to track overall SDG progress. "Ahead of the June 30, 2025-July 3, 2025 4th International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4), the report outlines urgent reforms to the Global Financial Architecture (GFA) that should be adopted during the conference to unlock the financing needed to achieve the SDGs." "On the heels of the 80th anniversary of the creation of the UN System, the report also provides improved measures to track countries’ support for and engagement with the UN system via its UN Multilateralism Index  (UN-Mi). "Some key findings from the Sustainable Development Report: Global commitment for the SDGs remains strong : 190 of 193 UN Member States have participated in Voluntary National Reviews. Progress is lagging : Only 17% of SDG targets are on track for 2030, hindered by conflict, vulnerabilities, and fiscal constraints. Top performers : Nordic countries again top the Index – Finland (#1), Sweden (#2), Denmark (#3), Germany (#4), and France (#5). Fastest progress : Since 2015, East and South Asian countries have shown the most improvement – Nepal (+11.1), Cambodia (+10), the Philippines (+8.6), Bangladesh (+8.3), and Mongolia (+7.7). Commitment to multilateralism : Barbados leads again in UN-based multilateralism commitment, while the United States ranks last. Financing the future : The GFA must be overhauled to fund global public goods and sustainable development." "Ten years after the adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), progress remains alarmingly off-track, with less than 20% of targets projected to be achieved by 2030. Yet, global averages mask stark disparities across regions and countries in SDG progress. Despite these challenges, commitment remains high among the majority of UN Member States, reveals the 10th edition of the Sustainable Development Report (SDR), released today by the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)." Read the SDR 2025 SDG Index & Dashboards Read the Press Release "A decade after the adoption of Agenda 2030 and the SDGs, 190 of the 193 UN member states have participated in the Voluntary National Review (VNR) process, presenting their SDG implementation plans and sustainable development priorities to the international community. The European Union and State of Palestine have also presented VNRs. Most UN member states have presented two or more VNRs, and 39 countries volunteered to present one in 2025. Only three UN member states have not taken part in the VNR process: Haiti, Myanmar, and the United States." "The United States ranks last in the world in the 2025 Index of Countries’ Support to UN-Based Multilateralism (UN-Mi)." "In early 2025, the United States announced its withdrawal from the Paris Climate Agreement and the World Health Organization (WHO) and formally declared its opposition to the SDGs and the 2030 Agenda." "The overall cost of UN operations is a paltry sum – just US $46 billion in 2023 (the year of most recent data) compared with US $2.4 trillion spent worldwide on the military that year. The United States paid US $13 billion towards UN operations in 2023, compared with US $916 billion on military outlays."

June 22–29, 2025 - The Institute on Religion in an Age of Science (IRAS) 2025 Conference : Spiritual Experience: A Scientific, Philosophical, and Theological Retreat  is being held at Star Island , NH. "Recent decades have seen a surge in scientific, philosophical, and theological research into the processes of “spiritual” transformation. This research has led to a more complete, science-based understanding of how we can intentionally open ourselves to spiritual experiences, including physical, psychological, and even substance-induced methods. Evidence suggests we have a biologically ingrained “spiritual core”—a central and innermost part of ourselves—that is typically outside our conscious awareness. However, there are ways to access and engage this core, and when people do, they often describe the experience as mystical or numinous." Pre-conference papers are online for review: Chatlos, John Calvin. 2024. “ Spiritual Experience: Scientific, Philosophical and Theological Implications ”   Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 59 (4): 949–81. James Winkelman, Michael. 2024. “ Consilience in Developing a Multidisciplinary Framework of Spirituality: Scientific Commentary on Chatlos .”   Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science  59 (4): 982–95.  Hedlund, Nicholas. 2024. “ Toward a Unified Science of Spiritual Experience—Visionary Realism and the Ontology of Interiority: Philosophical Commentary on Chatlos’s Framework of Spirituality .”  Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science  59 (4): 996–1012.  Watts, Fraser. 2024. “ Healing the Rift Between Theology and Spirituality: Theological Commentary on Chatlos’s Framework of Spirituality. ”  Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science 59 (4): 1013–24 .  IRAS has a monthly webinar series,  Science, Religion, and Society . Please enjoy their archive of past webinars .

I just completed putting together the pieces of this jigsaw puzzle to see the unified whole. Here's a list of some upcoming online and Rogue Valley in-person eco-spiritual activities that may interest you. Check back, as this post will be updated during June as we get additional information, and a new calendar listing will come out in late June 2025. Don't be intimidated by the scope of this list; choose to participate in just what calls to you. June 3, 20325 , from 10-10:30 a.m. PDT - The Center for Wild Spirituality is offering a free New Sacred Ecology Spiritual Practice: Celtic Earth Tarot: Sensing Sychronicty led by Valerie Luna Serrels, an eco-spiritual guide and energy intuitive who weaves the relationships between humans, the animate earth, and a living cosmos. She will engage with a way of paying attention and bringing awareness to the animate world through imagery in your immediate surroundings . RSVP June 3-9, 2025 - Science and Non-Duality (SAND) offers The Eternal Song Global Premiere and 7-Day Gathering . 🎥 Free community screenings of The Eternal Song 🌿 Live daily sessions with Indigenous voices and cultural guardians🌎 48-Hour replays if you can’t attend live📩 Daily Access Links sent straight to your inbox. View the full schedule . Reserve Your Free Spot June 7-8, 2025 , from 7 to 10 a.m. PDT— Aspen Wisdom offers The Aspen Forum on Forming a Unitive Consciousness to help us answer the question: How do we respond to the time we are living through? Speakers include Marianne Williamson, Tim Shriver, Mirabai Starr, Matthew Fox, Cynthia Bourgeault, Andrew Harvey, Sherri Mitchell, Cyprian Consiglio, Susan Aposhyan, Heather Vesey, and Nicholas Vesey. There will be special group sessions. Register here . June 10, 2025 , from 10-10:30 a.m. PDT - The Center for Wild Spiritua lit y offers a free New Sacred Ecology Spiritual Practice: Wild Ritual & Ceremony with guide   Jim Hall, who is the elder/wisdom leader for Seminary of the Wild's programs and guides.   RSVP June 10, 2025 , from 9 to 10 a.m. PDT—The BTS Center offers Navigating the Storm: Spiritual Resilience for Young Adults in a Climate-Changed World. This program is free of charge. Contributions to support the work of The BTS Center’s Climate Conscious Chaplaincy Initiative will be received with gratitude. Register here . June 11, 2025, at 10 a.m. PDT - September 21st will be a grassroots climate action to celebrate Sun Day  - the gift and power of clean energy. Join this kickoff webinar to learn about what's being planned, to get plugged into resources. Speakers for this kick-off event will include Rev. Dr. Jim Antal, Rev. Dr. Davida Foy Crabtree, Rev. Michael Malcom, Sue Mueller, and more. Register now! June 12 & 19, 2025 , from 4-5:30 p.m. PDT - Deeptime Network offers a free two-week course: The Cosmic Signal: The Science and Its Implications with Sarbmeet Kanwal & Stephan Martin. Registration is required! June 14, 2025,  10 a.m. to 12 noon PDT - A No Kings in America  protest will occur in Medford, Oregon at McAndrews Road between Crater Lake Avenue and Biddle Road. June 19, 2025 - The Shift Network  offers   The Path of Christ Consciousness Nurture the Christ Within by Illuminating Your Divinity & Claiming Your Mystic Truth   - "a 6-month immersion program with Matthew Fox to explore what it means to be a modern mystic and prophet, integrating this sacred knowledge into your life through the authentic teachings of Jesus and other wisdom keepers. This journey births what Matthew calls Christianity 2.0   — based not on dogma, but on a spirituality that recovers the sacred sense of original goodness." Open to Participants by Application Only. $2,700 tuition. More information and application  here . June 21-28, 2025 -   World UNITY Week 2025 .   This year's themes are Truth, Beauty, and Goodness. World UNITY Week is the beginning of the summer solstice, and launches   99 Days of Peace Through Unity , culminating in September. The co-producers for the celebration are Unity Earth , Purpose Earth , SINE Network ,  and The Hague Center . June 22, 2025 - Integral Life offers Shared Purpose - a 12-week Zoom live group experience for community, practice, and support. Click here for more details. June 23–27, 2025 - The   International Society for the Study of Religion, Nature, and Culture  (ISSRNC) is having its 2025 Conference: Crossing Borders, Transgressing Boundaries: Religion, Migration, and Climate Change at the University of California, Santa Barbara.. June 24, 2025 - August 12, 2025 - Ed Bastian offers an 8-week InterSpiritual Mandala Course, live on Zoom . Information and Registration here . June 24, 2025 , from 6-7:30 p.m. PDT - SOCAN  will have its Monthly Meeting  at Medford Public Library, 205 So. Central, Medford, OR. The topic will be: How to Go Solar + Storage and Find Incentives . Nicole Maticic, Program Manager at Solar Oregon will answer your questions about how grid-tied solar energy and battery systems work, share information about incentives available, and help you take the first step to adding solar and or battery storage on your home or business. Information Tables from related businesses and non-profits in the Rogue Valley will be available to answer your questions. June 25, 2025 - July 30, 2025 , Wednesday evenings from 5-7 p.m. PDT - The Cobb Institute offers Exploring Crises and Possibilities for Ecological Justice and Wellbeing This 6-week, Zoom course "explores visions of ecological civilization, drawing upon process-relational understandings of the cosmos, ecological movements, and central ideas and practices in diverse human communities and fields of thought. The purpose is to gather and build upon practical wisdom, seeking to dive deeply into crises and possibilities. Practical wisdom has power to transform the downward spiral of ecological destruction and to foster movements for protecting, healing, and regenerating our broken planet. Register here . September 2025 to June 2026 - The   Center for Wild Spirituality   is now making plans for their Seminary of the Wild Earth  program (their foundational, year-long, eco-spirituality certificate) and their Vocational Eco-Spirituality  certificate (specializing in Eco-Spiritual Direction or as a Wild Guide) . Click here  to join the waitlist for their 2025 cohort. September 22, 2025 – September 12, 2026   -   The Center  for  Action and  Contemplation offers an online course Essentials of Engaged Contemplation , featuring: Brian McLaren, James Finley, Richard Rohr, Dr. Barbara Holmes, Carmen Acevedo Butcher, Randy Woodley, and more. Cost: $2,100, $1,575, or $1,050. More information and registration are available here. October 24-26, 2025 - The Center for Action and Contemplation is holding its annual fall conference, ReVision: What Do We Do With Christianity? , in person in New Mexico and online. More information and registration are available here. September 20-30, 2025 - Faith in Place's Annual Environment & Spirituality Summit will feature Keynote Speaker Robin Wall Kimmerer and Carolyn Finney, PhD (storyteller, author cultural geographer) who is passionate about interrogating our past and dreaming of a future that is liberatory, just, and green. Register here . Rogue Valley Voice aggregates and curates information from many third-party sources and does not necessarily endorse all aspects of others' work. Still, we find their viewpoint provocative and interesting enough to encourage the reader to engage with and come to their understanding and actions, as they deem appropriate.

The impacts of rapid technological change are an ever-present aspect of modern life. Despite its disruptive effects, we need new technologies to solve planetary challenges, such as climate change, energy supply, and environmental pollution. But how has it affected the way we interact with one another? With ourselves? How can human institutions possibly keep up with the pace of modern change, such as the unpredictable and unintended effects of social media? These questions lead to what Human Energy calls a techno-social dilemma. The Human Energy Project defines the Techno-Social Dilemma (TSD) as "the growing prevalence of anxiety, depression, and despair in technologically advanced nations." It has taken epidemic proportions over the past decade in particular among young Americans, culminating in a mental health crisis. Its symptoms are a pervading sense of gloom and doom, meaninglessness, and pessimism about the survival of civilization. "At the individual level, it manifests as an existential crisis – a loss of meaning, direction, and values. On a global scale, it is an existential threat to our very species: the root cause of modern society’s compounding crises, from the misuse of AI and social media to climate change and geopolitical conflict." Dr. Francis Heylighen and Dr. Shima Beigi have published a 2023 paper giving a comprehensive overview of the techno-social dilemma. Read the full report here and a summary here . The 2020 Netflix movie The Social Dilemma emphasizes that "T he system that connects us also invisibly controls us. The collective lack of understanding about how these platforms actually operate has led to hidden and often harmful consequences to society—consequences that are becoming more and more evident over time, and consequences that, the subjects in The Social Dilemma suggest, are an existential threat to humanity." The Social Dilemma website has links to various YouTube videos and a reading list. In a review of the movie, Sara Hecht , Staff Writer of The Villanovan briefly mentioned the ongoing debate between the benefits and risks of social media. Eliezer Yudkowsky is co-founder of the Machine Intelligence Research Institute , an organization that seeks to identify potential existential risks from AI. The Machine Intelligence Research Institute, formerly the Singularity Institute for Artificial Intelligence, is a non-profit research institute focused since 2005 on identifying and managing potential existential risks from artificial general intelligence. MIRI's work has focused on a friendly AI approach to system design and on predicting the rate of technology development. The Center for Humane Technology is " dedicated to leading a comprehensive shift toward technology that strengthens our well-being, global democratic functioning, and shared information environment." In 2023 the Biden administration drafted an executive order on AI , but Congress has failed to address the issue.

Image generated by ChatGPT June 20, 2025 , from 4-5:30 p.m. PDT - Join Sr. Ilia Delio and Robert Nicastro for Integral Ecology in an Age of A I . Can we change our minds in a sea of information? Is real change possible? "The mind is everything: what you think, you become; yet what shapes the mind? Culture? Religion? AI? From where do our thoughts arise? What forms our ideas? Integral ecology is a consciousness of deep relationality on every level. We know this intellectually, but we do not know this psychologically, religiously, or emotionally. Deep relationality does not influence our minds in the same way as does consumerism, money, or social media. What are the obstacles? What are the invitations? And is real transformation possible?" This event is part of the Center for Christogenesis fundraiser. Register here .

June 14, 2025, 10 a.m. to 12 noon PDT - No Kings America rally will occur in Medford Oregon at McAndrews Road between Crater Lake Avenue and Biddle Road. " Donald Trump wants tanks in the street and a made-for-TV display of dominance for his birthday. A spectacle meant to look like strength. But real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else." No Kings is a nationwide day of defiance. From city blocks to small towns, from courthouse steps to community parks, we’re taking action to reject authoritarianism—and show the world what democracy really looks like. We’re not gathering to feed his ego. We’re building a movement that leaves him behind. The flag doesn’t belong to Donald Trump. It belongs to us. We’re not watching history happen. We’re making  it. On June 14th, we’re showing up everywhere he isn’t—to say no thrones, no crowns, no kings

"Trump is running the Republican Party and asserting presidential power in ways unseen in American history. His requests are taken seriously. At the least, the outline he is presenting here will influence congressional deci s ions." ~ Lisa Desjardins Thanks to Lisa Desjardins, PBS News Correspondent, for this great reporting on June 3, 2025: "This news came as part of the budget “appendix” the White House released Friday , which provides 1,224 pages of numbers on how Trump wants Congress to appropriate funds next year. That was Part 2 to his 46-page initial or “skinny” budget proposal.   We read through both documents and there are some key points to understand here: Trump’s budget proposal contains many specifics, it is worth reading. But it leaves out some critical information , such as the summary tables that usually provide bottom-line cuts and spending amounts for agencies and government overall.  Without that, the overall deficit and agency effects are harder to understand. Trump’s budget would eliminate more than 40 programs and agencies. We spotted these while reading through the document. From the White House and Republican perspective, his plan to eliminate some programs underscores that he is pushing for action that others have avoided. But many of these programs have vocal advocates who say, without them, critical oversight, protections, and functions will be gone. At the same time, as you’ll see, this target list is composed mostly of programs with relatively small budgets. Eliminating them saves a sum barely worth mentioning relative to the federal deficit. Not the scale many fiscal conservatives hope to see. Example: The largest proposed elimination is the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program , or LIHEAP, a national program that helps people afford heating and energy bills. Its roughly $4 billion in funding is just .06 percent of the discretionary budget Congress controls. The Office of Management and Budget did not respond to our request for comment on the proposed cuts by the time we sent this email. Trump’s elimination list Here are programs and agencies Trump proposes to eliminate in his budget. For perspective, we are including the estimated funding amount for the current year, fiscal year 2025, when the budget provides them. Economic and jobs programs Economic development assistance programs. This provides some $2 billion in grants to economically struggling communities. Economic Development Administration. $113 million. Job Corps. More than $1.7 billion. AmeriCorps (officially known as the Corporation for National and Community Service). $976 million. Minority Business Development Agency. $68 million. Community Service Employment for Older Americans. $405 million. The Department of Labor’s Women’s Bureau. NASA’s Office of Science, Tech, Engineering and Math Engagement. $143 million. Oversight Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs. This office is a watchdog, tasked with making sure there is no discrimination in contracting. $111 million. Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board. $14 million. Health and living programs Administration for Community Living , which supports older and disabled Americans' ability to live independently. More than $2.4 billion. U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness. $4 million. The Department of Health and Human Services’ Prevention and Public Health Fund. $1.4 billion in funds planned for FY 2026. Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Trust Fund. $338 million. Assistance programs LIHEAP , the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. More than $4.1 billion. Northeast Home Heating Oil Reserve. $7 million. Refugees and asylees. Cash, medical, and other social service assistance is eliminated. No summary figure given. Legal and labor programs The Department of Justice’s Community Relations Service. This division works to mediate and confront community tension. $24 million.  Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service, which mediates labor disputes. $54 million. Legal Services Corporation, one of the nation's largest funders of civil legal aid. $560 million.   Media and communications U.S. Agency for Global Media, which includes Voice of America, Radio Free Asia, Radio Free Europe. $857 million. Corporation for Public Broadcasting, a private nonprofit that distributes federal funding to public media organizations, including to NPR and PBS. This would affect local stations and programs  like the PBS News Hour. $595 million. Democracy and international development Inter-American Foundation, funding community development in Latin America and the Caribbean. $47 million. Educational and Cultural Exchange Programs (former part of USAID). $741 million. Woodrow Wilson Center. $15 million. U.S. Institute of Peace. $55 million. African Development Foundation. $45 million.   Arts National Endowment for the Arts. $207 million. National Endowment for the Humanities. $207 million. Institute of Museum and Library Services, a small federal agency that  supports museums and libraries around the country. $295 million.   Regional authorities Delta Regional Authority. $41 million. Denali Commission in Alaska. $38 million. D.C. Tuition Assistance Grant program. $40 million. Northern Border Regional Commission. $46 million. Great Lakes Authority. $5 million. Southeast Crescent Regional Commission. $20 million. Southwest Border Regional Commission. $5 million.   Native American programs Indian Land Consolidation Program. $4 million. Indian Guaranteed Loan Program. No new loans to be guaranteed. Institute of American Indian and Alaska Native Culture and Arts Development, a higher education institute in Santa Fe. $12 million. Office of Navajo and Hopi Indian Relocation. $2 million.   Wildlife State and Tribal Wildlife Grants Program. $72 million. Multinational Species Conservation Fund. $21 million. Neotropical Migratory Bird Conservation Fund. $5 million. Cooperative Endangered Species Conservation Fund. $23 million in discretionary funding. Marine Mammal Commission. $5 million. What happens next?  Congress must pass the next funding bill by Sept. 30, 2025 to avoid a government shutdown. Appropriators in both the House and Senate will go over this list, and make their own version of what stays and what goes. It is not typical for Congress to eliminate many agencies or programs, but we are not in a typical year. Fiscal conservatives and Trump are pushing to show that they are slimming the government."

"In a world grappling with converging crises, we often look outward – for new tech, new markets, new distractions. But the deeper issue lies within: our relationship with energy, nature, and each other. What if we step back far enough to see human civilization itself as an organism that is growing without a plan?" ~ Nate Hagens This May 26, 2025, "Frankly" YouTube video is a 7-minute TED talk-like presentation where Nate Hagens outlines "how humanity is part of a global economic superorganism, driven by abundant energy and the emergent properties of billions of humans working towards the same goal." "Rather than focusing on surface-level solutions, Nate invites us to confront the underlying dynamics of consumption and profit. It’s a perspective that defies soundbite culture — requiring not a slogan, but a deeper reckoning with how the world actually works. These are not quick-fix questions, but the kinds that demand slow thinking in a world hooked on speed. What if infinite growth on a finite planet isn't just unrealistic – but the root of our unfolding crisis? In a system designed for more, how do we begin to value enough? And at this civilizational crossroads, what will you choose to nurture: power, or life? " "The Great Simplification (TGS) with Nate Hagens is a podcast that explores the systems science underpinning the human predicament. Conversation topics will span human behavior, monetary/economic systems, energy, ecology, geopolitics and the environment.  The goal of the show is to inform more humans about the path ahead and inspire people to play a role in our collective future. Guests will be from a wide range of scientists, leaders, activists, thinkers, and doers." Visit The Great Simplification  website for more information. Want to learn the broad overview of The Great Simplification in 30 minutes? Watch their Animated Movie:    •  The Great Simplification | Film on Energy Support The Institute for the Study of Energy and Our Future Join TGS's Substack newslette r Join Frankly's Discord channel and connect with other listeners:   / discord Nick Hedland has this thoughtful commentary about the Superorganism video by Nate Hagens: "So much of this metacrisis is driven by an underlying meaning crisis (as John Vervake calls it), and there are some strong causal links between the disenchanted, materialist worldview of late modernity and hyperconsumerist patterns that characterize the superorganism. That is, while Hagens rightly underscores the exterior material dynamics and substrate of natural capital and fossil fuels that power the superorganism, we ought to be inquiring deeply into the interior cultural, psychological, and spiritual dynamics that fuel the superorganism. The system of perverse incentives that constitutes the superorganism is arguably somewhat less random or emergent than Hagens implies: the incentive structures of social systems are artifacts of cultural worldviews (in a transcendental relation of unilateral dependence), and thus the process of cultural and worldview transformation can be understood to be a crucial leverage point for addressing the metacrisis on the level of root causes. Zooming in on these cultural worldview dynamics, the key problem fields and tensions have to do with working out some semblance of an adequate transfiguration and synthesis between such dialectics as faith and reason, science and religion, epistemic dogmatism and democracy, materialism and meaning, naturalism and spirituality, etc. So, in short, the very inquiries of the upcoming IRAS conference seem to be exceedingly important - if sometimes underemphasized by the predominantly exterior gaze of systems analysis - vis-à-vis the notion of the superorganism and the metacrisis."