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Collapsing Consciously: Transformative Truths for Turbulent Times
A collection of probing essays and weekly meditations, this book addresses how to prepare emotionally and spiritually for the impending collapse of industrial civilization. Author Carolyn Baker offers wisdom, inspiration, and a sense of spiritual purpose for anyone who is concerned about the daunting future humankind has created.
The author's introduction to Collapsing Consciously articulates our current predicament of economic collapse, environmental degradation, and global conflict and expresses the confusion, anxiety, grief, anger, and despair we all experience when we take a hard look at the present-day global crisis and the likely future of the planet. But rather than showing us ways to prevent the collapse, Baker argues that the demise of our consumerist, corporate culture is inevitable, and that it is crucial to prepare emotionally and spiritually for the certain changes to come.
Part 1 is a collection of seventeen essays which argue that while the collapse of industrial society cannot be prevented, its meaning extends far beyond tragedy and loss. These essays ask the reader to delve inward and discover the limitless treasures of the soul, as well as the gratification and exhilaration to be discovered in joining with community in preparing for the future.
In part 2, Baker offers fifty-two weekly meditations comprised of spiritual wisdom, inspiration, paradox, comfort, humor, irony, and a persistent challenge to create and savor beauty in the world, regardless of how bleak the future may appear.
Collapsing Consciously is a refreshing take on the perilous present and the grim prospects for our future. Instead of quoting discouraging statistics about our predicament, Baker offers a deeper perspective that makes sense of a world that most of the time appears psychotic or even surreal. Through inspiration and perennial wisdom she has created a manual for making meaning and generating joy, especially in situations that feel hopelessly devoid of both.
An ebook containing additional meditations is also available: Collapsing Consciously Meditations: Further Reflections for Turbulent Times, ISBN 978-1-58394-758-6.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
The author's introduction to Collapsing Consciously articulates our current predicament of economic collapse, environmental degradation, and global conflict and expresses the confusion, anxiety, grief, anger, and despair we all experience when we take a hard look at the present-day global crisis and the likely future of the planet. But rather than showing us ways to prevent the collapse, Baker argues that the demise of our consumerist, corporate culture is inevitable, and that it is crucial to prepare emotionally and spiritually for the certain changes to come.
Part 1 is a collection of seventeen essays which argue that while the collapse of industrial society cannot be prevented, its meaning extends far beyond tragedy and loss. These essays ask the reader to delve inward and discover the limitless treasures of the soul, as well as the gratification and exhilaration to be discovered in joining with community in preparing for the future.
In part 2, Baker offers fifty-two weekly meditations comprised of spiritual wisdom, inspiration, paradox, comfort, humor, irony, and a persistent challenge to create and savor beauty in the world, regardless of how bleak the future may appear.
Collapsing Consciously is a refreshing take on the perilous present and the grim prospects for our future. Instead of quoting discouraging statistics about our predicament, Baker offers a deeper perspective that makes sense of a world that most of the time appears psychotic or even surreal. Through inspiration and perennial wisdom she has created a manual for making meaning and generating joy, especially in situations that feel hopelessly devoid of both.
An ebook containing additional meditations is also available: Collapsing Consciously Meditations: Further Reflections for Turbulent Times, ISBN 978-1-58394-758-6.
From the Trade Paperback edition.
207 pages, Kindle Edition
First published November 19, 2013
24 people are currently reading
198 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
April 25, 2023
Baker and many of her friends have been predicting the end of industrial civilization for a long time. Don't give them a hard time about it and scoff, just be grateful that it hasn't happened (yet). While many others have written about prepping for physical survival, this book is about acquiring the mental aspects that could keep you from folding inward. After all, it doesn't require worldwide devastation to break us. Climate change, war, accidents, medical trauma, and localized natural disasters can take us out or break us down at any time. It is very helpful to have your mind right before you find yourself confronting unforeseen pain and misery.
This book was written and published in segments before it was compiled. There is a lot of repetition, but a lot of repetition may be what it takes before we take seriously the possibility that we, or loved ones, or even strangers may find themselves in a hard place and need help. It won't do to sink into a dungeon of depression that prevents us from acting in a meaningful way. It's not so much about developing an emotional crust as it is about being consciously aware---every day---that life is uncertain. That community is vital. That empathy must be maintained. That sharing what good stuff that remains will bring us through it.
This book was written and published in segments before it was compiled. There is a lot of repetition, but a lot of repetition may be what it takes before we take seriously the possibility that we, or loved ones, or even strangers may find themselves in a hard place and need help. It won't do to sink into a dungeon of depression that prevents us from acting in a meaningful way. It's not so much about developing an emotional crust as it is about being consciously aware---every day---that life is uncertain. That community is vital. That empathy must be maintained. That sharing what good stuff that remains will bring us through it.
January 15, 2014
I'll probably re-read this at some point, because I have very contradictory feelings. The author assumes that civilization as we know it is going to crash - sooner, rather than later - and she gives guidance on preparing beyond the usual food/water/security. She does not look kindly on industrialization, Americans, organized religions, or politicians, but at the same time thinks we are capable of forming new ways of living if we are forced to go back to pre-industrialization times. She talks about getting in touch with the Sacred, but can't bring herself to write "God" or to suggest that there are churches and synagogues and mosques that might have something valuable to contribute to the new world and be a source of community support. The book is thought-provoking, but I'd like to think we won't need her advice. Naïve, perhaps.
May 23, 2023
2013. What a downer! There were a few ideas for how to develop resilience, but not really any new ideas for how to start a future that's better than the present. There seemed to be a lot of reasons to be afraid and no reasons for optimism. It made me feel discouraged & depressed rather than energized to action.
March 15, 2020
Serious material, now brought home by the coronavirus crisis we are experiencing. Definitely worth a read!
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August 12, 2025Recommended by Francis Weller in The Wild Edge of Sorrow
July 25, 2014
I found this book more powerful than Dr. Baker's previous book,
Navigating the Coming Chaos
, although that might be a function of the intervening year-plus of business-as-usual in the face of worsening predicaments(i.e., maybe I need to read what Baker has to say more than I did last year) instead of an objective assessment of the merits of both books.
The first half of this book comprises a series of essays that Baker initially wrote for the blog of the late Michael Ruppert, and while it reveals the piece work nature of those essays, their content remains a valuable assessment of our current situation as a species and of the role that the world's wisdom traditions have to play in helping us endure and perhaps even flourish.
More important, at least to me, is the book's second section, a collection of 52 weekly "meditations" on death, suffering, and transformation that draws on a diverse set of sources to provide unflinching yet compassionate commentary on the growing challenges we face individually and collectively. (A photocopy of these meditations now resides in my "transition/collapse" binder, next to the gardening books.)
The first half of this book comprises a series of essays that Baker initially wrote for the blog of the late Michael Ruppert, and while it reveals the piece work nature of those essays, their content remains a valuable assessment of our current situation as a species and of the role that the world's wisdom traditions have to play in helping us endure and perhaps even flourish.
More important, at least to me, is the book's second section, a collection of 52 weekly "meditations" on death, suffering, and transformation that draws on a diverse set of sources to provide unflinching yet compassionate commentary on the growing challenges we face individually and collectively. (A photocopy of these meditations now resides in my "transition/collapse" binder, next to the gardening books.)
May 23, 2014
It's true, It's real, It's scary, and we have to face it, and deal with it. Carolyn is someone to look at a tough subject, in the eye and deal with it.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews