The Post-Growth Manifesto: Re-Indigenizing Our Relationship with the Earth

An Urgent Call to Re-Orient Our Worldview

Before we get into it, this manifesto focuses mainly on two urgent needs:

• Almost every culture and society must be restructured

• We need a new overall, life-centered, value system

The gorilla riding an African tusker elephant through the golden ballroom is OVERSHOOT, stupid.

The causes of overshoot are complex. (Ah, yes, complexity and systems, we could go on and on about those domains.) The zero-to-one engineered genies are all out of their bottles thanks to the ingenious, innovative, tenacious, rapacious, intelligent, and ambitious aspects of our nature. These mysterious creatures remind most of us of how our world is a practically unfathomable mystery. Some things will never change. We don’t know how things work, so we make up a story and feel better.

It is impossible, without an almost total crash of our population, for those genies to be put back in the black boxes. We wouldn’t know how to live without them, anyway.

There are thousands of thoughtful, intelligent, and well-meaning content creators around the world with brilliant ideas about how we arrived at our predicament and what we might do to mitigate its disastrous consequences, thereby salvaging a decent life for ourselves and our communities for as long as possible. Unfortunately, all of this fantastic, practical, and ingenious information doesn’t translate into mass action. What I refer to as The Great Game (business as usual) continues to gain momentum, doubling down on bad bets like a gambling addict at a poker table.

Radical work needs to get done that involves adopting new ways of living, which would have to be adopted by billions of people. Bloggers and podcasters with a plan won’t suffice. When one sees things as they are, one may be compelled to share one's thoughts and ideas. This can have a profound impact on culture, but it’s never enough. A movement with influential leaders must arise, inspiring lots of people to make sacrifices. Fans of history are aware of how badly that can go wrong.

We are all going through turbulent times, whether we are aware of it or not. People who are more informed about what’s happening will have the ability to find better ways to navigate the polycrisis.

We have a lot to do. We’re all going to be busy in new ways. It’s going to be like taking up a new sport and finding muscles we didn’t know we had.

Please talk with your friends, collaborate, build community, we’re going to learn, once again, how critical intimate relationships are. We’re going to need each other.

Few of us who seem to think we know what the problems are and have ideas for solutions and a better way of life actually live according to our principles. Ted Trainer is one of the very few who lived it for decades, sharing his ideas, thoughts, feelings, and techniques all along. He lived it. Most of us “have the conversation” and peck away at keyboards. We want attention, not a new way of life. What a shame.

THE  SIMPLER  WAY

Nine likes on this video. That says a lot. If he were younger and chasing likes online, with something to sell, he’d be a real player in the domain of Green This and Green That.

I can’t help but express my frustration. And who am I to talk? What virtues do I have to signal? Only my friends know.

The compounding crises of climate change, ecological overshoot, and social inequality are not isolated phenomena but rather symptoms of a single, deeply flawed paradigm: the imperative of perpetual economic growth. For hundreds of years, the dominant economic model has assumed that infinite expansion is both possible and desirable on a finite planet. The evidence overwhelmingly indicates that this premise is untenable. Conventional solutions—from technological fixes to so-called “green growth” initiatives are insufficient because they fail to address the root cause of the problem. They merely attempt to manage the symptoms without abandoning the socioeconomic and ideological structures and systems that created the pathology in the first place.

We posit that a fundamental reorientation of our worldview is not a matter of choice but an existential necessity. This manifesto proposes a two-part solution. First, it presents the degrowth framework as a radical, anti-capitalist economic model that advocates for the voluntary and equitable downscaling of production and consumption in affluent nations. Degrowth is not about austerity but rather a shift toward a society of "frugal abundance" that prioritizes genuine well-being over the relentless pursuit of wealth.

Second, we argue that degrowth, as an academic and activist movement, must be ethically and philosophically grounded in the wisdom of indigenous traditions. These ancient cultures, deeply connected to their lands and waters, have long practiced principles of relationality, reciprocity, and conservation. Their conflict resolution methods, which aim to heal the entire community, and their resource management, guided by the principle of using only what is needed, offer a time-tested blueprint for a regenerative society. By fusing the economic rigor of degrowth with the profound ethical framework of indigenous wisdom, this manifesto outlines a comprehensive and coherent path toward a just, sustainable, and convivial future.

Book Recommendations

The End of the Growth Paradigm

The Crisis of Overshoot

The most profound challenge facing humanity today is rooted in a fundamental disconnect between our economic model and the biophysical reality of the Earth. This disconnect is encapsulated by the concept of ecological overshoot, which occurs when human demand for natural resources exceeds the ecosystem's regenerative capacity. On a global scale, this means that humanity's collective demand for resources and services surpasses what the entire biosphere can renew and provide. The implications of this are not abstract; they are the direct cause of the mounting crises of our time.

The Global Footprint Network systematically quantifies the phenomenon through the concept of Earth Overshoot Day, an annual calendar date on which humanity’s resource consumption for the year is calculated to have exceeded the planet’s capacity to regenerate those resources within the same year. The data demonstrates that this critical threshold was first crossed in the early 1970s. Ever since, humanity has been operating in an environmental deficit, accumulating a global ecological debt that compounds year after year. The rate at which humanity is consuming resources now lasts only about 57% as long as in 1971, a clear indicator of the accelerating pace of this imbalance. The visible impacts of this ecological overspending are already manifesting as soil erosion, desertification, reduced cropland productivity, and fisheries collapse.

Do the Math

The ecological debt is more than just a matter of resource depletion; it is the underlying cause of a profound polycrisis that threatens the stability of human civilization. The climate crisis, biodiversity loss, and rising social inequality are not isolated problems to be solved independently. They are, in fact, direct symptoms of this deeper systemic pathology. A continued reliance on an economic paradigm that prioritizes population growth, affluence, and technological advancements is shown to be the source of escalating environmental damage and the growing risk of ecological collapse. The data underscores that overshoot is an inherently unstable state that cannot persist indefinitely.

A profound paradox of global inequality compounds this systemic illness. Affluent countries are the primary drivers of ecological overshoot due to their disproportionately high consumption of resources. Simultaneously, the prevailing economic logic pressures low-income countries to pursue economic growth to improve social well-being. However, research indicates that in these nations, social development is often outpaced by the increase in ecological overshoot that results from their economic activities. This leads to a situation where the ecological environment becomes increasingly overwhelmed, highlighting the fundamental flaw in the current system's logic and perpetuating a cycle of global ecological debt, regardless of a nation's position in the global economy. The only lasting solution is to abandon the growth imperative altogether.

The crisis of overshoot is further articulated through the complementary framework of Planetary Boundaries, which identifies nine critical processes that regulate the stability and resilience of the Earth system. These boundaries, which encompass climate change, changes in biosphere integrity, and alterations to freshwater, represent the safe operating space for humanity. The 2023 update to the framework concluded that six of the nine boundaries have been transgressed, increasing the risk of non-linear, abrupt environmental changes. This scientific consensus confirms that human overconsumption, the core of ecological overshoot, is the primary driver behind the transgression of these critical planetary limits.

Planetary Boundaries

The Symptoms in the System: The Failure of “Green Growth”

The global community's response to these existential crises has largely been characterized by a strategy of green growth, an approach that seeks to decouple economic expansion from environmental degradation through technological innovation. However, this strategy is fundamentally flawed because it fails to address the underlying cause of the crisis—the endless pursuit of growth itself. One European response to increasing heat is to focus on the need for more air conditioning units in homes while overlooking the food supply, which is a perfect illustration of this systemic failure. We will starve to death in our climate-controlled rooms if we can afford the rent.

This clip is a short but powerful animated story about using design to create sustainable wealth, and it provides essential insights into the future of innovation.

Substantive agricultural production losses are projected for most European areas throughout the 21st century. Rising temperatures and more frequent extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and droughts, are already harming key crops, including wheat and maize, particularly in southern and Mediterranean Europe. While some northern regions might experience more favorable conditions for certain crops due to longer growing seasons, these gains will not be sufficient to offset the projected losses elsewhere. The resulting economic losses will threaten the livelihoods of producers and the affordability of food for consumers, worsening food insecurity across the continent. And what happens if AMOC stops or significantly slows?

Conventional adaptation measures are proving to be critically insufficient. The IPCC report notes that while technologies such as irrigation are an effective adaptation option, their utility will be increasingly limited by water availability, especially in response to [global warming levels] above 3°C. This reveals a core paradox of the green growth model: the very strategies proposed to mitigate climate change are constrained by the same problems they are designed to solve. As temperatures rise, the water required for irrigation becomes increasingly scarce, rendering the technology less effective. Even with a high level of adaptation, severe risks persist for many sectors in Europe beyond 1.5°C of global warming.

When the cost of using a resource decreases due to increased efficiency, it becomes more attractive for consumers and industries to utilise it. Consequently, this increased affordability leads to higher consumption and can potentially offset the initial gains in efficiency.

The critique of green growth is central to the degrowth movement. Proponents such as Kohei Saito argue that calls for sustainable growth are a dangerous compromise. They contend that the capitalist system, which initially caused the problem by creating artificial scarcity and prioritizing perpetual growth, cannot be an integral part of the solution. An economic transformation to renewable energies within a growth economy still implies massive environmental exploitation. The current system, which is failing in both social and ecological terms, cannot magically solve the crises we face. This analysis shows that incremental reforms and technological fixes are simply attempts to maintain an untenable system. The path forward requires a fundamental shift away from the growth imperative itself.

Degrowth as a Framework for Change

The Degrowth Imperative: Principles and Purpose

The core idea is that natural selection favors designs that increase the rate at which energy flows through a system, making it more effective at capturing and transforming energy from its environment. 

Degrowth is not a political buzzword or an austerity plan; it is a holistic socio-ecological movement and a radical call for a voluntary and equitable downscaling of the economy in wealthy nations. It is an anti-systemic, anti-capitalist framework that identifies perpetual economic growth as the root cause of both social inequities and ecological unsustainability. The movement aims to reframe and recreate economies that respect the Earth's ecological limits, thereby achieving socio-political equity and ecological sustainability.

The core tenets of degrowth provide a detailed blueprint for this transition:

• Ecological Limits: Degrowth begins with the fundamental recognition that the Earth has finite resources and cannot sustain unrestricted economic growth, which inevitably leads to overconsumption and environmental degradation.

• Social Justice: The movement aims to address deep-seated social inequalities. Degrowth proponents argue that economic growth is a powerful tool for concentrating wealth and power in the hands of a few and does not automatically lead to improved living standards for all.

• Localization: The transition to a degrowth society emphasizes moving toward more localized and less globalized economies. This shift would reduce environmental impact by minimizing transportation-related emissions and strengthening community resilience through local ties and mutual support.

• Well-being Redefined: Degrowth seeks to redefine well-being beyond conventional economic metrics, such as Gross Domestic Product (GDP). It encourages societies to prioritize quality of life, social connections, and ecological sustainability, advocating for a shift away from the relentless pursuit of work and toward a more balanced and meaningful existence.

All markets are shaped by inequality of bargaining power, but for workers, tenants, consumers and small investors unequal power is systematic. Unequal bargaining power comes firstly from unequal distribution of resources, protected by our laws of property, contract, corporations, taxes and more. Second, bargaining power is driven by differences in collective organisation. Third, there are differences of information. Supply and demand merely set outer constraints on prices (the lowest a seller will go, the highest a buyer will pay if they can go elsewhere), and the actual place where a deal is struck depends on the actors’ power. If we chart unequal bargaining power with supply/demand, instead of lines and a single equilibrium point, there are bands and a range of ‘equilibrium’ outcomes (in the central diamond):

This vision is not one of scarcity or sacrifice. The research frames degrowth not as a return to poverty, but as a shift toward a state of frugal abundance. The movement's principles offer a positive and compelling alternative to a system that leaves so many people living in poverty despite an affluent society. The vision includes a return to social ownership and a focus on activities that are genuinely essential for human life. Specific policies advocated by Kohei Saito include the end of mass production and consumption, decarbonization through shorter working hours, and prioritizing essential labor over corporate profits. This re-framing of well-being is a powerful concept. The degrowth vision is a utopian alternative that liberates human potential from the Sisyphean task of endless production and consumption, offering a path to a more meaningful and connected existence.

Three central pillars—conviviality, commoning, and care—are practical expressions of these values. A convivial approach to relationships and activities fosters a simple, slow, and enjoyable everyday life. Convivial tools are user-friendly, easy to repair, and ecologically efficient, with decisions about their use made democratically by all affected people rather than by experts or technocrats. The concept of commoning involves a system of shared use, benefit, and collective governance of shared resources, which stands in stark contrast to both private ownership and state control. The degrowth movement also promotes a care economy where care is not confined to paid work but characterizes all activities and relationships. This holistic approach serves as the foundation for a society where shared well-being is the primary objective, rather than economic expansion.

This process is only the beginning. At our current scale of civilization, it may be impossible to achieve an ideal outcome solely through degrowth.

The Enduring Wisdom of Ancient Traditions

A New Relationship with the Land

We are for the responsible use of science, technology, and engineering to achieve a better way of life.

The degrowth framework, while robust in its economic and political analysis, finds its deepest ethical and philosophical resonance in the wisdom traditions of indigenous cultures. These traditions are not merely historical relics; they offer a living, time-tested blueprint for a regenerative relationship with the Earth. At the heart of this relationship are the principles of Indigenous Resource Management (IRM), which refer to the traditional practices and knowledge systems used to sustainably govern natural resources. These systems are rooted in a deep spiritual and cultural connection to the land and a core principle of reciprocity, where taking from the land requires giving back.

Never using more than we need is at the core of our ethos. Examples from the Métis people, who follow a seasonal cycle and adhere to the practice of harvesting only what is needed, leaving a gift of tobacco or tea as a sign of thanks to the Creator. This practice, along with the story of the Inuit qulliq lamp, which has transformed from a survival tool to a sacred symbol of identity, illustrates the deep interconnection between the functional and the spiritual. This profound philosophical difference reveals that the Western model, which sees nature as a separate resource for extraction, is in stark contrast to the indigenous worldview. Indigenous peoples consider themselves to be an integral part of an interconnected system, or even that they are nature itself. A prominent Mexican indigenous leader encapsulates this distinction by inverting the Cartesian axiom, stating, We are, therefore...we think, which highlights the collective and relational nature of existence. This ontological shift, from a perspective of separation to one of kinship, is the philosophical foundation for a truly regenerative society.

The watershed serves as a powerful model of this holistic relationship. For First Nations communities, watersheds are of profound significance, as they are integral to their cultural, spiritual, and physical well-being. The Indigenous Watersheds Initiative exemplifies how these ancient principles are being applied today, supporting projects that advance watershed security rooted in long-term resilience, local values, and Indigenous Rights and Title. These projects operate under themes such as Indigenous Knowledge and Land-based Learning, Watershed Planning, and Fisheries and Food Sovereignty, all of which demonstrate the interconnected nature of human and ecological health. This approach is in direct opposition to the Western model of fragmented, short-term management. For instance, in the Mara River Basin in Tanzania, indigenous communities protect specific “elders’ trees” and “elders’ forests” based on beliefs and taboos that are intrinsically linked to the continuous flow of water.

Indigenous Resource Management vs. Western Model Relationship to Nature:

Relationship to Nature

• Humans are an integral part of an interconnected system.

• Nature is a separate resource for extraction.

Value System

• Prioritizes the long-term well-being of the community and the environment.

• Driven by economic growth and profit.

Decision-Making Process

• Consensus-based, non-hierarchical, and community-wide.

• Hierarchical and often top-down.

Focus of Management

• Long-term sustainability and viability.

• Short-term economic benefit.

Guiding Principles

• Reciprocity and enough, and enough is enough.

• Maximum production and endless growth.

Healing the Human Community

A post-growth society requires not only a new relationship with the land but also a new way of relating to each other. The prevailing economic model has fostered an individualism that erodes social bonds, while its political systems often rely on a punitive and adversarial approach to conflict resolution. Here, again, indigenous wisdom offers a powerful alternative.

Indigenous conflict resolution traditions have a core goal that differs fundamentally from Western jurisprudence: they aim to restore relationships and heal the entire system, rather than merely focusing on the guilt of a wrongdoer. These traditions predate Western models and operate from a position of “relationality” and “holism.” Relationality is a worldview where individuals trust that others will make decisions that benefit the entire community, including all their relationships and the environment, not just those people directly involved. Holism recognizes that all beings and interactions are interconnected and cyclical.

This approach is manifested through practical, community-based methods. The group circle is a common forum where respected elders and community members come together to address disagreements and resolve conflicts. Within this circle, all parties have equal power and opportunity to speak and listen, an inclusive method that strengthens social bonds and increases the likelihood that a final decision will be widely accepted. Another key method is indirect communication, such as storytelling, which utilizes metaphors and everyday settings to address complex or difficult topics. Inuit cultures, for example, have used radio announcements and traditional dances to address conflicts indirectly. In some communities, a third party, such as an elder or knowledge keeper, helps to facilitate a conversation between disputants.

The principles of indigenous conflict resolution—relationality, holism, and community cohesion—are not limited to small-scale disputes; they also apply to larger-scale conflicts. They offer a powerful model for the political and social structures of a post-growth society. The methods are designed to build consensus and co-governance, which align directly with the degrowth movement’s call for horizontalist relations and an emphasis on power-with and power-to, rather than power. This congruence suggests that the synthesis of degrowth economics and indigenous wisdom is not merely a theoretical exercise; it represents the merging of two systems that are already aligned on the fundamental principles of justice, community, and human flourishing.

Towards a Converging Vision

Synthesis and Synergy: Degrowth and Indigenous Wisdom in Dialogue

The convergence of degrowth and indigenous wisdom offers a more robust, ethically grounded, and universally applicable framework for the future than either tradition could provide on its own. While the two approaches originate from different contexts, they share profound points of congruence and a symbiotic relationship.

A primary point of convergence is their shared critique of the dominant economic system. Both frameworks identify the nature of civilized man, prone to the seven deadly sins, as well as capitalism, corporatism, and consumerism, as the root causes of the crises we face.

Modern techno-industrial, fossil-fueled, global financialized capitalism, with its sociopolitical and economic ideologies, is an accelerator of collapse and pathology.

Degrowth Strategies and Wisdom Traditions share an emphasis on community and the commons over private property, and they both advocate for prioritizing human and ecological well-being over profit and growth.

However, the synthesis must also acknowledge a crucial point of divergence: degrowth’s perceived lack of a spiritual or cultural dimension. While degrowth discussions are concerned with economic, social, and environmental crises, they often fail to incorporate the comprehensive social organization and spiritual beliefs that are central to indigenous worldviews. This is not a fatal flaw but rather the precise area where a necessary alliance is most powerful. Degrowth, as an academic and activist movement, correctly diagnoses economic growth as a root cause of our problems. Still, it requires a deep-seated ethical and spiritual foundation, which indigenous wisdom provides, to move from a theoretical framework to a proper way of life. In Indigenous traditions, in turn, they offer a proven model for a culture of life and community-based resilience.

The key difference is that “big religion” refers to the entire system of beliefs, practices, and institutions surrounding a supernatural power, whereas “wisdom tradition” is a broader concept encompassing the shared, universal truths and practices for living a meaningful life that are found within, and often cut across, religious traditions. Wisdom traditions focus on transforming the whole human being through profound truths, practices, and questions, rather than solely on divine revelation or specific doctrines of a particular religion.

This dynamic is exemplified by the critique of degrowth’s use of the term decolonisation of the imaginary. This phrase represents a semantic shift that strips the term of its specific, material, and historical context, rendering it a metaphor for other desired societal changes. Actual decolonial praxis is not metaphorical; it is a tangible process of repatriating Indigenous land and life, and rebuilding autonomous structures of self-determination, such as reviving languages and legal systems. By misusing the term, degrowth risks alienating potential allies and overlooking the material history of colonialism.

Instead of viewing this critique as a negative, it should be seen as an opportunity for a true symbiotic alliance. Degrowth’s economic rigor can provide a practical roadmap for downscaling material and energy use in wealthy nations. At the same time, indigenous wisdom can offer a moral compass and a time-tested model for building resilient communities rooted in reciprocity and relationality. The alliance would enable degrowth to transcend a purely economic theory and adopt a more holistic and culturally rich vision for society. It is the fusion of these two frameworks—one providing the economic theory and the other the ethical and philosophical foundation—that creates a compelling and coherent response to the crises of our time.

Degrowth Principles

Analogous Indigenous Concepts:

Ecological Limits

Reciprocity: The understanding that taking from the land requires giving back.

Social Justice

Buen Vivir (Good Life): A vision of living in harmony with community and nature, prioritizing collective well-being.

Localization

Attachment to Territory: A deep connection to geographical space that transcends the concept of private property.

Democracy and Participation

Consensus-Based Governance: Decision-making processes that involve all members and strengthen social bonds.

Convivial Technologies

Appropriate Technologies: The development and use of place-based technologies that align with ecological, social, and spiritual systems.

Frugal Abundance

Using Only What Is Needed: Lifeways that are guided by subsistence and a spiritual practice of not taking more than is required.

Care Economy

Holism and Relationality: The recognition that all beings and interactions are interconnected and that care extends to all of creation.

Downscaling of the Economy

The abandonment of the growth imperative is seen as a driver of inequality and environmental destruction.

The Degrowth Manifesto for the 21st Century

A Blueprint for a Regenerative Society

The synthesis of degrowth and indigenous wisdom offers a powerful blueprint for building a society that is not only sustainable but also more just, resilient, and fulfilling. This blueprint is not a list of fragmented actions but a cohesive, multi-layered framework for a systemic transition.

• Economic Reorganization: The manifesto calls for a systemic shift away from the capitalist focus on mass production and consumption. This can be achieved through policies that prioritize social ownership, the democratic reform of labor, and an emphasis on producing essential goods and services. This involves a targeted and organized downsizing of carbon-intensive and ecologically destructive industries, such as the production of private automobiles, cruise ships, and fast fashion, while increasing investment in sustainable and less harmful energy systems, as well as in basic public services.

• Reimagining Labor and Well-being: A central pillar of this reorganization is a radical re-imagining of work. By implementing shorter working hours, a degrowth society would achieve decarbonization, allowing individuals to pursue a more balanced and meaningful existence beyond the relentless pursuit of paid employment. The focus shifts to prioritizing essential labor, cultivating a society where purpose is found in social connections, creativity, and the strengthening of community bonds. We must become accustomed to work that is intimately connected to our community and place.

• Political Decentralization: Governance in a regenerative society must reflect the principles of holism and relationality. This requires a transition from top-down, hierarchical systems to horizontal, consensus-based, and sociocratic techniques that emphasize power-with and power-to rather than power-over. The community-based decision-making processes found in indigenous traditions, where all voices are heard in a circle of equal power, provide a proven model for this kind of democratic participation.

• Technological Shift: The transition requires a new approach to technology. Instead of fostering technologies that perpetuate a growth-centric paradigm, the focus should be on developing and using convivial tools that are ecologically efficient, culturally appropriate, and accessible to all people for making, understanding, and repairing. This approach to innovation aligns with the long history of indigenous peoples developing appropriate technologies for subsistence, agriculture, and forestry.

• The Care Economy: The manifesto advocates for making the concept of care a central approach to all activities and relationships, encompassing self-provisioning, harvesting, education, and community support. This holistic care economy would replace the current paradigm of individualism, fostering a collective commitment to the welfare of all members and the care of the environment, including non-human beings.

A call to action

The evidence is clear: the current path is unsustainable and is leading humanity toward a precipice of ecological and social collapse. As the IPCC and other institutions have demonstrated, incremental reforms and technological fixes are insufficient to avert the impending crises. The illusion of a Green New Deal that maintains the growth imperative is a dangerous compromise that fails to address the fundamental pathology of overshoot.

This manifesto, therefore, is not a set of suggestions but an urgent call to action. It invites us to see ourselves and our place in the metastatic growth engine that is our current economic system. The path forward requires a fundamental reimagining of our relationship with the Earth and with each other. It demands an economic system that prioritizes the health of our communities and ecosystems over corporate profits, a political system that is non-hierarchical and consensus-based, and a cultural worldview that sees the land not as a resource for extraction but as kin.

By embracing the degrowth framework, we can actively downscale the industries that are destroying our planet and our communities. By grounding this effort in the enduring wisdom of indigenous traditions, we can cultivate a society where well-being is not measured by GDP but by the health of the land and the strength of our bonds. This fusion of powerful ideas is the most coherent and compelling response to the polycrisis of our time and the only path toward a life-affirming future.

It’s a tough nut

Degrowth isn’t sexy; it feels a lot better to imagine we’ll all be flying to a terraformed Mars on private space ships. These kinds of fantasies are ideal for the market. If you want to get extremely rich, and your dad wasn’t an oil man, sell big ideas, like Elon Musk, and pump and dump until you are too big to fail. Bull shit like Donald Trump until people can’t get enough of your chutzpah and you become too big to fail. Work to the brink of insanity in support of these Players. Most of us don’t have much of a choice whether we continue in the mainstream or not.

It may not be sexy, but we can all experience God’s love in a simpler world. We can be wise. We can create fantastic stories. We can play. We can still compete. We can laugh. We can ponder the mysteries of the world, knowing that there will always be more mysteries to explore. We can have wild Dionysian festivals with our friends.

Our predicament is something we must endure. The odds that people will adopt the actions in this manifesto are practically nil. Still, adopting a better way of life is a choice we can make, and eventually, people in the not-too-distant future will be forced by circumstances to live differently than we do now.

I highly recommend Erik Michaels’ Blog. He also posts on Medium and Substack.

Perhaps the only thing we can do is provide inspiration, ideas, information, road maps, and models that may eventually be adopted. It’s disheartening that many people lack the courage to make radical changes, despite knowing that our current way of life is destructive and unhealthy. The fact is, we don’t know how to live without the vast material and energy resources we depend on every day. We are addicted to modernity, and our addiction may be the ultimate cause of our extinction. But extinction still seems so far off.

Remaining hopeful is the only option for most people. For me, contemplating Reality is enjoyable. I am so fortunate that I don’t have “the depression gene.” I also don’t mind thinking differently from year to year as I learn new things. Dogmatism isn’t my thing. If you want to get wildly popular, memorize your niche-targeted PowerPoint and pretend like you know it all.

People will do what they must to survive and thrive. Individuals and communities will utilize the manner and degree of agency they have and live accordingly. Most of us will follow the narratives we are fed and believe things are as they should be. We’re just people.

We can, at the very least, rise to the challenge of leading a well-examined life and grow spiritually and intellectually as we meet the unique challenges of our day.

Thanks for reading this. If you are in the choir, I get you. I’m one of you. For those who think this manifesto is overly naive or even misguided, consider revisiting this website in a few years to see if it has aged well. I wish you well, and I hope you will continue to learn and grow throughout your lifetime. Life is a fantastic adventure, and for those of us with the leisure time to read things like this on our devices, it’s beyond amazing. We are so fortunate.

1: 400,000,000,000,000

The odds of you being alive are 1: 400,000,000,000,000. The simple fact that you're reading these words right now is some type of statistical miracle.

Go on now, create a festival, play the drums and flute, dance around the fire with a goblet of wine in your hand like Dionysus, and celebrate the marvelous complex fabric of life.

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