Living Deeply: The Art & Science of Transformation in Everyday Life by Marilyn Mandala Schlitz, Cassandra Vieten, and Tina Amorok (2007, New Harbinger Publications and Noetic Books).
More and more, climate change researchers and activists identify changes in values and worldviews as the ultimate solution to environmental and social problems. Yet it is seldom considered how these changes might come about in an ethical way. This book surveys how personal transformations and changes in consciousness come about. Taking into consideration over 40 practices and philosophies, the research presented in this book focuses on “the phenomenon of experiences that people have, and practices they engage in, that stimulate and sustain a new worldview that may best be described as positive consciousness transformation”. The authors note that transformation isn’t always something that can be placed in positive or negative categories — and that rather than representing a sudden and dramatic change, it is more often a gradual process. Their research finds, however, that transformations very often lead to larger worldviews that increase the tendency for empathy and compassion.
“Our research shows that through the transformative process your personal identity and circle of concern expand to include other people, future generations, and ultimately all of nature. As a result, you may become more concerned about living in a sustainable manner, so that we can collectively create a sane and healthy future.” (Schlitz et al. 2007, p. 188)