From Living the New Story –  Series 3

Hazel Henderson is the founder of Ethical Markets Media, LLC and the creator and co-executive Producer of its TV series. She is a world renowned futurist, evolutionary economist, a worldwide syndicated columnist, consultant on sustainable development, and author of The Axiom and Nautilus award-winning book Ethical Markets: Growing the Green Economy (2006) and eight other books. She co-edited, with Harlan Cleveland and Inge Kaul, The UN: Policy and Financing Alternatives, Elsevier Scientific, UK 1995 (US edition, 1996), and co-authored with Japanese Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda, Planetary Citizenship (2004). Hazel is also a Fellow of the Findhorn Foundation.

Questions for ongoing reflection and dialogue

1. What is your direct experience of the social, cooperative love economy in your own life and in your local community? Where do you see ‘The Golden Rule’ in effect?

2. Consider the following assertion made by Hazel:

   The planet teaches us directly. The planet is our programmed learning environment. And we are coming up to graduation. If we don’t make it, the planet will be just fine. Other species will step up to the plate and begin evolving in new ways. We are the ones who are now in charge of whether we make it or whether we become part of the next extinction.

   Take a few deep breaths and reflect on the depth and breadth of this assertion.

   What is your inner response to this? Allow all the feelings, thoughts and emotions to be present and hold yourself in deep respect, compassion, and awareness.

   From where can you draw inner strength to face and make choices in service as a deathbed attendant to a dying world?

   Similarly, how may you serve as a midwife to the potential and possibilities of a newly emerging world?

3. What old story cognitive beliefs and behaviours do you need to change within yourself to support the emergence of our common global future? How may you overcome obstacles such as resistance to change and what practices may support you?

4. How may you expand your cognitive awareness and skills to best serve the planet at this time? What aspects would you like to cultivate within yourself and what spiritual practices may support you?

5. Hazel recommends that we each create our own advisory groups to support us in the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Consider those in your own network from a wide range of disciplines who would be good candidates for your advisory group. The invitation is to begin to contact potential members and initiate a first dialogue about how you may build alliances and support one another into the future.