https://workthatreconnects.org/,  is based on the teachings of Joanna Macy, who has written that it “helps people discover and experience their innate connections with each other and the self-healing powers of the web of life, transforming despair and overwhelm into inspired, collaborative action”. Its exercises and rituals follow a spiral of practices: Gratitude, Honouring Our Pain for the World, Seeing with New/Ancient Eyes, and Going Forth … and Active Hope. Originally called Despair and Empowerment,  sharing our pain for the planet together, in a group, is empowering, liberating energy locked in despair or numbness.

This Work can support us in facing the crises of our time.  It is sometimes used by activist groups of various kinds: to recharge the batteries away from the front line; for team building and bonding, and to recapture and rekindle the commitment to the cause – to the calling.

The Work That Reconnects done one-to-one is essentially ecotherapy.

As our times become more troubled and turbulent, I am now develpng ths work, combining it with the approach of Hospicing Modernity: facing humanity’s wrongs and the implications for social activism by Vanessa Machado de Oliveira (2021), together with Mindfulness practice. As an extension of the Work that Reconnects’ Active Hope programme, I am calling this approach Radical Hope. For scheduled groups, see Events. 

Feedback:

• ‘Thanks Martin… I learnt so much from the way you led the day … somehow I felt a deeper layer of spirituality was touched and re-awakened?’

• ‘a great event and a privilege for me to be present with the group.’ 

• ‘Truly x 3 brilliant.’

• ‘Well held and powerful day in Joanna Macy’s good company.’