Sacred Economics

[Gaia Psychology]

Is anyone read or familiar with Charles Eisentein's new book,

Sacred Economics: Money, Gift, and Society in the Age of Transition?

 

Sacred Economics traces the history of money from ancient gift economies to modern capitalism, revealing how the money system has contributed to alienation, competition, and scarcity, destroyed community, and necessitated endless growth. Today, these trends have reached their extreme—but in the wake of their collapse, we may find great opportunity to transition to a more connected, ecological, and sustainable way of being.

This book is about how the money system will have to change—and is already changing—to embody this transition. A broadly integrated synthesis of theory, policy, and practice, Sacred Economics explores avant-garde concepts of the New Economics, including negative-interest currencies, local currencies, resource-based economics, gift economies, and the restoration of the commons. Author Charles Eisenstein also considers the personal dimensions of this transition, speaking to those concerned with “right livelihood” and how to live according to their ideals in a world seemingly ruled by money. Tapping into a rich lineage of conventional and unconventional economic thought, Sacred Economics presents a vision that is original yet commonsense, radical yet gentle, and increasingly relevant as the crises of our civilization deepen.

 

[Ibolya Kapta]

Thank you dear Grace for your recommendation! It is a very important subject to discuss and learn what is allready there for us - we just needed to newly discover some forgotten knowledge. Can you also list a couple of community and projects, whom are already practicing any of the above mentioned alternative methods?

[Wout-Jan Koridon]

Great post & recommendation. Thanks! Charles Eisenstein caught my attention earlier because he touches upon one of the most essential aspect of our transformation. Highly relevant.

Other Charles Eisenstein resources:

• Charles Eisenstein´s site
• Charles Eisenstein´s blog on Reality Sandwich
• Book: The Ascent of Humanity
• YouTube videos of Charles Eisenstein on Sacred Economics
• On Vimeo
• OWS > Charles Eisenstein speaks at 60 Wall. St.

I think we must also look at communities like Findhorn, and Transition Town initiatives for useful examples and experiences.

This subject is also - imho very much - related to the subject of the commons and commoning (and Peer to Peer). Some relevant people in that field (in the Western world): James Quilligan, George Pór and Michel Bauwens.

[Kingsley Dennis]

Informative reply Wout-Jan! Thanks for the links. There is much here on the peer-to-peer scene as you say. Michel Bauwens is a contact of mine from academia days; perhaps I could invite him to participate or send over some material - I'll look into this.....

[Wout-Jan Koridon]

Good resources on P2P: The Foundation for P2P Alternatives

Another initiative worth mentioning is the Commons Learning Alliance - The School of Commoning. CLA´s Georg Pór and Mark Jagdev are contacts of mine. Their material is certainly worthwhile for WSNOW! (Shall I link up for this?)

James Quilligan serve(d) as the US Coordinator for the European-based Global Marshall Plan Initiative, co-initiated by the Club of Boedapest (as recollect it). Also a good resource/contributor for this field.

[Kingsley Dennis]

Thank You Grace - Eisentein's name & work has popped up a few times here at WSI. One of our WSI colleagues has been in contact with Charles and we have been considering to invite him to author a guest blog post over on our main WSI site. I think we should now definately go ahead with this plan!

[Gaia Psychology]

Thank you Wout-Jan and Kingsley for all the wonderful information!  I joined Reality Sandwich.  Wish I had more time in the day for all the reading I would like to do.

[Sachia Manning]

Thanks for the review! I'll check it out further.

[Gaia Psychology]

Sachia,

If you read it, I would enjoy hearing your thoughts or following a discussion thread on the subject.  

Webstring gratitude,

Grace

[Darrell Bouldin]

I did read some of it, and would be interested in a discussion as well. The ideas and perspectives presented by Eisenstein are always very interesting. 

[Gaia Psychology]

Darrell,

Economics is not my area of expertise, but I would enjoy hearing your impressions!

Grace

[Gaia Psychology]

FYI:

"In keeping with one of the main themes of the book, Charles has made the full text of the book available online as a gift...If you feel moved to send Charles a return gift, you may do so..."

http://sacred-economics.com/read-online/