Deep Ecology Practice: Despair

Despair may be a natural response to witnessing what is happening among humans, and in the more-than-human world. Today it is prevalent among those aware of what is happening to Earth’s climate. The problem is enormous, and so little is being done in response.

As I write this, I find the urge almost irresistible to push despair away, and say: here is why you should not despair! The previous essays explored resources, such as gratitude and meditation practices to provide emotional support. What’s more, despair is transformed by the context of interbeing: we are never really alone in this world, and do not have to carry even despair alone. In my next essay, I will write about hope. But I will pause here first.

Can temporary despair be a shadow teacher, reminding a person not to grasp, and not to trust to systems with no true foundations? Loving the natural world, wild places, free animals, ancient forests, clean oceans, a night sky full of stars, is joyful. But too much is vanishing. Even the stars, which cannot be stolen, are impossible for most of us to see in our floodlit towns and cities.

Instead of denying despair, is it an initiation? In terms of the natural world, I see despair as going down underground. There is a time for withdrawal, for entering a deep cave, and becoming still. The lesson of the cave is to let go of all the effort spent in maintaining the illusion of our own human and individual importance. In the cave, there is no ego. You are welcome to be there, and you are welcome to leave.

Practice: Stillness

Despair may be an invitation to stillness. In Climate: A New Story, Charles Eisenstein tells a story of a man lost in a maze. Let’s imagine it as an underground labyrinth. He is hunting for an exit, but only becoming more lost. The maze is an entangled trap, but the only thing he can be sure of is that if he were to stop, he would never get out. Eventually, he collapses. Falling still, he begins to see patterns in the maze he has explored, and he begins to hear something: ‘It is a beautiful, musical sound that, he now realizes, has been there all along, drowned out by his pounding footsteps and ragged breathing. He knows that he must never lose touch with that sound again.’ Following the music, a long journey, far-from certain or straightforward, he escapes: ‘He emerges into the sunlit realm he always knew must exist; it is more beautiful than he ever dared imagine. And there he finds the source of the music. It is his Lover, who has been singing to him all this time.’

Stillness matters. Like the seed in winter soil, stillness prepares for new growth. If despair or numbness have dogged your communication with the greater natural world of late, you might try a practice in stillness.

Not everyone will find stillness healing. For some, stillness has stagnated, and movement is needed. In this case some form of action, or movement, could be beneficial. But we live in a culture that values movement, achievement, perceived progress, productivity. This is why despair may be a call to stillness, to kindness and gentleness to yourself, and silence, in which to turn off the dominant culture’s message-stream, and listen to the Earth’s voice. We do not want to lose ourselves in despair, nor stay too long in the cave. But we may find we pay a visit there. Could that visit be healing?

Restorative yoga invites stillness, and can be practiced to support you at this time, because it gives the body an experience of ease and release. At its simplest, it may look like 20 minutes lying in Savasana (flat on the back with the hands lying open beside the body).

Before taking avasana, you might spend some time in child’s pose, sitting back on the heels, then bringing the forehead to rest on the ground, or on a folded blanket. This is a grounding, settling pose, which brings the third eye, the seat of the sixth chakra, your wisdom, into direct contact with the Earth.* This pose may support the sensation of being in the cave, withdrawn before rebirth, connected with deep time. Sheltered, we can listen. What is the Earth saying? How does she speak through you, within your body? What wants to be born through you?

More deep ecology practices are listed at the end of this article. Follow me on Medium for updates.

If you feel ready to move on to hope, that article is here.

*Child’s pose is not recommended if you are pregnant, have knee problems, or high blood pressure. Pay attention to the safety of your body in any yoga pose.

Important: If you or someone you know is struggling right now, please get professional support. Here’s a listing of crisis hotlines: https://www.helpguide.org/find-help.htm