Some of us feel something is wrong or missing in activism based on adversariality, power struggles, critiques, demonstrations and endless meetings with no juice. Somehow we -- and those we are fighting -- get lost as people. We sense there's something important -- something about heart, humanness, spirit, wholeness, LIFE! -- upon which we could base our activism, that would make our work more productive and meaningful -- as well as putting us on the leading edge of cultural and personal evolution.

There are a number of directions our inquiry into activism might take. However, before we look at these, it might be useful to explore (individually and/or together) our own:

When we're ready, below are some new directions our activism could take. This is in no way a conclusive list, but it does give a good variety of paths, many of which could be combined with others. When you read the list, how do you respond to each item? Do you resonate with it? Object to it? Dismiss it as not relevant? Is there STILL something important missing? What is it?

I) Activism that is more human, personal and alive -- that has more art, community, story, friendship, spirit, aliveness in it for the participants -- and perhaps even for those affected by it or viewing it. For example:

Art and Revolution; talking circles; retreats; as many potlucks and celebrations and parties as meetings; hearing each other's life stories; check-ins; support networks for activists; etc. We feel like we're treated as real people, and it's an "alive scene!" One reading: Fran Peavey's HEART POLITICS.

II) Activism that integrates all of who we are - feelings, thoughts, bodies, spirits, citizens, etc. Examples: Co-counselling; Interhelp. We share an inquiry here about what it means to be a whole person engaged with the world. (See HEART POLITICS.)

III) Activism that focuses on process, dialogue, listening, relationship, questions, learning, weaving - that has no agenda of its own, but which enables, frees, links, enlightens, and empowers all energies towards a better world. Examples: strategic questioning, the public conversation project, listening projects, our Process In Public Service idea. (This includes activism that empowers community: future search, holistic management, consensual democracy, etc.) (Peavey has stuff to say on this, too.)

IV) Activism that focuses on the "life energy band" in ourselves and others -- the values, needs, visions, missions, purposes, things that matter or have juice for us, etc., -- that evoke self-organizing, self-motivating energies and help prevent/resolve conflict.

V) Activism AS a spiritual practice that exercises compassion, service, mindfulness, acceptance, trust, courage, faith, recognition of the sacred in everyone/everything, connection to a higher power, participatory/co-creative awareness, evolution of a sangha, or whatever our particular spiritual focus may be.

VI) Activism that focuses on higher-order (contextual) factors in society, such as co-intelligence, democracy, story fields, cultural assumptions, etc., that give greater leverage for deep change than the usual issue-oriented activism.

VII) Activism that is more strategic and long-term - that looks beyond the next demonstration. Each action fits into a larger whole. There's a plan and a logic to it that magnifies the relevance of each piece and adds up to something. Example: Party politics (Democratic & Republican, but also Communist). (The question "What would a holistic equivalent to the socialist movement look like?" bridges over to the next item.)

VIII) Activism that works with patterns uncovered by "the new sciences." What would activism look like if it took seriously the dynamics of wholeness, complex adaptive systems, self-organization, and non-linear aliveness?

The sciences in question include: ecology, evolution, the Gaia hypothesis, chaos and complexity theories, field theory, quantum mechanics, relativity, cybernetics, systems theory and living systems theory, the theory of dissipative structures, holism, holographics, morphic resonance, etc. The dominant issue is that most traditional/current activism is based in the Newtonian model of separate entities and linear cause-and-effect relationships -- a model which has limited application.

Readings might include: Fritjof Capra's THE WEB OF LIFE, Meg Wheatley's LEADERSHIP AND THE NEW SCIENCE, John Briggs and F. David Peat's TURBULENT MIRROR and SEVEN LIFE LESSONS OF CHAOS, Waldrop's COMPLEXITY. Paul Krapfel's SHIFTING (and subsequent newsletters). David Spangler's EVERYDAY MIRACLES. [Editor’s Note: A Brief History of Everything, by Ken Wilbur is another book along these lines.]

This is an excerpt from Tom Atlee's "The Search for a More Deeply Alive, Effective Activism". For more information visit the Cointelligence Institute.