Episode 45: Widening Circles (Joanna Macy’s Memoir | Audiobook Excerpt)

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I’m deeply happy to share this episode, a few years in the dreaming and making: an excerpt from the audiobook of Widening Circles, the memoir of Joanna Macy.

In this chapter about her year in Sri Lanka, you’ll hear from Joanna at 50 years old, in 1979, when she was participating in and studying the Sarvodaya Shramadana Sangamaya movement. You’ll get a taste of much of what I love about Joanna’s memoir: 

her adventurousness, 

her passion, 

the breadth and depth of her thinking,

her moments of spiritual insight and awakening, 

her openness to love and friendship, 

her lyrical writing,

and the chance to learn about another time, place, and response to social and ecological need. (I learned so many new-to-me things about geography and history just by looking up how to pronounce the words in Joanna’s life story.) 

Joanna Macy was a beloved teacher, mentor, elder, and friend to so many. She was a scholar and an activist whose work continues to touch countless people around the world and help us find clarity, agency, belonging, and love of life in a world in crisis. 

Her adventurous, passionate life interwove with major events and ideas of the 20th century – which mattered to her in a deeply personal way. I can’t wait for you to hear her story. 

(And this is only the first 70 years of it ! Joanna published this memoir and then went on to live another 25 years of extraordinary life.)

I cannot put into words what it has meant to me to record this. I’m deeply grateful. My active hope is that through this, Joanna’s story will reach more people, and she will touch more heart-minds.

Purchase the full audiobook here, from New Society Publishers, or wherever you like to get your audiobooks. If you can’t find it through your library, ask them to carry it! Who knows who else might find their hearts touched by Joanna when they hear her story.

Thank you to the Work that Reconnects Network community for your generosity in funding the production of this audiobook. Thank you to Jo delAmor at the WTR Network, Heather O’Sullivan at New Society Publishers, and Leon, Felix and the team at Book Buddy Media. 

Thank you to Lydia Violet Harutoonian, for introducing me to Joanna, sharing beautiful moments with her and our families together, and carrying on her legacy. Thank you Anne Symens-Bucher, Jess Serrante, Jack and Peggy Macy, and all the friends I called on to help me pronounce words in German, Russian, French, Sri Lankan, Tibetan, Sanskrit, and more. 

Thank you to my mom, who said, “You should record an audiobook of this!”, my husband for believing in this project and supporting me in literally everything, and my kids, who so loved Joanna. Thank you, L, for your own stunning tribute to Joanna, and K for all the love and delight you brought her, and for lending me the space under your loft bed to record her audiobook.

Ok. It’s 1979, Joanna is 50 years old, and she’s just arrived in Sri Lanka… Tap Play above to hear what happens.