In this Brown Rice Hour, Konda Mason and Charles Eisenstein discuss the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, and the more beautiful world our hearts know is possible.
Charles Eisenstein is a teacher, speaker, and writer focusing on themes of civilization, consciousness, money, and human cultural evolution. His books include Climate — A New Story and The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible. Learn more about Charles at charleseisenstein.org.
The Coronation
Konda welcomes Charles to the Brown Rice Hour and brings up his essay about the response to the Covid-19 pandemic, The Coronation. They discuss the mythology of separation, the human impulse towards control, and the need to look to the margins and bring in what has been left out.
“What I’m seeing is that our civilization defaults to control even in situations where control may not be the best, or a fight may not be the best response. And the reason that we default that way is because of what you said, the mythology of separation that holds us as fundamentally separate from nature.” – Charles Eisenstein
Charles Eisenstein explores climate change and the myth of us versus them on Mindrolling Ep. 280
Systemic Racism in America (30:31)
Konda asks Charles for his thoughts on the murder of George Floyd and if it’s giving rise to public discourse about systemic racism in America. Konda explores how we have not dealt with race in America, and that we need a sustained conversation about what it really is. They talk about the idea of reparations, and how there needs to be a redistribution of wealth for society to heal.
“Guilt and shame are a substitute for understanding. And judgment of others is also a substitute for understanding. So let’s actually understand these incredibly complicated conditions.” – Charles Eisenstein
The More Beautiful World Our Hearts Know Is Possible (50:37)
Konda talks about the unique kind of slavery that took place in America, and implores everyone to someday visit the National Memorial for Peace and Justice in Montgomery, Alabama. She and Charles discuss how the ripple effect from that trauma sunk into the culture, and the land itself. They reflect on the opportunity of this moment to create the more beautiful world that our hearts know is possible.
“Any system needs feedback that’s going to be a healthy system, so that we can course correct. We are getting some serious feedback right now, and light is shining on all of the places where we absolutely failed: where we have failed each other, we have failed ourselves, we have failed the land, we have failed the other species, we have failed the Earth. Will we take this as an opportunity to course correct some of this?” – Konda Mason
