Matt Savinar over at Life After the Oil Crash kindly contacted me asking for permission to use my photo of Stevie (in repose with Beer Can) to illustrate one of his posts, “Dealing with the Psychological Ramifications of Peak Oil.”

Peak Oil is an idea whose time has come, given Saturn (shortages) opposing Neptune (oil), it’s time for a long-term plan. If the government won’t address the issue, then we all have to individually. Matt writes:

What I’ve found is that the most beneficial antidote to these initial feelings and reactions which threaten to overwhelm us (i.e. fear, depression, hopelessness, anger, a generalized “psychic vertigo”) actually lies through greater awareness of our problems and our situation, and not through “shutting out” or turning away from the discomfort these issues bring up—although this is often our instinctive reaction. But at the same time we also want to caution that we don’t allow ourselves to be drawn too forcefully into these topics either, and it’s quite common for many people to become like deer in the headlights when the first dawning of disillusionment begins to break—stricken with fright, yet unable to pull themselves away from the full glare of impending doom.

Stephen Buhner, an herbalist, earth poet, and teacher, taught me that the cost of an ecological education is knowing you live in a world full of wounds. Yet, we can’t know where we’re going until we know where we are, as individuals and as a species. So thinking of the world and our place in it, facing the earth changes that are coming, is important. I’m one of those people who, if I spent a day clicking around Matt’s site, might not be able to sleep that night. That’s why I haven’t seen the Al Gore movie yet. I feel like I know enough, and I’m not ready to lose another night of sleep. What you focus on gets bigger, and I’m so tired of being angry and feeling desperate.

So I agree with Matt, the way through our despair is to learn about these things, learn about our place in the world, but to move beyond the despair. Then we can use our intelligence and resources to minimize or solve the problem, and support others who are doing the same.

Here’s what I’m doing to help minimize my impact on the planet:

  • Using plant medicines instead of chemical medicines
  • Using fuels, gas and heating oil, mindfully and minimally
  • Working at home (no commute)
  • Learning to grow my own food
  • Using rain water (collected in rain barrels) to water my gardens
  • Using a clothesline to dry my laundry
  • Buying locally grown foods whenever possible
  • Helping other people get perspective on their lives
  • Supporting small business rather than corporate monsters
  • Dealing with my issues rather than spreading my individual misery around to others; living a peaceful life

It may seem like a lot to some, and barely anything to someone else. But let’s not get into a pissing contest about it. I think it’s important that we honor where each individual is on the path. It’s caring that’s important. We are wounded individuals in a wounded nation living on a wounded earth. What we have in common is that we care. It’s not helpful to be divisive and stand in judgement of others, who may be doing more or less or doing it differently.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m not a touchy-feely, love everybody type. Bush and Cheney and their cronies who don’t give a crap about the greater good, and Ann Coulter, Bill O’Reilly and people like them who spread their lies and hate-filled diatribes—all those bass-turds (scuse my French) should be brought down with both barrels of the shotgun of truth. But I do think everyone is deserving of compassion. We all need to recognize these folks for who they are: very unhappy people.

Stevie relaxing

Stevie says, “be excellent to each other!”

(And by the way, Stevie and I don’t endorse Coors Light. Life’s too short to drink schwag beer.)