Full Spectrum Activism

Graphic adapted from 'Subtle Activism' by David Nicol

Full spectrum social activism opens the door for everyone to personally and effectively respond to challenges such as climate change. And because the roots of climate change are deep within consciousness it may be that nothing short of full spectrum social action will address climate change.

For me 'full spectrum social action' is a view of social activism that, in addition to overt forms of activism, includes the 'subtle activism' of David Nicol, 'social activism as embodied practice' described by Terry Patten, 'sacred activism' promoted by Andrew Harvey and the 'spiritualised activism' of Matthew Fox.

"We're in a race between consciousness and catastrophe" according to Terry Patten.

Creative responses to the challenges of our times recognise the need to integrate inner and outer transformation says David Nicol. "...consciousness-based practices like meditation, prayer, and ritual, in addition to their positive effect on individuals, may play a subtle, yet crucial, role in supporting change in the world." (Subtle Activism)

The disenchanted worldview of mechanistic materialism adopted 500 years ago closed the door on the subtle and the sacred for many in contemporary western civilisation. According to Richard Tarnas today's global situation requires a re-enchantment of the cosmos bringing to individual and collective consciousness deep connection and meaning.

This notion of 'full spectrum social action' provides opportunities to those for whom more overt forms of social action are not a good fit for their skills, personality or current place in their life journey. Collectively we can cover the entire spectrum from subtle to overt social action.

More than that, it is becoming clear that subtle forms of social action at both the individual and collective level are not only effective but may be crucial for sustained systemic change and transformation.

Decades of research into meditation, distant healing, remote intention, global consciousness, non-local coherence provides strong evidence for the efficacy of remote subtle practices of individuals and groups. See Subtle Activism, A New Republic of the Heart, Connected: The Emergence of Global Consciousness or Science And Human Transformation: Subtle Energies, Intentionality, and Consciousness.

"The results of the research have consistently shown highly statistically significant correlations between the practice of [mediation]... and improvements in a broad range of indicators of social harmony in nearby populations, including crime rates, auto accidents, fires, war deaths..." (Subtle Activism)

Only a small percentage (1% or less) of the targeted population size was required for a group of meditators to demonstrate a measurable impact.

There are many international groups offering synchronised subtle practices for today's global challenges. The websites listed above provide links to some of these.