The End of the World

What’s this world coming to? The end, apparently.

It’s an auspicious year. According to the Popol Vuh, this is it. Done. Finito. End of story. Or end of this story. But there’s more. Somehow the Forces That Be, have rigged it so that along with the Long Count-ers, Water Dragons, Occupiers, and the disobedient would all converge for the last big unpredictable dance. (Also, “The Hobbit”.) It’s going to get loud and angry. It’ll be like 1968 but with pepper spray. And then, we’ll probably discover that pepper spray is also a greenhouse gas. Well played, FTB.

And for what? A new world, hopefully. Like a cosmic snake shedding its skin, this world will finally be sloughed off after too many centuries of rough living. That’s what I’m looking forward to, a new skin to be in. Bright and colourful, strong and supple, young. Let’s start again, not from the beginning, but fresh, and with what we’ve learned.

Whither the world, who knows? There’s no predicting what effects the ripples of our actions might create. Chaos theory offers hope and no more. Maybe this will be remembered as the year when the worldwide We took a giant leap? Or not. Anyway, I’m not worried.

This being Totnes, we’ll be watching the global fireworks from the safety of our cosy shire, but not idly. As the metaphysical forces of destruction align, so do our local forces of creation. New companies, new jobs, new art, new wind turbines, new cycle paths, new sustainable transport, new food hubs, new cosy green homes, and new brown field redevelopment.

I’m particularly hopeful about the REconomy Project work we’re doing here. Our Entrepreneur Forum happens on the vernal equinox. We envision a work hub and incubator, too. We’re transforming our little town into a hotbed of Transition innovation. If we can see it, we can be it, right?

There’s more we envision:  TRESOC, our community renewable energy company, will win planning permission for its wind turbines. Transition Café will open this year on the High Street, stocked with locally crafted everything. Totnes on the Move, a community project that includes Devon County Council, TTT and many people from the community, are envisioning how to spend a pile of money to build cycle paths and turn the High Street into “shared space”. Atmos Project and Transition Homes are passing major milestones this year, too.

May all these things manifest.

But, to be honest, I don’t get all that excited about the future, anymore. It’s not for lack of hope or optimism or visioning. Or anxiety. I do look forward. And backward – perhaps too much of that, at times. I try, imperfectly, to take care of the present. That’s a big enough challenge, especially when confronted by knowledge, and things that pass for knowledge, about what’s in store. So, I’m looking forward to caring for this little world of mine, inside my head and heart, family, friends. A few more laughs. More volunteering. More paying projects, too. (Breathe.) Ahhh.

Time’s up. It’s the deadline and the end of this word.