Archdruid Greer Writes Speculative Fiction

I’ve been a fan of John Michael Greer’s ‘The Archdruid Report’ for many years now. Many of my plans over the last six years were inspired by him. He’s long had a very sane approach to what often feels like an insane human culture, especially in regards to what we’re doing and why and what we’re likely to do. (See links to side of the page and feel free to check him out yourself.)

Lately he’s been writing 2 of every 3 posts as serial fiction about a guy in the future. His character is a journalist from an area that refused to give up all the bells and whistles of modern life and so sunk ever deeper into a have and have-not type of society. The journalist visits another area of the United States (which has broken up into smaller nation-states in the story) where people tried things according to what Greer thinks would be better policies.

Its a good story, but in a nutshell, its basically Greer pointing out how less energy-dense technologies, using human, animal, and wind, water and other alternative energies, could be taken on as a voluntary embracing of our past, especially the parts that worked well with clockwork gears, clever hand-tools, and more fair economic and public policies. This does not mean we have to regress socially, of course, just give up the lifestyles that use so much fossil fuel. His fiction story is a way to demonstrate what this type of choice might look like- as contrasted to what might likely happen for those societies that struggle to continue the status quo despite the ill-wisdom of that choice.

Very interesting speculation, and certainly worth considering!

I wonder if such a sensible solution could be undertaken without all other alternatives being tried first? We humans are so stubborn about avoiding change- especially anything that smacks of possible discomforts. One thing I’ve learned from my own studies and hands-on forays into alternative lifestyles– its both harder and easier than you think it will be.

Of late, I have not been participating much in gardening or chickens or anything else along those lines. You’d think it would be a relief to let it go, but it actually makes me feel uneasy and… too unfettered, like I lack enough gravity or something. I still do housework and some yard duties, depending upon the weather, but by and large I am back to living like most people do in my country…

…and you know what? I don’t really like it! I actually miss the work, the duty, the connection to the land and animals and seasonal routines. I didn’t do canning or drying this year, for instance– and after years of processing food it feels wrong to have missed it. I still have plenty of canned jams and salsas and such, enough to last another year easily, but that’s not the point. There is a satisfaction to participating in the rhythms of the weather and land. The work I did was for a purpose and brought its own reward of healthy food and a connection to nature that I’m otherwise somewhat cut off from.

Going back to how I did things before will not be easy. I don’t think I’ll ever be able to feel right again without a little homestead or farm and some animals and gardens. If more people tried what I have, I believe many would come to the same conclusion. Physical labor is not a prison sentence to be avoided, it is often a satisfying way of engaging with life. Eventually, western societies will be returning to it whether they want to or not. I suppose my point is that its likely that they’ll be surprised at how much they find they want it.