Dear Readers,

We are pleased to feature a new article by James Quilligan. In our last newsletter we offered a short excerpt, and now the complete article. We began a journey with James in 2011 with his first essay in a series titled, Toward a Common Theory of Value.  Here are all the titles in that series:

Part One: Common Being
Part Two: Common Trust
Part Three: Common Knowing
Part Four: Common Need
Part Five: Common Development

While it is not formally part of the series, Human Watershed: The Emerging Politics of Bioregional Democracy is particularly exciting because Bioregionalism shifts our attention from the man-made borders of sovereign states and other politically defined areas to the Earth’s natural boundaries. Our Bioregional Commons are a key to a thriving, resilient future.

Also in this edition of the Newsletter, David Korten’s introduction to his recent essay for Yes! is meaningful because it calls convincingly for a new story that embraces a living earth and a living universe. The idea of a living universe “recognizes and celebrates all being as the manifestation of the spiritual ground of creation seeking to know itself through a creative, self-organizing unfolding toward ever-greater complexity, beauty, awareness, and possibility.” Link to the full essay too, A New Story for a New Economy: To Find Our Human Place in a Living Universe.

Kosmos editor Nancy Roof reminds us of the Buddha’s teachings as we await a very special full moon May 14 – Wesak Festival

Building on the model of Bhutan, The UN’s First World Happiness Report puts the well-being of people and all living beings at the center of policy-making – not just money and politics as usual. This is a welcome shift in thinking about what constitutes “success”.

We are also sharing a simple but very evocative video by Colors in Motion, Singing Bowls and Silks as a gift of beauty to our readers. It is part of a movement that incorporates the calming effect of moving color and light in public spaces.

Wherever you are on this beautiful living earth, we send you greetings, blessings and gratitude.

Kosmos