Photo by Joan Beard
Tribute to Joanna Macy
Saturday, 19 July 2025, Joanna Macy passed away. Aged 95, after a broken hip followed by pneumonia, she decided not to have more treatment and return to her home. Her family and close friends looked after her with love and care. There was an outpouring of prayers and good wishes from all over the world. Here are a few lines to honour this amazing woman and highlight how she impacted our Findhorn Community. I am sure much more could be said, and I trust you find ways to do that.
Who was Joanna Macy?
Joanna Macy, Ph.D, author & teacher, was a scholar of Buddhism, systems thinking and deep ecology. A respected voice in movements for peace, justice, and ecology, she combined her scholarship with learnings from six decades of activism.Her wide-ranging work addresses psychological and spiritual issues of the nuclear age, the cultivation of ecological awareness, and the fruitful resonance between Buddhist thought and postmodern science. The many dimensions of this work are explored in her thirteen books.
As the root teacher of The Work That Reconnects, Joanna has created a ground-breaking framework for personal and social change, as well as a powerful workshop methodology for its application.
How did she impact the Findhorn Community?
Joanna has visited our Community several times. She was a presenter at the One Earth Gathering in 1986.
My connection with her started in 2000. I had the privilege of meeting her at a week-long The Work That Reconnects event, and was part of her support group. I was very impressed by her unique facilitation style. After two more visits, a peer group formed to practice the Work That Reconnect informally. For me, that resulted in opportunities to lead the powerful Work That Reconnects workshops, both weeklong in-person workshops and online. I also created a 6-month online Work That Reconnects Facilitator Training.
Our peninsula is home to several individuals who facilitate Joanna’s work and are part of the Work That Reconnects Network: Chris Johnstone, Jane Hera, and Margo van Greta. Many others are also bringing this work into parts of our Community. The Work That Reconnects has been incorporated into Ecovillage Design Education, Spiritual Deepening, an Internal Conference, shared with Extinction Rebellion Forres, and will be part of the upcoming Carbon Footprint Project starting 20 September at the Park. Joanna was also a Findhorn Fellow. Her books have been available in the Phoenix Shop. Her name generally gives rise to appreciation and respect.
Interestingly, at the time of her death, her son Jack was visiting our Community and did a tour of the Living Machine!
Gratitude
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to this amazing woman for her courage, dedication, deep love and great compassion. Her humour and authenticity and her willingness to contribute to the healing of our word are an example for all of us. She certainly is a role model for me and a great source of inspiration. Thank you, Joanna! Blessings on your journey!
What is next?
Ten years ago, on request by Joanna Macy, the Work That Reconnects Network was created. A dedicated group is hosting webinars, courses, events, and calendars with presenters from all over the world, and more. You can become a member, to support the Network and receive regular updates.
Or check out my website Heartbeat Findhorn: Inner Work for Outer Action for upcoming online courses and facilitator training, lovingly sent from my home at the Park.
With love and gratitude, Margo van Greta
Findhorn, 21 July 2025
Who was Joanna Macy?
Joanna Macy, Ph.D, author & teacher, was a scholar of Buddhism, systems thinking and deep ecology. A respected voice in movements for peace, justice, and ecology, she combined her scholarship with learnings from six decades of activism.Her wide-ranging work addresses psychological and spiritual issues of the nuclear age, the cultivation of ecological awareness, and the fruitful resonance between Buddhist thought and postmodern science. The many dimensions of this work are explored in her thirteen books.
As the root teacher of The Work That Reconnects, Joanna has created a ground-breaking framework for personal and social change, as well as a powerful workshop methodology for its application.
How did she impact the Findhorn Community?
Joanna has visited our Community several times. She was a presenter at the One Earth Gathering in 1986.
My connection with her started in 2000. I had the privilege of meeting her at a week-long The Work That Reconnects event, and was part of her support group. I was very impressed by her unique facilitation style. After two more visits, a peer group formed to practice the Work That Reconnect informally. For me, that resulted in opportunities to lead the powerful Work That Reconnects workshops, both weeklong in-person workshops and online. I also created a 6-month online Work That Reconnects Facilitator Training.
Our peninsula is home to several individuals who facilitate Joanna’s work and are part of the Work That Reconnects Network: Chris Johnstone, Jane Hera, and Margo van Greta. Many others are also bringing this work into parts of our Community. The Work That Reconnects has been incorporated into Ecovillage Design Education, Spiritual Deepening, an Internal Conference, shared with Extinction Rebellion Forres, and will be part of the upcoming Carbon Footprint Project starting 20 September at the Park. Joanna was also a Findhorn Fellow. Her books have been available in the Phoenix Shop. Her name generally gives rise to appreciation and respect.
Interestingly, at the time of her death, her son Jack was visiting our Community and did a tour of the Living Machine!
Gratitude
I would like to express my deepest gratitude to this amazing woman for her courage, dedication, deep love and great compassion. Her humour and authenticity and her willingness to contribute to the healing of our word are an example for all of us. She certainly is a role model for me and a great source of inspiration. Thank you, Joanna! Blessings on your journey!
What is next?
Ten years ago, on request by Joanna Macy, the Work That Reconnects Network was created. A dedicated group is hosting webinars, courses, events, and calendars with presenters from all over the world, and more. You can become a member, to support the Network and receive regular updates.
Or check out my website Heartbeat Findhorn: Inner Work for Outer Action for upcoming online courses and facilitator training, lovingly sent from my home at the Park.
With love and gratitude, Margo van Greta
Findhorn, 21 July 2025
Joanna Macy, with her husband Fran and support team, Universal Hall, Findhorn Community, 2000.
Photographer unknown.
Photographer unknown.
