In a time of darkness: Journeying with Gaia

We live in a time of disruptions which can make individuals feel helpless and irrelevant. Nothing manifests this more than the global unraveling of democracy and the rapid acceleration of ecological collapse.

- Rajni Bakshi

But, could it be that little-known inspirational individuals are more than just fleeting fireflies amid the darkness?

This question uniquely came alive in the last few weeks following the death of Stephan Harding, a British zoologist and teacher of ecology at Schumacher College in Devon, United Kingdom (UK). At first, there was just the expected sharing of grief and loss among old friends and colleagues. And then, as a WhatsApp group was formed, there was an outpouring of stories about how one man had inspired thousands of students—gifting them the ability to both see and feel reality more deeply. And, more importantly, in ways that left them feeling empowered as individuals and in collectives.

Ironically, just days before Stephan's death, the Dartington Hall Trust announced the closure of Schumacher College. Over the last three decades, this college has become a beacon for the global community of activists, scientists and philosophers who seek solutions for what they see as civilizational challenges.

This particular story began with an American-British couple who were inspired by Rabindranath Tagore. Dorothy Elmhirst was an American heiress and her husband Leonard Elmhirst, a British agronomist had worked closely with Tagore at Shantiniketan for many years. In 1925, the Elmhirsts bought a run-down estate in Devon and created the Dartington Hall Trust for the purpose of experimenting with both agricultural systems and more humane, creative forms of education.