Living till Dying - episode whatever

I read from a friend who knew her, that Jean Houston has died. He wrote some lovely things about her, and her very inspiring ways of organizing personal growth...societal growth even.

I have heard several of her talks, but may not have read any of her work. I think it's time I do so. I've certainly quoted her many times. Here's one...

We all have the extraordinary coded within us, waiting to be released.

JEAN HOUSTON

What Robertson Work said about her:

I want to share with you below a tribute to Jean in the four dimensions of her Social Artistry process used around the world.

Sensory/Physical

Jean was a tall, big person, with long dark brown hair, a wide smile and a powerful voice. She got people moving and dancing. She made you aware of being a body in space and time. She energized you and called forth your heartfelt voice. She asked you to look into the eyes of another person and to listen deeply. In my first seminar with her in 1986 at the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA) in Chicago, as I wrote in my autobiography, Jean “awoke a dying vision and rekindled an extinguished flame, retouched parts of my body, mind and spirit that had become encrusted in layers of self-protection and insensitivity” enabling me to dance, to cry and to connect deeply with others.

Psychological/Historical

Jean was “bigger than life.” Jean was brilliant and a personification of courage, role playing and power, who empowered others. She said that “guru” stands for “Gee You Are You!” Jean helped each person to get in touch with their own heart and mind in the here and in the now. Jean helped start the human potential movement and founded and taught the Mystery School and Social Artistry School, and much, much more. I loved participating in both of these for several years when I was with UNDP in NYC, and before that in a Whole Systems Transformation Think Tank that Jean led.

Mythic/Symbolic

Jean was a consummate story teller. Her stories were captivating and inspiring. She seemed to have met everyone - Fr. Pierre Teilhard de Chardin, Margaret Mead, Hillary Clinton, Albert Einstein, the Dalai Lama, everyone of any importance. She led us in processes acting out the entire evolution of the cosmos from the Big Bang to the present moment. She wrote many powerful books touching many lives. When my first wife died, Jean called me and said that Mary was now in the center of the Milky Way galaxy downloading and preparing for what was next. Somehow, that story helped me in my grieving journey.

Integral/Unitive

Jean was one with the All. She was one with evolution. She was and is one with the cosmos. She is one with the Earth and humanity. Jean loved life. She loved waking up people to their own potential. She lived life to the fullest and kept traveling, speaking, teaching and writing. She was one with the life force itself. She called each of us to be part of all that is on behalf of all that can be. She is now united with the Ultimate Mystery. She is a constellation of stars in the heavens and in our hearts. Her wise words and compelling actions are now part of evolution and history, empowering people and other beings forever.

Thanks Robertson, for sharing about your friend's teachings.

Here's the Facebook Post on the group Social Artistry in Action which Rob wrote on Sunday May 17:

 

Yesterday afternoon, Dr. Jean Houston died. I am grateful to have known, learned from and collaborated with this great being for many years. Jean was founder of the human potential movement, the Mystery School, the Social Artistry School, an author of many powerful books, and a master teacher empowering people around the world. I am happy to have introduced her work to the United Nations and taken her to Venezuela, Albania, Barbados, Saint Lucia, Kenya, and the Philippines to conduct UNDP social artistry workshops to help decentralize the Millennium Development Goals. Jean called me to dance, to cry and to be creative in new ways. Soon, I will write more about dear Jean in grief and gratitude.

 

Considering what Rob said

 Dearest friend, Robertson Work, quoted Rumi as follows:

“Stop acting so small. You are the universe in ecstatic motion. We came whirling out of nothingness, scattering stars like dust . . . The stars made a circle, and in the middle, we dance."

Robertson writes on Substack. He is one of the most intelligent people I've ever known, or studied.

Here it is: https://robertsonwork.substack.com/p/being-and-doing-in-mystery-and-ecstacy

I'm pretty awestruck to find my name among those he mentioned as being part of his circles of those who affirmed and enabled his work. I admit to being a friend and neighbor, as well  as agreeing with much of what he says. He is the influencer, not me!

I'm particularly struck in this essay by his use of "reframing" to bring negative feelings into more positive possibilities.

I hope you get a chance to go glance at this relatively short paper (substack.)

An Elder speaks

 From my friend Robertson Work - his Substack post

An Elder Awakens on an Autumn Day

Relieving suffering by embracing impermanence and interbeing

Robertson Work

Nov 03, 2025

(painting deleted)

I am suffering and aware of suffering. I know that this is true for all sentient beings, but this is my suffering. I also know that “my” includes everyone and everything.

At eighty-one, I am experiencing loss, loss of friends and family members due to death, illness, or lack of contact, loss of some of my mental and physical capacities, as well as the loss of a country and world which I have loved and have come to understand.

My ego, identity, and pride are under assault. I have always seen myself as strong, capable, caring, and hopeful. Now I am experiencing weakness, limitations, grief, and depression.

This is all natural and to be expected but is also new and disorienting. How can I accept and embrace these changes and transformations? What can I do to care for myself and others at this time in my life and the life of humanity and planet Earth?

I can accept and embrace these changes by contemplating the realities of impermanence and interbeing. Everything is in a state of perpetual arising, changing, falling apart, returning, and transforming. Everything embodies, and is interconnected with, everything else.

I can recall what I am grateful for at this moment. I am grateful to be living with my wise, loving wife, being near my children and grandchildren, living with kind neighbors, having a body and mind that are still active. I am grateful to be writing to you, and caring for family, neighbors, and friends.

Something is awakening in me. Have I been arrogant? Have I believed that taking compassionate actions justifies ones existence? What is karma? What is “just being?” What is it to love being alive just as it is as an unearned gift? For now, I can still keep writing, waking up, and taking actions. Gratitude.

Throughout my life, I have tried to be useful. Having the family name “Work” has been a symbol of what my life was about. Now that I am no longer facilitating, consulting, training, giving policy advice, traveling, managing projects and organizations, teaching grad students, giving keynotes, and making podcasts, who am I? I have not walked the dog for six months.

I used to say that when I could no longer be useful, then it is time to let go of this life. Is that still true? I did not ask to be born, to struggle, and to die. What a mystery this life is! How can I live each moment in gratitude and humility?

Am I narcissistic? Am I jealous of others wealth and fame which I have never sought? How do I care for myself as the unique being that I am? How can this “I” care for others?

Why am I often in despair? Did the heart ablation traumatize my body? Is it that my writing is not flowing? Is it that I am not sure about publishing my 114 new essays? Is it the cold weather with winter coming? Is it the uncertainties around the neighborhood workshop?

Is it my tiredness, floaters, difficulties balancing and walking, not getting out of the house much, not being with other people often, not having a lot to look forward to, worrying about BMT’s health, uncertainty about our future location, the harm being carried out by a fascist oligarchy, my belly, my old face, knowing that aging will continue, that climate disasters will increase, and that death awaits?

I am happy being with BMT, being with son Christopher and his family, staying in touch with son Benjamin, being able to see and hear, being with Chickabee the cat, being at home, being in touch with friends, posting on social media and Substack, having some income, savings, and a house, having caring neighbors, having a career serving people around the world, having five published books and contributions to thirteen other books, having no atrial fibrillation for one month, the daily shining of the sun-star, and anticipations of the coming of spring.

I can embrace and accept the real as the good. I can embrace impermanence and interbeing. I can learn how to suffer less. I can let go of ego, pride, jealousy, craving, and attachments. I can create new initiatives of thinking, creativity, and caring. I can continue to wake up.

Disasters of climate change and oligarchy are waking many people up around the country and the world. We the People are being called to create compassionate, ecological communities, networks, nations, and planetary society.

We can care for each other and for all ecosystems of water, air, soil, fungi, plants, and animals. We can vote and help get out the vote (GOTV). We can contact our representatives. We can write, speak, and organize for social justice and democracy. We can get food to the hungry. We can call for peace in Sudan, Ukraine, Palestine, Israel, and around this world.

After the bleakness and dying of winter, spring will appear with new life, new colors, and new hope.

Let us continue to awaken in truth, love, and humility. Let us overcome vertigo with calm, confidence, and patience.

May it be so."

Carlos, myself, Hannah and Robertson at Earth Day celebration 2024