advent callendar

Last week, I had the privilege of attending a workshop led by the renowned spiritual teacher, Emma Mills. The moment I walked into the room, I could sense a vibrant energy buzzing in the air. It was clear that this was going to be a transformative and magical experience. Emma opened the workshop with a powerful meditation that immediately brought a sense of calm and tranquility to the room. As she guided us through the meditation, her soothing voice and words of wisdom washed over us like a warm embrace. I could feel my body relax, and my mind quieten as I surrendered to the present moment.

The time scale in which Ghosh works is a fairly recent one, going back some three or four centuries. By writing a history of colonialism, he falls back on the choices of the present that repetitively ask the same question: who is responsible for climate change? Of course, it is human-induced and anthropogenic, as even the policy documents testify. But on what scale and through what measures? Even while using the concept of Gaia frequently, Ghosh fails to show how the living organisms on the planet interact with their surrounding inorganic environment to configure a synergetic and self-regulating system that originally created the climate and biochemical conditions sufficient and responsible for creating ‘life’ on this planet. This is because Ghosh, while pursuing a global politics of vitalism (the belief that living beings have a vital force), still holds humans closest to his heart. A book that makes the case for a ‘planet in crisis’ intentionally emphasises human parables alone.

Collingwood differentiated between human history and natural history by remarking that all history properly so called is the history of human affairs. With sweeping historical perspective and startling insight, Ghosh has written a groundbreaking, visionary call to new forms of human life in the Anthropocene.

I could feel my body relax, and my mind quieten as I surrendered to the present moment. Throughout the workshop, Emma shared her profound insights and teachings with us, helping us to reconnect with our true selves and cultivate a deeper sense of self-awareness. Her ability to articulate complex concepts in a simple and relatable way was truly remarkable.

The Nutmeg's Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis

In this ambitious successor to The Great Derangement, acclaimed writer Amitav Ghosh finds the origins of our contemporary climate crisis in Western colonialism’s violent exploitation of human life and the natural environment.

A powerful work of history, essay, testimony, and polemic, Amitav Ghosh’s new book traces our contemporary planetary crisis back to the discovery of the New World and the sea route to the Indian Ocean. The Nutmeg’s Curse argues that the dynamics of climate change today are rooted in a centuries-old geopolitical order constructed by Western colonialism. At the center of Ghosh’s narrative is the now-ubiquitous spice nutmeg. The history of the nutmeg is one of conquest and exploitation—of both human life and the natural environment. In Ghosh’s hands, the story of the nutmeg becomes a parable for our environmental crisis, revealing the ways human history has always been entangled with earthly materials such as spices, tea, sugarcane, opium, and fossil fuels. Our crisis, he shows, is ultimately the result of a mechanistic view of the earth, where nature exists only as a resource for humans to use for our own ends, rather than a force of its own, full of agency and meaning.

Writing against the backdrop of the global pandemic and the Black Lives Matter protests, Ghosh frames these historical stories in a way that connects our shared colonial histories with the deep inequality we see around us today. By interweaving discussions on everything from the global history of the oil trade to the migrant crisis and the animist spirituality of Indigenous communities around the world, The Nutmeg’s Curse offers a sharp critique of Western society and speaks to the profoundly remarkable ways in which human history is shaped by non-human forces.

Genres NonfictionHistoryEnvironmentClimate ChangeSciencePoliticsNature

The Nutmeg’s Curse: Parables for a Planet in Crisis. Amitav Ghosh. University of Chicago Press. 2021.

I found myself nodding in agreement and having multiple "aha" moments as she spoke. One of the highlights of the workshop was the group exercises. Emma created a safe and supportive environment where everyone felt comfortable sharing their thoughts and experiences. Through these exercises, we were able to connect with one another on a deeper level and form meaningful connections. It was truly magical to witness the transformative power of human connection and vulnerability. As the workshop came to an end, I felt a profound sense of gratitude and awe. Emma's teachings had touched me on a deep level, and I knew that I had experienced something truly special. The workshop had not only equipped me with practical tools and techniques to navigate life's challenges but had also reminded me of the beauty and wonder that exists within every moment. In conclusion, my experience with Emma Mills was nothing short of magical. Her teachings, presence, and ability to create a transformative space left a lasting impact on me. I feel inspired, rejuvenated, and better equipped to navigate life's ups and downs. I am grateful for the opportunity to have been part of this incredible workshop and will carry its lessons with me on my journey of personal growth and self-discovery..

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advent callendar