Waking Up: Consciousness, Culture, and Climate Solutions

This human life is such a precious and amazing gift. While many of us live comfortable and privileged lives, our future and our planet stand threatened by escalating social and environmental problems, especially climate change. The good news is that together, we are up to the challenge—and you are part of the solution.

Humanity’s great hope lies in waking up, in accelerating the evolution of consciousness and culture—intentionally. Toward that end, Waking Up takes readers on a journey of inquiry and discovery—unfolding in two parts.

• In Part 1, the Inner Journey, we explore waking up personally—to the deeper truth and fullness of who we really are, and to living more of all that is possible in our individual lives.

• In Part 2, the Outer Journey, we explore waking up to the bigger story of humankind—to an expanded experience of this amazing and challenged world, and to playing our needed part in preserving a healthy future.

By consciously evolving and waking up, we naturally engage more in the larger world, and participate in solving the immense challenges of our time. There is great hope. The world is waking up. We are the future waking up to itself. You are needed.

Taylor Hawke is an author, climate activist, and occasional poet. He serves on the Board of Directors of 350BayArea.org, founded 350Marin.org, and supports TheSolutionsProject.org. He is a father and grandfather living in Northern California. www.WakingUpJourney.com

"A fascinating account of how our biggest global crisis may relate to some of our smallest internal battles. Provocative!" --Bill McKibben, author The End of Nature

"Reminds us that the consciousness that can save this planet is not solely what we do inside ourselves, but also what we can do together to save the life-support-system of the planet." —Rabbi Michael Lerner, Editor of Tikkun, Chair of The Network of Spiritual Progressives, author The Left Hand of God

"Taylor Hawke offers a path toward understanding: Our world can be transformed forever by clean, renewable energy, but first we need to get out of our own way. Humanity can discover the opportunity beyond the climate crisis, and it starts with each of us." —Michael Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club, author, Coming Clean—Breaking America’s Addiction to Oil and Coal

"A wake-up call to a culture in crisis. Taylor Hawke weaves together psychology and spirituality, cosmology and climate change, to evoke the deep meaning of our lives at this moment on Earth. Offering wise counsel and relevant questions for our personal and collective journey, Waking Up inspires the individual and social transformations needed for the flourishing of future generations." —Drew Dellinger, author, Love Letter to the Milky Way

"The movement to confront climate change requires a transformation in our way of living, working, and even thinking, and Waking Up holds many keys to unlocking that, both personally and in community." —May Boeve, Executive Director 350.org

"Provides a beautiful and heartfelt call to accelerate the evolution of our collective consciousness. Hawke’s emphasis on environmental stewardship, together with his grasp of the emerging evolutionary perspective, results in a book that is filled with timeless spiritual wisdom, yet also highly relevant to the challenges of our times. —Steve McIntosh JD, author, Evolution’s Purpose and Integral Consciousness

Waking Up provides the personal motivation for individuals to see and control their destiny, and to fulfill their desire to make the world a better place, thereby enriching their lives, and the lives of their children and grandchildren. —Mark Z. Jacobson, Stanford University, Director of Atmosphere and Energy Program