329: John Perkins: Touching the Jaguar

A great joy of podcast success is talking to people who changed your life. I read John Perkins' Confessions of an Economic Hit Man about ten years ago. I couldn't put it down---as much from the writing as the stories and content. It led me to see the world differently, especially government, corporations, America, money, what my taxes support, politics. It recalled Upton Sinclair and Henry Thoreau.He is about to release a new book, Touching the Jaguar. He's written several books on shamanism, his experiences relevant to shamanism from before his economic hit man path, how the worlds interact, bringing them together, and showing how they are relevant today---including during a virus.If you're here just after I posted it, listen for the workshop he's offering April 29th.On a personal note, I hope you share what happened with me listening to him. I thought of the fears I've been facing lately, for example sharing my past on this podcast, if you listened to my episode Bruce Springsteen inspired to start talking about Sex, Drugs, and Rock and Roll. I can't imagine I'm the only one holding back from facing a fear and acting on it that I know it's time for.John talked about changing perception and things that might sound small, like tweeting or emailing companies about actions of theirs you don't like. Almost everyone I talk to says little things like that don't make a difference so they don't act. They're letting their beliefs limit them---what they do, how they live.As I understood John, he's saying that those beliefs and actions build on each other. They did with George Washington, as he describes. They did with everyone who made a difference.I recommend listening with the question in mind: What am I perceiving that I could perceive differently?John's announcement for his workshop:Dear Friends,When I wrote Touching the Jaguar, I had no idea that the coronavirus was on the way. However, it seems now as though the jaguar was reaching out to touch all of us, because when you order the book, you also receive a free workshop that is perfect for this time of crises and opportunities. I didn’t know about the virus, but I did know that our world is in trouble.A shaman in the Ecuadorian Andes with the wonderful name, Maria Juana, was asked by a participant on one of my trips, “How do we save the earth?” Maria Juana laughed. “The earth’s not in danger. We humans are. We’re causing problems for all species. If we get to be too much of a nuisance, Mother Earth will just shake us off, like so many fleas.” She pointed up at the mountain that hovers over her home. “Twenty years ago, that volcano was covered with a big glacier. The glacier’s gone now. Mother Earth is twitching. She’s demanding that we listen.”I think about that whenever some place in the world is struck by a hurricane, earthquake, fires, or another “once in one hundred years event” that now happens every year or so. The earth is twitching.This virus is the biggest twitch yet. It impacts everyone on the planet. It’s time to reexamine who we are as individuals and as a species. This workshop is all about that. It’s about transformation – yours and the world’s. The book won’t be in stores or delivered from online vendors until June 16. However, because we are facing the coronavirus and other crises now, I want to offer you a jumpstart before the end of this month on techniques for transforming your fears into actions to change your life and the world. Although normally $297, this workshop is yours free when you order Touching the Jaguar. In addition, you will receive two other bonuses, as described at https://touchingthejaguarbook.comI look forward to joining you at the workshop and hanging out with you and the rest of this powerful, magical, life-changing Touching the Jaguar Community. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.