Anarchy is a word with a reputation. For those who are strongly attached to rigid systems of control, it can only mean chaos. For others, anarchy is the experience of relating freely as equals. Where systems of control rely on fear, anarchy involves allowing ourselves to be brave and powerful, to connect with each other to create the lives we want to live, to see each other through eyes of love. Anarchism has a long history of inspiring artists, creative thinkers and beautiful social movements all exploring ways to move from a culture of control to a culture of connection. 

Sound utopian? Perhaps it is. Rather than assuming that people are incapable of being equal, anarchy in action means practising, learning from our mistakes and continuing to develop our skills. What a wonderful challenge!
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Jamie Heckert is the co-editor of Anarchism & Sexuality: Ethics, Relationships and Power (2011) and editor of Revolutionary Love Letters (forthcoming). He is a founding member of the Anarchist Studies Network and a respected expert in the areas of anarchism, gender, sexuality and relationships. Jamie is also an Integral Yoga teacher and a member of the Transition BH Hub – nurturing grassroots community connections to face the big challenges of our times. 

This talk was given at Mad Cucumber Vegan Lounge in Bournemouth, United Kingdom.

Love & Freedom: A Gentle Introduction To Anarchy

A seminar given on 06 February 2013 at the Centre for Interdisciplinary Gender Studies, University of Leeds.

Loving Politics: On the Art of Living Together

A talk given at an event organised by Meg Barker around her new book: Mindful Counselling and Psycho-therapy: Practising Mindfully Across Approaches and Issues (London: Sage). Friday, 1 November 2013, Open University, London.

http://www.open.ac.uk/ccig/events/mindfulness-and-mental-health

Mindful Anarchy

Dr. Vishwam J. Heckert is an internationally recognised scholar, yoga teacher and interfaith spiritual counsellor. This page is an archive of rough recordings made on mobile phone at some of his public lectures. For more information about Vishwam and his work, please see his website http://HeartOfFreedom.org