It is with great sadness that we acknowledge the passing of philosopher, mentor, teacher, activist and visionary, Joanna Macy. Joanna died peacefully at her home in Berkeley on July 19, 2025, at age 96, surrounded by family and friends. Her passing marks the end of a life devoted to weaving together Buddhist wisdom, systems thinking, and ecological awareness.

Joanna’s work synthesized principles of Buddhism, systems theory and deep ecology philosophy, creating frameworks that helped countless people transform despair about planetary crisis into engaged action. Her doctoral thesis, “Mutual Causality in Buddhism and General Systems Theory,” linked codependent arising with systems thinking, offering intellectual grounding for what would become her signature teaching methodology.

Through “The Work That Reconnects,” she created a groundbreaking framework and potent workshop methodology for deepening ecological connection, transformation, and empowerment. Her understanding that our pain for the world reflects our interconnectedness rather than our weakness provided a path through environmental grief toward meaningful response.

Joanna often emphasized: “If the world is to be healed through human efforts, I am convinced it will be by ordinary people whose love for this life is even greater than their fear.” Her vision of “The Great Transition” toward life-sustaining society offered hope grounded in Buddhist teachings on interdependence and the possibility of awakening.

Her translations of Rilke, anti-nuclear activism, and decades of teaching leave behind networks of practitioners carrying forward her integration of contemplative wisdom and ecological engagement. In death as in life, she demonstrates how individual transformation and planetary healing remain inseparable.

May her memory be a blessing and her work continue to inspire the Great Transition toward a life-sustaining world.