Undaunted: Living Fiercely into Climate Meltdown in an Authoritarian World

Atthe conclusion of the 2021 COP 26 climate summit with its disappointing outcomes, inhabitants of planet Earth are confronted with the reality that by 2050, or sooner, large parts of the Earth could be uninhabitable. We are indisputably living in the Sixth Great Extinction. We know that countless humans are reeling with climate anxiety and experiencing fear, anger, grief, despair, dread, and understandably attempting to cope with the reality of potential human extinction with massive amounts of denial. This book offers an alternative to being consumed with either denial or despair. At its core is the existential issue of climate catastrophe and how to live into it with compassionate, clear-eyed, vibrant, awakened intention. While this perspective is harrowing, even more formidable is the prospect of doing so in a global milieu in which deeply divided nations and individuals are opting to abandon democratic institutions and procedures in favor of authoritarian models of governance. Undaunted offers neither phony fixes nor merciless melancholy in the face of our daunting predicament. It assumes that both the reader and the author will face moments of despair going forward, but it offers skills and practices for living undaunted in the face of humanity’s most unprecedented ordeals.
"This book is a blessing and a transmission from a fierce, wise, passionate female elder. No one can afford either to ignore it or to not learn from its massively encouraging lessons."
—Andrew Harvey, author of The Hope: A Guide to Sacred Activism and Radical Passion: Sacred Love and Wisdom in Action
"As we face ongoing disruption to our social and ecological systems, we need robust and nimble roadmaps highlighting routes focused on healing, connection, and cooperation. Baker's Undaunted is one such guide, providing a path for the necessary psycho-spiritual work we must do to become pillars of support for our communities."
—LaUra Schmidt, Founding Director of the Good Grief Network
"For decades, former psychotherapist, wise life coach and 'collapse chaplain' Carolyn Baker has been teaching us how to live fiercely and passionately into the wildly uncertain and truly daunting future of climate and political chaos that now faces us all. She offers no guarantee of survival but calls us to commit to deep inner work as well as brave outer actions in defense of Earth, offering an inspiring and practical 'post-doom manual' to help us embrace the subtle but powerful benefits of accepting our planetary predicament 'undaunted.'”
—Linda Buzzell, Psychotherapist, Ecotherapist, Author, College Educator and co-editor, Ecotherapy: Healing with Nature in Mind (Sierra Club Books).
"From the first impression of the arresting image on the cover to the last thoughts at the end, Undaunted is a riveting homage to life and a journey that will shake you to the core. Ensnared in the tightening grip of climate chaos, a consciousness that connects us to each other and the natural world must be restored. We are called to do so thoughtfully, purposefully and fiercely. Redolent with wisdom and almost aching sensitivity – Undaunted will take you to places you didn't know existed. You may do your best to put down roots in some of those places, because you will see they feed our hungry souls.
—Lise Van Susteren, M.D., Board Certified: General and Forensic Psychiatry, co-Author of Emotional Inflamation: Discover Your Triggers and Reclaim Your Equilibrium During Anxious Times