A Visionary of Deep Ecology, Buddhist Scholar, and Guide in the Work That Reconnects

With deep gratitude and sorrow, the Charter for Compassion honors the life and passing of Joanna Macy, who died peacefully on July 19, 2025, at the age of 96. A towering presence in the global movement for ecological and spiritual renewal, Joanna was a friend, mentor, and constant inspiration to our community. Her teachings touched the very heart of what it means to live compassionately on this planet.

Joanna’s legacy is immense. Through her pioneering framework, The Work That Reconnects, she helped countless individuals and organizations face the pain of our world not with despair, but with courage, connection, and a renewed sense of purpose. She taught us that grief is not a weakness but a measure of our love—and that from that love, action is possible.

Rooted in systems thinking, Buddhism, and profound ecological awareness, Joanna Macy’s work transcended borders and disciplines. She reminded us that we belong to something larger than ourselves—a living, breathing world in which our joy, suffering, and awakening are deeply intertwined.

Joanna was never afraid to speak truth to power, to hold space for anguish and wonder alike, and to call forth the sacred responsibility we hold for future generations. Her life was a practice of compassion in action: fierce, wise, and unfailingly generous.

At the Charter for Compassion, we are especially grateful for the ways Joanna’s voice and vision have shaped our understanding of interdependence, moral courage, and radical hope. We carry her spirit in our continued work to create a more compassionate world.

In her own words:

"The most remarkable feature of this historical moment on Earth is not that we are on the way to destroying the world — we've actually been on the way for quite a while. It is that we are beginning to wake up, as from a millennia-long sleep, to a whole new relationship to our world, to ourselves and each other."

~ Joanna Macy

We send our love to all who mourn her passing and celebrate her extraordinary life. May her teachings continue to guide us. May we rise to the sacred task she set before us: to love this world fiercely, to act with courage, and to keep faith in what is possible.