Radicals, revolutions and radishes.

What do radicals and radishes have in common?

I never thought about the word radish much before, but this evening I've had radishes on my mind.

Interestingly not because I'm cooking up something in the kitchen, but because I'm taking a course in Ecopsychology, and tonight we've been exploring the word 'radical'.

Radix in Latin means root and since the time of Cicero has been used figuratively for the basis, foundation, root or essence of something. The word 'radical' comes from 'radix' for reasons shared above. As does that pretty little red-white root vegetable, the radish.

Yet over time, the word 'radical' has been stolen away from its origins and made to seem negative, or at the very least marginal or 'other'. " For many, the term "radical" has come to mean "extremist". Yet its long history has honourable associations.

A 'radical' is someone often seen on the edges of acceptance, prepared to stand up for something bigger, different, beyond - and our world is littered with histories of those prepared to get to the root causes of our problems and stand up for better ways forward.

For me, being radical is not about extremism but a heartfelt conviction that the urgent problems of our times are much more deeply rooted than mainstream approaches allow. By wanting to address root causes and not just symptoms, I am in a straightforward sense of the term 'being radical'.

Knowing that my own 'radicalism' is motivated by love and compassion for life - both human and more-than-human, the radicalism I inhabit is about defending life against the systems that would harm it, finding ways to offer this beautiful, wounded world the kind of supportive radicalism it so sorely needs.

Our conversations this evening have allowed us to agree it is perfectly acceptable in our world to be radical as part of the compassionate revolution.

And it's also perfectly OK if you don't like radishes.

#radical #activism #love #compassion #consciouscare #ecopsychology #wearethesystem