WHAT DOES

 "LOMAKATSI" MEAN?

Lomakatsi is the opposite of koyaanisqatsi - the hectic, unbalanced modern life we live today.

 

In Hopi history, when societies begin to fall into koyaanisqatsi, it’s time for people to reconnect with what matters most - family, integrity, health, and ecology. The 1982 film Koyaanisqatsi encapsulated how modern life in the Anthropocene could be considered one such age of imbalance. And while these concepts come from the Hopi tradition, today's state of disconnection can be seen around the world.

 

His Holiness the Dalai Lama described modern life in a state of koyaanisqatsi when he was asked what surprises him most about humanity: 

​

“Man. Because he sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices money to recuperate his health. And then he is so anxious about the future that he does not enjoy the present; the result being that he does not live in the present or the future; he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies having never really lived.”

​

And Jiddhu Krishnamurti put it this way:

​

"It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a profoundly sick society."

​

-

​

It's time to reevaluate our relationships with

the world, our selves, and each other. 

​

While in many ways, our technology and culture have made incredible improvements to our health and well-being, there are also many ways that modernization has compromised the very things that make us human. When we neglect our needs for healthy food, clean air and water, meaningful connections with each other, and respect for the lives around us, our physical, mental, and emotional health take a toll. This disconnection has been documented to be a contributing factor to many common ailments, including chronic stress, adrenal fatigue, anxiety, depression, and even cardiovascular disease and stroke.

 

In contrast, lomakatsi is a balanced life connected to our humanity and the world around us. When we prioritize the things that matter most - our health, our relationships, and our sense of spirit and service.  - we can thrive, even in our shared, stressful, modern-day conditions.