Regeneration is a process by which living systems can be renewed to become more viable in their environment, with the potential to self-organise and grow naturally.
This wisdom can be applied to people, business, politics (i.e., culture), biology, the planet, and the cosmos (i.e., nature). Even organisations are beginning to see themselves as “living systems” and regenerative cultures. They have adopted a regenerative style of leadership that values our authenticity, integrity, and innate wisdom.
As Dan George observed in 1988 – “We are as much alive as we keep the Earth alive”. We now understand that all living things rely on each other for their health and survival.
Indigenous peoples worldwide deeply understand culture as an integral part of nature that contains the vital energy of a harmonising, living spirit. This cosmic or divine order is found in the Tao, Dharma and Logos.
These life-supporting systems can be observed in self-organisation, harmony, viability, reciprocity, belonging, and the very essence of being. These are the ingredients that support regeneration in all complex adaptive and evolving systems.
Today, we are facing a biodiversity crisis and witnessing the devastating impact of climate change on the environment and human well-being. In addition to the need for harmonious relationships in the outer world of being, we also need to nourish the inner life, which is our way of being.
The benefits of harmonising ‘inside-out’ and ‘outside-in’ energy are positive for one’s mental and physical health,particularl when walking in the countryside. Many other cognitive and spiritual benefits result from imagination, meditation and education.
Being in a New Paradigm
The growing realisation is that if humans are to survive and even thrive on our planet, we need to care about “being” more than having more. Idealist? Maybe, but we urgently need a new paradigm to deliver regeneration and adaptation, not just sustainability. We need cultural (know-why) change and technological (know-how) change and development.
“The gross national product does not allow for the health of our children, the quality of their education, or the joy of the play. It does not include the beauty of our poetry, or the strength of our marriages, the intelligence of public debate, or the integrity of our public officials. It measures, neither our wit nor our courage, neither our wisdom, nor our learning, neither are compassion, nor our devotion to our country, it measures everything in short, except that which makes life worthwhile.”
Robert F Kennedy, 1968.