What is regeneration, and what can we learn from nature to build culture? (Part 1)
Regeneration: an act or the process of regenerating: the state of being regenerated: renewal, regrowth, or restoration
My interest in regeneration began 6 years ago, when I burnt out. I lay down one day, and literally couldn’t get up. Working flat out in an arts-based community violence response setting and being an active part of my own social communities, both at full steam, I had used all of my resources and my body just stopped.
It took me 5 years to get back to a semblance of ‘normal’ (whatever that is!). I was diagnosed with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) and ME at different moments, but essentially my body, my resource to manifest in the world, had been managed in a way that was totally unsustainable and had ground to a halt. Since then, I have become fascinated by energy - what it is, where it is and how it is cultivated, conserved and regenerated. I’ve been on an unexpected and surprising journey through yoga philosophy, alternative healing and medicinal practices, ecological relating and permaculture in my exploration of energy in all its forms.
On a more global level, these weren’t and aren’t new ideas; we’re beginning to realise that ‘business as usual’ is no longer viable, questioning what we are sustaining, why, and whether it is even possible to do so. These questions can be confronting, paralysing, and even terrifying.
‘…we’re beginning to realise that ‘business as usual’ is no longer viable, questioning what we are sustaining, why, and whether it is even possible to do so. These questions can be confronting, paralysing, and even terrifying.’
We begin to understand that cultural shifts are needed to change things, but as individuals this can feel overwhelming and again, impossible. It is ever more apparent that regeneration, renewability, and regrowth (in the face of decay, burn-out and breakdown of our food systems, our economies, our collective wellbeing) are essential, and becoming more and more apparent as the way forward.
Regenerative Culture
Among many things, I’ve learnt that culture, like all life, is at its heart, regenerative. Like the seasons and the life cycles of all plants, animals and people, it lives. It is inherently creative, in a constant process of living, decaying, creating and recreating. Cultures, like ecosystems, are inherently self-managing and self-organising. This seems to happen ‘organically’ - people when they come together form communities, identities, meaning and purpose; however, we also know these aren’t always creative, caring and productive.
As a species, we arguably have a lot to address in terms of our culture; many if not most of us want to actively shift our current culture(s), want them to change, and want to actively participate in this change. Most people (everyone?!) cares deeply about their immediate communities, the environment and the wellbeing of not only themselves but of others. Most people want to make change, be happy and live in resilient thriving communities, but don’t know how.
It takes energy! Where do we find this, how do we harness it? How can we move beyond sustainability of the current system towards regeneration?
At Together Culture we believe that people are at the heart of this change. That we as ‘just people’ can build creative, meaningful communities which thrive - and that we can learn from nature to do this. It’s the coming together of people, collective energy, building resilience through numbers and through diversity, as well as shared purpose, we create and sustain the energy needed for change.
