Part II: The Condor's Wisdom — Seven Myths for a Regenerative Future
Part II: The Condor's Wisdom — Seven Myths for a Regenerative Future
How The Indigenous Worldview Can Decolonize Our Minds and Heal Our Planet
In a world teetering on the brink of collapse, can ancient wisdom really offer us the keys to regeneration? As we face unprecedented global challenges, from climate change to social instability, the need for a radical shift in our relationship with the planet has never been more urgent.
In Part I of "Myths of The Regenerative Era," we explored the prophecy of “The Eagle & The Condor”, which foretells a time when earth moved from a single landmass into many continents, causing humanity to split into two archetypes: The Eagle (the mind, air and fire) and The Condor (the heart, earth and water). We examined how The Eagle's dominance has led to widespread environmental degradation and societal imbalance and how the prophecy describes a time of great crisis when The Eagle and The Condor would fly together in the same sky, bringing about The New Dawn—an age of unification and harmony.
Many elders around the world today claim that this time is now, and that Mother Earth is bringing about this New Dawn and inviting us to join her. She’ll move into this new era with or without us, it’s our choice whether we listen to her message and join her.
Now, in Part II, we turn our attention to the Myths of The Condor. These myths, rooted in the indigenous “kinship worldview”, offer a radical reimagining of our place in the world. Through seven key beliefs, we'll explore how The Condor's perspective can guide us towards a regenerative future—symbolized by the balance of the heart and the mind, spirit and matter—where we take up our rightful place as a keystone species and become the voice of nature that we evolved to be.
Join us as we delve into these transformative myths and uncover their potential to reshape our society, our economy, and our relationship with the natural world. Whether you're a policymaker, entrepreneur, or concerned citizen, these insights offer a roadmap for navigating the challenges of the 21st century and beyond.
We are all relations.
We are not separate—from each other or from the earth.
We all belong here, together…
Author’s note
As a child of The Eagle, I am writing about these myths from the perspective of having read Indigenous literature, discussed them with elders like Jyoti Ma of The Fountain and worked to restore balance between mind and heart in my own life. I have limited first-hand experience of Condor communities and I am still very much a student of this worldview. I’ve been fortunate to experience a handful of beautiful ceremonies led by children of The Condor but undoubtedly I still embody the western colonial mind and am most certainly writing from this perspective as well...
In the spirit of Tyson Yunkaporta’s Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save The World, for the purposes of the thought experiments in this piece, we’ll define The Condor as “a member of a community retaining memories of life lived sustainably on a land-base.” Our goal in the regenerative era is to “apply those memories as living knowledge to improve present and future circumstances” (Yunkaporta, p.41).
Each successful application acts as a stepping stone for other people to make progress along this regenerative pathway. Together as cultures around the world seek balance and harmony out of chaos we will iteratively build the structures to support the emergence of the Symbiocene—an era of planetary flourishing that arises out of the ashes of our current epoch.
Creation myth: Turtle Island
Every society has origin stories that lay the foundation of the belief system and worldview. In part one we looked at The Garden of Eden and The Story of Separation.
The origin story of The Condor is shared in Robin Wall Kimmerer’s Braiding Sweetgrass. It’s called “Turtle Island” and it lays the core ideas of the “kinship worldview” expressed in a variety of indigenous cultures throughout history.
Turtle Island begins with a great flood that covered the Earth, leaving nothing but water and a few animals swimming in it. These animals included the Otter, the Beaver, and the Muskrat, among others. Above the waters, there was a Sky World, where Sky Woman lived. One day, she fell from the Sky World, tumbling towards the vast ocean below. As she fell, she caught hold of a handful of seeds and plants from the Sky World.
The animals saw Sky Woman falling and decided to help her. They realized she needed solid ground to rest upon. The animals tried to dive to the bottom of the ocean to bring up mud to create land. The Otter, Beaver, and others attempted but failed, unable to reach the bottom. Finally, the Muskrat, the smallest and weakest among them, succeeded in reaching the bottom, although it cost him his life. He surfaced with a tiny bit of mud in his paws.
The animals placed the mud on the back of the Great Turtle. Out of gratitude to the animals, Sky Woman began to sing and dance while shuffling her feet to spread all of the mud until it formed an island, Turtle Island.
Sky Woman landed safely on Turtle Island. Out of her hands and clothes and from under her finger nails she dropped plants, roots and seeds she brought with her from the Sky World. These seeds grew into the diverse flora of the Earth, bringing life and beauty to Turtle Island.
She gave birth to a daughter, and together they continued to nurture the land. Eventually, the daughter became known a Hanging Flower and gave birth to twins, who represent balance in the world—good and evil, creation and destruction. She died during childbirth and was buried in the ground, herself being known as Mother Earth.
Impact of the fall: Interconnected, loving beings
The Turtle Island creation story emphasizes cooperation, sacrifice, and the interconnectedness of all life. The animals' efforts to save Sky Woman and create land illustrate the importance of working together and caring for one another. It demonstrates the loving nature of all beings and our responsibility to overcome obstacles to cultivate life and beauty.
It also highlights the significance of spirit and matter as well as the nurturing life-creating role of the mother: The Earth itself is born from the combined efforts of all creatures and nurtured by seeds from the sky sewn by a pregnant woman. Land emerges out of water and demonstrates the vital importance of our oceans and the health of our water cycle.
The Seven Myths of The Condor
In contrast to the myths we observed in Part I: Myths of The Eagle, there are a number of core belief structures which collectively form the archetypal mind of The Condor and provide vital keys to a regenerative transition. We’ll explore these seven myths below by briefly introducing the belief and exploring the implications for our journey into the regenerative age:
Spirit
Sacred
Cyclical Time
Kinship
Reciprocity
Community
Bioregion
Myth of The Spirit
The Condor's worldview centers on the belief that spirit infuses all aspects of life. This animistic perspective posits that every element of the natural world, from the smallest pebble to the tallest mountain, is imbued with spirit and consciousness—a fundamental property of the universe.
This animistic perspective fosters a profound respect and reverence for nature, guiding the actions and behaviors of individuals and communities alike. Indigenous stories, such as those of Wakan Tanka (Great Spirit) or Sky Woman, highlight the interconnectedness of all life and the spiritual essence that binds us together to overcome adversity and meet shared goals.
Notice the centrality of Spirit in The Condor worldview in comparison to the central theme of the individual in The Eagle’s worldview. Whereas The Eagle’s notion of self forms the foundation for the society that extends from this belief, The Condor’s understanding of spirit informs the notion of the sacred, their concept of time and their perception of self as a web of relationships between living beings who are all infused with spirit and therefore inherently sacred.
Philosophical Implications
This worldview challenges the Cartesian dualism prevalent in Western thought, which separates mind from matter. Instead, it aligns more closely with panpsychism, a philosophical perspective gaining traction in contemporary consciousness studies. Philosophers like David Chalmers and neuroscientists like Christof Koch have proposed that consciousness might be a fundamental feature of the universe, similar to mass or charge.
The implications of this perspective are profound. If we recognize consciousness in all things, how might this change our approach to:
Technology: How can we design new tools to bring this story of spirit to life?
Urban planning: How might cities be reimagined to honor the spirit of the land?
Environmental policy: Would recognizing the consciousness of ecosystems lead to more holistic protection measures?
Case Study: The Whanganui River, New Zealand
In 2017, New Zealand granted legal personhood to the Whanganui River, recognizing it as a living entity. This groundbreaking decision, rooted in Māori beliefs about the spirituality of nature, has significant implications for environmental protection and resource management. It demonstrates how indigenous beliefs can be integrated into modern legal frameworks, potentially paving the way for more holistic environmental governance.
Scientific Connections
While the concept of universal consciousness might seem at odds with materialist science, emerging research in quantum physics and plant intelligence offers intriguing parallels. For instance:
Quantum entanglement suggests a deep interconnectedness across the entire universe that aligns with animistic beliefs and orbits around the paradox of observation.
Studies on plant communication and behavior, such as those by Monica Gagliano, indicate that plants possess forms of intelligence and memory, challenging our understanding of consciousness.
Spirit: Challenges and Opportunities
Integrating this perspective into modern, industrialized societies presents challenges:
How do we imbue technological progress with reverence for spirit in all things?
How can this worldview evolve current economic models that treat nature as a resource to be exploited?
However, embracing this myth also offers opportunities:
It could foster greater environmental stewardship by encouraging people to see themselves as part of nature rather than separate from it.
It might lead to more holistic approaches in fields like medicine, considering the spiritual alongside the physical and placing more emphasis on belief and the power of placebo (the healing force within).
While the Myth of the Spirit recognizes consciousness in all living beings, the Myth of the Sacred takes this understanding a step further, extending reverence to all aspects of life.
Myth of The Sacred
In The Condor's worldview, the concept of the sacred extends beyond places of worship to include the entirety of the natural world. Sacredness is not confined to specific sites but is a quality inherent in all of life.
This belief cultivates a deep and reverent value for all living beings and extension this notion of ‘aliveness’ to the rocks of the mountains, the bays of the sea as well as the flowing waters across the surface of the earth.
This belief manifests in rituals, ceremonies, and daily practices that embed honor for the land, water, and all beings into every element of society. Deep, intimate reciprocal relationships emerge between human and non-human members of the community. Indigenous traditions, such as the Lakota “Sun Dance”, the Sioux “Keeping of The Soul”, or the use of sacred plants in Ashaninka ceremonies, exemplify how the sacred permeates every element of society, fostering a deep sense of stewardship and care.
In absence of the sacred, The Eagle’s mind is compelled to reduce matter to its smallest constituent parts and in the process lose the importance of the big picture. This challenge is especially relevant to the ethical considerations posed by artificial intelligence and bioengineering.
Psychological and Societal Impacts
Viewing all life as sacred has profound implications for individual and collective well-being:
Mental Health: Recognizing the sacredness in nature can foster a sense of connection and belonging, potentially alleviating feelings of isolation common in modern societies. Studies in ecopsychology suggest that time spent in nature reduce stress, anxiety, and depression.
Community Cohesion: When a community shares a belief in the sacredness of their environment, it can lead to stronger social bonds and collective action for environmental protection.
Environmental Stewardship: Treating the environment as sacred encourages deep reverence for the land and emphasizes humanity’s role as a steward and guardian of a sacred creation.
Case Study: The Rights of Nature Movement
Ecuador became the first country to recognize the rights of nature in its constitution in 2008. This radical step, inspired by indigenous worldviews, grants ecosystems the right to exist, maintain and regenerate their vital cycles.
Practical implications include:
Legal standing for nature, allowing cases to be brought on behalf of ecosystems
Shift from treating nature as property to recognizing it as a rights-bearing entity
Challenges in implementation, balancing economic development with environmental rights
Integration in Modern Contexts
Implementing this worldview in highly urbanized, industrialized societies presents challenges:
Economic Paradigm Shift: Moving from an extractive economy to one that respects the sacredness of all life requires fundamental changes in how we measure progress and success.
Corporate Responsibility: Companies need to radically rethink their relationship with the environment, potentially leading to new models of business that prioritize regeneration over extraction.
Potential Solutions
Education: Integrating teachings about the interconnectedness and sacredness of life into school curricula.
Policy: Developing policies that recognize the intrinsic value of nature, beyond its utility for humans.
Cultural Shift: Encouraging practices that help people reconnect with nature, such as forest bathing, community gardening or wilderness excursions.
Just as the Myth of the Sacred imbues all of life with profound meaning, the Myth of Cyclical Time reframes our existence within the greater rhythms of nature.
Myth of Cyclical Time
The Condor's understanding of time contrasts sharply with the linear progression of The Eagle's worldview. Time is seen as cyclical, marked by natural rhythms and seasonal cycles. This perspective emphasizes renewal, regeneration, and the return of life processes.
Stories like the Dreamtime of Australian Aboriginal cultures illustrate this cyclical understanding, where past, present, and future are interconnected, and events are continuously recurring in a sacred cycle. This myth encourages sustainable practices that honor these natural rhythms and cultivates humility and responsibility amongst humans who respect the vast unfolding mysteries of a universe impregnated with spirit, relationships and meaning.
Implications for Long-term Planning
Embracing cyclical time could revolutionize our approach to long-term challenges:
Climate Change: Instead of viewing climate action as a linear path to a fixed goal, we might understand it as part of an ongoing cycle of planetary health, encouraging constant adaptation and renewal. Many first peoples see this change as ‘coming to the end of an age’ and that Mother Earth has been through these cycles of cleansing before and is inviting us to join her on the other side of the New Dawn
Resource Management: Cyclical time aligns well with sustainble resource management, where extraction is balanced with renewal in a continuous cycle with a long-term perspective unto the seventh generation.
Connection to Regenerative Economics
The concept of cyclical time aligns closely with emerging economic models:
Circular Economy: This model aims to eliminate waste and continual use of resources, mirroring natural cycles.
Doughnut Economics: Proposed by Kate Raworth, this model seeks to meet the needs of all within the means of the planet, recognizing ecological cycles and planetary boundaries.
Case Study: Indigenous Fire Management in Australia
Aboriginal Australians have practiced fire management for thousands of years, using controlled burns that work with the natural cycles of the landscape. This cyclical approach:
Reduces the risk of catastrophic wildfires
Promotes biodiversity
Demonstrates how working with natural cycles can lead to more effective environmental management
Cyclical Time Challenges and Opportunities
Integrating cyclical time perspectives into modern societies presents challenges:
Redefining Progress: How do we measure progress in a cyclical and systemic model rather than linear framework?
Policy Making: How can governments create policies that account for long-term cycles rather than short-term linear goals? Do we need to adapt our democratic structures to account for these longer-term cyclical challenges we face as a species?
Opportunities include:
Multi-Generational Assemblies: Cyclical thinking could lead to multi-generational political assemblies where pressing topics are discussed in a community setting and all members are invited to participate.
Improved Work-Life Balance: Recognizing natural cycles could lead to more humane work schedules and practice honoring the cycles of nature and balancing seasons of harvest with seasons of rest.
The cyclical nature of time in The Condor's worldview naturally extends to our relationships, not just with other humans, but with all living beings, as explored in the Myth of Kinship below.
Myth of Kinship
Central to The Condor's worldview is the myth of kinship, which extends familial bonds beyond human relationships to include all living beings. This deep sense of kinship fosters a culture of empathy, mutual respect, and responsibility. Indigenous teachings often emphasize that humans are part of a larger ecological family, as seen in the concept of "All Our Relations" in many Native American traditions.
The Zulu concept of "ubuntu" beautifully encapsulates this ethos, asserting that "I am because we are." This philosophy, prevalent in many African cultures, highlights the interconnectedness of human beings and the importance of compassion, empathy, and shared humanity.
This myth promotes harmony and balance, urging individuals to act with consideration for the well-being of the entire community of life and to understand themselves as a part of a broader unfolding cycle of time and relations that extend far beyond our imagination.
Biological Basis for Kinship
Modern science increasingly supports the concept of kinship with all life:
Genetic Commonalities: All life on Earth shares common genetic material, with humans sharing significant DNA with other species (e.g., 98% with chimpanzees, 44% with bananas).
Ecological Interdependence: Ecosystem studies demonstrate the intricate web of relationships between species, supporting the indigenous view of all life as kin.
Evolutionary History: The theory of evolution provides a scientific narrative of the common ancestry of all life, aligning with indigenous concepts of kinship.
Legal and Ethical Implications
Extending kinship to non-human entities has profound legal and ethical implications:
Animal Rights: Recognizing animals as kin would lead to stronger legal protections and ethical considerations in areas like farming and animal testing.
Conservation: Kinship provides a stronger ethical foundation for conservation efforts, moving beyond anthropocentric justifications for extraction.
Corporate Responsibility: Companies would be held to higher standards in their treatment of the environment and non-human life.
Case Study: Guardians (Kaitiaki) Program in New Zealand
The Guardians (Kaitiaki) program in New Zealand is an example of kinship-based environmental stewardship:
Based on the Māori concept of kaitiakitanga (guardianship)
Local communities and indigenous groups are given authority to manage natural resources
Has led to improved conservation outcomes and stronger community engagement
Kinship Challenges and Opportunities
Implementing a kinship-based worldview presents challenges:
Legal Frameworks: How do we adapt current legal systems to recognize the rights of non-human kin?
AI Alignment: How might the concept of kinship extend to the pursuit of artificial general intelligence?
Economic Impact: How might industries that rely on animal products or resource extraction adapt to these new value systems?
Opportunities include:
Enhanced Conservation: A kinship perspective would drive more effective and widespread conservation efforts.
Improved Human-Animal Relationships: This would lead to more ethical treatment of animals in various contexts.
Holistic Health Approaches: Recognizing our kinship with all life would lead to more comprehensive approaches to health that consider environmental factors and see each being as a web of relations.
The deep connections fostered by the Myth of Kinship lay the groundwork for the Myth of Reciprocity, which dictates how these relationships are maintained and nurtured through acts of generosity and gratitude—the foundation of personal well-being.
Myth of Reciprocity
The myth of reciprocity underpins The Condor's approach to resource use and community interactions. This belief system is built on the understanding that giving and receiving are interconnected processes that sustain balance and harmony. Indigenous practices, such as the potlatch ceremonies of the Pacific Northwest tribes, exemplify this reciprocal ethos, where wealth and resources are shared to reinforce social bonds and communal well-being. This myth challenges the extractive mindset of The Eagle, advocating for a sustainable and equitable distribution of resources.
In contrast to The Eagle’s myth of money which results in transactional relationships to exchange value in the form of currency, The Condor’s myth of reciprocity encourages a gift-centric economy that cultivates deep relationships between people, place and spirit. By participating in reciprocity, members are expected to “give first” upon entering sacred sites—including the threshold of someone’s home. This foundation of gratitude creates essential rituals that cultivate mental health and well-being.
Indigenous Gift Economies and Modern Adaptations
Gift economies, common in many indigenous cultures, offer alternative models to market-based economies:
Time Banking: A system where time, rather than money, is the currency. One hour of service earns one time credit, regardless of the service provided.
Case Study: The Dane County TimeBank in Wisconsin has over 2,500 members and has facilitated over 100,000 hours of exchange.
Community Supported Agriculture (CSA): Members support local farms by purchasing shares and receiving regular produce, sharing both the risks and benefits of farming.
Open Source Movement: In technology, the open source model embodies reciprocity by freely sharing code and knowledge.
Case Study: Gitcoin has pioneered open source funding mechanisms using new mathematical models that incentivize democratic participation in funding ‘public goods’—extending far beyond open source software.
Blockchain and Reciprocal Economic Systems
Emerging technologies offer new ways to implement reciprocal economic systems:
Blockchain-based Community Currencies: These can facilitate local exchange systems based on reciprocity.
Example: The Sarafu Network in Kenya uses blockchain under Grassroots Economics to support a community currency that has helped increase local trade and resilience.
Smart Contracts: Smart contracts could automate reciprocal agreements, ensuring fair and transparent exchanges which lead to better financing arrangements.
Tokenization of Ecosystem Services: Blockchain could be used to create tradable tokens representing ecosystem services, incentivizing conservation.
Reciprocity Challenges and Opportunities
Implementing reciprocity-based systems presents challenges:
Scalability: How can reciprocal systems scale to meet the needs of large, complex societies who haven’t previously expressed the values of kinship or reciprocity?
Transition: How do we transition from current economic models to more reciprocal ones when our society is so transactional and individualistic?
Opportunities include:
Increased Resilience: Reciprocal systems can build stronger, more resilient communities. How can new communities implement these from day one?
Environmental Sustainability: Recognizing our reciprocal relationship with nature could drive more sustainable practices. How can we blend spirituality and reciprocity into our conservation efforts?
Social Cohesion: Reciprocal systems tend to build stronger social bonds and trust within communities. How can we learn from indigenous ways of navigating community challenges and fostering reciprocity?
While reciprocity guides individual interactions, the Myth of Community scales these principles to the collective level, shaping how societies organize and govern themselves.
Myth of Community
For The Condor, community is the foundational organizing principle, ensuring collective well-being over individual interests with the family being the core unit of the community. The Haudenosaunee Confederacy, (or Iroquois), with its Grand Council and clan-based governance, exemplifies this community-inspired governance. Decisions are made through dialogue and consensus, emphasizing the welfare of the entire confederacy and future generations. This contrasts sharply with The Eagle's myth of Company and Nation State, which often prioritizes hierarchical control and economic gain at the expense of human and planetary health. The Haudenosaunee model demonstrates how decentralized, community-led governance fosters cooperation, sustainability, and long-term thinking.
Comparison with Decentralized Governance Systems
Indigenous community governance models share similarities with emerging decentralized systems:
Consensus Decision-Making: Many indigenous communities use consensus-based processes, similar to how some DAOs (Decentralized Autonomous Organizations) operate.
Distributed Authority: Both systems often distribute authority among community members rather than concentrating it in a hierarchical structure.
Transparency: Indigenous models and DAOs both often emphasize transparency in decision-making processes.
Case Studies of Community-Led Initiatives
Zapatista Autonomous Municipalities, Mexico
Self-governed communities based on indigenous traditions
Focus on collective decision-making and autonomy from the state
Have improved access to education and healthcare in their regions
Transition Town Movement, Global
Community-led response to climate change and economic instability
Emphasizes local resilience and sustainability
Has spread to over 50 countries, demonstrating the scalability of community-based approaches
A self-described communist utopia that has eliminated unemployment through cooperative ownership
Demonstrates how community-focused governance can address economic challenges
Scaling Community-Based Governance
Challenges in scaling community governance to address global issues include:
Coordination: How to coordinate between multiple autonomous communities on large-scale issues. Network societies like Greenpill and ReFi DAO are exploring these edges through quarterly fundraising campaigns that activate local communities with a shared global cause.
Diversity: Balancing local autonomy with the need for some degree of standardization or shared principles.
Resource Distribution: Ensuring fair distribution of resources between communities with varying levels of natural wealth.
Some potential solutions:
Federated Systems: Creating networks of autonomous communities that can coordinate on larger issues.
Example: Bloom Network is a federated cooperative of local impact communities.
Digital Platforms: Utilizing technology to facilitate communication and decision-making across large networks of communities.
Example: Both Social Layer and Telegram have been essential in organizing global movements as well as local peaceful demonstrations across the world.
Bioregional Approaches: Organizing governance around natural geographic units to balance local autonomy with regional coordination.
Example: BioFi is a global movement of organizers raising capital to support coordinated regeneration at a bioregional scale.
Opportunities and Implications
Increased Engagement: Community-based governance can lead to higher levels of civic participation and social cohesion.
Contextual Solutions: Local governance allows for solutions tailored to specific community needs and leads to more efficient resource utilization.
Resilience: Decentralized community structures can be more resilient to large-scale disruptions and can mobilize more effectively than top-down command and control.
The Condor's emphasis on community doesn't stop at human settlements. The Myth of the Bioregion extends this communal thinking to encompass entire ecosystems.
Myth of The Bioregion
A bioregion is a geographical area defined by natural boundaries such as watersheds, ecosystems, and distinct habitats. It emphasizes the interconnectedness of all life forms within its boundaries and focuses on sustainable living practices that align with these natural systems. ‘Bioregion’ is a Western term for an indigenous concept that Australian, American and Scandinavian communities have maintained for millennia.
The regenerative transition involves recognizing the intrinsic value of ecosystems and adopting place-based strategies for environmental management, as highlighted in Samantha Power's work on Bioregional Financing Facilities. These facilities can support local stewardship initiatives by aligning financial flows with ecological health and community well-being.
Bioregional Governance in Practice
Implementing bioregional governance involves several key components:
Ecological Boundaries: Political boundaries are redrawn to align with natural ecosystem boundaries.
Local Decision Making: Decisions about resource use, conservation, and development are made by those living within the bioregion.
Sustainable Resource Management: Resources are managed to maintain the long-term health of the bioregion's ecosystems.
Case Studies of Bioregional Initiatives
Cascadia Bioregion, Pacific Northwest
Spans parts of British Columbia, Washington, and Oregon
Grassroots movement promoting environmental and cultural ties
Has inspired local currencies and calls for greater regional autonomy
Collaborative governance between U.S. states and Canadian provinces
Focus on water quality and ecosystem health
Demonstrates international cooperation based on shared ecological interests
Murray-Darling Basin, Australia
Integrated water management across multiple states
Balances agricultural needs with environmental conservation
Shows challenges and potential of bioregional management in water-stressed areas
Bioregional Economies and Resilience
Bioregional economies can foster resilience in several ways:
Local Production: Emphasis on producing goods locally reduces dependence on long, vulnerable supply chains.
Diverse Economies: Bioregions often promote diverse, multi-faceted economies that are more resistant to shocks.
Ecological Alignment: Economic activities aligned with local ecosystem capacities are more sustainable long-term.
Challenges and Opportunities
Implementing bioregional governance faces several challenges:
Existing Political Structures: How to transition from current nation-state models to bioregional governance. How might bioregions network to form a planetary assembly to coordinate toward challenges that affect all bioregions such as climate change, pandemics and even AI alignment?
Economic Integration: How can bioregional economies balance needs of local economies with the reality of global economic systems—often driven by steep downward pressures?
Equity: How can bioregional frameworks ensure fair resource distribution when private landowners own such significant portions of the earth’s surface?
Opportunities include:
Improved Environmental Management: Aligning governance with ecological boundaries can lead to more effective conservation and resource management.
Enhanced Community Connection: Bioregional identity can foster a stronger sense of place and community, combating the isolation of the digital age.
Climate Resilience: Bioregional approaches can help communities better adapt to local impacts of climate change.
Reflection: The Eagle, The Condor & The Regenerative Transition
The myths of The Condor provide us with a rich tapestry of beliefs and practices that have sustained human communities in harmony with the natural world for millennia. These myths offer invaluable insights into how we might navigate the transition from our current extractive, growth-driven civilization towards a regenerative and symbiotic future.
The myths of The Condor emphasize interconnectedness, spirituality, and a deep reverence for the natural world. They challenge us to rethink our relationship with nature, time, and community, but above all, they inspire us to reimagine what it means to be human. In contrast to The Eagle's myths of individualism, materialism, and hierarchical control, The Condor's myths advocate for a holistic, communal, and sustainable way of being.
TL;DR The Myths of The Condor
As a quick synthesis of the myths we’ve covered from The Condor’s point of view:
Myth of the Spirit highlights the belief that all elements of the natural world are imbued with spirit and consciousness.
Myth of the Sacred extends the concept of sacredness to all of life, not just specific religious sites or objects.
Myth of Cyclical Time emphasizes the natural rhythms and cycles of life, encouraging sustainable practices and long-term, multi-generational thinking.
Myth of Kinship extends familial bonds beyond human relationships to include all living beings, promoting empathy, mutual respect, and responsibility.
Myth of Reciprocity underpins a sustainable approach to resource management and community interactions.
Myth of Community places the collective well-being above individual interests.
Myth of the Bioregion emphasizes living within the natural boundaries and ecological capacities of one's environment.
Implications for the Regenerative Transition
The regenerative transition requires us to reimagine our societal structures and cultural narratives with a new story of human progress laid on the foundation a new understanding of what it means to be human. By embracing the myths of The Condor, we can cultivate a more sustainable and harmonious relationship with the natural world. The Eagle provides us with the tools and mindset to build scalable systems that embody this spirit-filled, sacred, kinship worldview. By balancing the power of modern science and emerging technologies we can not only overcome the challenges we face as a species but also create a more beautiful world than ever imagined.
This process will likely involve:
Cultivating Flow States with Nature: Leveraging altered states of consciousness through nature immersion, movement, breath work and sacred plants to recognize ourselves as a part of nature. Cultivate rites of passage inspired by indigenous wisdom to support adolescents, new parents, bold leaders and people in transition.
Telling New Stories: Embracing cyclical time and reciprocal relationships in our art, music and culture. Leveraging the power of AI to create this content and distribute across language, medium and geography.
Experimenting with Governance: Experimenting with indigenous-inspired community-led governance models that prioritize collective well-being and long-term sustainability. Using DAO tooling to create transparent financial systems and provide local communities with access to capital for local regeneration.
Imagining Planetary Institutions: Imagine new organizations and institutions that understand the planetary condition we now face and overcome the failures of the corporation and nation state to support human coordination to address pandemics, climate change, biodiversity collapse and AI alignment issues.
Exploring BioFi: Developing Bioregional Financing Facilities in bioregions across the globe to support local stewardship initiatives and align financial flows with ecological and community well-being. Check out Bio.Fi’s Community of Practice to get involved and learn more.
Conclusion
As we stand at the crossroads of human history, the wisdom of The Condor offers us a path towards healing our relationship with the Earth and each other. The journey towards the Symbiocene is not just a possibility—it's a necessity for our survival. This transformation begins within each and every one of us and requires a deep upheaval of the stories that we have held in our hearts for generations.
I invite you to join me on this journey into the Regenerative Era and ultimately to explore how we can decolonize our own minds—together. Our ancestors gave their lives to gift us this moment in history. The path of our descendants will be laid by the actions that we take today.
Subscribe to stay updated on future insights and practical steps we can take together. Share these ideas with your communities, experiment with implementing them in your daily life, and become part of the growing movement towards a more sustainable, just, and harmonious future.
The time for change is now, and together, we can rewrite the story of the human race.
Are you ready to soar with The Condor?
References
Tworo Times, “Skywoman: A Story Before Time” (2016)
Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants (2013)
The Whanganui River granted legal personhood in New Zealand | Alison Ballance, “Whanganui River: A Living Entity,” RNZ, 2017
Tyson Yunkaporta, Sand Talk: How Indigenous Thinking Can Save the World (2019)
Christof Koch, The Feeling of Life Itself (2019)
Māori creation stories and legal frameworks like New Zealand's “Te Awa Tupua Act” (2017)
Monica Gagliano, Thus Spoke the Plant: A Remarkable Journey of Groundbreaking Scientific Discoveries and Personal Encounters with Plants (2018)
Vine Deloria Jr., God Is Red: A Native View of Religion (1972)
Bill Gammage, The Biggest Estate on Earth: How Aborigines Made Australia (2011)
Desmond Tutu’s No Future Without Forgiveness (1999)
The Human Genome Project (2018)
Marcel Mauss, The Gift: The Form and Reason for Exchange in Archaic Societies (1925)
Edgar Cahn, “Time Banking: A Radical Approach to Economic Development” (1992)
Shannon Speed, Rights in Rebellion: Indigenous Struggle and Human Rights in Chiapas (2008)
Kate Raworth, Doughnut Economics: Seven Ways to Think Like a 21st-Century Economist (2017)
Samantha Power and Bio.Fi Community of Practice, Bioregional Financing Models for Climate Resilience (2023)