Symbiocene Signal #1
Symbiocene Signal #1
Symbiosis Coalition, Bioregional Financing Facilities, Shitthropocene & Village Builders District
Welcome to Symbiocene Signal! 👋
Welcome to the inaugural edition of Symbiocene Signal, your channel for the making sense of the regenerative movement—inside and out. We plan to take you across the bridge of inner and outer regeneration, holding the tension between topics like biodiversity hotspots and heart intelligence, while crossing the chasm between bioregionalism and internal family systems.
In the age of the metacrisis, we need to step back and unpack the root causes and identify relationships between the key elements of the system—rather than focus on individual solutions in isolation. The only way out is in, so LFG there together! 🚀
Quote of the week 🗣
Summary
In this issue, we explore the underlying cause of the polycrisis, touch on the big tech’s big awakening, and explore the power of heart intelligence. We introduce the breakthrough concept of Bioregional Financing Facilities (BFFs) and celebrate the launch of Village Builders District at Gathering of Tribes in September!
Plus, we leave you with a hot steamy one from Patagonia’s Shittropocene 💩🤣
Koyaanisqatsi & Bioregionalism
“Koyaanisqatsi” is a Hopi word meaning “life out of balance.” Bioregionalist Lawrence Grodeska opens a three-part series exploring the underlying cause of the polycrisis and begins by outlining the colonial worldview which mistakenly assumes humans are separate from nature, describing the “willful disregard for the impacts of our actions” as a form of collective psychosis.
If you haven’t found Lawrence’s work yet or heard of the pioneering Bay Delta Trust, watch out—you might just find yourself diving down a new rabbit hole 🐇🕳🎩
Symbiosis Coalition 🌳💸
Big tech is waking up to the fact that we need nature to survive. 😲
Google, Meta, Microsoft, and Salesforce have launched the Symbiosis Coalition to invest in nature-based carbon removal. This collaboration commits to purchasing up to 20 million tons of carbon removal credits, accelerating reforestation projects that can capture up to 30% of CO2 emissions and restore biodiversity. Let’s hope these folks follow through on what they say they’re going to do—goodness knows our planet needs it.
The voluntary carbon market (VCM) shrank by nearly 60% in 2023, so hopefully this will give the industry a bit of a lift (S&P Global)!
Landmark Ruling: Greenhouse Gases = Marine Pollution 🏭 👨⚖️
Small island nations, tired of playing the victim in this climate catastrophe, have called upon the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) to deliver a first-of-its-kind climate judgment to finally declare greenhouse gases as marine pollution. While this might seem obvious to everyone else on earth, the international legal bodies have yet to recognize this. An advisory opinion could pave the way for more effective enforcement of corporate climate shenanigans. (WTVB) (MarketScreener) (Yahoo News UK).
Spheres of Systems Change 🪐
The Spheres of Systems Change model illustrates different elements within a system (the spheres) and highlights how changes we make within ripple through our behaviors, relationships and organizations— leading to collective, infrastructural, political and ultimately cultural change. This shows the penultimate importance of our identity system and the ripple effect it creates in the world around us—or as we like to say “regeneration begins within”.
Heart Intelligence ❤️+🧠= 🦸🏼♂️
This week’s essay explores the notion of heart intelligence and its impact on personal and collective purpose. By accessing the wisdom of the heart, we can navigate life's challenges and contribute to a more regenerative future. The post delves into practices like the Quick Coherence Technique and emphasizes the importance of heart-brain coherence for leading a meaningful life. I also open up a bit about my personal journey and summarize some of the latest scientific research from HeartMath Institute, advocating for a heart-centered approach to overcoming the web of crises we face.
If you’re a tech nerd, get yourself an InnerBalance and upgrade your meditation sessions with real-time biofeedback to get into heart-brain coherence like a Jedi master. Yoda would be proud.
Regen Villages 🏡
Gelephu Mindfulness City 🏞
Bhutan just revealed a masterplan for a Mindfulness City called Gelephu which aims to be a regenerative beacon of hope for the messed up world we live in. The plans look pretty sweet with a special emphasis on preserving nature while showcasing Bhutan’s rich spiritual and cultural history. If you’re a fan of meditation, mountains and good vibes, this could be a futuristic city worth dreaming about!
Bioregionalism + BFFs 🧠
🌍✨ Dive into the exciting world of Bioregional Financing Facilities (BFFs) with Samantha Power, the founder of Finance for Gaia, Stuart Cowan, the Executive Director of Buckminster Fuller Institute and Matthew Monahan of Biome Trust and MaEarth. BFFs are an innovative new financing mechanism designed to support local economies and nature to thrive hand-in-hand! Imagine a system that combines innovative financial tools, indigenous wisdom, and the latest Web 3 tech to support regenerative projects right in your backyard. 🌿💰🦋
Stay tuned for Samantha Power’s and Leon Seefield’s upcoming paper on Bioregional Financing Facilities!
The Hidden Mind of The Metacrisis 🤯
Daniel Schmachtenberger, John Vervaeke, and Iain McGilchrist explore the psychological drivers of the metacrisis. They discuss how left-hemispheric dominance, characterized by a focus on utility and power, leads to a reductionist, competitive worldview that exacerbates existential risks. They highlight the necessity of integrating right-hemispheric insights, which emphasize interconnectedness, intrinsic values, and the sacred, to cultivate wisdom and a sustainable future.
Fun flick 🎞
Welcome to the 'Shitthropocene,' where everything’s crappier, and consumer goods fall apart faster than a toddler's attention span. This satirical documentary takes a jab at our love for cheap, fast fashion that’s clogging landfills and warming our planet. It spotlights Patagonia's valiant struggle to make long-lasting gear, despite the perils of global supply chains filled with exploitation and environmental havoc. Amidst the chaos, it cheekily suggests we ditch the shopping sprees for genuine happiness found in human connections, creativity, and a purpose beyond just hoarding more stuff.
Events 🏕
JUNE BLOOM ☼ Regenerative Lifestyle Accelerator | June 9 — Dulzura, CA
Join the June Bloom Regenerative Lifestyle Accelerator from June 9-16, 2024, at Wildseeds Ranch in Dulzura, CA with our friends at Regen Tribe. This immersive program offers hands-on training in regenerative living, covering topics like cob construction and community building. Participants can earn certification as Regenerative Neighborhood Agents and gain practical skills to revitalize neighborhoods and restore ecosystems. The event includes workshops, presentations, and networking opportunities, fostering a community of Earth stewards dedicated to sustainable living.
Village Builders District at Gathering of Tribes — The Garden, Portugal | September 11-15
I’ve just booked myself a ticket to a camp at Gathering of Tribes in Portugal which is aiming to redesign festivals in the regenerative era. Founded by good friends of mine, I know this gathering is going to bring together some of the best people in the regen movement. The camp is led by Nicole Reese from Terrenity and Ecovilla, Florijn de Graaf from Smarthoods and TDF as well as Connor Sailles from The Loom Studio. I’m working on transporting my Lisbon podcast studio to the living room of Village Builders District! Come along and have a conversation…