Making Change: Humans as a Keystone Species

This episode is an invitation to dive into the dynamic and transformative world of making authentic and accessible change. I explore the theory of change that I am working from, drawn from an extensive background in environmental and social activism, spiritual study, and my experience deeply supporting changemakers in moving from burnout to vitality. I draw wisdom here from the example of ecosystem engineers like the gopher tortoise to demonstrate the outsized impact certain beings, including humans, can have on their surroundings.

In this episode, I examine the critical need for change in human activities and systems of oppression with illustrative examples from nature, philosophy, and personal experiences. These reflections bring attention to the urgency of conscious change-making, drawing inspiration from thought leaders like Buckminster Fuller and poetic wisdom from Rilke. The essence of this theory of change hinges on the relationship between having a regulated nervous system, effective communication, and visioning for collective thriving. The recursive loop that is possible between these three practices can catalyze genuine transformation in widening circles, stressing the idea of humans as 'trim tabs' in the larger ship of society: small but essential parts that can steer us toward thriving futures.

Key Takeaways:

• Change is an inevitable and powerful force that can be harnessed with consciousness and awareness to create the world we envision.

• Humans have the potential to be 'ecosystem engineers' like the gopher tortoise, capable of nurturing biodiversity and impacting their environment significantly.

• This theory of change emphasizes the importance of a regulated nervous system, effective interpersonal communication, and holding intergenerational visions for creating meaningful transformations.

• Challenging the conventional ways of activism by proposing a more intimate and profound method of change – starting within oneself and one’s immediate relationships.

• The episode invites listeners to envision the role they can play in creating better futures and to take actionable steps towards those visions, just as ecosystem engineers shape their environments.

Notable Quotes:

• "Everything you touch, you change. And everything you change, changes you." – Cited from Octavia Butler

• "You never change anything by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete." – Reflecting on a Buckminster Fuller quote.

• "I believe that we really need each other. I believe that we really need to be willing to encounter one another with really open hearts."

Resources:

• EMUNAH Multidimensional Living

• United Religions Initiative

• Buckminster Fuller

• Joanna Macy’s The Work that Reconnects