#whatisemerging

My favourite podcaster Daniel Thorson is in the process of turning the Emerge podcast, from an enquiry for a systems change, perhaps to a more intimate space of exploration. He calls this move “a figure-ground reversal”. The attention will turn from external systems to an internal process. This is a personal transformation required to thrive in a kind of system embodying sustainability and social justice. Specifically exploring new skills and capacities needed for building sustainable and just futures.

What are the boundaries for personal growth? How to make sense of connections and flows within an interdependent system? Are there perhaps skills that are as trivial as speaking and reading, which we do not yet have, but could develop, to live in a new kind of society? How to enhance relationships with each other and with other species and non-living things? What are the boundaries beyond intelligence, other ways of being, knowing and relating?

For now, the Emerge podcast has been my key lookout for new ideas. Daniel has been able to create a liminal space between himself and some of the guests. This is a good ground to build on.

With the change in focus of the Emerge podcast, it is very much unknown what is going to happen to the series as a result of Daniel’s personal journey. However, I sense that whatever will come out from this exploration, is very much worth the effort. Bon voyage!

It has been fascinating for me to follow a personal path of one of the most interesting public speaker, writer and culturemaker of our time Dougald Hine (and if you have not seen him talking check out this 5 min video). The co-founder of the Dark Mountain, a network of creative activity centred on the Dark Mountain journal has gradually given up his position in the organisation and is creating an alternative space to contribute to the transformation. 

Dougald has started a school called HOME together with his partner Anna Björkman in Sweden. Creating the HOME has been a process, and perhaps still is, an idea in its infancy, but what I sense here is that the HOME is never going to be a just another training centre, a space for one-week retreats (although they have tried that too) but much more than that.

In its core, the idea of the school called HOME is very simple, as all good ideas are. It embodies a home, centred around a kitchen table that brings together a small group of people to enjoy a moment together, perhaps around a shared meal, a moment to connect, discuss and discover collectively what is next. It is a safe space among friends and family to talk about things that really matter.

Thank you, Anna and Dougald! It is an idea worth spreading, we all need a home. Although it is not same as meeting in person, as you rightly put it, Dougald, do continue the HOME kitchen table monologues that are aired to the weird corners of the internet, we are ready to listen.