Circle of Regeneration — we are the stories we tell
Regen Collective is a community of practice for the regeneration of education and learning. Each month, educators gather in a circle of regeneration to explore the evolution of education and learning towards holistic and humanitarian practices. We follow the PAUSE practice, a micro-version of Theory U, to take us on a deep dive journey. Our shared experiences cultivate synergy through deep listening and generative conversation, and inspires us to cultivate practical applications of social regeneration.
In November of 2020, we gathered for our Regen Circle to explore how we can see and sense the collective through the stories we tell. The social fabric of the collective has traditionally been woven and shared through the stories we tell one another — from tribal storytelling to cultural mythology. Now we are more consciously participating in and seeing the impacts of the stories we tell everyday, especially through media, creating a great need for sense making and radical responsibility.
The parable of The Blind Men and the Elephant was offered during our Regen Circle as a way to understand the synergy that is needed to truly participate in the new and ancient story of life.
Valerie Hunter shared “this quote from Daniel Christian Wahl describes so clearly HOW it is we create the ‘new story’ each time we gather in our Regen circle:
“Regenerative practice is activated by a narrative of interbeing and co-evolving mutuality with the place and wholeness we participate in. Regeneration and its healing of relationships between people and between people and place is about optimizing collaborative advantage. Together, we can co-create a world that works for all and for the wider community of life.”
You can join in this learning journey with us.
Take a moment to pause and tap into deeper sources of knowing within yourself. Through journaling, drawing, crafting, or movement, you can explore these questions and share your thoughts and artistic response in the comments below and with those around you. Liberate an new and ancient understanding through words, symbols, gestures and metaphors. What inspires you will also support others.
For individual introspection: We each have a radical responsibility for the role we play and the stories we choose to echo. What coherence or conflict does this arise for you? How does your attention and intention align to be an active or passive part of the stories around you?
For collective sensing: How have your individual choices made an impact on the collective story? How can we create more coherence in the individual and the collective through the stories we tell?
Martin Shaw, mythologist, says any encounter with the mythic can only be expressed through poetry. Here is a generative collage poem expressing the collective experience of our Regen Circle exploring these questions:
The raw power of regeneration is available to us,
but we must craft it into reality.
The stories we tell are the tools we use
to craft our inner reality as well as our collective reality.
In the midst of disruptions, of violence, subtle or overt,
We PAUSE
We are able to find a new power
of reasoning through resonance.
We nurture our capacity to craft
with great wisdom, compassion, and courage.
I am not the blind man. I AM THE ELEPHANT.
I am not defined by the blind graspings of others.
I am all that I am, and
I create the path by walking it.
The new world story is emerging.
Photo: Gregory Colbert — Ashes and Snow
You can read more reflections from this Regen Circle by member Dave Pendle HERE.
Thank you all for this most amazing Regen Circle and the collective regeneration that is nurtured each time we gather!
Join us for a creative exploration and generative conversation with Regen Circle events HERE. We gather on the first Friday of each month for a 90 minute session, connecting with members worldwide via Zoom video call. All you need is a quiet space, journaling or arts tools, a warm heart and an open mind.
You can learn more about the PAUSE practice and Regen Circles HERE
Please RSVP and invite a friend to join the circle.
We look forward to connecting with you all soon!
Please consider supporting the work of Regen Collective with a financial contribution HERE.
Regen Collective was created within the Societal Transformation Lab of The Presencing Institute in order to co-create awareness practices for social regeneration and cultivate the conditions needed for the evolution of education and learning towards holistic and humanitarian practices. We look forward to cultivating this with you!
