Regeneration is a State of Consciousness

Throughout human history, each era has been marked by different states of consciousness, commonly known as paradigms. These paradigms are amalgamations of beliefs, values, and worldviews that dictate how we interpret and relate to the world around us. Their transformation is ongoing and dynamic, akin to how the cells in our body are completely renewed every seven years.

To illustrate this constant evolution, I turn once again to Bill Sharpe’s three horizons.

The first horizon( H1) focuses on the existing paradigms that still prevail and manifest not only at the level of consciousness but also materially through technological innovations.

The second horizon (H2) represents the transitional phase where innovations begin to emerge, challenging the existing paradigms of Horizon One (H1).

These innovations can either be co-opted by the established paradigm or can act as catalysts for the development of a new paradigm, Horizon Three (H3) .

During this phase, traditional ideas are scrutinized and novel perspectives start to take shape, setting the stage for significant shifts in thought and practice.

The third horizon(H3) then emerges as a fully realized and operational paradigm, defining a new way to interpret and interact with the world, representing a comprehensive transformation from the old to the new.

It can be observed that technological innovations are often the catalysts that trigger shifts into new paradigms. These shifts reshape societal structures, norms, and relationships, as new technologies disrupt established ways of thinking and interacting, paving the way for new paradigms to emerge. This process highlights the profound impact that technological advancements can have on the evolution of societal norms and structures, propelling communities into new eras of understanding and organization.

The introduction of the plow

The introduction of the plow marked a profound and multifaceted shift in early human civilizations, catalyzing changes not only in agriculture but also in social, environmental, and economic structures. This simple yet transformative tool significantly increased agricultural efficiency but required more physical strength to operate, leading to a fundamental shift in labor dynamics. Men, generally possessing greater physical strength, became the primary operators of the plow, which began to alter gender roles dramatically. This shift led to a more pronounced patriarchal society where men not only dominated agriculture but also the social and political realms.\

As men took control of the plow, they also began to domesticate and subjugate large animals like oxen to pull these heavy implements. This necessity to control and harness animal power for agricultural purposes instilled a new paradigm: the dominance over nature.

It marked a departure from animistic beliefs that viewed humans as part of a larger natural world, living in harmony with it, to a viewpoint that saw nature as something to be controlled and exploited.

The enhanced productivity brought about by the plow resulted in significant agricultural surpluses. For the first time, communities had more food than they needed for mere survival, which led to the development of stored wealth in the form of surplus crops.

This accumulation of resources brought about the concept of property and ownership, which necessitated defined boundaries and the protection of these assets. As a result, societies began to form organized groups, eventually armies, tasked with defending these properties.

This new structure of property and power also transformed social hierarchies, leading to a further stratification of society. Those who controlled the land and the food supply gained significant power, not just over resources but over people. The control exerted over land and animals extended to human relationships, with the emergence of slavery as an institutional practice. This shift saw the powerful dominating the less powerful, leading to a system where human beings controlled and exploited each other in a manner akin to their treatment of the land and animals.

Thus, the plow did not merely change farming; it redefined human civilization at its core. It fostered a paradigm of dominance that permeated all aspects of life, from gender roles and human relationships to environmental interactions and social structure, setting the stage for the complex societal systems that would evolve in its wake.

The introduction of the telescope

The telescope, as a pivotal technological innovation, enabled the Copernican paradigm by revealing celestial phenomena that contradicted Earth-centric models, fundamentally transforming our understanding of the cosmos.

The impact of the telescope on our understanding of the universe is immeasurable. This tool not only extended our eyes beyond the stars but also challenged and ultimately dismantled the long-held geocentric theories.

Before Copernicus, the dominant theory of the universe was the geocentric theory by Ptolemy, known as the Ptolemaic system. According to this theory, the Earth was at the center of the universe, with all other celestial bodies, such as the sun, moon, and stars, revolving around it.

The arrival of Galileo Galilei on the scientific stage with his refined telescope made it possible for the first time to scientifically refute this notion.

Observing phenomena such as the phases of Venus and the moons of Jupiter, Galileo not only provided clear evidence that not everything revolved around the Earth but also supported the true heliocentric model proposed by Copernicus, which placed the Sun at the center of our solar system.

This paradigm shift was not only scientific but also philosophical, as it profoundly altered humanity’s worldview, moving from an anthropocentric perception of the universe to a more accurate and humble one, recognizing our true place in the cosmos.

Today we face a critical reality:

The innovations (H2) that once established Horizon one (H1) as the prevailing paradigm are now diminishing, thus undermining its dominance and sustainability. Marked by substantial transitional shifts, the second horizon (H2) also features emerging innovations that challenge the established norms upheld by Horizon One (H1).

The demise of Energy

One notable example is the recognition of the limits of the “Carbon Pulse” the historical reliance on non-renewable energy sources like oil that once offered immense energy returns.

Initially, the energy of one barrel of oil yielded the extraction of 120 barrels, a ratio that has drastically fallen to only five barrels per original barrel used today. This decreasing efficiency highlights the diminishing returns of fossil fuels, signaling a critical need for new energy paradigms that move beyond the unsustainable practices of the past. For a deeper dive on this check this earlier post.

Every newly discovered oil well is now facing a significant decline in productivity, with an annual decrease rate of about 37%. This stark reduction highlights the challenges of sustaining oil production under current technological and geological constraints. As the easily accessible oil reserves are depleted, the remaining sources become increasingly difficult and costly to exploit, exacerbating the decline in oil well output.

Debt Thrust

Additionally, this transitional phase is further complicated by economic challenges, particularly the global reliance on debt. The existing financial structures have ballooned to where the total world debt, encompassing stocks, bonds, and other securities, reaches approximately 400 trillion dollars, significantly outstripping the global GDP of about 100 trillion dollars.

This disparity reveals a deep financial imbalance, with debt levels at four times the value of the planet’s annual economic output. Such unsustainable economic practices underscore the urgency for a paradigm shift towards more sustainable and balanced economic models in Horizon Three (H3).

Planetary Boundaries

We have exceeded six of the nine planetary boundaries, which compromises the planet’s resilience to sustain human life. In my generation, now at 60 years old, we have witnessed the disappearance of 70% of the animal life on the planet, transforming it into a vast industrial farm. Human impact curves show exponential growth, reflecting the exponential decline of what we might call Horizon One (H1). The Anthropocene era has established humanity as the most significant geological force impacting the planet.

Facing this scenario, a crucial question arises: what happens now?

It is currently nearly impossible to identify which specific technology will be remembered as the catalyst that shifts our current paradigm, much like it might have been difficult in the past to foresee the profound impacts of the plow or the telescope.

Today, we are witnessing an unprecedented complexity of emergent technologies, suggesting that it may not be a single innovation but rather the convergence of multiple technologies — such as artificial intelligence, blockchain, and others — that triggers this paradigmatic shift.

We are observing a tug-of-war where the existing Horizon One (H1) paradigm strives to maintain its dominance by leveraging these new technologies to sustain itself.

There is a possibility of a “techno-split” or a “singularity moment”, where artificial intelligence could take over the guidance of humanity and the planet.

The concept of the “adjacent possible” suggests that a multitude of potential outcomes are currently in play, shaping the trajectory towards what we envision as Horizon Three (H3).

However, the future remains uncertain, with possibilities ranging from collapse or dystopia to scenarios like “a great simplification” or the emergence of the “Third attractor.” While there is no guarantee that the original trajectory is evolving as anticipated, the realization of these futures heavily depends on reaching a tipping point in the global mind shift.

If a radical change in consciousness does not occur, Horizon Three (H3), which involves the continuity of our species, will not manifest, even in the face of revolutionary technological innovations.

Shifting paradigms and ushering in a new cosmovision poses a profound challenge, akin to explaining the concept of water to a fish that has never known anything else. In the narrative of Horizon One (H1), where entrenched beliefs and cultural constructs form the very fabric of our reality, envisioning a world beyond our immediate surroundings becomes almost Herculean.

Consider the tale of two fish swimming together in a vast ocean. One turns to the other and asks, “What do you think of this water?”

The second fish responds with a puzzled look, “What water?” This story poignantly captures the essence of our current challenge: like the second fish, many of us are unaware of the paradigms that envelop us, much less capable of imagining alternatives.

In today’s world, as we navigate the waters of Horizon One, the pressing question is how to foster a shift towards a new cosmovision. This is not merely about adopting new technologies or making incremental changes but involves a radical transformation in how we think, what we value, and how we interact with our environment.

We need to awaken to the water around us — to recognize the confines of our existing paradigms and dare to envision a future that transcends them.

To catalyze this shift, we must engage our imagination and insights in ways that resonate deeply and personally. It’s about making the invisible water visible and palpable. By vividly illustrating the possibilities of a new paradigm — perhaps one that emphasizes sustainability, interconnectedness, and regeneration — we can begin to see beyond the status quo and embrace a transformative vision for our future.

Just as a fish might struggle to grasp the concept of water until it’s taken out of it, we too may need to be jolted out of our familiar waters to truly understand and appreciate the possibilities of what could be. It’s a formidable challenge, but as history shows, it’s not insurmountable. With collective effort and a willingness to rethink our foundational beliefs, a new cosmovision can emerge, leading us into Horizon Three (H3)and beyond, where the future of our civilization, and the planet itself, can be reimagined and regenerated.

A shift is palpably underway, marked by the rise of a new paradigm that intertwines a regenerative flow of consciousness with material reality. This emerging paradigm champions a holistic approach, signaling a transformative period in human history where technological synergy plays a critical role in our evolution.

Amidst this technological landscape, we must deeply reflect on what it means to be human and how we can harmoniously integrate our existence with living systems.

The most profound transformation required is the evolution from “Ego” to “Eco,” and further, to “Seva,” a concept that from Sanskrit, ‘ translates to “‘being in service” embodying being in service to life itself.

This transformative approach challenges us to redefine our roles within the natural world, emphasizing a commitment to service and a deeper, more integrated connection with the earth. Such a shift invites a reexamination of our values and the essence of humanity, urging us to live in a way that is truly symbiotic with the planet’s ecosystems.

If our civilization fails to understand that we are one with everything, in a state that Thich Nhat Hanh, the Zen monk, calls “interbeing” and that we need interbecoming state, we will not achieve a true transformation, to thrive in an regardless of the technological advancements we reach.

Therefore, regeneration is, fundamentally, a state of consciousness.

Please follow the second part of this article here.

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