The Ultimate Paradigm Shift
Most of us are shackled by some sort of “shoulds” based on how we were raised, and what society has taught us along the way. We have lost track of our inner truth and need to change the paradigm, or shift it slightly, to remember who we really are, and to live in alignment with our highest self. We can also have an impact on the world around us and the society in which we live by making these shifts. We can choose paths that uphold a bigger paradigm shift - a major one that can bring healing and regeneration to our earth and our selves. Even small movements towards this change can help, and can bring positive change that will endure for generations.
Our current mainstream society in much of the world is one driven by individualist, capitalist, dominating interests and mindsets. This patriarchal domination through history has devastated the earth, fostered thousands of years of war, enslaved generations of people, and increasingly disconnected us from ourselves, others, and nature. It has systematically stripped power from and dominated women, indigenous people, non-judeo-christians, and more egalitarian or matriarchal cultures. But this does not mean we need to be anti-men, anti-white, or anti-christian. It means we must shift to an egalitarian paradigm that is collective, nurturing, and generative. We can look to the near-forgotten matriarchal and egalitarian societies of the past, and the nearly-destroyed indigenous societies like this that still exist.
This approach is based in the true definition of matriarchy - that which stems from a more mother/female-centered approach of balance, care for all, inclusion, community, regeneration, and so on, in which power is shared by many, as opposed to the patriarchal “domination of the fathers” that is built upon hierarchy, scarcity, domination, individualism, and exploitation. It is decidedly not the mistaken definition of matriarchy, which is seen as patriarchy, but with women in power. It is a paradigm shift to a new set of values that hold space for all and look towards healing the earth and life upon it.
In the new paradigm, we shift to a way of life that centers in the collective with the purpose of nurturing and (re-)generating. All 3 principles are interconnected and overlap, just as all individuals and groups do so. Inherent in this paradigm is ecological sustainability; nature as sacred source.
Three Principles:
Collective - for the greater good, in support of all people, consensus-based decisions. Built upon and foundation for:
- Trust
- Reciprocity
- Consensus
- Diversity
- Equity
- Inclusion
- Belonging
- Community
- Non-violence
Nurturing - health of all first, beyond baseline needs met, growth mindset, recognizing that it takes a village and we are stronger together.
Built upon and foundation for:
- Care
- Balance
- Sustainability
- Empathy
- Respect
- Healing
- Support
- Rest
- Abundance
Generative - power of ideas, power to create, innovation in order to find inspiration, joy, connection and celebration. Generation as life-enriching, in a way that is supportive of individual and collective health and well-being. Built upon and foundation for:
- Creativity
- Process
- Purpose
- Joy
- Scaffolding
- Collaboration
- Inspiration
- Contribution
- Ease
The tenets are to:
- Uphold our selves
- Uphold others
- Uphold our place
- Try our best to find ease, purpose, abundance and joy for all
The new paradigm eschews and is not based in the individual over all others, the power of domination, and violence. It is the opposite of patriarchy, the grind, violence, and capitalism. It draws on foundations of matriarchies/egalitarian societies throughout history and the world, and is not defined by women in power, but instead by shared, collective power that works to nurture and support all.
It is a vision of a society that collaborates for the collective good, that upholds the diversity of unique individuals and groups without hierarchy. It is a way of living in which we nurture and care for each other and the earth, to heal the myriad wounds inflicted by the patriarchal, capitalist ideals we have held for the past hundreds of years. It is a society in which we prioritize the value of caring for one another so that we may each generate creativity, ideas, solutions, and better ways to nurture one another. It is a society in which parenting, education, and children are valued without assigning hierarchy. It is moving from an individualistic, power as domination, greed-focused society towards a collective, power-as-generation, nurture-focused society. That is the ultimate paradigm shift we need to save the world.
For related reading and inspiration, check out the work of:
Benyus, Janine. Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired By Nature. William Morrow, 1997. https://elmoukrie.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/janine-m-benyus-biomimicry_-innovation-inspired-by-nature-harper-perennial-2002-2.pdf
Chix: https://chixmag.com/
Federici, Slivia. Witches, Witch-Hunting, and Women. PM Press, 2018.
Goettner-Abendroth, Heide (editor). Societies of Peace:Matriarchies Past, Present, and Future. Inanna Publications, 2009.
Goettner-Abendroth, Heide. The Way into an Egalitarian Society. International Acacdemy HAGIA, 2007. https://hagia.de/fileadmin/user_upload/pdf/the_way.pdf
Johnson, Ayana Elizabeth, and Katharine K. 1983- Wilkinson. All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solutions for the Climate Crisis. First edition. New York, One World, 2020.