15 Comments

So interesting to learn where Lynn Got her idea...though I think the Indigenous have understood far longer that Gaia is alive and is a self-regulating sentient Mother for us all! The below is the story of how I first heard of her work as a homeschooler - and a few other things. My very first substack post!

https://open.substack.com/pub/aliciakwon/p/we-are-part-of-the-ecosystem?r=2phurm&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web

Expand full comment

Many thanks for sharing!

“Man did not weave the web of life, he is merely a strand in it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to himself”-

~Chief Seattle

Great quote!! 💕🙏

Expand full comment

I think a lot of poets are "symbiopoets" by nature which is why, along with others who naturally think symbiopoetically, they often have a hard time living in anthropocene cultures. But I can see through these Substack postings about Symbiogenesis and Symbiopaedia, that a rigorous groundwork is being laid -- and that symbiopoetically-minded people can no longer be easily and disparagingly dismissed as dreamers off with the fairies with their heads in the clouds. They are being given a language, and coherent argumentation, to stand their ground in relation to those with a Baconian mindset. For that, the world at large should be truly grateful; I am.

Expand full comment

Thank you so much!!! That's exactly the purpose of this work.

"Once we are clear the rest is easy," as I remember a famous saying... 💖🙏

Expand full comment

Wow, Veronika, you are so right that there is much crossover with your work and mine. What you've written here is remarkable! Thanks to a good friend (whom I also met on Substack) I have recently been studying Gebser and I see so many other through lines with what's going in my world right now. The message I write about over and over again is this move to a more relational way. Your words, maybe especially symbiopoeiesis, offer an incredibly clear structure for this. I feel I'm witnessing genius. Thank you so much for your work!

Expand full comment

Thank you so much Jenna!! I feel very touched by your words.

I discovered Jean Gebser shortly after starting to write my own work and was surprised to find how much his magnificent work on the »Structures of Consciousness« resonates with mine. He is one of my greatest heroes.

I also noticed you mentioned Cynthia Bourgeault in your latest post... (She discovered Gebser only a couple of years ago, I believe, and now writes some fantastic essays about his work)... another great thinker and writer. Perhaps we should start a Gebser-enthusiasts-club on substack...

Expand full comment

I would absolutely sign up for that club!

Expand full comment

Good to know! We could start it...

Expand full comment

This wonderful recounting is wrapped up in the Universe Story that came from Teilhard de Chardin in the last century and got seasoned by Thomas Berry, mentor to Brian Swimme who's my favorite storyteller. That everything is in an evolutionary process instead of there being a fixed universe was confirmed by science, thanks to Hubble, only in the last century. Everything evolved together-- i.e. we are one humanity -- not rugged individualists climbing over each other but sacred creatures (in a sacred universe) who would want to take care of Earth. That's the basis for my Substack and here's an example that lays out the case: "ONCE UPON A TIME IS NOW for a campaign to change the world/Everything will change if we adopt the Universe Story". https://suzannetaylor.substack.com/p/once-upon-a-time-is-now-is-a-campaign

Expand full comment

Thank you so much Suzanne for sharing. Teilhard de Chardin's Universe Story ~ Yes! Berry + Swimme ~ Absolutely!! ONCE UPON A TIME IS NOW!!!

Expand full comment

Oooh! Symbiopoiesis ~ conscientious engagement in the creative process in synergy with the self-organising life-force! We are all symbiopoets! The poiesis of synergy! We are the poem! Thank you so much for giving me another lens to see the creative poetry of life through. Love this! Thank you Veronika!

Expand full comment

You are very welcome! Symbiopoiesis is one of my favourite words too.

Expand full comment

Can I suggest 'symbiopoetic flow' as the closest thing to a verb. Trauma seems to disrupt symbiopoetic flow. Practicing art (in the widest possible sense) seems able to restore it.

Can I invite you to read my post Coalminers' report? Keeping in mind the faculties of consciousness. If only to see how you feel about the described practice in the light of facing trauma....

https://bertus.substack.com/p/coal-miners-report

Expand full comment

Thank you Bertus! symbiopoietic flow sounds perfect. I agree trauma disrupts it, creativity restores it. In the Noctarine theory of Consciousness, healing and creating are complementary movements. Creating flows clockwise, healing counterclockwise.

I look forward to reading your post (either later tonight or tomorrow).

Thank you for being here and diving into these conversations with me 💕🙏

It's a rare blessing

Expand full comment

no, there isn’t . . . despite what the charlatan, elon musk claims

Expand full comment