Chloé Dyson’s Post

🌱 ❤️👂🏻 Learning to be more... emergent. 🕸 🙇🏼♀️ 🌿 If you're interested to know how I got on at the Emergence Academy (https://lnkd.in/efakp8Di), the best way I can describe it is: I re-discovered my other other leg! I'll try my best to explain, though there's a upfront disclaimer *words will not do the experience justice* you really have to experience it yourself to appreciate the full extent of it - a bit like learning to dance... On the one leg... We traveled through time, pushing the bounds of our imagination with bold, new, unexpected (re)frames. We learnt the theory behind Futures Literacy labs and had the chance to play with running a lab ourselves, which was great! Unearthing other people’s futures and imagined worlds helped to build bridges between us and meet more of ourselves. Instead of doing what tends to happen when we try and control the outcome by searching for solutions or restricting ourselves to certain paths, or worse still, jumping in head first, only to colonise other people’s viewpoints - Futures Literacy is about learning the discipline of anticipation, practicing with imagining the unknown, while listening to others to broaden our own. While on the other leg... we spent time being in nature. I've practiced with a sit spot in other ways, but this time 'our nest' was aided by story and certain words as travel companions to help deepen our practice and listen with openness: an openness to anticipation, not expectation. By creating space regularly throughout the programme to be, to sit still and observe, surrounded by life - life that’s changing all the time - and feel part of nature and her aliveness. Deep Listening, as it's often called, is the other leg we need to stay open and receptive to change. It teaches us the dance between doing and being, preparedness and embracing uncertainty, the known and the unknown, sense-making and sensing, the mind and the body, the head and the heart. To learn the steps for emergence, we first have to remember we have the other leg. The more you use it, the more natural and fluid the movement becomes. I intend to keep practicing. I look pretty different when I'm standing on the one leg, as opposed to the other - thanks to Marc Bonis-Charancle for capturing this so beautifully and totally unbeknownst to me (otherwise I would've been a lot more self-conscious). And to Alex Lambie, Loes Damhof and Hawkwood , our third facilitator, for showing me the steps. It's been wonderful to see and feel the difference. Because now, I'd really like to dance... 💃🏼

For something that doesn't exist, the future has a profound affect on what we do in the present, as Loes Damhof explains brilliantly in this TED Talk: https://lnkd.in/eG2M7WY6 If we become too attached to one or two scenarios it limits our sense of agency - as the future can only ever be imagined. Stay with that for a minute or two... the implications of well and truly assimilating that into our being are mind-blowing! I'm in the midst or preparing to go back to Hawkwood today, I'm going to spend the next few days with Loes and Alex Lambie on the Emergence Academy to learn more about Futures Literacy. We'll be exploring our innate capacity to sense (as opposed to make-sense) of the world around us, and really unpack and appreciate: what we 'see' is actually how we see. 5 years ago I moved to Stroud, I was at the end of one imagined future, where practicing corporate sustainability wasn't realising the kind of change I had been sold. I was living someone else's future. I went to the Seed Festival, at Hawkwood, drawn to its name as the Centre for Future Thinking and connected with the team at Stop Ecocide International. From here, I supported the campaign for a few years, then continued my unlearning journey as a fellow with The Bio-Leadership Project. And at the beginning of this month, I spent an incredible week with Change in Nature practicing nature facilitation (more here: https://lnkd.in/eAU2Nkim). I had no idea where this path was headed. I just had this feeling deep down to move closer to the trees and find communities who wanted to learn and grow with, in and for nature. I hadn't realised, at the time, the biggest change I'd made was imagining a different future. There are more changes afoot and many different futures I keep trying to imagine. As Loes says: It’s not about what we do today that shapes the future, it’s how we look at the future that shapes the present. More to come from the Emergence Academy as we play with different futures and explore unknown territories to help us see the present differently and feel into what matters most... 🌳 🦋 🕸 ❤️ 🌱

🕸 ❤️ 🌱 Being as the compost of Doing 🏃♀️ 🖥 💡 I was first introduced to this beautiful turn of phrase by Alex Lambie. Over the past year, since Alex shared it with me, I've come appreciate it's way more than a concept or a theory–it goes as far, to encapsulate, some of the most important "work" of our times. Here's what I feel, rather than know... In this hyperactive, hyper-divisive, hyper-distracted and hyper-extractive world we find ourselves in, honing your intuition as times become increasingly urgent and uncertain and complex by "being with"–will be a gift, not too mention a highly sought after skill. The art of being, rather than doing, will become recognised as our capacity to sense and respond to the world around us, feeling rather than knowing that we are inextricably, interconnected to the body of life. Being in nature with our more-than-human friends (our second body), being antennae and allies listening deeply, will help us create something new, certain conditions: the conditions for being in service to life, for hearing that wild call to aliveness–for being more human–and reawakening to the possibility of emergence. In September, I'm joining Alex and Loes Damhof at the Emergence Academy to immerse myself in all of this and more: - the foundations of Futures Literacy and how to make better decisions - Deep Listening and our sensory capacities in nature and through art - ways of embracing emergence in daily life - regenerative leadership skills Held on the expansive hillside of Hawkwood overlooking the Severn Vale, home to an ancient woodland with a sycamore tree thought to be more than 400 years old, accompanied by a natural spring and The Grove, where some of the first people decided to settle and live in reciprocity with the land. I'm feeling this will be just the place to explore the practice of emergence. And I don't say that lightly. As a recovering corporate sustainability professional who has spent the majority of her career in constant pursuit of knowing more, to create more certainty, so I could DO more(!) Emergence is a tricky one to get your head around... But I guess that's entirely the point. Come with me on the journey? There are a few places left on the immersion at Hawkwood, 16-19 September. Or follow on here, as I make reflections along the way. More on the programme here: https://lnkd.in/erUTVJWX Booking details here (it takes a while for the page to load - stick with it, and it will emerge ;): https://lnkd.in/esF48KHh 🕷 ❤️ 🌳

Yesterday, I spent the day at the Science Museum Group hearing and celebrating the Big Ideas 11-14 year olds came up with to find creative solutions to some of the biggest challenges we face—and they deeply care about. Things like: renewable energy, deforestation, wildfires, extinction of bees, litter, food waste, exercise, mental health and homelessness. Extensive research, experiments, networking, promotions and a lot of hard work went into these Big Ideas. The teams had to outline everything in detailed business plans developed over a 6-9 month STEM and enterprise programme—run by Solutions for the Planet, in partnership with local businesses—culminating in Dragon's Den style presentations. Their Big Ideas were first presented at regional finals held at local universities to find the top 11 teams who were given the chance to further develop their plans and present again at the national final. I can't tell you how impressed I was with the ambition, teamwork, presentations, market research and sustainability literacy of the young people. Nearly every team considered circularity in their product design, while many had working prototypes, others had branding and merchandise ready made, and the winning team—who wanted to make biochar from food waste to make green roofs, transforming grey cities into living green oases—have a business plan that could go to market tomorrow! It's incredible to see what happens when curious minds let their imagination run free, applying a no holds barred approach within a learning and business context. Anything is possible. The young people will tell you so, and they're very convincing! It was a joy and an honour to witness. These aren't the leaders of tomorrow, they are leaders today. Huge congratulations to everyone involved! 💚🌏💫 #BigIdeas24 #sustainability #STEM #competition #collaboration #schools #businesses

Deep down we’re all deeply connected to nature. When we’re in ourselves (outside) in nature, we feel different. Something changes in our bodies; our minds begin to let go. Polly Higgins, the cofounder of Stop Ecocide International used to call it “getting Gaia’d”. I love this expression. In the 2020 republication of Dare to be Great, Polly explains how the Earth resonates at 7.8 hertz, which equates to the Theta brainwave, often experienced when we drift off to sleep or are in an advanced state of meditation: “By slowing down our own brain activity to align with the Earth’s frequency (‘getting Gaia’d’), we allow ourselves to experience a dream-like state while awake… 7.8Hz is something we all can - and do - step into when we are fully present. Children can play for hours in a Theta state, fully absorbed, present and content. When we are in a Theta space, our capacity to expand our abilities is exponentially increased—this is why children find it so easy to absorb new languages, expressions and be creative. We can too.” In October, I’ll be speaking at Blue Earth Summit with a panel of artists, curators, makers and musicians about the power of creativity - and the Theta state - to unlock emotional responses to the nature crisis. We’ll be exploring: - What or when or how is it that some feel called to step into action in response to the nature crisis, and poly-crises, we face? - How does it feel when you chose to act - or create? What are the emotions you experienced before, during and after?  - What’s the role of art and creativity in unlocking emotional responses to nature? And how does being creative open up different possibilities and different states? - How can we move people from being distracted and numb to feeling something—anything—that could turn into action? Let me know if you have any other questions or thoughts, I’d love to start a thread on here to help guide the insight and flow of the panel. For those who don't know, the Blue Earth Summit is a platform for change using the power of adventure and the outdoors to inspire environmentally conscious business practices and transform the way we live and work. If you’d like to come along, you can book tickets here: https://lnkd.in/etscB4yJ - using this code BLUEEARTH25 to get a 25% discount - available for the next few days... until the end of June! If it’s too expensive and you’d really like to be a part of it - drop me a DM. 💧🌍🦋💙 #BlueEarthSummit #Spacetofeel

I love the phrase: "peak caterpillar" - it stirs up so much in relation to where we are as a species in this moment of time, and speaks to the transformative potential we have to embrace. I'm not saying change isn't going to painful. The latest speech on the 'Godfathers of climate chaos' delivered yesterday in New York by UN chief, António Guterres is as damming as it is devastating. We have to act NOW. Thinking of us as peak caterpillar helps to envision the possibility that we're on a trajectory edging ever closer to imaginal cells. I wrote a poem about it once... This video reminded me: https://lnkd.in/dssZAeQe 🐛 💫 🦋 Thanks Jane ní Dhulchaointigh and the constant flurry of inspirational butterfly chat among The Bio-Leadership Project fellows. 💚 🌱 🌿 🍄 🕸 "Imaginal cells have the information code for the butterfly. And while no single cell has all the information, collectively, out of apparent death, they bring forth the majestic creature." ~ Alixa García

Planetary thinkers, next (re)generation practitioners and anyone looking beyond sustainability this one’s for you. Adopt a living systems approach to yourself, your work, your relationships and all areas of life. Last year, I completed the Thinking Like Gaia practitioner training, led by Thomas Mansfield, in the company of other brilliant and thoughtful humans. The course instills regenerative language, by exploring terminology and eco-systemic thinking - working with the principles of nature - in a really positive, empowering and life-affirming way. You might have a personal enquiry you need help with, a desire to shift gear towards being more in tune with the living world, a curiosity to learn alongside living systems or a vision you’d like to make more regenerative. The cards will guide you and the insight you seek will reveal itself, through conversation in a co-supportive community, equipping you with an ongoing practice that's not only practical and insightful but enlivening and rewarding. I love this quote Tom shares: "𝘛𝘰𝘥𝘢𝘺 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘰𝘶𝘵𝘴𝘪𝘥𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥 𝘸𝘦 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘸𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯 𝘢𝘳𝘦 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨. 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘴 𝘤𝘰𝘯𝘷𝘦𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘯𝘤𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘸𝘰 𝘸𝘰𝘳𝘭𝘥𝘴 𝘪𝘴 𝘱𝘦𝘳𝘩𝘢𝘱𝘴 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘮𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘪𝘮𝘱𝘰𝘳𝘵𝘢𝘯𝘵 𝘤𝘶𝘭𝘵𝘶𝘳𝘢𝘭 𝘦𝘷𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘰𝘶𝘳 𝘢𝘨𝘦." - 𝘐𝘭𝘺𝘢 𝘗𝘳𝘪𝘨𝘰𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘦 The cards are a tool and a bridge for our inner and outer worlds. If you need more convincing… read the piece that came out in the Daily Alternative, linked in the post below. There’s one or two places left for the cycle starting tomorrow, and just enough time to get you a pack of cards!! If you have a gut reaction and a call to sign up - go for it - you’ll get so much out of it! 🌿 💚 🦋 🕸 ✨

🌿🌍 Universal Declaration of the Rights of Mother Earth 🌏🌿 Article 1. Mother Earth (1) Mother Earth is a living being.

The tides will turn. In the midst of the worst crimes against humanity and nature, escalating beyond comprehension, this gives me hope. Yesterday, Belgium added a nature-centered element to its penal code by recognising #ecocide, as a fifth crime under international law - as well as its national law. “Belgium is now at the forefront of a truly global conversation around criminalising the most severe harms to nature and must continue to advocate for the recognition of ecocide at the International Criminal Court, alongside genocide. In order to fully protect nature, it is necessary that those that would wilfully destroy vast swathes of the natural world, in turn causing untold human harm, should be criminalised.” Huge congratulations to Jojo Mehta, Stop Ecocide International, Stop Ecocide Belgium, Greenpeace Belgium, Canopea, Rise for the Climate and everyone involved for making this happen, as Jojo says: “With prominent voices like that of Belgium leading the way, tangible progress is being made internationally, particularly so in Europe following last November’s agreement to include ecocide-level crimes in the EU’s revised environmental crimes directive. "I have no doubt we’ll see international recognition of the crime of ecocide in the near future.”

Looking at where we are with diversity in the outdoors, is to me, a precursor to understanding what real change is going to look like when it comes to acting more sustainably across the board. Sustainability is a cultural concept, it reflects the interplay and shifting relationship between people, nature and the economy. The more people included, the wider the definition becomes. So representation is key - as leading voices, like Phil Young, the founder of the Outsiders Project will tell you. I count myself lucky to work alongside Phil at TCO London, he gives his view on the state of play when it comes to the outdoors and diversity - summarised below. There's a lot that's heartening, but equally, there's still a long way to go. As Phil says: "Conversations on ownership and belonging are often difficult to have between people with opposing life experiences. I liken it somewhat to an infinity pool. If you are in the pool the water is cool, the horizon looks endless, and anything is possible. If you are on the other side, all you can see is an unfeasibly big wall with a head poking out of the top."