A Winter Solstice Celebration for 2023 with Manda Scott and Nathalie Nahai
Dec 21, 2023
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Novelist Manda Scott and podcast host Nathalie Nahai join Della to reflect on the past year, discuss the global psyche, building community, embracing uncertainty, and exploring the interconnectedness of life and death. They emphasize the need for collaboration, connection, and making positive changes in a fractured world.
Shifting to a different value set is essential for creating a future that aligns with our values and promotes economic system change.
Recognizing the interconnectedness of all beings and cultivating practices of presence and connection is crucial for resilience and community building.
Embracing the unknown, being open to surprise, and exploring new approaches are key to creating a future we can be proud of.
Deep dives
Changing the Value Set in a Shifting System
In this podcast episode, the speakers discuss the urgency of shifting to a different value set in a system that prioritizes power and financial gain. They highlight the need to move away from the concept of simply paying bills and dying as the purpose of life. Exploring ideas of connection to the web of life and redefining success, they question how to shoot for a different value set in a way that is accessible and practical for everyone.
Reflecting on the Year and Setting Intentions for the Future
In this annual tradition, the podcast hosts and their guests reflect on the past year and set intentions for the year ahead. Sharing personal highlights, themes, and insights from their respective podcasts, they create invitations and offer gifts for the future. They emphasize the importance of community, resilience, and the need for a shift in consciousness in order to create a future that aligns with our values and leads to economic system change.
Exploring the Global Human Psyche and Longing for Connection
The speakers delve into the global human psyche, considering the loneliness and disconnection that plagues society. They discuss the importance of tapping into the web of life and recognizing the interconnectedness of all beings. Reflecting on the pain and grief that permeate the world, they explore practices of presence and connection to promote resilience, community building, and a sense of belonging.
Healing the Trauma Culture and Initiating Change
The conversation shifts towards acknowledging the traumatic origins of our current system, examining the rupture caused by the shift to the agricultural revolution. The speakers emphasize the need for healing and moving towards an initiation culture that promotes connection, compassion, and a vision of a future that aligns with the well-being of all beings. They discuss the urgency of conscious evolution and practical steps towards a post-capitalist future that prioritizes the flourishing of life and embraces both self and peer accountability.
Embracing the uncertainty and transformation of the world
In this podcast episode, the speakers discuss the concept of embracing the current time of transition and uncertainty in the world. They explore the metaphor of being midwives of something new or doolers of a death and how this relates to personal fears and creative expression. The conversation highlights the pain, horror, and potential for initiation in the midst of contraction and change. It emphasizes the importance of being present, bearing witness, and embracing the unknown as the world moves through this transformative period.
Shifting perspectives and theories of change
Another key topic discussed in the podcast is the importance of shifting perspectives and theories of change. The speakers mention various theories of change that inspire them, such as the work of Patricia Miguel Viveros in Mexico, Michael Schumann's focus on local economies, and Darcia and Nervais's research on creating supportive cultures for children. The conversation highlights the power of bringing hearts and minds together and the constellated effect of different theories of change. It emphasizes the need to explore new approaches, be open to surprise, and focus on values that underpin a future we can be proud of.
Happy Winter Solstice! In this annual tradition, Della is joined by two fellow podcast hosts to reflect on the past year and set some intentions for the year ahead.
Manda Scott is a novelist, smallholder, and host of the Accidental Gods podcast, which showcases individuals and organizations at the emerging edge of our world to set the foundation for a future we’d be proud to leave to the generations that come after us. Her latest novel, Any Human Power is available for pre-order on Amazon.
Nathalie Nahai is a behavior science advisor, author and host of the podcast The Hive, which focuses on psychology, technology, and human behavior. Nathalie is the author of Webs Of Influence: The Psychology of Online Persuasion and is also the founder of Flourishing Futures Salon, a project that offers curated gastronomical gatherings that explore how we can thrive in times of turbulence and change.
One of Della’s offerings in the new year is a Gaia Education course called Cultivating Regenerative Livelihoods that weaves insights from this podcast and her work as a Right Livelihood coach with practical solidarity economy tools to help us better align our work with our values and contribute to economic systems change. This 12-week online course will start on January 13th and is 300 pounds with half and full scholarships available and a 15% discount for Upstream listeners available here.
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