My original Inquiry was over complicated. It asked to what extent does a) the emergent paradigm (the lower loop in the Berkana Two Loops Model) need to be communicated to b) those entrenched within the dominant paradigm (the upper loop) In order to accelerate emergence. (I see the emergent loosely as ‘Kinship Worldview’.)
I had a long list of questions, which I have been reflecting upon through the Bio-Leadership sessions on Recognising our Reality, Facing Uncertainty and Shifting Cultures (separate journal posts to follow) and in conversations with others.
I spent hours investigating and documenting the ‘emergence’ with lists of organisational websites, books, blogs and podcasts. I developed a concept note for an organisation to communicate emergent concepts into the mainstream by means of a ‘digest’ that spotlighted the work of practitioners and provided an accessible entry point to navigate the emergence. I have also been thinking about further exploring my own British ancient spiritual heritage through Druidry.
During the time that these questions were very alive to me, a starling made itself known to me by persistently calling outside my window with an unusual call. I had to know what it was, and eventually saw it perching on my roof and making the same call. I discovered that starlings symbolise communication, mimicry, personal gifts, sacred songs, unity, cooperation and group dynamics. Important to the ancient Celts, the word for “starling” in Welsh is “drudwen”/“drudwy”. It felt that the starling was telling me I was heading along the right track.
Others have reflected to me that:
- I cannot guarantee a listening audience for my project within the mainstream (so I might not achieve impact – the danger of ‘solutionising’ for a need your audience doesn’t recognise).
- My questions were straying into the ‘head mind’ technical space, without engaging my heart.
- I need to do the observational work before rushing to the final product.
- I should not need to seek permission or become an ‘expert’ before taking space and engaging.
- I was grappling very much with hidden identity and fear of being perceived radical (tensions between the professional world and my personal shamanic practice and animist values).
My Inquiry for the time being is:
- Can I create for myself a ‘permission field’ to unmask my ‘radical side’ and be authentic in the context of the professional community?
- How can I approach my concept from the position “I’m a human and wouldn’t it be great to have a different conversation together” rather than “I have a product that would solve all your problems”?
- What is my invitation to my professional community? How do I present my identity?
- Experimenting with vulnerability.
After redirecting my Inquiry I heard a fluttering noise and helped a dark blue dragonfly escape from where it was trapped inside.
Dragonflies symbolise change, transformation, moving outside our comfort zone and releasing limiting beliefs. They encourage us to expand our intuitive vision, take in as much information as possible and to consider shades and nuances we are missing. They move between air, water and earth, symbolising the importance of balance between our inner and outer worlds, emotion and minds. Blue dragonflies are associated with communication, truth, love, and empathy – reminding us to get to the heart of the matter and connect with others by communicating on an emotional level. Dragonflies’ brief time on earth reminds us to not procrastinate and do what we feel drawn to today.
Again, these concepts were all heavily resonant to what had been reflected to me and this dragonfly felt like a sign from the Web of Life that my new Inquiry is the right path for me now.
Rooted Divergent 