Earth Pathways Showcase

Expanding our time horizons, both backwards and forwards, gives us wider perspectives. We are part of lineages beyond just our blood lineages. We are standing on the shoulders of our ancestors, benefitting from the trails they blazed. There is also a duty to continue their work and to not allow those new pathways to become overgrown. For each breakthrough that happened in the past, there was a whole story of struggle and trial and error. There would have been several small tributaries of effort from multiple sources that came together to produce the breakthrough. It is not possible to tease out the exact amount of effort, when and from which direction the breakthrough was made to happen. It is often a non-linear process. Connecting with our ancestors’ stories helps us relate to the sacrifices they made, their motivations for change, what they were fighting for that we perhaps take for granted now.

Connecting with ancestors and future generations brings us to the inevitable realisation that we will be the future generations’ ancestors one day. What will they think of us? Would they be grateful for the doors we have opened up for them, for the benefits and skills that we have passed on? What are the skills, mindsets and stories that we are passing on? What is the legacy we leave behind?

Ancestors And Future Generations © Looby Macnamara 2023

Lead from your heart
Look to nature for answers on your leadership journey
Lead like a buzzard with joy on the thermals
Be like a tree drawing nourishment from deep within the Earth
Flow like an apple tree with abundant times of giving
and fallow times of resting
Join hands together to carry heavy loads
Hold boundaries like a mama bear fiercely protective of her cubs
Lead like migrating birds using the stars and magnetic fields to navigate
Guide like the moon, waxing and waning,
influencing ebbs and flows from a distance
Speak like the wren with a huge voice for your size, full of trills and flourishes
Lead like a species on the edge of survival
Most of all lead like yourself
And follow your heart

Nature’s Leaders © Looby Macnamara 2023

Can you imagine how different the world would be if we were all shining and using our gifts to the fullest? I imagine the world would be a happier, more peaceful place. We would be less competitive and more co- operative. There would be more innovation and joy, more connection and inventions, less arguments and more fulfilment, less despair and more empowerment.

Discovering our own gifts will bring forth the collective genius of humanity. Finding ways to encourage the surfacing of gifts in people will enable the creation of a culture of collective wisdom.

Gifts are not just about careers, although we may be able to use our gifts within our livelihoods. Our gifts can also be qualities, how our presence is in the world and how we interact with people. We all have many transferable skills that we have developed over our lives. Our skills at parenting, admin, cleaning and other day-to- day tasks, can all be used in other nourishing and empowering ways to create regenerative cultures.

Our gifts are larger than we know or can know, they continually expand – it is an ongoing treasure hunt with limitless wonders to find. They can become part of our soul path. Finding and sharing your gifts is part of saying YES to your life, and YES to the collective evolution of humanity.

Surfacing Gifts © Looby Macnamara

The quiet mind brings us into connection with liminal creativity: the flow that comes from the space in between. The space between dreamtime and waking, night and day, winter and spring, the edge between people, and between people and the more-than-human world, the openings between the past, present and future, the gap between the pragmatic and imaginative, the space between our vision and action. The space between the womb and birth, the seed and the sprout. The mysterious, universal source of creativity, that arrives in whispers or loud lightning bolts. The creative source that goes under many names and is unnameable and unknowable. The spark of inspiration, the bolt of creativity, the lightning strike of ideas, the glimmer of possibility. The quiet mind gives us all a channel of communication with our own creativity, gifts and vision. We connect with the source of emergence. It activates visionary, creative leadership as a state of being for all of us.

Liminal © Looby Macnamara

Being in courage relates to our inner state of being, to how we experience the flow of courage within ourselves. The word courage can be traced back to the Latin cor, also meaning ‘heart’. It is an invitation to be in connection with our heart, with our emotions, to be strong, focused and brave.

Being in courage also allows space for our vulnerability. Vulnerability is not to be suppressed or denied, but acknowledged and embraced as an expression of emotions, openness and the stretching of edges. Vulnerability is the ability to be vulnerable; an ability to be honest, sensitive and open. It is a capacity that not everyone has, so let’s honour it as a strength in itself. Courage can show up in many different forms. Maybe what we label as nervous energy is actually our courage coming to the surface.

Courage is called for to face our fears, speak our truth, step into the unknown. Being in a bubble of courage creates a force field around us, encouraging others. When we truly embody our courage it gives us the motivation, vitality, enthusiasm and conviction to design the present and future we want.

Be In Courage © Looby Macnamara

Being in a state of Cultural Emergence is a state of mind, a way of viewing the world, and a way of responding.

The first step is observing when things aren’t fixed; when emotions, thinking, finances, weather and politics are in motion.

Fluid circumstances can bring feelings of impatience, confusion and frustration.When we embrace the opportunities for emergence we can overcome and transform these feelings, inviting curiosity, problem-solving, acceptance and flow. The feeling of ‘being on edge’ could be seen as uncomfortable, but we could reframe this to think about what we are on the edge of: is it the edge of our courage, the gateway into a new possibility, an innovative discovery? What wants to come through in this time? Learning to ride the wave of emergence and breathe into it helps us to use it positively and creatively.

Shifting our way of thinking and reframing our interpretations of what we observe is always an available option that creates alternative ways of responding. Differences in response open up new pathways. When we find ourselves in times of change we can bring people-care tools into the situation that encourage fertile, regenerative emergence.

Being in a state of fertile Cultural Emergence can be joyful and fulfilling, allowing for creativity, spontaneity and synchronicity to guide and support us.

Being in a State of Cultural Emergence © Looby Macnamara 2019

Looking after ourselves requires attention to our emotional, mental and spiritual well-being. Self-care is multifaceted. Self-care extends all the way from meeting our basic needs to becoming our full selves. Self-care can involve any activity that makes us happy and improves or regulates our mood. It can involve letting go of limiting beliefs and patterns that no longer serve us. Self-care involves valuing and appreciating ourselves, and ensuring we have kind self-talk. This self-appreciation provides a springboard into self-evolution and development.

The importance of self-care is not to be underestimated. In the same way the deeper the roots on a tree the more growth above the surface; the deeper our inner self-care the greater our ability to expand our care for others outwards. Often we think that we need to find these precious moments during the day when no one is around when we can fit in some self-care. This can become frustrating if our lives are centred around caring for others. Reframing this and finding ways we can practise self- care with others can unlock many opportunities.

Looking after ourselves is a way to walk our talk, and is a potent demonstration of our values of care and connection. The more we bring ourselves into alignment, the more effective and influential the ripples will be.

Self-Care © Looby Macnamara 2019

When we create cultures of personal leadership, collective intelligence and planetary care we are emerging truly regenerative cultures. We are creating systems of growth and renewal, systems that are rejuvenating, healthy and productive.

With a culture of personal leadership we have responsibility, agency and power. Personal leadership involves recognising that we have freedom of choice and can be proactive in making changes and moving away from automatic pilot. We need to take responsibility for our own personal culture: examining it, questioning it and changing it. Our goal is for our activities and behaviours to come into alignment with our values. Emerging a culture of collective intelligence requires us to create conditions for imagination and creativity that encourage individual and collective genius to shine. New narratives, ideas and designs are woven through the sharing of stories, life experiences and skills. Our very DNA holds the collective intelligence of thousands of generations of people: there is vast wisdom to tap into. A culture of planetary care would prioritise the care of Earth in all decision-making. When this care is placed at the centre of our culture then we will no longer be able to act contrary to this, and pollute, harm and destroy eco-systems. We will proactively be caring for the fundamental resources of life: water, trees, soil and biodiversity. Care will extend to all beings and for future generations of all species.

Building Regenerative Cultures © Looby Macnamara 2019

I am woman, I am child, I am me,
I am nowhere, I am everywhere
I am past, present and future
I don’t know who I am
I am no one and everyone
I am ancestor and great grandchild
I am air, water, fire and earth
I am Mother Earth,
I am singer, dancer, writer, healer, mover, shaker,
I am one of humanity
I am body, mind and spirit
I am thoughts, emotions, feelings and I am none of these
I am a window through which I see the world
I am a womb where ideas can grow
I am a boat to travel the cosmos
I am a spiral of connections
I am energy in one place
I am stars exploding, I am dreams flying
I am movement, muscles and breath
I am the pattern and the detail
I am the question and the answer
I am the vastness and the minuscule
I am the oneness, the everything and the nothingness
I am the universe and the atom
I am a strand of infinity
I am eternity, and I am now.

Who Am I? © Looby Macnamara

As we begin a new decade it is time to begin a fresh direction. We know we need to make the Great Turning to a life-sustaining culture, but we may not know how it is possible. All too often the vision we have seems unattainable, far from our current reality. How can we move in the direction of regeneration at a speed and volume that dramatically halts the global spirals of erosion that we are currently swept up in? This can seem like an enormous task, but a small shift in our trajectory can lead to a big difference in destination. Has there been a time in your life where you have faced a new direction and then found yourself somewhere completely unexpected further down the line? Initially it may seem like not much is happening, but even a shift from automatic pilot and a subtle turn of the head changes the direction we are looking in and the next step we take. When we align cultural values to the ethics of Earth care, people care and fair shares, our patterns of interaction and resource use will follow suit. Let’s look towards the future we wish for ourselves and humanity and make the first step in this new decade.

Small Shift in Direction – Big Shift in Destination © Looby Macnamara 2018

Emergence occurs when things come together and something unexpected arises. We are surrounded by emergence – LIFE is emergence. We take it for granted though that if there is sunshine during a rainstorm there will be a rainbow somewhere, or that the bees visiting the flowers are making honey, but we would not be able to guess this just from looking at the bees and flowers, or the sun and rain. The parts do not give away the emergent properties that arise from their combination and interaction. The ingredients of a cake do not hint at the treat to follow, and it is actually one of the smallest ingredients, the baking powder, that literally gives rise to the cake. What is the recipe of people, skills, motivation, tools and knowledge that will give us the unexpected nudge or leap towards regenerative, visionary, life- sustaining cultures? Whenever we feel overwhelmed by the world’s problems we can remember that perhaps WE could be the ‘baking powder’; our gifts and talents might be the magic ingredient that the world needs right now. Emergence is magic and gives us hope.

The Magic of Emergence © Looby Macnamara 2018

It was once thought impossible to fly, to end slavery and apartheid. But these things have all come to reality. Is it possible to end poverty, malnutrition and sexual abuse – to feed the world and for every citizen to live in safety? Is it possible to reverse ecosystem destruction and climate change? What dreams do we hold for ourselves personally? What visions are hiding behind the smokescreen of ‘I can’t’, ‘it will never happen’, and ‘it’s not possible’?

Allowing for the possibility of the seemingly impossible invites us to ask why not? What’s stopping us? Can we look beyond the glass ceilings, subtle barriers and limiting beliefs? We are encouraged to let go of the ‘impossible’ box, and the assumptions we hold about what is or isn’t possible. We can give voice to what our hearts truly desire, giving our visions space to breathe, expand, become more detailed and open to their full potential.

Holding the belief that something is possible, that we can solve a problem, will keep us engaged in looking for solutions, trying new combinations and experimenting. We remain observant for shifts and openings and opportunities to co-operate with others. We can connect with a bigger vision of possibility for ourselves and humanity. Our visions will motivate the genius inside of us, engaging our creativity and activating our gifts.

Allowing the Possibility of the Seemingly Impossible © Looby Macnamara

Hear the call for us to shift the belief that the Great Turning will take too long and that we might not be able to do it in time, before the Great Unravelling takes hold. Instead let us fully inhabit the belief and act with the conviction that we have the capacity to make the Great Turning and it could happen very swiftly and convincingly if we are effective, collaborative and supportive. When we look at life through the lens of the Great Turning we are choosing to believe that solutions are possible and that we will find them. We are choosing to hope for the best outcomes and to put our life force behind actions that will bring them into being.

Now is the time for trust and connection and for widening our circles of care. This is the time to bring ourselves together with such unity and sense of purpose that we know we will succeed in emerging a new culture that brings balance and care for all beings.

We are many.

A Swift Great Turning © Looby Macnamara

We need a deep, radical revolution that leaves no one behind. Comprehensively activating our innate sense of belonging and potential. Let’s birth and name and give power and strength to this global transformation. Let’s unify and diversify to surface our gifts and root our resolve. Let’s become the voices of the silent, the repressed and the scared, and be the voice of peace, justice and friendship. Let’s be the voice of Gaia calling us home. Let’s create the conditions for cultural emergence, opening to radical shifts in perspective to tip us into balance and into the realm of probability of succeeding in creating global harmony. Let’s become a global family destined for greatness in our ability to share and connect. The time is now! Let’s make the commitment.

We need a Deep, Radical Revolution © Looby Macnamara

Taking stock of the multitude of miracles
evident in the richness of life in this present moment,
we are released from the fear that
there will be none in the future.
We know there are already blessings
brewing in the background,
miracles on the horizon of tomorrow.
The layers of trivia encapsulating our thoughts
are cut through and a wide perspective
allows us to encounter the world in all its glory.

Turn our attention, switch our attitude in an instant
and be thankful for the ordinary everyday gifts in our lives,
toothpaste, running water, a park bench.
Our hearts open and
our body armour
dissolves. We arrive in
the presence of now,
the gift of the present.

Viewing with an appreciative gaze, our mind chatter stills.
We are here and now and we are timeless.
We are uniquely ourselves and undeniably connected.

Gratitude as an Attitude © Looby Macnamara

I’m in love with you world, in love with being alive.
I love being a guest, a participant,
a collaborator, a family member of life.
I love having memories stored within my DNA of millions
of years of evolution, and memories
of laughter and warmth and friendship stored within my heart.
I love the circles of friends and friends of friends
interlocking and overlapping,
paths crossing and people arriving and
flowing in and out of my life.
I love my inner world, ideas flowing and intermingling.
I love my family and all the rich intimacies and reflections.
I love my friends and their sharing, humour and stories.
I love each person’s little quirks and unique ways of thinking,
and the surprises that arise when I open to their way of seeing.
I love all the flowers, each petal true to itself.
I love listening to the song of the trees in the wind,
a thousand leaves in the choir dancing on the breeze.
I love the smoothness of pebbles transformed
by countless strokes of the sea.
I love the sheer fecundity of midsummer, nature bursting into
every nook and cranny, reaching forth with full abandon.
I love it all: I am so lucky to be alive, so lucky to be me.

Love Letter to the World © Looby Macnamara

Through recognising ourselves as part of systems that influence other systems, and that each system on the planet is connected, we move from thinking that what we do doesn’t matter, to realising that our actions have consequences and are meaningful. Many of the ripples of our actions are beyond our awareness. Systems act through their parts, as in starling murmurations, where each bird is contributing to the whole system. Each small action we take is part of a bigger story, we are part of a bigger story. Whenever we do something or act in a certain way we can ask ourselves what is it a part of? What am I part of? What flow am I contributing to?

We don’t know where the tipping points are with climate change. We don’t know what disasters might emerge from the combined effects of all the stresses we are placing on ecosystems. Equally though, we don’t know the tipping points for Earth recovery. We don’t know how our actions when combined together can bring about positive change. The words emergency and emergence have the same Latin root ‘emergere’ meaning to arise out of; so perhaps the emergencies we face will give rise to opportunities for emergence. As individuals there are limits to how much we can achieve. There can be a trap of thinking I can’t, but with emergence we can shift this to the potential of working together and we can.

Opening Up to Thinking in Systems © Looby Macnamara

Empowered people
Ready to hold ourselves and each other
Through holding each other
We are held
With our unity we light the world with love
With our love we understand
With our understanding we take responsibility
With our responsibility we are brave
Brave to dream of the world we want
Brave to speak our dreams
With our bravery comes action
The bold and the everyday actions that change our world
And bring hope to our souls
Hope we can breathe in deeply
Hope to wake us from our slumbers
To fill every corner of our awareness
With the knowing
All is possible.

Empowered People © Looby Macnamara

Abundance and appreciation go hand in hand. When we can feel gratitude for what we have and what is around us we open to feelings of satisfaction, awe and harmony. We can celebrate our harvests. We can even celebrate the learning that we gain from our mistakes and congratulate ourselves for the efforts made. We can celebrate what we have done rather than focusing on what we still have left to do. Gratitude starts with appreciation of ourselves. Within each of us is a store of skills, talents, purpose, passion, energy and enthusiasm.

The lens of abundance thinking is most influential when we use it first to reflect our internal landscape, to shed light on our inner abundance. When we are in touch with our inner resources we are more able to see clearly the abundances around us. It is through internal discovery that we are able to make the greatest changes and unearth the most valuable gems. It is through acknowledging and celebrating ourselves that we find a fulfilling world around us.

The frame of gratitude is a potent frame for change. From the viewpoint of gratitude we can feel excitement, resilience, confidence and flow.

Abundance and Appreciation © Looby Macnamara

The primary thing that we need for solutions thinking is the belief that there is a solution. If we are lacking the belief that a solution can be found, then even when presented with possible answers we will be blind and deaf to them. Without the belief it is just like when we offer a friend advice after advice but they are too caught in the problem for any answer to fit.

With this belief in place we are open to taking the necessary steps to find a solution. Whatever the problem or dilemma we are faced with, whether it is a personal challenge such as losing our job or a global crisis like climate change, there are ways forward, or ways around it, or ways to reduce the effects.

Believing in Solutions © Looby Macnamara

The breath in my lungs
Travels on the wind
In and out of person, bird and animal
In and out
One breath travelling through all
I give and I receive.
The molecules in my fingertips
Have lived before – inside the tusk of a mammoth
My hair was once a rock on the ocean floor
My heart a distant star
The water flowing through my veins
Was once the blood of ice-age rivers melting into the sea
Molecules assembling and disassembling in the cycle of life, death and renewal
I eat the soil from crumbling mountains
And sunlight caught in the juice of a berry
The same sunlight that floods through my skin
Nourishing my cells
Warming the fire in my belly

Molecules © Looby Macnamara

In the garden we can create guilds of plants that can support each other with exchanges of nutrients and functions, thereby enhancing growth and productivity.

With people, guilds can form in our groups and communities that can provide mutual support. Each person has particular characteristics and certain niches that suit them. When working together there can be exchanges of skills and ideas. A visionary and a do-er working together in a group is a potent combination when each other’s attributes are acknowledged and appreciated. Relationships can be nurtured by listening, accepting different outlooks, assuming the good intentions of each other, and by being warm and friendly. The closer the proximity of either plants or people to each other allows more flow and exchanges to occur. Of course there is an optimum closeness for both people and plants – too close and it can be counter productive.

When people are brought together, unexpected things can and do occur; there is synergy and emergence. This is the place of hope, possibility and magic. We are not just optimistic for the future because it is actually realistic to expect the unexpected. We can be possibilitists – aware of the infinite possibilities that await us.

Creating People Guilds © Looby Macnamara