In this thought-provoking exploration, the Oasis Foundation Director, Chris Taylor, reflects on the shifting currents of our time—tracking the poly-crisis of societal, economic, political, and environmental upheaval. From the fractures of outrage and grief to the quiet resilience of regenerative action, this piece examines the subtle shifts happening at the margins. It invites us to look backward toward healing and forward toward transformation, suggesting that the alchemy of reconciliation and renewal may hold the key to navigating an uncertain future.
Tracking the zeitgeist is an elusive art. Who knew #MeToo would burst through when it did? Or that Black Lives Matter would follow hot on the heals of lockdown? Or that Greta’s school boycott would catapult Extinction Rebellion into the public eye?
Of course those who were observers of social events knew that race, gender and climate change were issues of major concern. But knowing when any of them would capture the public imagination and when any of them will actually trigger lasting change is another matter completely.
At the Oasis Foundation we recognise that we’re a small fish in turbulent seas. We don’t pretend to be a major force for change. But we do like to track subtle shifts in the currents and to stay on the leading edge of the wave.
Tracking backwards and projecting forwards I’d like to suggest we’re in one of the many subtle shifts that contribute to a larger systemic transformation. In summary I might describe it something like this:
We are in a poly-crisis, a perfect storm of social, economic, political and environmental changes that will transform human civilisation forever. Social scientists, climate scientists and others have been warning us of this for decades. The young, led by Greta decided they were not going to stand idly by. A plethora of social movements has emerged, often based around single issues (even if these are massive single issues like species extinction or climate change).
Some are taking this seriously, some are accusing the canaries in the coal-mine of crying wolf (to mix my metaphors). But none of this is yet leading to meaningful and lasting change. Meanwhile, the movements are not standing still those in them and those leaving them are going through a series of changes in orientation.
First there was outrage, fear, grief. Then overwhelm, anger, powerlessness. Through it all, plenty of analysis of what’s wrong, what’s going on in the world, how the system is failing us.
Now what? To find out, it is often useful to look to the margins. That’s where change often starts. What’s happening at the margins of the world, amongst those at the fringes, those outcast or disillusioned by the system?
Here I am observing two trends, which seem a little unrelated but together perhaps bring about something alchemical. One trend looks backwards and the other looks forwards. Looking backwards some are seeing how much trauma has been done, individually, systemically, planetarily. They are calling for recognition, reparations, reconciliation. And enough healing to allow us all to be able to focus on the future. Looking forward, folks are moving from analysis and theory into practice. They are repairing desertified landscapes, growing food regeneratively, building resilient local communities – autonomous zones as much outside the current system as is practically possible.
It is my suspicion that combining these two trends, getting our hands dirty in the broken soil, getting our bodies deep into the blood and guts of forgiveness, this is our best hope of navigating the turbulence of what’s to come – the breakdown of everything we recognise. And in doing so I’m pretty certain we’ll learn what we need to learn about how to build a new civilisation – one that’s regenerative both for people and for the planet.
Chris Taylor
