Is There a Way to Light the Path Forward?
Civilization’s Double Bind and the Promise of Heliogenesis
Long-time readers and followers of Anima Mundi need no introduction to the concept of a predicament. While problems have solutions and can thus be resolved, predicaments only have outcomes and, by definition, cannot be solved. Our entanglement with civilization is a quintessential example of a double bind: damned if we continue with it, damned if we don’t.
So, what is civilization? According to Merriam-Webster, it’s “a relatively high level of cultural and technological development,” where “technology” refers to “the practical application of knowledge.” We actually had a discussion last week about this in our weekly calls, what means cosmology and technology. Think agriculture, pottery, writing, construction, metallurgy—and most critically, the harnessing of energy flows to power all these activities. Initially, this meant wood or food calories from grains for humans and grass for draft animals; later, fossil fuels. Strip away technology, and what remains is culture—myths, heroes, legends, poems, music—all profoundly important but insufficient for building towering cities or feeding millions.
This brings us to the heart of our mission: Heliogenesis. We envision a transformative shift towards a heliogenic civilization that harnesses the boundless energy of the sun in the most direct and natural ways, much like nature itself. Through Heliogenesis, we’re not just embracing regenerative energy; we’re reinventing our social construct to be regenerative, inclusive, and abundantly prosperous. Instead, we aim to utilize direct sunlight similarly to how plants perform photosynthesis, creating systems that not only sustain but enrich our lives and ecosystems. Last week when I was in Berlin T told me that 42% of the world population are young people and the majority of them are in the global south. A generation that wants systemic change.
But why is civilization a classic double bind—damned if we do, damned if we don’t? Two reasons: first, it is both a response to and a cause of ecological overshoot; second, it is inherently unsustainable. Let’s delve deeper into these ideas.
Ecological Overshoot and the Illusion of Progress
Ecological overshoot occurs when human demand exceeds the regenerative capacity of natural ecosystems. Take our hunter-gatherer ancestors: when they hunted more animals, caught more fish, or consumed more plants than could regenerate in a given area and time, they entered overshoot territory. Did their shamans step forward to warn of impending scarcity? Unlikely. Some tribes recognized the limits of their lands and practised birth control, while others burned down entire forests to make way for grasslands, boosting bison populations and, consequently, their own numbers. In most of my research, indigenous people steward the land quite well, they know what is needed to sustain a healthy environment.
This worked—for a while. But eventually, something more was needed to sustain the growing populace. Enter agriculture and the first civilizations. Mesopotamia, with its vast reedy lowlands, could support only a fraction of the people who built cities like Ur and Uruk through traditional means. Had they halted their expansion and abandoned civilization, they would have faced the harsh consequences of overshoot: malnutrition, disease, wars. History is replete with such examples.
Life in modernity has led us to forget that not all desires should be fulfilled, and not all effort or discomfort removed from our lives. Challenge is key to becoming who we are—to our health, our well-being, and our potential for growth and development.
As Daniel Schmachtenberger points out, we’ve become ensnared in a “progress trap,” continuously accelerating forward to escape the consequences of overshoot, yet simultaneously exacerbating it. Our current idea of progress is developmentally incomplete and immature because it ignores or downplays significant negative side effects—externalities—of technological advancement.
Consider leaded gasoline. While it powered the rise of the automobile industry, it caused widespread cognitive damage and health issues. Industrial agriculture, propelled by the Haber-Bosch process, increased food production but led to environmental degradation and nutritional problems. Social media connected people globally but has contributed to mental health problems and societal polarization.
Our common metrics for demonstrating progress—like increased life expectancy, reduced poverty, improved education, and decreased violence—are often cherry-picked, missing important context about quality of life and well-being. This approach to progress is driven by perverse incentives that prioritize narrow economic gains while externalizing costs to society and the environment.
The Unsustainable Path of Progress
Every civilization thus far has been unsustainable, relying on the depletion of resources faster than they can regenerate. Our globalized civilization has magnified this unsustainability. By using fossil fuels, we’ve learned to convert ancient organic matter into food on a massive scale. Fertilizers, pesticides, and mechanized agriculture now sustain billions but at the cost of destroying ecosystems, depleting groundwater, and causing soil erosion.
I recall visiting a rural community that had relied on traditional farming methods for generations. When industrial agriculture arrived, promising higher yields and prosperity, many embraced it without hesitation. At first, the results seemed miraculous—bountiful harvests and economic growth. But within a few years, the soil began to degrade, water sources became polluted, and the community faced health issues previously unheard of. The very technology that promised progress had undermined their way of life.
As Tyson Yunkaporta explores in his book Sand Talk, our cosmology and technology are deeply intertwined. Indigenous wisdom teaches us that everything is connected, and our actions have ripple effects throughout the ecosystem. Tyson emphasizes the importance of understanding our place within the larger tapestry of life, advocating for technologies and systems that harmonize with the natural world rather than dominate it.
We have lost even the means of comparison between a life in which almost all of our time is spent in human-built spaces and another, in which our bare feet are never far from the touch of the land.
Friends of mine had the privilege of meeting Tyson during a conference in Australia. His insights into how indigenous knowledge systems perceive time, responsibility, and community profoundly impacted me. He shared stories of how traditional practices ensured that every action considered the well-being of the seventh generation ahead. This long-term perspective is starkly missing in our current approach to progress.
Our commitment to Heliogenesis aligns with this perspective. By harnessing solar energy—the most abundant and renewable resource—we aim to realign our technological advancements with the rhythms of nature. We prioritize open-source collaboration, fostering a culture of shared knowledge and innovation. We champion nature-inspired solutions, drawing wisdom from the most efficient engineer ever known—nature itself.
Metaphysics and the Shift in Consciousness
Here is where metaphysics enters the conversation. To escape our double bind, we need more than technological solutions; we require a profound shift in our collective consciousness. Schmachtenberger advocates for an integrated approach that considers the underlying patterns and systems driving our civilization. We must question the very assumptions that have led us here and embrace a new paradigm that prioritizes harmony with nature.
Our current approach to progress needs to mature. We must:
• Consider all stakeholders and long-term impacts.
• Internalize externalities in advance.
• Use “yellow teaming” to assess potential negative consequences.
• Implement synergistic design that creates multiple positive outcomes.
Let me share a personal example. Some friends of mine initiated the SacredGroves project in India, a visionary effort to tackle the housing crisis in Auroville. The plan was ambitious: to build 108 homes for newcomers, long-term volunteers, and Aurovilians using ecological principles. However, as the project progressed, they encountered a stark realization—the traditional methods of construction relied heavily on materials and practices that were ecologically harmful, such as the extraction of sand and illegal quarrying, which caused environmental degradation and disrupted local ecosystems.
Faced with this dilemma, the team made a pivotal decision to pause and reassess. They brought together engineers, environmentalists, community leaders, and artisans to brainstorm alternatives. By adopting a “yellow team” and “heliogenesis” mindset—proactively addressing potential challenges and rethinking the project holistically—they designed a model that prioritized sustainability. The redesigned approach incorporated recycled materials like building rubble, discarded wood, and even tetrapak cartons. The housing was made off-grid, with systems for solar power, rainwater harvesting, and composting toilets.
The outcome was a sustainable community living model that not only addressed Auroville’s housing shortage but also demonstrated how ecological stewardship, community collaboration, and ethical construction practices could pave the way for a better future. The SacredGroves project stands as an inspiring example of how thoughtful, inclusive design can solve complex problems while respecting both people and the planet.
By adopting these principles, we can develop better regulatory frameworks and oversight for powerful new technologies. We can focus on regenerative approaches that heal rather than harm natural systems. Designing technologies with positive rather than negative externalities becomes not just possible but imperative.
Embracing a Regenerative Future
We are approaching a tipping point in fossil energy extraction. As rich, easy-to-get resources deplete, the energy return on investment plummets. Studies indicate that we’re nearing a plateau in net energy output from liquid hydrocarbons, followed by an accelerating decline. To build and maintain infrastructure for alternative energy sources, we need more steel and concrete than ever, requiring even more fossil fuels—a paradox that underscores our predicament.
But there is hope. As Tyson Yunkaporta and Daniel Schmachtenberger suggest, by understanding the interconnectedness of our systems, we can design solutions that are not just less harmful but actively regenerative.
Consider the example of permaculture—a design philosophy that mimics natural ecosystems to create sustainable agricultural systems. On a trip to a permaculture farm in Portugal, I witnessed firsthand how integrating diverse plant species, natural water management, and soil regeneration techniques led to a self-sustaining ecosystem. The farm not only produced ample food but also restored local biodiversity and improved soil health.
A decline in human population, driven by conscious choice and improved living standards rather than catastrophe, may soften the impact of our predicament. This idea aligns with Schmachtenberger’s emphasis on shifting our value systems from quantity to quality, from growth to flourishing.
A Call to Action
Our civilization’s double bind doesn’t have to end in despair. By reimagining our relationship with technology and nature, we can illuminate a path forward. Heliogenesis is more than a mission; it’s our promise to the future—a future where economic growth is balanced with ecological integrity, where technology and nature coexist harmoniously, and where each generation inherits a world better than the one before.
I recall a conversation with an elder during a visit to an indigenous community in Australia. She spoke of the sun not just as a source of light but as a symbol of endless possibilities and renewal. “The sun gives without taking,” she said. “It teaches us to be generous, to think beyond ourselves.”
This wisdom resonates deeply with our vision for a heliogenic civilization. By embracing the sun’s energy, we can break free from the extractive practices that have led us into this predicament. We can build technologies and systems that are in harmony with the natural world, fostering abundance without exploitation.
We invite you to join us in creating this future. Together, we can:
• Advance technologies that are regenerative by design.
• Foster communities built on collaboration and mutual support.
• Cultivate a culture that values well-being over mere consumption.
• Educate and inspire future generations to carry this vision forward.
This is not just about escaping our predicament; it’s about embracing a new cosmology, one that recognizes the interconnectedness of all things and the profound impact of our choices.
Our journey towards a heliogenic civilization is a collective endeavor. It requires each of us to reflect deeply on our values, our actions, and our aspirations. It challenges us to move beyond the limitations of our current systems and to imagine a world where progress is measured not by what we extract but by what we nurture.
As Tyson Yunkaporta writes in Sand Talk, “We have to remember how to learn from the patterns in the land, to see ourselves as part of the pattern, not the pinnacle of it.” This shift in perspective is both a profound challenge and an extraordinary opportunity.
Until next time,
Malte
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