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What can we learn from indigenous knowledge systems about how to navigate and transform our world?

My guest, Dr Richard Hodge, points out several aspects of Aboriginal culture that can help us act effectively and with heart and wisdom in a world full of problems.

To guide us in a complex world, we need touchstones of value.

For many indigenous peoples, that's the function of totems and totemic beings: kangaroo, echidna, wallaby, and so on.

Counterintuitively, seeing the world through a totemic perspective offers greater clarity than how we often view it, through the lens of our limited egoic state, entangled with fight-or-flight fancies that superimpose themselves over reality.

Our perception colors our interpretation of the world.

The Western mindset sees the world as a number of separate objects, ourselves among them. Which means our prime directive is always control and domination of the "other" — whether it be nature, or the weather, or animals, or other people.

Shifting to an indigenous way of seeing creates connection and opportunities for collaboration and synergies on a systems-level.

And that's the level at which transformational change at scale becomes possible.

With that foundation, Dr Hodge shares his Dragonfly Model of systemic, deep change.

If you can, watch rather than just listen, because there are diagrams and models that can help you follow the concepts and the conversation.

Enjoy our yarning, and please let us know what you think.

Links

DrRichardHodge.com

Thomas Berry, "The Meadow Across the Creek"

Stephanie Kelton, economist

Mariana Mazzucato, economist

Bertrand Russell, "In Praise of Idleness"

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