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The Meditation Journey and Regenerative Leadership

The day began with chia porridge served on ceramic plates, sparking a sense of curiosity. Participants then practiced deep breathing exercises before being guided through a meditation session led by Thea Lyng Thomsen, the director of Bæredygtig Herning. This meditation was designed to provide a bodily experience of regenerative leadership. The meditation was created with inspiration from GAIA Meditation by Laura Storm, influenced by Andy McGeeney, as well as the English version in the book Regenerative Leadership by Giles Hutchins & Laura Storm.

The Meditation

For the next few moments, we will take a journey back in time. A journey to the beginning of life.

To operate with the intelligence of life itself, we must understand its humble origins.

4.6 billion years ago, there was a massive explosion, and only much later, around 3.8 billion years ago, did life begin to stir at the bottom of the ocean that once covered most of our planet.

The number 3.8 billion years is difficult for our human minds to grasp, so for this journey, we will refer to Earth as a 46-year-old lady named Gaia. We will now use Gaia’s life—cosmically also our own life—as a guide to trace the history of life itself.

Very early in Gaia’s life, deep beneath the sea in volcanic fissures, the first molecules formed, and over time, they shaped into the first cells with traces of DNA. All animals and plant species—even us humans—can trace our origins back to the first cell that formed beneath the ocean's surface. This means that all life on Earth is, in essence, family.

Below the ocean’s surface, these cells began to form in thousands of different shapes and species: corals, jellyfish, worms, and eventually, after a long time, fish with vertebrae. In our human bodies today, we still have spines, hearts, stomachs, and a nervous system that trace their origin back to these first fish.

Can you recall the sensation of being a fish, swimming through the water with the flexibility of your spine?

We come from the ocean, and today, salty water still flows in our tears and sweat. As embryos in our mothers’ wombs, we resemble tiny fish with gills and tails. Our bodies are made up of 70% water—just like Gaia.

Gaia waited until she was 42 years old before creating life on land. Slowly, plants began to root and transform rocks and volcanoes into soil. Then came the insects, and for a long time, life on land was made up of numerous plant species, underwater creatures, and insects.

About two years ago, evolution led to the dinosaurs.

Life continued to develop through experiments, partnerships, and relationships. The animal species that did not play a significant role in the interconnected whole only lived briefly. The species that could not create the conditions necessary for future generations to thrive simply faded away, leaving only a small mark on the artwork of Gaia’s many species. Their lives didn’t continue.

Our species, Homo sapiens, emerged only two days ago. We started living in groups of up to 250 people, roaming in close connection with nature, seeing ourselves as part of it. We felt the changing of the seasons, knew all the plants—the poisonous ones, those that provide food, and those that provide medicine. We were creative and resourceful. We discovered the power of fire. We passed on knowledge to the next generation through stories shared around the magical crackle of the campfire. As hunters and gatherers, we lived life with our families—together, we found food and herbs, built shelters, tanned hides, and cooked meals.

As a species, we Homo sapiens have spent 99% of our time on this planet deeply connected to our natural habitat. There was no separation between it and us; it was a natural extension of our existence.

Our nervous systems, our brains, our senses, and our evolutionary memory developed in nature.

An hour ago, we began settling in one place and cultivating the Earth. We introduced ownership—ownership of the planet’s surface, the land.

Two seconds ago, we began to separate from nature. Dividing into “us” and “them.”

Today, most of us live in cities, far from our natural habitat, in small apartments removed from the Earth’s surface. In the past 60 seconds, we have built enormous cities, nation-states, governments, systems, schools, factories—machines, cars, airplanes, mobile phones, robots, and the internet.

We no longer see nature as an interconnected whole we are part of, but as a resource to optimize and exploit.

Our species reproduces rapidly, but our behavior is incompatible with the flourishing of life.

For many of us, there is a strong sense that we can no longer continue living in ways that are so out of sync with the thriving of life. The feeling that we can no longer live lives that are so incompatible with the flourishing of life.

If we don’t want to become just another fleeting species in history, we must relearn how to live in harmony with nature’s logic and principles. We must take a collective quantum leap in our evolutionary development and change our course. We must use the unique intelligence we as a species are equipped with as our superpower and begin redesigning societies, cities, and organizations in ways that allow us to operate together in accordance with nature’s principles. Otherwise, we must accept that we will not be part of the future species on this planet.

Now, imagine meeting all your ancestors and descendants. You are all elderly individuals, around 90, sitting around a common fire. You share stories in the circle, and when it’s your turn, you tell them what you achieved in your life. What was your role? What legacy did you ensure was passed on? What connection did you create to your own nature and the nature around you?

(Closing Reflection)

The Presentation

Together with Lederne MidtVest, we have created a series of events focused on leadership. In August, we put the spotlight on regenerative leadership, as we see a growing curiosity among our members about how this leadership style unfolds.

Tina Gliese, founder and partner of the Center for Regenerative Leadership, was the keynote speaker and addressed regenerative self-leadership; both in the organization and in the broader world. There was a particular focus on inner sustainability and self-leadership, which opens the way for leading others based on these same principles—with an understanding of nature and everything that surrounds us.

Workshop

As part of the day, a workshop was facilitated with a focus on the four seasons. All participants were guided to experience the qualities of the seasons in their own bodies. Using scents, sounds, and light, they were taken through a journey with a focus on how these qualities are experienced and can be transferred to both inner and outer leadership.

The scents served as aromatherapy in the form of essential oils.

Aromatherapy has roots dating back centuries. It has been known for a long time that we can receive support and healing from nature. Essential oils are the essence of plants, herbs, fruits, trees, or flowers.

The oil’s aroma stimulates the olfactory receptors in the nose, which, through our nervous system, sends a message to the limbic system, which is the part of the brain that governs our emotions. Therefore, we can influence the psyche with essential oils and use them to help the body and mind relax, transform difficult emotions, or support our intention.

Our cells are very similar to those of plants, and since we are also nature, we speak the same language. Every flower, tree, herb, or fruit is unique and has a specific function in nature—just like us.

You can read more about the four seasons here:

Winter

The nature of winter and the qualities of winter:

Dark nights, short days, frost, animals hibernate, birds migrate south, growth stops, and plants go into dormancy. Bare trees draw nourishment down to their roots. Something must die for new life to emerge—leaves decompose and enrich the soil, so seeds can sprout in spring. Seeds need to lie in the dark to prepare for rooting in spring.

If we were to describe the qualities of winter, we might use words like: calm, rest, being, recovery, introversion, contraction, reflection, learning, restoration, sleep, and perhaps an experience of time standing still...

Oil: Cedarwood

Winter = Earth element. Trees have roots in the earth.

This oil is extracted from the tree's trunk. The Arabic word "Kedron" means strength. Cedarwood brings strength. We borrow the tree’s ability to ground and connect with our bodies. Think of how trees grow both upward and downward. Our foundation must be solid in order to grow. Nourishment is essential in this process. The tree understands that "the old" (the needles) must be let go of for the new to emerge. It is the “decay” and withdrawal that becomes the catalyst for growth—the nourishment for development.

Questions:

Spring

The nature of spring and the qualities of spring:

Light slowly returns, and the days grow longer. Seeds sprout. The warmth of the sun brings life to the surface of the earth. Wood sorrel, anemones, and other ground plants spread like a blanket across the forest floor. Trees begin to bud, and later the forest turns light green. Migratory birds return, filling the forest with their songs, the snow melts, and water trickles. The scents of spring increase. Animals wake from their hibernation, become active, mate, and give birth. Butterflies emerge from their pupae and unfold their wings.

If we were to describe the qualities of spring, we might use words like: growth, high activity, doing, new beginnings, new ideas, creativity, development, openings, curiosity, vitality, expansion, outwardness, fertility, rebirth, transformation...

Oil: Eucalyptus

Spring = Air element. Oils from leaves that swirl in the air.

Eucalyptus brings expansion. When you inhale the oil, you can feel how it opens up your airways. The more we can breathe deeply into our bellies, the more life we are able to circulate. When oxygen is filtered into the body, it becomes an energetic clearing that releases what drains us.

Questions:

Summer

The nature of summer and the qualities of summer:

The days are long, the nights are bright. Nature is overwhelmingly lush and green, with flowers in full bloom. Bees buzz, and insects swarm, filling the air with sounds. Berries and fruits ripen. The warmth increases, and the air is hot...

If we were to describe the qualities of summer, we might use words like: maturity, fertility, full expression, outwardness, being enriched, surrendering, allowing space for joy and enjoyment. Perhaps a sense of time standing still in late summer, with an experience of being—right where everything is in full bloom, and nothing more needs to grow...

Oil: Lemon

Summer = Fire element. Citrus fruits.

Citrus oils lift the mood and bring clarity and focus. They awaken and encourage a more playful approach to life—just like summer. This is when everyone becomes joyful and reconnects with their inner child, craving fun and play—the energy where everything can be created.

Questions:

Autumn

The nature of autumn and the qualities of autumn:

The colors change, nature takes on a golden hue, the forest turns yellow, orange, and brown in many shades. The falling of leaves begins, and the leaves fall to the ground, ready to decompose and nourish new life. Plants and trees drop their seeds, preparing for a new cycle. Animals gather provisions to survive the winter.

If we were to describe the qualities of autumn, we might use words like: inward doing, processing impressions and experiences, learning from experiences and evaluating, letting go (e.g., of what doesn’t work)... and slowly beginning to prepare to retreat a little (contraction) and adapt to a lower activity level.

Oil: Lavender

Autumn = Water element. Oils from flowers.

Lavender calms the nervous system. When we inhale it, we experience an immediate feeling of relaxation and safety. When we feel safe, we can open up and share, and presence, intimacy, and trust can emerge. Therefore, lavender represents safe communication. We borrow the flower’s ability to bring us back to ourselves—to feel and see the beauty in our authenticity—and when we can see that beauty, we can also meet the world with those eyes.

Questions:

"Regenerativ ledelse handler om at reparere, genopbygge og skabe balance for livet; i os selv, i vores organisationer og i de større økosystemer, som vores organisationer er en del af, herunder naturen. Vejen dertil er via en dybere forbindelse til os selv, andre og naturen."

  |  Center for Regenerativ Ledelse

You can see our other upcoming events in the menu above – both the upcoming LEADERSHIP events, as well as a seminar at Skarrildhus, where dynamic leadership will be brought to life by an exciting selection of facilitators.