The concept of cultural repair is not a clearly defined theory or activity – and that’s probably how it should be.
So it’s a bit silly to come up with the Five Steps of Cultural Repair, of which this video is Step 1.
But I frame it like this because it helps me think about foundational concepts, which I do think are important, as long as we also remember they are ongoing processes, not static theoretical positions.
I also frame it like this because brains, mine at least but probably not only, struggle with the vast complexity of cultural repair work and I sometimes need relief from complexity, and nothing creates relief like Five Steps to Something Something.
I do think cultural repair work requires us to expand our capacity for complexity, unknowing, and the discomfort of both – but just like building physical muscles, rest time is essential for growth.
Your thoughts?
What’s your analysis of the wounds in the culture you work to heal/ repair/ regenerate? Share it in the comments, I’d love to learn more.
I love your boldness Liz! Thank you for packaging things up into steps – it tickles my brain in the best way! I think the current wound I am dancing with is something you touched on – that humans consider themselves to be different from/better than plants, animals, landscapes, etc… I’m finding a lot of healing in taking an animist lens where everything can be considered a person with a different, non-human body, and each with skills and capacities different to and often greater than my own. My latest epiphany is that I can co-regulate with these people… I can ask them for help when I’m feeling like shit, I don’t have to be in any sort of shape or mood to relate to them. They’ll have me however I am. It’s really beautiful.
Thanks for the reminder, Laura, and I agree – it’s so wonderful that all the people we’re in relationship with are there for us. I forget to ask those non-humans for help when I need them.
I’m with you at Step 1, Liz, and curious to follow next steps as they emerge or not.
We’ve been (us white elite) out of touch with the natural world for so long, that I’ve discovered it takes lots of practice and regular showing up to change my patterns – to deeply listen and have these sacred conversations with other people.
Yes, learning how to be in right relationship with non-human others (as opposed to exploitative relationship) is such an important capacity to regain in our western culture!
Yes, I really think animism is our natural human state – kids seem to do it naturally A LOT until its gets socialised out of them. Freud labelled it a primitive state but jokes on him now!