Many challenges we face today, whether personal, relational or organisational, are complex and entangled with histories, shaped by unseen forces, and held within systems that we may not fully comprehend. Often, thinking our way through these situations is insufficient. Systemic constellations provide a practical and profound way to explore these...

Leading Change and Innovation: Why Inner Conditions Matter What if leading change and innovation nurtured the inner conditions that regenerate people, communities and systems over time? Nature shows us that renewal happens when the conditions are ripe. In the Australian landscape where I live, many native plants release seeds only...

Growing Resilience in Changing Times We are living in a time of immense transition. Around us, the world is reshaping, through socio-political upheavals, accelerating technological developments and the intensifying effects of climate change. These shifts are not isolated; they are deeply interconnected, calling us to adapt, respond, and reimagine how...

Adaptive Stress Responses Why your reactions make sense and how to meet them with care We often hear the phrase “fight or flight,” but our nervous systems have a range of protective strategies that go beyond that. These are known as adaptive stress responses, and they’re built into our biology....

How can we reimagine thriving futures in a world grappling with complexity, disconnection, and uncertainty? We loved this recent article Emerging Futures in Stanford Social Innovation Review exploring the idea that addressing today’s interconnected crises requires not just external fixes but a deeper, more intentional approach to imagining new possibilities. It...

Reflections from the Hammock The Power of Slowing Down As another busy year drew to a close, I intentionally under-planned the holiday season to allow myself to truly rest. (As I do each year, I also carved out time to step away from communications, social media, and the internet—a gift...

Burnout is a growing problem Burnout has become a widespread challenge in today’s fast-paced and demanding world. You are probably aware of the negative impact the COVID pandemic had on mental health and people’s resilience. You may not be aware that post-pandemic, burnout is on the rise across all demographics, with...

The Emotional Cost of Change-Making Navigating the weight of systemic challenges Burnout is more than an individual issue for those working to create a better world, it has become an occupational hazard. Activists, sustainability professionals, and social entrepreneurs carry the weight of addressing entrenched systemic issues, striving for progress amidst...

Befriending Your Nervous System Understanding Burnout and Building Resilience Burnout is more than just feeling tired or overworked—it’s an embodied response to prolonged stress, signaling that something is out of alignment. It reflects a disconnection from our needs and the environments that sustain us physically, emotionally, and energetically. Many of...

What are Nature Constellations? Nature constellations (embodied mapping in nature) allow us to explore and sense the intricate relationships and interdependencies among various parts of an ecosystem through embodied group processes.  Through the process, together we create a living map of a system so we can see our systems and situations...

Listening to Nature Wisdom Lessons on Being from the Garden   ‘Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished’ Lao Tzu   A tweak in my back forced me to slow down and pay attention. Often, we push ourselves, working against the natural rhythms of our bodies and the nature...

On March 1st, 2024, 20 designers, researchers and educators gathered online for a Designer’s Listening Circle hosted by Social Design Sydney and School of Being. The Circle was hosted by Viv Sung (Australia), Jax Wechsler (Australia) and Alissa Fleet (USA). We are 3 designers who share a common interest in...