Learning Pathways
“The goal of permaculture is to create harmony with ourselves, each other and the planet.”
Looby Macnamara, People and Permaculture
We could also say that the goal of Cultural Emergence is to create harmony with ourselves, each other and the planet.
Permaculture and Cultural Emergence are 2 overlapping and complementary toolkits with different foci and pathways. Both help us to understand nature and ourselves as part of the bigger tapestry of life, able to contribute positive solutions.
Cultural Emergence is a further evolution and emergence of Looby’s work with People Permaculture (personal, social and global permaculture).
Experiential feel of the courses
All of our courses are dynamic, which a rich mix of interactive and participatory activities. Some of our teaching methods include outdoor observations, slide shows, group work, games, practical activities, walks, individual reflection time. We aim to connect the skills with people’s live and situations so that people come away with tools that they can immediately put into action in their own lives for positive change, whether that is in their gardens or for their own personal well-being.
Who comes on our courses?
There might be a misconception that permaculture and ‘green’ ways of living are for ‘hippies’. In fact there is such a wide range of people who are looking for solutions and ways to enhance their own lives and look after the land that there isn’t a particular type of person on our courses. We have had fire fighters, teachers, doctors, builders, gardeners, farmers, chefs, community organisers and people from all walks of life. We also have all ages on our courses from youth to elders we welcome everyone and their life experience. We also welcome a diversity of cultural backgrounds.
Permaculture Pathways
The Introduction to Permaculture is over a weekend or equivalent, and begins the permaculture journey for many. During the course we give an overview and introduction to the ethics, principles and design. While this is just an introduction to the wealth of knowledge of permaculture, it can still be very impactful on our thinking and how we perceive the world and our choices.
The next step is the classic Full Permaculture Design course. First introduced by Bill Mollison in the 1970s, it is still taught globally, although it has significantly evolved. It is over 90 hours which can be in different formats, such as a 2 week residential, over 6 weekends or online. During the course you will learn a variety of Earthcare and Peoplecare strategies and complete a group or individual design project.
Cultural Emergence pathways
There are 3 modules to learn the Cultural Emergence toolkit. There are 3 phases of Cultural Emergence and each of the modules specifically dives deeper into one of these phases.
ACE - Activating Cultural Emergence course
CEED - Cultural Emergence Effective Design course
PEACE - Peace, Empowerment And Cultural Emergence course
ACE - Activating Cultural Emergence -
Awaken to possibilites
This module intends to ignite, awaken and inspire change in us. enables us to think differently, to ignite our curiosity and inspire change.During the course we deepen our awareness of Culture and explore and challenge our existing paradigms and cultural conditioning. We open up to a systems view of the world, bringing forth a sense of magic and hope. We connect to a bigger vision of possibility for ourselves and humanity.
It is a good starting point to become familiar with the overall concepts. This module focuses on the Challenge and Awaken phase.
Upcoming ACE courses
The Activating Cultural Emergence course is over a weekend and is also offered online.
Click here to see the latest courses
Recommended Reading
Cultural Emergence - by Looby Macnamara
7 Ways to think Differently by Looby Macnamara
Fertile Edges by Maddy Harland
CEED - Cultural Emergence Effective Design -
Manifest your ideal scene
This module is about manifestation and growing in effectiveness. We explore the ecology of our personal cultures and look at our inner landscape and the social landscapes we are a part of and how we can interact with these to create solutions and support growth.
Creating a design for ourselves is the backbone of this course. Using the Design Web (created by Looby) as a framework we move with intention and clarity to create flexible, motivating designs for an aspect of our lives. The design you create becomes a 'CEED' that you can grow and cultivate beyond the course.
This module focuses on the Move and Invigorate phase.
Upcoming CEED courses
Click here to see when the next course is
Recommended Reading
Cultural Emergence - by Looby Macnamara
CEED Deck Cultural Emergence Empowerment Design Deck
People and Permaculture by Looby Macnamara
PEACE - Peace, Empowerment And Cultural Emergence -
Connect to self, people and land
The PEACE course provides an opportunity for deep connection with ourselves, each other and the more than human world. We come into an embodied sense of peace and empowerment that enable us to continue developing a culture of peace around and within us when we return home.
We focus on empowering ways to connect, collaborate and co-create. We explore ways in which we can nourish and empower ourselves. Through experiential activities we come to a sense of our own personal peace, from which we can bring peace making into our lives as a regular practice. We look at ways in which we can empower ourselves, and the groups we are a part of, for each person to bring forth their own gifts and talents.
This module focuses on the Nourish and Empower phase.
Upcoming PEACE courses
Recommended Reading
Cultural Emergence - by Looby Macnamara
CEED Deck Cultural Emergence Empowerment Design Deck
Coyote's Guide to Nature Connection by Jon Young, et al
The Empowerment Manual by Starhawk
Strands of Infinity by Looby Macnamara
When you have completed all 3 modules then you can apply to further your learning with advanced courses in Facilitation Training and Leadership Training. (details to be announced for 2020).