A Transformational Journey in Five Acts

An overview of how the H3Uni Five Core Methods link together as one transformative journey.

A coherent system of generative methods will help to create complex transformations that human society faces in many critical fields of ecology, society, politics and economics. This is true for local as well as large scale projects in the Anthropocene and its accompanying climate emergency.

Most of our current collaborative methods are based on analysis, specialisation and dislocation. Whereas synthesis, transdisciplinarity and creative imagination are vital necessities as well - to be fully integrated with the best expertise and data.

Decades of research and field practice before the founding of H3Uni have been distilled down to a system of five core methods based on what we call generative methodology. A key to human processes of transformation, regeneration and integration, able to scale from the personal through the local to the global.

Benign re-integration of humanity with the planet makes demands on every aspect and quality of the whole human being – in all its mental, emotional and physical diversity.

Otherwise, well-meant initiatives fall easily into disconnection, alienation, and generation of unintended consequences. New approaches that link the inner being and the outer being through cultivating creative integrity are needed.

In the diagram, the human world and the planetary world are seen as strongly overlapping. This is a living ecosystem. Both need understanding.

To understand the planetary world, we have developed a World Mandala that facilitates paying holistic and comprehensive attention to the whole system in which we live as a component.

To understand how we can act in concert with the values of giving rather than taking, regeneration rather than exploiting, we have developed the Wheel of Wisdom from traditional practice. The Wheel engages vital perspectives that cohere to a higher level of integrity.

The Transformation Journey moves through three main stages (working from right to left on the diagram).

Firstly, in Acts 1 & 2, we need to be able to grasp the complexity we are faced with. This must be for multiple stakeholders and transdisciplinary, beyond specialisation.

Secondly, in Act 3, we need both to anticipate the future from understanding where we are and what the dysfunctional momentum is and to envision a future in which the situation transforms for the better through collaborative creativity.

Thirdly, in Acts 4 & 5 we need a way of continuously navigating the tensions and uncertainties of the interaction between the future vision and the inevitable push-back from the dysfunctional worlds we are seeking to transform and integrate.

These methods provide a set of tools and resources which have an organic effect on our capacities for wise action, much like planting seeds of different species that then can grow and develop while living and acting in the world.

In summary,

Act 1 - The World Mandala – forms an actionable holistic worldview with your group, for contextual understanding within a structured planetary design.

Act 2 - Mapping Complexity – Visual Facilitation with hexagon clustering enables active participation to map visions, understand relations and create connections.

Act 3 - Three Horizons – engage others in reconceiving your future and enriching dynamic collective purposes.

Act 4 - Dilemma Navigation – explore, reconcile and transcend polarities to gain meaningful progress where you’ve been at loggerheads.

Act 5 - The Wheel of Wisdom – open yourself to fresh insights and perspectives, and integrate them with others, leading to wise, authentic, decisive collaborative enterprise.