MAGICommons

Matter is Alive: A New Mythos for Regenerative Vitality 🌍

Recently exploring an interesting paper by Rachel Armstrong, "Monstrous Matter: The Microbial Foundations for a Living Planet," and it offers a radical shift in how we think about the "stuff" our world is made of.

At its heart, the paper introduces the concept of "Monstrous Matter"—the unruly, creative, and lively force of nature that refuses to be treated as a passive, inert resource for us to exploit.

Instead of viewing Earth as a stable rock, Armstrong invites us to see it as Gaia: a continuous, dynamic negotiation between living and non-living forces.

The goal isn't just "sustainability" or doing less harm; it is about regenerative vitality—adopting a "material ethics of care" that prioritizes the renewal of life and aligns human development with nature’s own creative power.

magicommons.org/lit-review-collection/a-living-pla…

#RegenerativeDesign #Sustainability #Microbiology #Gaia #CircularEconomy #Innovation #LivingArchitecture #MaterialAgency

11 hours ago | [YT] | 0

MAGICommons

Been reading another interesting research on vitality. 

Do you sometimes wrestle with a baffling sense of 'scarcity' or ‘extraction’ of our current collective economical and social environments?

This is where vitality goes beyond individual or collective wellness into system justice and regeneration.

This research introduces the Vitality Triangle (Liberty, Reciprocity, and Integrity) as a simple yet powerful tool to guide our intention to shift from fear to abundance.

magicommons.org/lit-review-collection/vitality-tri…

#VitalityTriangle, #RegenerativeEconomics, #EcosystemAwareness, #SystemsChange, #ScarcityConsciousness, #DecolonialMindfulness, #DenverWestAreaPlan

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 3

MAGICommons

Just had a quick thought today.

What if soldiers who are sent into the battlefield, all of a sudden, start to dance with each other, honoring each other’s fathers, mothers, spouses, siblings, grandfathers, grandmothers…the lineage and beyond ?

#Comtemplation #DanceAsActivism #Peace #DanceBridgeDivide

Image from Gemini based on the contemplative prompt

2 weeks ago | [YT] | 2

MAGICommons

One pathway to our collective flourishing (human as part of the ecosystem) might be in the soil…

Reading a research on the Integrated Soil Well-being Framework that is very healing and integrative.

This research by Claire Friedrichsen, PhD and team proposes that as we study soil, there is an emerging shift to go beyond simple economic and environmental context into social and system science.

Through reading and pondering, i am connecting regenerative vitality with our collective capacity to value emotional connection with soil (soil connectivity), perceive soil’s expansive role across multiple layers of the ecosystem (soil capacity), while weaving in multiple cultural knowledge and truth-finding methods.

When the soil flourishes, we do too.

magicommons.org/lit-review-collection/how-soil-rel…


#SoilHealth #CollectiveWellbeing #Wellbeing #RegenerativeVitality #SoilConnectivity #SoilCapacity #SustainableLiving #NatureConnection #SoilScience #GlobalHealth

3 weeks ago | [YT] | 2

MAGICommons

Privilege or Grace ?

Whenever i hear this word “privilege”my heart tightens abit.

According to major dictionaries,

on a legal perspective, it implies an exclusive relationship between parties for protection or to secure unique rights,

on a social perspective, this word implies a division between “have” and “have not” due to historical systemic disharmonies across cultures.

When we say this word, subconsciously we may feel a sense of pride that pleases the ego;

we may just try to express a sense of deep gratitude for all that has been given.

How can we say it in a way that aligns deeper with the genuine intent?

We are all infinite beings living a temporary space-time experience.

How can we reimagine this word?

Maybe “Grace?”

Maybe “Resonance?”

Maybe … ?

#Privilege, #InfiniteBeing, #Reflection, #SocialHarmony, #Grace, #Worldview, #ReImagine

1 month ago | [YT] | 4

MAGICommons

The felt kinship

Recently i had an opportunity to re-visit Mystic Aquarium in Stonington, Connecticut.

It felt so good to say hi and vibe with all the animal souls there, the white beluga whales, the penguins, the seals (they really love to chill on a flat surface); the tiger sharks, the star fish, the sea turtles (one was in a bad mood, because s/he got hit by a boat and caused permanent damage and has been going through physical therapies), and the black diamond turtles (one was taking a very good nap)...

And unexpectedly, i was deeply touched by a specific moment.

It was during the California Sea Lion show (Those sea lions were rescues from California waters. And i assume there were no other kinder options for them, the sea lions chose to perform there, and the training methods were mutually respectful and kind.)

In the past, i would sit politely and give the performance a big applause at the end to acknowledge the hard work invested behind the scenes.

That moment felt different this time.

The show was about saving the ocean. The sea lions played the heroes who take on community calls to clean up trash in the oceans.

As i started to tune into the narrative, both the music and dialogue started to fade, all i can witness was the synchronized body movement between the trainer and the sea lions, the care and love expressed through a simple eye contact and frictionless interactions...and lot of treats ;P

Thank you....i thought.

And all of a sudden, a restless warmth rose from the heart and sending heat waves all over my whole body.

Thank you, rescuers for saving those marvelous sea lions; thank you trainers for investing so much resources, time, energy, care, and love, and thank you sea lions for choosing to stay and collaborate with humans to provide a moment of rest and inspiration.

Tears started to dance around in the eyes...

Being able to resonate with such interactions between two radically different species was a magical moment.

After all, we are all babies of this magical earth in a mysterious universe.

How ordinary and how extra-ordinary.

Curious, beside the loving interactions between you and animals who chose to be called your "pet(s)," have you witnessed or experienced an inter-species interactions recently? how did it feel?

hashtag#InterSpeciesInteraction, hashtag#Love, hashtag#MysticAquarium, hashtag#LoveForAnimals, hashtag#LoveForEarth, hashtag#LoveForUniverse, hashtag#OrdinaryAsExtraordinary, hashtag#DailyMagic

Image credit: Corpse Reviver, CC BY-SA 3.0 <lnkd.in/dWqR6KgQ>, via Wikimedia Commons

1 month ago | [YT] | 6

MAGICommons

Ever wonder why we feel totally drained in one setting and suddenly "alive" in another immersed in something we actually care about?

Back in 1997, Ryan and Frederick started looking into this “aliveness” and gave this feeling a name “subjective vitality” and also developed a simple scale called Subjective Vitality Scale (SVS).

Embodying vitality is more than just having a high-calorie snack or getting enough sleep; it's that inner spark of enthusiasm and spirit that makes us feel fully alive.

The study found that we feel most vital when we are the "origin" of our own actions and when we feel in control and free to be ourselves, embodying a deep sense of sovereignty.

Whether we are caring for health or just trying to have a "good day," this paper shows that our vitality is a powerful reflection of your physical and mental harmony.

Summary & Full Article here: magicommons.org/lit-review-collection/pulse-check-…

#PsychologicalAliveness, #SubjectiveVitalityScale, #OrganismicWellBeing, #SomaticHealth, #PerceivedLocusOfCausality, #IntrinsicMotivation

1 month ago | [YT] | 5

MAGICommons

Ever feel like 'energy' is more than just a physical state?

A comprehensive scoping review of 93 studies initiated a unified scientific definition or description of vitality:

"Vitality represents a positive subjective concept composed of physiological and psychological energy, which level may vary in accordance with certain influences and can be regulated and harnessed by a person possessing it" (p.12).

At root level, vitality is linked to historical domains like vitalism and Eastern traditions (such as Chi, Prana, or Ki) that view it as a fundamental life force or energy that can be enriched or exhausted.

It is described as a renewable, subjective resource that we can actively regulate to boost our individual and collective beingness, doingness, and well-being.

(I would intentionally replace the word “performance” with “beingness or doingness” in any writing about vitality, because this word gives us an easy excuse to put on a mask, ignore or forget quiet inner voices, or value conformity over authenticity. When everyone is deeply aware of our inner vitality paired with deep alignment, great “performance,” whether individually or collectively, will simply become a by-product.)

Here is a brief summary of this research: magicommons.org/lit-review-collection/what-is-vita…

#Vitality, #GenerativeVitality, #SubjectiveVitality, #WellBeing, #MentalHealth, #SomaticHealth, #SelfDeterminationTheory, #HumanVitality, #HumanResource, #Resilience, #Mindfulness, #ReImagine

1 month ago | [YT] | 3

MAGICommons

Had a beautiful initial conversation with Jaqueline Sussman last week on the power of an image.

This initial conversation explores the concept of eidetic imaging and how it can help connect our mind and our body to restore inner harmony and retrieve inner power within every one of us.

Stay tuned for the official podcast into the future.

#EideticImaging, #innerRestoration, #InnerPower, #DivineFeminine, #EnergeticHarmony, #FutureOfHealing, #InnerHarmony

Image: Varunnkl, CC BY-SA 4.0 <creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

1 month ago | [YT] | 4

MAGICommons

Been diving deep into current research on vitality, this paper on Self-Determination Theory (SDT) has been cited super frequently.

The core idea with SDT is that as humans, we all desire to be capable (competence), to have a sense of choice (autonomy), and to feel truly connected to others (relatedness).

When these needs are met, we don't just "perform" better; we experience a heightened sense of vitality and genuine well-being together.

( I would also open space for an intuitive knowing that beyond those surface elements, there are also deeper needs…on the spiritual level…on the inner knowing level…on a divine soul blueprint level…on the inner seed level … i can't quite use words to describe it, but i sense it…)

Full article and summary here: lnkd.in/eVReh8aT

Is your current environment feeding or extinguishing those invaluable human sparks?

Beyond the three levels of needs, do you sense some deeper needs as well?

#SelfDeterminationTheory, #GenerativeVitality, #IntrinsicMotivation, #PsychologicalWell-being, #Autonomy, #Competence, #OptimalHumanFunctioning

1 month ago | [YT] | 3