We live in a time when the same concepts are appearing in various places. These concepts are our 'Zeitgeist'- a way of thinking that describes a generation or time period. Our Zeitgeist is a new awareness that we participate in a world of exquisite interconnectedness. We are learning to see systems rather than isolated parts and players. The web of interconnections that weave the world together can easily be seen. We are more aware that we live in relationship connected to everything else.
Everywhere in the new sciences, in living systems theory, quantum physics and complexity theory, we observe life's dependency on participation. All life participates in the creation of itself, insisting on the freedom to self-determine (Wheatley, 2007).All life participates actively with its environment in the process of co-adaptation and co-evolution. No sub-atomic particle exists independent of its participation with other particles. Even reality is evoked through acts of participation between us and what we choose to notice.
We see the world through who we are and use the 'self' to filter information and co-create new worlds. Yet, it is also important to note that in all life, the self is not a selfish individual. It includes awareness of those others it must relate to as part of the system. Self-reference explains how life creates order without control and stable identities that are open to change (Wheatley, 2008). As we abondon the machine imagery of the past, self-reference calls to us as the richest teacher for how to be together in ways that support life.
