We in the collapse/EcoGathering community have grown accustomed to the concept and term "catabolic collapse," coined by John Michael Greer, referring to the slow, gradual breakdown of complex civilizations, rather than a cataclysmic single event. As Michelle Auerbach and Nicole put it in Feeding Each Other, "Catabolism is the first stage of metabolism. (Fun fact: catabolism is the type of metabolic activity in an organism that enables the breakdown of complex molecules to release energy. In other words, it’s the biochemical process that follows eating and digestion." So, how can an understanding of biological metabolic processes be used as a helpful metaphor for the path we are on together? With breaking down, comes the possibility of rearranging and building something new, something nourishing. In this EcoGathering, we will share and develop our approaches for breaking down our feelings of rage and frustration, and our old ways of doing things, so that we can build up something better, something sustainable, something resilient.
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