Definitions
Awareness: requires clear-sightedness and the ability to perceive and acknowledge ‘multiple understandings’ (Leeds-Hurwitz 9). As influenced by my studies in yoga philosophy and psychology, in order to quieten the mind so that awareness can be sharpened, the nervous system needs to be regulated.
Embodied Creative Practice: is a term I have coined. It is:
contemplative and requires “deep listening” (Oliveros; also see Patanjali’s yoga sutras and other contemplative wisdom traditions);
values curiosity and the process of creative expression and making;
is felt, intuitive and experiential;
imbues a sense of flow and interconnection; and
is a portal to new ways of knowing.
Intercultural Practice: Killick defines interculturalism as an “attitude towards others that is fundamentally inclusive” (15). Intercultural practice requires more than cultivating an inclusive attitude. As a practice, it involves ongoing action. What that action is depends on the circumstance, however it always involves the subtle action of listening: “listening to more than one reality simultaneously” (Oliveros 30). This cultivates awareness and acceptance that people, cultures and generations hold multiple values and beliefs.
Practice requires discipline, curiosity and open-mindedness. Intercultural practice is more a case of “practice makes process”*, rather that practice making a perfect outcome. Intercultural practice also facilitates de-centring of humans and the expansion of perspective to try to understand and value other-than-human.
UNESCO has developed a framework of Intercultural Competences. I assert that having the skills to self-regulate, and to sit with discomfort (one’s own and others), is fundamental to intercultural practice and achieving intercultural competence. Without self-regulation it is impossible to listen to and “...discuss such difficult and critical topics as values, beliefs and attitudes among members of multiple cultural groups in a way that does not lead to conflict” (Leeds-Hurwitz 16).
*Nguyen Phuong Anh, MA Intercultural Practices class of 2024
Nervous System Regulation: On a simplistic level, the nervous system is regulated when the sympathetic and the parasympathetic systems are working harmoniously (eg see Sullivan et al). Either of these systems may be necessarily more mobilized than the other at various times in ways that are appropriate – for example when exercising or in response to surprise or actual danger. However, if we feel under constant threat, whether real or perceived, we can become dysregulated and experience states of fight, flight, freeze or fawn that may not be beneficial.
To be self-regulated, an individual needs to develop awareness of the self and employ strategies to bring the system back into equilibrium when it becomes dysregulated.
Co-regulation occurs when two or more individuals feel emotionally and physiologically safe with one another. A regulated body (and consequently a regulated mind) can affect a dysregulated body and mind, and bring about co-regulation between them. The idea of co-regulation is usually applied in the context of humans, but it applies equally to other mammals, and it is possible to expand the definition to include co-regulation between humans and other life forms, such as some plants.
Land: My practice is largely anchored to a specific site in rural Ontario, Canada, located on traditional lands and treaty territory of the Saugeen Ojibway Nation. My family and I view our role as carers and environmental stewards of this land that provides so much to us as we live, work and play here. When we came to this land, it was eroding due to previous farming practices. Over time we aim to regenerate the site based on permaculture principles and share it as a place of contemplation and learning for individual and collective practice research.
Other: I take an expanded view of the term ‘other’ to include not only other humans, but the ‘other-than-human’ that we share the earth with. I have moved away from using the term “non-human” as it inadvertently centres humans.