Meta Crisis

The collective term for the complex, interconnected challenges facing humanity and the planet, including social injustice, environmental degradation, political and economic instability, and more. The Meta Crisis requires a comprehensive and systemic response to address these issues effectively.

For a detailed description, see Beyond The Meta Crisis - A Blueprint for a Better Future.


What if... each of the individual and local crises we were facing, were flowing from the mouth of one overarching and uniting Meta Crisis?

What if... the individual and local crises we are all facing are not the deepest issues, but symptoms of a deeper root cause, what is the deepest root cause?

The Meta Crisis is the comprehensive, interconnected set of challenges that humanity and the living system are facing. These challenges include:

  • Environmental issues such as climate change, biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse, and resource depletion. These challenges threaten the health and stability of the planet and have far-reaching impacts on social, economic, and political systems.
  • Social issues such as injustice, oppression, discrimination, and inequality. These challenges result in suffering and injustice for large numbers of people, and can also have negative impacts on economic and political systems.
  • Economic issues such as inequality, instability, supply chains, demand chains, economic slavery, waste, and unsustainable practices. These challenges are resulting in social, political, and environmental injustices and unrest.
  • Political and governmental issues such as instability, corruption, division, deceit, dysfunction and lack of transparency. These challenges can undermine the ability of governments to effectively address other crises and can also contribute to social, economic, religious, and environmental inequality and instability.
  • Spiritual and cultural crises such as a lack of meaning and purpose, loss of a sense of hope and agency, and the erosion of traditional religious and cultural practices and values. These challenges can have negative impacts on social cohesion, vision, and values, and thus dramatically exacerbate the crises.
  • The Advance of The Giants

The Meta Crisis is not a single, isolated crisis, but rather a complex, interconnected web of challenges that are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. Addressing one challenge may have unintended consequences on another, or may be insufficient to address the root causes of a given problem, or the Total Nested Hierarchy of Issues.

The Meta Crisis demands a Meta Solution. To overcome the Meta Crisis, it is necessary to adopt a systems thinking approach that takes into account the interconnected nature of these challenges and seeks to address them in a comprehensive, holistic way, with each pillar and element of society playing their unique role.

This involves developing a deep understanding of the complex dynamics that give rise to the Meta Crisis and identifying the Root Causes and systemic drivers that perpetuate it. A successful response to the Meta Crisis requires:

  1. Collaboration: Bringing together diverse stakeholders from various sectors, including government, business, civil society, academia, and faith communities, to foster dialogue, cooperation, and coordinated action.

  2. Systems Thinking: Recognizing the interconnected nature of the various crises and applying a holistic, integrative approach to problem-solving that addresses the root causes and systemic drivers, rather than merely treating the Symptoms.

  3. Innovation: Developing and implementing new solutions, technologies, and practices that can help address the various dimensions of the Meta Crisis in a sustainable, just, and effective manner.

  4. Education and awareness: Raising public awareness and understanding of the Meta Crisis and its various dimensions, as well as promoting the development of the skills, knowledge, vision, and values necessary for individuals to contribute effectively to addressing these challenges.

  5. Adaptation and resilience: Enhancing the ability of individuals, communities, and societies to adapt to the changing conditions brought about by the Meta Crisis and to build resilience against future shocks and stresses.

  6. Vision and values: Cultivating a shared vision of a more loving, just, and regenerative world, and embracing values that support the well-being of all beings, the planet, and future generations.

  7. Empowerment and agency: Encouraging and supporting individuals and communities to take responsibility for their own well-being and to actively participate in the process of addressing the Meta Crisis through personal and collective action.

By adopting a comprehensive, systemic, and collaborative approach to addressing the Meta Crisis, humanity has the potential to overcome these interconnected challenges and create a more loving, just, and regenerative world for all. This will require a collective commitment to envisioning and working towards a future that is guided by shared values, wisdom, and a deep understanding of our interconnectedness within the Living System.


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