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I spent half my childhood outside of the USA as a bilingual/bi-cultural Puerto-Rican-German American. In my adult life, I have wandered through multiple careers (music, business, theology, classroom teaching) landing in academia for about 30 years. So, I tend to perceive issues from multiple perspectives and I try to get to the root of problems.
This blog is going to examine aspects of the trauma-inducing pathway that humanity has taken up in the last 10,000 years or so and contrast it with the wellness-promoting pathway of our deep ancestors. The wellness-promoting pathway has the backing of experimental and observational sciences.
The approach will be both interdisciplinary, taking insights from anthropology, ethology, evolutionary systems, neurobiological, developmental, clinical, educational, therapeutic, and Indigenous sciences. But it is also transdisciplinary, drawing out evidence-based and practice-based insights that emerge from converging evidence across sciences and wisdom traditions.
The aim of The Nested Pathway is not only to inform about sources and causes but to offer suggestions for healing practices that readers can take up to “re-nest” themselves, their families and communities.
The Evolved Nest is a set of common characteristics documented around the world by ethnographers in the type of society in which humanity spent 99% of its existence over millions of years. The evolved nest is especially importance in shaping a healthy fetus, baby and child, but it also maintains health and prosociality in adults. My lab has identified and studied nine components of the evolved nest: soothing perinatal experiences, breastfeeding for several years, welcoming social climate, affectionate touch (and no negative touch), responsive care, multiple nurturers, self-directed play, nature immersion and connection, and regular healing practices. Only the first two relate to babyhood alone. The rest are for the rest of us too.
A brief account of humanity’s options is delineated in our Breaking the Cycle film (6 minutes). A brief account of humanity’s promise is delineated in my Reimagining Humanity film (12 minutes). These accounts will be unpacked in the blog. Also, check out EvolvedNest.org for many more resources.
NOTE: All funds from paid subscriptions are donated to EvolvedNest.org.
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