From Necrocene to Symbiotic Commonwealth: Value System Transformation

The Necrocene and Symbiotic Commonwealth as Value Poles

The Arena framework reveals two opposing meta-narratives that shape our value systems: the Necrocene and the Symbiotic Commonwealth. These aren't abstract ideals but concrete patterns that manifest in everyday life, determining whether our systems extract from or regenerate life.

The Necrocene represents a death-driven logic of extraction, dissociation, and control. Its core mechanisms include Power Hoarding (concentration of decision-making, resources, knowledge, and meaning toward a center), Extractive Temporality (sacrificing the future for present gain; historical amnesia), and Structural Violence (systems that harm certain bodies while benefiting others). When these mechanisms operate together, they create what the framework terms "necrocapitalism"—economic systems that generate wealth through death-worlds and sacrifice zones.

The Symbiotic Commonwealth represents a life-affirming logic of regeneration, reconnection, and care. Its core mechanisms include Power Circulation (distribution of power through networks, not hierarchies), Regenerative Temporality (seven-generation thinking; deep time awareness), and Guided Activity (care as infrastructure; support without control). When these mechanisms operate together, they create what the framework terms "biocracy"—governance systems that honor ecological intelligence and human dignity simultaneously.

These meta-narratives aren't evenly matched in our current world. The Necrocene has institutional power, financial resources, and cultural dominance. The Symbiotic Commonwealth has living wisdom, community resilience, and the intelligence of place. The Axiological Axis provides the ethical compass for navigating this contested terrain—asking not just "What should we do?" but "What kind of world are we creating through our actions?"

Dialectical Axis: Five Phases of Value Transformation

The Dialectical Axis maps the journey from Necrocene to Symbiotic Commonwealth through five phases. This isn't linear progression but a dimensional unfolding where communities may move non-linearly between phases based on their stability, resources, and collective capacity.

0D: Dissolution Phase represents the breaking down of old systems and patterns. In necrocene terms, this manifests as Power Hoarding through fragmentation—using crisis to consolidate control while communities fracture. In symbiotic terms, this manifests as Power Circulation through reconnection—mutual aid networks and boundary recognition that restore community cohesion. This phase requires Nourishment as the primary foundation, as communities cannot transform while basic needs go unmet.

1D: Emergence Phase represents the formation of new patterns and possibilities. In necrocene terms, this manifests as Illusion of scarcity through extraction—creating artificial lack to justify control. In symbiotic terms, this manifests as Abundance through circulation—reciprocal metabolism that recognizes resources as flows rather than stocks. This phase requires Cleansing as the primary foundation, as communities need to process the toxins of old systems before building new ones.

2D: Integration Phase represents the weaving together of previously separate elements. In necrocene terms, this manifests as Externalized costs through dissociation—pushing harm onto marginalized communities and future generations. In symbiotic terms, this manifests as Regenerative cycles through accountability—internalized responsibility that transforms waste into resource. This phase requires Movement as the primary foundation, as communities need the capacity to flow between different states and perspectives.

3D: Transformation Phase represents the deep reconfiguration of systems and relationships. In necrocene terms, this manifests as Short-termism through amnesia—sacrificing the future for present gain. In symbiotic terms, this manifests as Deep time awareness—seven-generation thinking that honors ancestral wisdom and future possibilities. This phase requires Restoration as the primary foundation, as communities need healing from historical trauma to envision different futures.

4D: Reunification Phase represents the recognition of fundamental unity within diversity. In necrocene terms, this manifests as Death-driven logic through separation—the ultimate expression of dissociation where life is treated as dead inventory. In symbiotic terms, this manifests as Participatory consciousness—life-affirming logic through belonging where individuals recognize themselves as expressions of collective wisdom. This phase requires all four foundations integrated, as communities need complete stability to sustain this highest expression of consciousness.

Understanding these phases prevents the common trap of imposing 4D solutions on 0D realities. A community in dissolution phase (0D) needs Nourishment and safety before it can engage in deep time thinking (3D) or participatory consciousness (4D). The framework provides specific indicators for each phase transition, allowing practitioners to match interventions to community capacity rather than forcing premature development.

Value Contraction and Expansion Tables

The framework provides detailed contraction tables that help diagnose when value systems are collapsing into necrocene patterns. These tables map symptoms across the Axiological Axis to specific rhizomatic indicators in ECONOMICS, ECOLOGY, and SHELLS.

Axiological Contraction Table shows how systems fragment from regenerative to extractive patterns:

From → To

Systemic Symptoms

Rhizomatic Indicator

4D → 3D

Retreat to expert-led efficiency

Low Dialogue & Reconciliation (Politics) + Community Services (SHELLS)

3D → 2D

Solidarity fractures

Low Cultural Pattern (SOCIETY) + Identity & Engagement (Culture)

2D → 1D

"Progress = control"

Low Communication & Critique (Politics) + Communication Systems (NETWORKS)

1D → 0D

Society as extraction node

Low Wealth & Distribution (Economics) + Soil Resources (NATURE)

These indicators provide concrete diagnostic tools for communities to recognize when their value systems are contracting. For example, when a community that previously valued participatory decision-making (4D) begins deferring to experts without community input (3D), this indicates contraction in the Axiological Axis. The rhizomatic indicator—low Dialogue & Reconciliation combined with inadequate Community Services—provides specific areas for intervention.

Value Expansion Indicators show the reverse movement from necrocene to symbiotic patterns:

From → To

Systemic Symptoms

Rhizomatic Indicator

0D → 1D

Resource sharing replaces hoarding

Strong Wealth & Distribution (Economics) + Water Systems (NATURE)

1D → 2D

Collaborative production replaces competition

Strong Production & Resourcing (Economics) + Flora & Fauna (ECOLOGY)

2D → 3D

Ecological economics replaces GDP focus

Strong Emission & Waste (ECOLOGY) + Accounting & Regulation (Economics)

3D → 4D

Participatory governance replaces expert rule

Strong Organization & Governance (Politics) + SHELLS (infrastructure)

These indicators provide hope and direction—they show that contraction isn't inevitable but reversible through intentional practice. They also prevent the common trap of perfectionism by recognizing that value transformation happens in phases, with each phase building on the previous one rather than replacing it entirely.

Boundary Medicine for Value Transformation

Boundary Medicine provides specific practices for healing the dissociation boundaries that maintain necrocene patterns. These practices operate at the folded cubes where transformation occurs, dissolving the boundaries between individual and collective, human and nature, present and future.

Cube 5 Boundary Medicine heals the dissociation between economic value and ecological value. Practices include:

• Compost Circles that transform waste into resource while building community relationships
• Seed Sharing Festivals that honor the intelligence of plants while reconnecting people to food systems
• Water Ceremony Practices that recognize water as conscious being rather than industrial resource

Cube 6 Boundary Medicine heals the dissociation between individual prosperity and collective wellbeing. Practices include:

• Gift Economy Experiments that challenge transactional relationships and build trust
• Care Circle Networks that redistribute care labor and honor interdependence
• Skill-Share Festivals that democratize knowledge and build community capacity

Cube 7 Boundary Medicine heals the dissociation between human systems and natural systems. Practices include:

• Participatory Budgeting that includes ecological indicators in economic decisions
• Biocultural Heritage Mapping that honors indigenous knowledge alongside scientific understanding
• Regenerative Design Charrettes that bring together diverse stakeholders to co-create solutions

Cube 8 Boundary Medicine heals the dissociation between present action and future possibility. Practices include:

• Seventh-Generation Councils that include youth and elders in decision-making
• Ancestral Wisdom Circles that connect historical patterns to present challenges
• Future Memory Practices that imagine desired futures and work backward to present actions

These boundary medicine practices aren't merely symbolic—they create concrete changes in how communities relate to resources, relationships, and responsibility. They transform abstract values into lived experience, making regeneration tangible rather than theoretical.

Case Study: Flint Food Sovereignty Network

The Flint Food Sovereignty Network provides a concrete example of value system transformation through the Axiological Axis. When first assessing their community, the network discovered their NATURE-ECOLOGY interface scored 4.2 (strong food production) but their POLITICS-HEALTH interface scored 1.3 (no influence on water policy). This revealed their need to strengthen political capacity alongside food systems.

Their transformation followed the dialectical phases:

• 0D Dissolution: During the water crisis, they focused on Nourishment foundation—emergency food and water distribution
• 1D Emergence: As foundations stabilized, they created Cleansing practices—community water testing and filtration systems
• 2D Integration: They built Movement capacity through participatory budgeting processes that connected food production to policy advocacy
• 3D Transformation: They developed Restoration practices through healing circles that addressed historical trauma around water
• 4D Reunification: They achieved participatory consciousness by integrating food sovereignty with water justice, seeing them as expressions of the same value system

This case study demonstrates how value transformation requires attention to all four foundations across all dialectical phases. It also shows how the rhizomatic expression of ECONOMICS + ECOLOGY + SHELLS can be integrated through intentional practice rather than remaining fragmented.

Their MAL Reflection captured the deeper significance: "This food sovereignty work addressed the dissociation between individual survival and collective care. When community members shared seeds and stories during distribution, they experienced moments of remembering their belonging to something larger than individual survival—a temporary dissolution of the boundary between separate alters within Mind at Large."

Necrocene - A death-driven logic of extraction, dissociation, and control that manifests through Power Hoarding, Extractive Temporality, and Structural Violence. This meta-narrative treats life as dead inventory and creates sacrifice zones for profit.

Symbiotic Commonwealth - A life-affirming logic of regeneration, reconnection, and care that manifests through Power Circulation, Regenerative Temporality, and Guided Activity. This meta-narrative recognizes all beings as expressions of the same consciousness experiencing itself through diversity.

Dialectical Axis - The transformation pathway through five phases of reintegration (0D Dissolution to 4D Reunification) that maps the journey from Necrocene to Symbiotic Commonwealth. This axis provides phase-appropriate strategies for value transformation.

Value Contraction - The process by which systems collapse from regenerative to extractive patterns, documented through specific symptoms and rhizomatic indicators. Recognizing contraction enables timely intervention before systems fragment completely.

Boundary Medicine - Specific practices designed to heal dissociation boundaries between different domains of value, operating at the folded cubes where transformation occurs. These practices make abstract values tangible through lived experience.