I’ve been fascinated by placebo’s for some time now, and how they occupy this boundary space between Science, Witchcraft and Shamanism. Placebo’s are as powerful and effective as some drugs when it comes to the treatment of the body (in some cases more effective where no present drug has been found). But what about for […]
Author Archives: Jay Cousins
Cards for Change: The Tarot for Social Transformation
For some years an idea has been rattling around my head. Can we create stories of a positive future, a vision worth aspiring to? I see a world in Transition, with forces pulling in multiple directions. Some desire greater control, or would maintain their interests, others work to distribute resource and equalise opportunity. But there […]
Orikaso
So Cory Doctorow just posted about some products that I designed, sourced and distributed years ago. I then realised, there is nothing that remains of the company website and where to source the products commercially. This was in part due to my need to distance myself from what had become a painful experience – closing […]
Spaces for Sharing
Over the last few years it has been my pleasure to have collaborated on developing the following Spaces for Sharing (aka hackerspaces, maker spaces…) Open Design City icecairo icealex nubialin Each one is unique in it’s approach and in it’s environment. But each shares something important. It enables you to create, learn, build, and share. […]
A Marriage of Makers, Mutual Development in Practice
Reflecting on the experiences of co-creating Nubialin, and instigating a second Felucca Festival to further empower the community and deepen connections it’s difficult to know where to start the documentation process. The outputs were numerous as was the learning. I shall attempt to put some structure to the overwhelming quantity of insights and results of the organic processes used […]
Paper Oppression, Faith, and Freedom
Disclaimer: Many on reading this have skipped “potentially” element in this sentence and assumed I am somehow in some kind of trouble. This is not to my knowledge the case. I am safe and well. It is not a deliberately malicious system that I fear, it’s badly designed systems where abstract data becomes automated and […]
Reflections on a year. Living, Learning, Loving
Living Last year I scribbled down some key insights. It felt like I’d broken through some imaginary mental barriers and the rules had changed. I had learned to define my own rules. I stopped seeing Money and Meaning, the choice between helping myself to thrive and grow and helping others to thrive and grow ceased […]
On Attraction
The most attractive thing anyone can be is themselves. You wont attract everybody, but you will attract the ones that will love you for who you are. For them you will shine, and they for you. If instead you adjust yourself to the perceived expectations of others, together you will construct a prison of interpreted […]
A rant on Social Media and Development
So I did this talk a while ago, ironically it would appear that for all the discussion regarding social media at this conference the organisers haven’t even listed the Video on Youtube ;). Enjoy.
Mutual Development Principles
Short Version Mutual Development = working together for mutual benefit, with common contribution to address local challenges There are “no experts”, we are all equal participants Everyone should benefit Share your ideas, skills, knowledge and resources with others Seize the opportunity to challenge your prejudices, engage with empathy, listen without judgement, seek to learn Do […]
Hyphall 