What is a Holon?
As we emerge from the story of separation that has defined the last few thousand years it’s important to explore concepts that speak to the inherent connectivity and oneness of reality. The best kind of words are the ones that give us an entirely new lens to view life through which leads to insights, connections and realizations. Holon is one of those words for me.
A holon is something that is simultaneously a whole in and of itself, and part of a larger whole. Everything in reality is composed of holons. An atom is both a whole in and of itself and part of the larger whole that is a molecule. A molecule is a whole by itself but also part of a cell. A cell is a whole and also part of your body. You are a holon. You are a whole person and you are also part of your family, your community, your society, the biosphere etc…
The Tapestry
Holon theory allows us to see the universe as a nested hierarchy of holons, also known as a holoarchy. A holoarchy has a top-down influence and a bottom-up influence meaning that holons effect and influence each other bi-directionally on the holoarchy. You, as a holon, influence society (the larger holon you are a part of) and your society in turn influences you. The way that the holon of society conditions the parts of it (the humans) can directly influence the way genes express in those humans (epigenetics). So something like genes, a holon that is part of a larger holon (humans) is affected by the larger holon they are all a part of (the culture they exist within). The influence goes the other direction when gene expression effects human behavior which influences and shapes culture. Everything in reality is in complex relationship with everything else. One change in a holon creates changes throughout all the other holons that are connected to it.
The kind of world that I envision is one where all holons are in right relationship with each other and the bi-directional influence is in a positive direction rather than a negative one. Humanity is currently plagued by a number of different negative feedback loops in our economic, political and social systems. Holon theory is helpful lens for visioning and structuring society so that we we are creating positive feedback loops between holons and optimal functioning within the holarchy.
Think about a time that you have shifted a holon you were a part of by changing your energy and the way you showed up to it. Was it a close relationship? A work team? A sports team? Maybe you did some healing and nervous system regulation work which allowed you to show up to a family event more grounded, embodied and in your authentic energy which completely altered the way that event went (and how the event felt to you). Your level of presence had a palpable effect on everyone else and fundamentally shifted the way the event went. The family get-together feeling so much better than you anticipated it showed you how much it was because of your recent growth and the way your nervous system is interpreting reality now. This victory then encouraged you to continue doing the work on your healing journey because you felt the extent to which everything is experienced differently when you are regulated. And maybe there were other family members at the event who were watching you and were inspired by the way you handled yourself with such grace and composure which they shared with you afterwards. You as a holon, positively affected the larger holon of your family, and then the larger holon of your family affected you in a positive way. Your family might not be completely healthy now but there was some positive influence in both directions as a result of your own empowerment. Holonic feedback loops are beautiful when they function in a positive direction.
The Crucial Balance
There’s a crucial balance that holons are always trying to strike and that is the balance between agency and communion. A holon needs a certain level of agency in order to maintain its wholeness and it needs to maintain a certain level of harmonization or communion with the larger wholes that it is a part of.
For many people, they grew up in environments where their agency was taken away from them in the name of communing with the larger whole they were a part of. Constrictive environments (religious or non-religious) actually rely on taking away other’s agency in the name of fitting into the larger whole that is the religion, culture and family. For people who left these kind of environments, a significant part of their healing and growth often comes from leaning into their agency, discovering who they really are and giving themselves permission to no longer harmonize with the systems that restricted their freedom and expression. The journey towards uncovering our authentic self is a journey towards discovering our wholeness and our agency as a whole being.
For others, their upbringing consisted of too much agency and not enough communion with the larger wholes they were a part of. I’ve met people who have shared with me how healing and integral to their development it was to find communities, places and groups that they could play a positive role and commune within. They needed to consciously integrate communion into their life because of the way it was severely lacking in the environment they grew up in.
Too much agency with not enough communion means a holon loses its connection to the things greater than itself. Too much communion with not enough agency means a holon loses its sense of self.
It’s a delicate balance.
Wholeness
From a systems building perspective the aim should be to create systems and structures that free people to be their full selves and give them full agency they deserve as holons. When holons are given their full agency and allowed to live in their wholeness it’s natural for them to use that agency in service of positively contributing and communing with the larger wholes they are a part of. It’s very common for people who have undergone a healing journey and emerged as their authentic self to have a deep desire to not only help others do the same but also contribute positively towards their community, their culture and the world at large.
I’m of the belief that the most direct way to create the kind of world we want to see is to help others uncover their wholeness and live in it. When we create the right conditions and honor the intrinsic wholeness of holons the larger whole that they comprise can’t help but be transformed (because its all connected). If the larger whole we are a part of is dysfunctional and unhealthy our wholeness and agency is what drives us to work to improve it or change it. At this current point in history most of the larger wholes we are a part of (culture, the economy, our political systems) are unhealthy and dysfunctional. The most important act we can make towards transforming the waters we swim in is to consciously and actively work on embodying our wholeness and living our unique essence we’ve been imbued with. The best way to create a holarchy with positive feedback loops is to develop ourselves into the kind of people who can have positive influence towards all the holons we exist within.
I’ve always been passionate about systems change and it’s why I’m so passionate about what I do: helping people find their own sense of wholeness and agency. There’s so many incredible modalities and practices that can aid in this journey such as Human Design, Internal Family Systems Parts Work, Spiral Dynamics, Enneagram, breathwork, meditation, ecstatic dance, psychedelic experiences, astrology and more. The proliferation of these kind of practices in culture right now points to how many people are actively on the journey of embodying their wholeness and how necessary that step is for the transformation of systems.
The Invitation
I invite you to reflect on how you relate to the concept of holons. What does your relationship look like with agency and harmonization? Do you find that certain seasons of life are asking more for agency while others are asking more for communion with the larger wholes you are a part of? What does this balance look like for you? Does this holiday season ask you to harmonize with some holons that are less than desirable and if so, how can you honor your agency and wholeness this coming new year? Or are there certain holons that you are a part of that you would like to take more of a conscious effort to contribute positively to?
Much Love,
Trace