Distributed, Autonomous, Codependent Self-Organisation (DACSO) is a natural practice within families and small groups. It reflects how humans sustained themselves for millennia before the introduction of money, which was adopted to scale activities, organise over distances, and interact with strangers.
Core Virtues: Patience, Acceptance, and Forgiveness
Successful manifestations of DACSO are underpinned by the virtues of Patience, Acceptance, and Forgiveness. Recognizing human fallibility, it emphasizes the importance of withholding criticism and complaint, as we are all flawed. Instead of seeking “justice” or retribution for perceived wrongs, DACSO encourages a culture of forgiveness and understanding.
Circles of Trust and Open Discourse
In practice, DACSO fosters “circles of trust” where conversations are not confined to socially accepted narratives. In these circles, there are no taboo topics or unaskable questions, regardless of their potential discomfort. This openness is crucial because taboo subjects often obscure reality to maintain societal illusions.
The CoCreative Learning website outlines the principles and processes of DACSO, applicable to any activity or endeavor. It includes a detailed step-by-step guide on practicing DACSO.
Distributed Networks of Codependent Circles
People involved in circles of trust typically participate in multiple such groups, creating networks of codependent circles that distribute capacity, wisdom, and knowledge across communities. This interconnectedness enables the growth and fulfillment of individuals’ needs within a supportive and collaborative framework.
Importance of Autonomy
Autonomy is a fundamental principle of DACSO because each person is ultimately responsible for their own life. While others can offer help or guidance, personal responsibility remains paramount. Blaming others for misfortune or evading accountability for one’s thoughts and actions undermines autonomy.
Principles of Self-Organisation
DACSO’s concept of Self-Organisation is grounded in three essential principles:
- Wholeness – Embracing one’s flaws and weaknesses rather than maintaining an illusion of perfection. In conventional command-and-control structures, individuals are incentivized to exaggerate qualifications and hide fallibility, leading to distrust. DACSO fosters trust by encouraging authenticity.
- Self-Organisation – The principle of organizing without centralized control, which empowers individuals and groups to adapt and evolve organically.
- Evolutionary Purpose – Recognizing that as we learn and grow, our objectives and ambitions naturally evolve. This allows us to adapt to reality rather than cling to outdated illusions.
Accelerated Learning and Expansion
Following the principles of DACSO or Co-Creative Learning leads to rapid growth in capacity and understanding. This process is akin to turbo-charged evolution, as individuals make meaningful progress rooted in reality rather than being trapped by conventional limitations.
Alignment with Universal Laws
DACSO aligns attention and behavior with universal or natural laws, including principles of love and cooperation. This alignment manifests as an expansion of capacity and understanding, as well as a reduction in fear and material needs.
This phenomenon is observed in the increasing number of thriving individuals, families, and groups practicing DACSO principles.
Validation and Benefits of DACSO
Open Source Movement as Proof of Concept
The success of open source software and hardware illustrates the power of DACSO on a global scale. Despite cultural and language differences, open source communities are united by shared needs and mutual support. The free and open source movement has facilitated global collaboration, proving the effectiveness of DACSO principles even as some innovations have been commercialized by large corporations.
Evolution of DACSO Principles
The principles of DACSO have evolved from diverse sources, including Frederic Laloux’s “Reinventing Organisations,” which presents case studies of enterprises thriving on DACSO principles. These examples demonstrate the success of distributed, autonomous, and codependent self-organisation within sizable organizations.
Historical Context and Development
CoCreative Learning emerged from the Critical Thinking project, which explored the foundations of societal control and abuse, identifying three major systemic flaws:
- Institutional hierarchy
- Misappropriation of the commons
- Dependence on money
Critical Thinking’s networked relationships with various groups and individuals have expanded capacity and understanding through interconnected circles of trust. These distributed networks resonate with energy, navigating the complex landscape of human consciousness and helping individuals avoid the pitfalls of illusion.
Summary
DACSO represents a paradigm of human organization rooted in authenticity, collaboration, and continuous evolution. It contrasts with traditional hierarchical models by embracing distributed networks, autonomy, and open discourse. As more communities adopt DACSO principles, the collective growth in capacity and understanding accelerates, leading to more resilient and adaptable human systems.