Open Session 01: Narrative Led Systems Change

The introductory session provided a comprehensive overview of narrative-led systems change, built on the principle that “if you change the narrative, you change the system.” Teams learned that narratives are interpretive social structures that frame what we see and guide what we do, operating largely on an unconscious level. The current meta-crisis stems from a deeper cultural paradigm that commodifies life and reinforces separation, requiring both justice work (addressing structural inequities) and ontological shifts (new ways of being and relating to the world). We invite you to become acquainted with the context of the metacrisis before becoming acquainted with the Culture Hack Labs Methodology by watching these introduction videos. We also share our approach to narrative-led systems change.

The Culture Hack methodology was introduced as a five-step iterative process: Ask (developing point of view), Listen (data collection through big and small listening), Understand (mapping narrative communities and power dynamics), Recode (developing narrative strategy), and Hack (creative implementation to seed culture change). The method is non-linear, open-source, and designed as a cycle of narrative actions and learnings.

The session also introduced the Pathways for Regenerative Futures — the research framework organising the Rhizome⁴ cohort, emerging from CHL’s Beyond the Carbon Fixation research. The five pathways represent the enabling conditions for true regeneration:

1. Restoring Justice, Restoring Life — decolonisation for ecological healing
2. Economies of Regeneration — transforming economic systems toward commons, gift economies, and regenerative models
3. Land Back to Right Relationship — land redistribution and ownership models grounded in right relations
4. Bioregional & Community Governance — decentralised, community-led governance organised around land rather than borders
5. Healing the Spirit, Healing the Earth — cultural and spiritual shifts, indigenous knowledge systems, and earth wisdom

Fellows were invited to choose the pathway that most resonates with their project, with the understanding that all pathways are interwoven throughout the fellowship.The slides for this presentation can be found here.

Key Information for Potential Applicants:

• Key Information:
• Fellowship runs June–November with 90-minute sessions every two weeks (Thursdays, 11am Mexico time)
• Mandatory in-person gathering in Costa Rica (September)
• Teams of at least 2 people required
• No cost to participants
• Projects can be local or transnational
• Application opens May 2nd, deadline May 16th
• Next Session: May 2nd – Fellowship application details and project pathway discussions