System Sensing

Systems sensing is a form of being in relation with and listening deeply to any given system and its elements. This includes its patterns and explicit events or challenges that are explicitly experienced.

Systems sensing builds upon Systems Thinking and expands the notion of understanding a system through an embodied and felt-sense approach.

“We can’t control systems or figure them out. But we can dance with them.” ~ Donella Meadows

To sense a system, we enter into a dialogue with the less visible layers and dynamics of a system by activating and widening our senses and other ways of knowing. This allows us to explore what is moving and its relational patterns to better understand the possible root causes. The process can enable us to experience and acknowledge each aspect within a system with compassion, care and respect.

Systems sensing calls upon our humbleness of letting go of what we think is the reality or truth and to engage with the deeper wisdom of the system that is often slightly hidden for the normal eye. With this expanded sense of understanding, meaningful and wise intervention will become more evident.