23 September 2026
10 June 2026
1 July 2026
22 July 2026
12 August 2026
2 September 2026
23 September 2026
10 June 2026
Phase 2: Liminal Space
Please register for Phase 2 now — it's free.
Phase 1 recordings and downloadable transcripts available later today.
In Phase One we explored the unfolding of holism through cosmology, spirituality, ecology, consciousness, ethics, and human unity.
In Phase Two, we turn to the embodiment of holism — bringing holistic thinking into everyday life. Entering a liminal space, we reflect on being and doing, deepening our inwardness, and exploring how greater holistic awareness can shape the choices we make and how we respond to the world.
Aliminal space is a threshold — a moment between what has been and what is emerging. It is a space for inner growth, where we deepen inwardness and shift from constant doing to intentional being. Through reflection, our responses become more conscious, connected, and grounded in a deeper relationship with the world.
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Liminal Spacefrom
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Dr Glen Martin
19h00 CESTHolism and Eco-Systemic Governing for Planet Earth
Life grows through connected systems
What if humanity could grow into greater unity without losing its diversity? An exploration into emergent holism, the Earth Constitution, and the fascinating idea of a cooperative, ecologically aware planetary future.
Dr Anthony Turton
19h00 CESTThe Unintended Consequences of Newton's Reductionism
Lessons from the Aquatic Sciences and the Need for Holism
How has modern science shaped the way we manage nature -- and where does it fall short? An exploration of how reductionist thinking has influenced water governance and why today's ecological challenges call for a more holistic view of ecosystems and human responsibility.
Klaus Mager
19h00 CESTExtraction to Regeneration
Rethinking the Future of Food Systems as Living Networks
Today's global food system delivers abundance, but at significant ecological and social cost -- from degraded soils and biodiversity loss to fragile supply chains and weakened connections between people and food. Regenerative approaches treat food as part of living systems, reconnecting agriculture with ecology, community, and innovation to support a more resilient future.
Prof. George Rzevski
19h00 CESTHolism, Complexity Science and AI
How Societies and Technologies Evolve Together
Throughout history, new technologies have reshaped human capability and how societies evolve, and we are now shifting from industrial machines to digital systems that increasingly perform cognitive tasks. This transition, shaped by holism, complexity science, and artificial intelligence, shows how societies and technologies evolve together in an interconnected world, where holistic thinking is increasingly vital for understanding technological change.
Richard Cox
19h00 CESTThe Beckoning Future and the Holistic Power of Polarities
The Shaping of Living Wholes
What if life is shaped not only by the past, but also by the future that calls us forward? Exploring holism across science - from biology to geology, meteorology, optics, and systems thinking - highlighting how living wholes are shaped by history and possibility. It invites a richer understanding of life grounded in interconnectedness, deeper patterns, and the relationship between human beings and the living world.
Llewellyn van Wyk
19h00 CESTHolism and Architecture
Moving from Isolation/Parts to Entanglement/Systems
The built environment is under pressure from climate change, resource limits, social fragmentation, and rapid technological change, exposing the limits of fragmented approaches to design and urban development. It reframes buildings, cities, and infrastructure as living systems within ecological, cultural, and social contexts, enriching sustainability, circularity, and adaptive reuse.
The Holos Earth Alliance
A living continuation of the inquiry — an evolving network of people exploring the future of holistic thought and practice. Become a founding member.
More About the Festival
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Jan Christian Smuts
1870–1950
— Jan Christian Smuts (1870–1950)
The 2026 Festival of Holism and Evolution explores how holism can guide a hopeful, regenerative future.
We celebrate the visionary legacy of Jan Christian Smuts, whose 1926 book Holism & Evolution laid the foundational groundwork for holistic thought and human understanding. His life and work continue to inspire holistic practice as a vital guide toward a new era of coherence during times of unprecedented transformation.
This first phase of the festival is followed by phase two, a series of informative, interactive, specialist presentations. It culminates in October 2026 with phase three, an in-person gathering in South Africa. Gathering in Cape Town we will follow in the footsteps of Smuts' rich and diverse life, that lead to him writing Holism and Evolution.
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Saving the Soul of Civilisation
In Holism and Evolution, Smuts warned of the fragmenting world we are experiencing today. He believed that the understanding of Holism would be essential for "saving the soul of civilisation". He warned that a purely mechanistic and material view of reality risks separating humanity from the deeper living processes of life.
In a time when our world once again feels fragmented and uncertain, this insight speaks with renewed relevance.
The festival highlights lessons from holistic practice and Smuts' thinking to inspire humanity for the next century.
What is Holos.Earth?
We are building an international network of individuals and organisations to explore how to shift thinking and practice to the holistic perspective. This transformed world-view will better address the complex challenges of the 21st century.
Living a Holistic Life
Whilst the prevailing mechanistic and materialistic worldview has brought numerous advantages, it is now recognised as having separated us from natural organic life processes. Evaluating the cost of that separation in terms of human life and planetary sustainability is an essential aspect of creating a new compass to navigate by.
Restoring Our Connection
We are committed to discovering together how to personally live a holistic life to assist with the process of building self-organising communities of practice engaged in applying the holistic perspective. These network nodes will be multidisciplinary, regionally based or distributed around specific communities of interest.
Contact Holos Earth Academy
Holos Earth Academy is convened by Dr Claudius van Wyk — Holistic Systems Practice pioneer, author and speaker. Exploring coherence, complexity and the evolution of consciousness.
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