Energy is all around us. Sound is energy, light is energy, movement is energy and even non moving things are energy. A river flowing, plants sprouting, music playing… The list could go on infinitely. In knowing this how do we make sense of the intricate and complex web of patterns and energy that are swirling around us (metaphor intended) day and night – to utilize it so we can grow and evolve?

In many areas of self development and success there is a concept known as “leaking energy”, that is, by focusing our energy and not letting it “leak” or go to waste, we can be more productive in our lives. The beauty of this concept is that it fits in perfectly into the palate of permaculture principles which serve as a great set of tools and technologies, not only for ecosystems or social systems, but for success itself.

Part of the paradox of energy is that we have to use energy to get more energy. This is where energy accounting and an overall assessment of our energy expenditures becomes useful.

If we find ourselves low in energy, the best thing to do is look where we are putting in the energy that we DO have. It is important to keep in mind that by having a practice in which you focus your energy – whether you be working with yoga, qi gong,  breathwork, or any practices that can work to build vitality – you are taking the energy that you do have and using it to build your capacity and recharge and regenerate your energetic capacity. This is like charging up your batteries. Having a vitalizing practice will allow you to store more energy overtime and have a more precise focus in all that you do, allowing you inevitably to use less energy and get more done, all the while building up your level of resilience over time.

In permaculture to make a system more stable and efficient, capturing and storing energy is a foundational step in making sure that we can make use of energy on and passing through our property or ecosystem. This can be done by letting water soak into the landscape instead of running off it using swales, capturing rain water from your roof, sunlight in solar panels, and a whole array of techniques that can eventually allow you to move towards a state where you hum the gentle tune of nature with its efficiency and grace.

As mentioned above, all of these principles can be applied to our personal energy and lives. By contemplating permaculture and how it relates to us in more dimensions than just the obvious, we can gain an understanding into the nature of creation itself and guide ourselves on our journey with more navigation skills and discernment.