The Geometry of Liberation: How dual circulation patterns reveal pathways from domination to regeneration
The fundamental distinction between systems that dominate and those that liberate lies not in their stated intentions but in their circulation patterns. Here we reveal how the ancient geometric form of the torus—with its dual flows of inner and outer circulation—provides a blueprint for understanding both the mechanics of oppression and the pathways to regenerative transformation.
Two flows that shape reality: Understanding torus dynamics
The torus emerges as nature's most balanced and self-sustaining geometric form, appearing consistently from atomic structures to galactic formations. This donut-shaped pattern contains two distinct circulation systems that work in dynamic relationship.
Poloidal flow moves vertically through the center axis—the inner circulation that creates compression toward the core.
Toroidal flow wraps horizontally around the outer circumference—the expansive circulation that encompasses the whole system.
When these flows maintain creative balance, systems thrive. When one dominates the other, dysfunction follows.
Research from plasma physics to atmospheric science confirms this pattern appears wherever sustainable energy systems exist.
In fusion reactors, scientists discovered that stable plasma confinement requires precise balance between poloidal and toroidal magnetic fields—too much emphasis on either component leads to catastrophic instability.
Earth's magnetic field, ocean currents, and even the human cardiovascular system all exhibit this dual circulation pattern.
The torus represents the only geometric form capable of sustaining continuous energy flow without external input, making it nature's preferred solution for resilient systems.
The critical insight emerges when examining what happens when these flows become imbalanced.
Systems where outer toroidal flow overwhelms inner poloidal circulation create what physicists call "magnetic flux diffusion"—a loss of central coherence and eventual system collapse.
Conversely, when inner flow dominates, the system experiences "kink instabilities" and violent disruptions. This geometric principle extends far beyond physics into the realm of social organization.
Bohm's holomovement meets geometric consciousness
David Bohm's revolutionary concept of the holomovement provides the theoretical framework for understanding how these geometric patterns manifest across scales.
His distinction between the implicate order (the enfolded, underlying wholeness) and the explicate order (the unfolded, manifest reality) directly parallels the dual circulation of torus dynamics.
Bohm described reality as "undivided wholeness in flowing movement," where temporary stable patterns emerge within continuous universal flux—precisely what we observe in toroidal systems.
Bohm's work in plasma physics led him to observe that electrons stopped behaving as individuals and began acting as part of an interconnected whole—an insight that later informed his understanding of consciousness itself.
He proposed that consciousness operates through continuous processes of enfoldment and unfoldment, with the implicate order containing infinite potential that selectively manifests in the explicate order.
This maps directly onto torus dynamics:
poloidal flow represents the enfoldment process drawing energy and information into the implicate order,
while toroidal flow represents the unfoldment process manifesting from implicate to explicate reality.
The profound connection emerges in understanding the double torus dynamic—two torus forms rotating in opposite directions, creating simultaneous inward and outward flow at both poles.
This pattern appears throughout nature and represents Bohm's vision of simultaneous enfoldment and unfoldment occurring throughout the holomovement. Recent research suggests consciousness itself may reside in a toroidal field surrounding the brain, operating in higher dimensions and sharing information through quantum processes.
The weaponization of circulation creates domination
When we examine Domination Systems through this geometric lens, a clear pattern emerges: they systematically weaponize outer circulation to compress and control inner flow. This creates what systems theorists call "hierarchical compression"—a geometric distortion where energy and resources flow upward while agency and autonomy are restricted at lower levels.
The pyramid becomes the dominant shape, funneling value toward an apex while suppressing the horizontal flows that would enable local resilience.
Network asymmetry serves as the primary mechanism of this weaponization.
Those who control central nodes in asymmetric networks can create "panopticon effects" for surveillance and "chokepoint effects" for resource control.
They extract value through network position rather than productive contribution. Social physics research demonstrates that these flow patterns determine system behavior independent of individual actors—the geometry itself creates the oppression.
Critical theory reveals how dominant ideologies naturalize these distorted circulation patterns, making extractive relationships appear inevitable. The "common sense" of hierarchical organization obscures alternative possibilities where both inner and outer flows could thrive in creative tension. Indigenous wisdom keepers have long understood this dynamic, warning against the "wetiko" disease—the cannibalistic spirit that consumes others' life force by disrupting natural circulation patterns.
Flow dynamics that enable liberation
Liberation systems restore balance between dual flows through sophisticated mechanisms that prevent either dimension from overwhelming the other. Rather than eliminating hierarchy entirely, they maintain what complexity science calls "functional hierarchies"—coordination structures that serve the whole without extracting from the parts. The key distinction lies in maintaining creative tension between vertical coordination and horizontal autonomy.
Regenerative systems demonstrate several key characteristics that distinguish them from extractive ones. They maintain cooperative dual flows where individual initiative enhances rather than diminishes collective capacity. Resources circulate rather than accumulate, with "waste" from one process becoming nourishment for another. Multiple centers of initiative create distributed agency rather than concentrated control. Most importantly, they exhibit fractal resilience—similar balancing patterns repeated at multiple scales from individual to community to bioregion.
Traditional societies often maintained sophisticated flow balance through reciprocal exchange systems, rotating governance structures, and resource management practices that prevented permanent accumulation of power. Modern examples include worker cooperatives balancing individual initiative with collective ownership, open-source networks demonstrating how information can circulate freely while creating opportunity for all, and participatory budgeting processes that allow communities to directly allocate resources.
Regenerative law honors both intimate and systemic flows
Regenerative law represents a fundamental paradigm shift from mechanistic legal systems toward living frameworks that maintain creative tension between individual and collective needs. Unlike traditional law's hierarchical structures and punitive responses, regenerative approaches emphasize horizontal processes, restorative responses, and adaptive capacity. They seek to address root causes rather than symptoms, creating net-positive benefits for integrated social-ecological systems.
Indigenous legal traditions offer sophisticated examples of maintaining dual flows. The Navajo concept of Hózhó seeks restoration of harmony between individual, community, and cosmos through peacemaking circles where individuals speak their truth while serving collective healing. These systems recognize that individual flourishing depends on community wellbeing while honoring personal autonomy and dignity. They maintain this balance through decentralized enforcement via kinship networks, preventive cultural practices, and restorative rather than punitive responses.
Transformative justice movements build on these insights, creating community-based accountability systems that address harm without relying on state violence. They distribute authority horizontally, value multiple perspectives, and allow solutions to emerge from community needs rather than imposing predetermined outcomes. This avoids the hierarchical compression of traditional legal systems while maintaining necessary coordination functions.
Geometric patterns of transformation
Understanding liberation through geometric consciousness reveals that social transformation follows natural patterns observable across scales. The fractal nature of healthy systems means that similar organizing principles apply whether designing personal practices, community structures, or bioregional governance. The torus provides the template—maintaining distinct inner and outer flows while enabling continuous circulation between them.
Practical applications emerge across multiple domains. In personal development, practices that balance inward reflection with outward engagement create sustainable growth. In organizational design, structures that maintain both individual autonomy and collective coherence demonstrate superior resilience and innovation. In economic systems, circular models that eliminate waste through regenerative cycles create abundance rather than scarcity.
The research reveals five key principles for systems that successfully maintain dual circulation. First, they prioritize regeneration over extraction, ensuring that every cycle enhances rather than depletes the whole. Second, they maintain permeable boundaries that allow healthy exchange while preserving distinct identity. Third, they operate through consent and invitation rather than coercion. Fourth, they adapt continuously based on feedback from all parts of the system. Fifth, they recognize patterns across scales, applying similar principles from cellular to social organization.
Conclusion: Liberation requires creative tension between flows
The path from domination to liberation lies not in choosing between individual freedom and collective wellbeing, but in maintaining their creative tension through sophisticated circulation patterns. The torus teaches us that sustainable systems require both inner coherence and outer connection, both differentiation and integration, both autonomy and interdependence. When either flow dominates, the system moves toward either tyrannical fusion or anarchic fragmentation.
Bohm's profound insight that "reality will respond coherently to us if we approach it coherently" points toward the practical implications of this research. By consciously designing systems that honor natural geometric patterns—particularly the dual circulation of torus dynamics—we can create conditions for both human flourishing and ecological regeneration. This is not merely metaphorical but reflects fundamental organizing principles that operate from quantum to cosmic scales.
The transformation required is simultaneously simple and profound: recognize that our social, legal, and economic systems are not fixed structures but flowing processes that can be redesigned to match nature's patterns. The regenerative law framework, though still emerging, offers concrete practices for maintaining healthy circulation between intimate and collective dimensions. As we face escalating global crises, understanding and embodying these geometric principles of liberation becomes not just beneficial but essential for creating systems that generate life rather than consuming it.