Understanding Metabolism as a Concept

Vanessa Machado de Oliveira explores the understanding of society through the lens of metabolism, which differs from individualism and collectivism. She interprets metabolism as nested systems engaging in constant exchange and processing of energy and matter, as opposed to the mechanistic view that is often encountered in the sciences. Oliveira draws from Indigenous perspectives that do not view metabolism merely as a concept but rather as an active, living process that intimately involves all entities, including humans, nonhumans, and the unseen. She discusses how modernity has attempted to suppress the literacies required to sense and navigate these intertwinements.

Lessons from Mama Maria

Oliveira’s experience with Mama Maria Jara Qquerar, a matriarch in the Sacred Valley of Peru, is central to her understanding of metabolic literacies. Mama Maria's way of life, as well as her practical wisdom, challenge the prevalent consumerist individualism. By living with Mama Maria and observing her way of engaging with her community, Oliveira learns to let go of modern comforts and embrace more sustainable and interconnected ways of being.

Toilet Protocols and Metabolic Thinking

Oliveira reflects on the discomfort caused by the absence of conventional toilets in Mama Maria’s residence and the subsequent realization that her own desire for a toilet represented a modern obsession with sanitation and separation. This leads her to contemplate the broader implications of flush toilets, which sanitize human waste and perpetuate the illusion that unwanted materials can be made to disappear. This "flush-and-forget" mentality obscures the reality of ongoing cycles of matter and energy, thus hindering our metabolic literacy.

Relational Economies and Ethical Tourism

Mama Maria's approach to running her shop and interacting with tourists presents an alternative to the capitalist metric of success. Oliveira observes the Quechua practice of relational economies where resources are distributed based on communal needs, not on individual accumulation. She contrasts this approach with exploitative tourism practices and highlights the need for ethical tourism that respects local cultures and economies.

Ancestral Wisdom and the Metabolic Reality

The chapter also explores the deeply ingrained belief in the Quechua communities of the active role of ancestors within the metabolic network. Oliveira describes the significance of offerings to ancestors and the earth as a means of nurturing this metabolic balance. Through personal experiences and the collective response to a fire incident during an offering, Oliveira gains profound insights into the community’s understanding of reciprocity, teaching, and learning as elements of a larger metabolic wisdom.

Mama Maria's Accountability and Metabolism

Mama Maria exemplifies accountability as she simultaneously takes care of her community, the land, the ancestors, and her visitors while teaching Oliveira about more holistic modes of existence. The principles articulated for the educational center Apu Chupaqpata encapsulate a metabolic sensibility emphasizing balance, learning, generosity, and spiritual connections. Oliveira urges readers to slow down and grow up, to integrate and heal within the metabolic network, and to embrace accountability in their existence.

Personal Reflection Exercise

Oliveira concludes the chapter with an exercise that prompts readers to consider their own accountability and the impact of their actions on various layers of metabolism. She encourages reflection on the modernity within oneself and challenges individuals to learn and build sustainable, reciprocal relationships. The exercise seeks to uncover the hidden costs of comfort and convenience and foster a deeper understanding of personal responsibility within the planetary metabolism.