We of the Deep Democracy Institute were drawn to this symbol because for us, it expresses a core belief of Deep Democracy. It shows that conflict, competition, and one-sidedness belong to all systems, and yet on a deeper level form a greater whole and share common grounds. The two seemingly one-sided directions form a whole in terms of their superposition, symbolized by the common belly. We see in this symbol the process of accepting the polarities of the fighting heads as part of nature, and their competition over food as the beginning awareness about their deeper relationship. Awareness-based leadership and facilitation that begin at the point of accepting this seemingly paradoxical and irrational behavior of organizations, groups and nations can eventually bring forth eldership, which can potentially bring out the underlying synergy, symbolized by the common stomach. This can be made visible without “correcting" or “scolding" groups for their lacking collaboration or absence of peace.

Look how the two waves that interfere with each other and seemingly clash create in fact a new pattern