Learning is Not an Event

Learning is a recursively-invoked ritual: embedded, ongoing, context-sensitive—not afterthought!

Traditional approaches to learning treat it as a discrete event: attend a workshop, read a book, complete a course. But this event-based model fails to capture how effective learning actually happens, especially in fast-changing domains.

Learning as Recursive Ritual

When we reframe learning as a recursively-invoked ritual, we recognize that:

1. Learning happens in the flow of work - Not separate from it
2. Context matters more than content - The same information lands differently depending on when and why you encounter it
3. Repetition with variation builds understanding - Seeing the same concept in different contexts
4. Just-in-time beats just-in-case - Learning when you need it sticks better than learning "someday"

Practical Implementation

• Embed learning triggers in workflows - Create rituals that prompt learning at decision points
• Capture and curate in context - Note what you learn while doing the work
• Share incomplete understanding - Learning in public creates feedback loops
• Review and reflect rhythmically - Regular rituals to consolidate learning

By treating learning as a ritual that's invoked repeatedly throughout our work rather than a separate event, we create systems that support continuous growth and adaptation.