Integreatfullness! This combination of multiple words into one is known as a portmanteau, and it is my favorite word. It represents the unification of life’s immense variety into a single overflowing feeling of gratitude.
Another of my favorite portmanteaus is “permaculture,” the combination of the words “permanent” and “culture.” This word represents a growing human movement toward harmonious relationships between us, the plants, the animals, the elements and the Great Spirit that connects us all. Members of permaculture cultivate sacred intentions to improve the quality of life available to every being in their local communities and our global community.
The term “permaculture” was coined by Bill Mollison and David Homgren in 1978. It originally referred to “permanent agriculture” because the founders were gardeners.
They created a design system with 3 core ethics and 12 principles:
The Ethics:
Care for the Earth.
Care for the people.
Fair share all around.
The Principles:
Observe and interact
Catch and store energy
Obtain a yield
Apply self regulation and accept feedback
Use and value renewable resources and services
Produce no waste
Design from patterns to details
Integrate rather than segregate
Use small and slow solutions
Use and value diversity
Use edges and value the marginal
Creatively use and respond to change
One can apply these ethics and principles to any lifestyle or creative endeavor to produce optimal results and true fulfillment. It is by looking through the lens of permaculture design that we make righteous decisions and live happy lives as guardians of this beautiful planet.
A word on the ethics:
Permaculture integrates with indigenous cultures, many of whom regard plants, animals and elements as “people.” It is from this perspective that true permaculturists uphold the three ethics, honoring the voices of all these people in our daily action. I deem this practice “wishlistening,” connecting deeply with nature and opening the heart to receive guidance for one’s endeavors so that they might please all beings.
In this way, every moment becomes like Christmas and the attuned permaculturist is like Santa Claus, noting the wishes whispered by the universe to his or her heart and doing the utmost to grant them with the gift of his/her presence in the world! In Italian folklore, the Santa Claus character is instead played by La Befana, a witch who delivers gifts on her broomstick on the eve of January 5th, the Feast of the Epiphany.
Permaculture is truly magical and rEvolutionary!
We strive to embody permaculture within the Earth Nation and spread its earthly and heavenly message far and wide!