In the circles I find myself in - of change agents, lightworkers, and solutionaries...
Re-inhabiting the Village is a strong desire.
I hear countless friends share a common to desire to inhabit a nice studio or sovereign living space on a community land with shared garden, workshop, and community gathering spaces.
Many of us want our own slice of heavenly sanctuary - communing with nature, with ample privacy and sacred sound space. All while sharing, growing, and evolving with like-minded humans.
The status quo single family homes and disconnected fend for yourself lifestyle is not what we're going for. Village culture is full of support, the wisdom of the agents, appropriate technology, and humans choosing to align intentionally on - community ethics that empower, respect, and uplift each other.
There's also a book, that I co-authored called Reinhabiting the Village that delves deeper into some of the most important aspects of reclaiming a healthy connected and abundant world.
Current Project: New Earth Village, Missouri.
As we design spaces/ forms and containers that serve the intersection of our dreams, intentions, and desires to create environments that uplift and inspire the human spirit and our ability to commune and regenerate with the energies of the natural world....We go on a journey!
Before we start swinging hammers and pounding nails, there is a design process worth heeding.
Here are some ideas/concepts/foundational awareness as we embark on the design process.
Contrary to a Time = Money paradigm, we design and build with the awareness that Time = Art.
Remember
The Power is in alignment with the best possible option for all beings and the land, given the moment.
The Human Component
Find the commonalities of the shared vision and more forward in step wise action in right relations. Be clear with intentions and desires, and respect those of others. Choose the health of the individual as paramount to the health of the group, the community, and the planet. Practice an attitude of gratitude and appreciation for diversity and unique contributions. Take personal responsibility for self and process, and ask for help when needed. Ask questions! Use the Art of Inquiry and allow the universe to open doorways. See challenge as opportunities for alignment and grace, for learning, for compassionate listening, and conscious expression. Truly listen to each other.
She, he, Mother Earth, our home... cannot truly be owned.
Choose to honor the land and her beings with respect, honor, grace, kindness, compassion, forgiveness, and gratitude. This is an important perspective shift. However you name the energies and spirits, form and function of our magical beautiful emerald green and sapphire rock hurtling through space at 38,000 Km/sec, we are here to serve her sacred being. Remember that a TREE gifts us breath! Tune to Her sacred being. How can we steward, honor, and care for the land we will participate in? Ask her how we can best serve her, and cultivate the land? How does she want to smell?What fruits and creatures does she desire? Does she want children playing or elders walking?
Tuning with her in different times of days and seasons is important
For example, take a walk in the morning, when its raining, and in full sun. Notice shady areas, feminine spaces, and natural gathering areas. We often journey on the land and collect Earthen objects, while listening, and receiving. You can create an Earthen art mandala, determine a sacred entry portal, and practice clearing, cleansing, and grounding your energy with hers. She has a history/karma like you. Alignment and intentional space clearing is key, as is feeling into what wants to be healed on the land. As you take your prayer walks, you may also want to lay intentional crystal grids.
Facilitate building capacity
in each other; being students and teachers, wise elders, and awe-filled children. Feel into the balance, alignment and integrity of the system. Knowing when to play, pray, act, create, heal, nourish, transmute, and celebrate. "Teach a man to fish, rather than give him a fish"
Become aware of how the elements (wind, water, sun/fire, rock/soil/form)
interplay with her, and honoring and celebrating this. Notice how the water flows, solar gain, winds, and land has her own special features carved by the elements. With this awareness we can design artful systems integration like a Water Temple and sculptural artful water installation. Notice where the dedicated zones for prospect/expansiveness & refuge/silence/healing are. Where is a big view or feeling of wide open horizon, and where does the land have nooks, or cave like, or special meditation hidden spaces?