Mingle Login
Login to connect with Others on SYNERGY COMMUNITY:
Powered by 
Mingle
SynergyCommunity
Community IS THERE A PLACE FOR US?
The Mariposa Group Newsletter Evolving Enlightenment via “Real” Community
IS THERE A PLACE FOR US?
4/9/11 Hello All ! Here is a very well written inquiry from Morgan about the in’s and out’s of “community”. Well worth reading as he searches for answers which may well not be far off from your own.
Enjoy. Cheers,
Eric ============================================================== IS THERE A PLACE FOR US? When I read articles about intentional community, I see a limited number of formats, or paradigms professed. The two most common I see are Permaculture focused and what I will call seclusion paradigms. There is also Co-Housing which is a little different from the first two in its method of creating community.
In Permaculture, there is a push to shift the way we live within current systems to be more sustainable. The concept is often transitional, with an assumption that the system in which we now live will fail (either a hard or soft landing, depending on who you talk to) and that having healthy Permaculture techniques in place will ease the transition to a less technological way of living.
The seclusion groups are focused on an almost complete withdrawal from society as it currently stands. Sustainable techniques are still a core of these groups’ philosophies, but within a self-sustaining society that does not interact more than absolutely necessary with the dominant culture.
Co-housing is the `grown up hippie’ of the three. Co-housing as I have seen it applied in the northeast creates deliberate physical communities within society. There is a common land base, but the homes are individual and privately owned. Rules are set and maintained by a body like a condo association safeguarding the culture and common property within the physical community.
When I examine these three options, I notice a huge obligation is placed on the individuals interested in such groups. In permaculture and seclusion groups, the focus is on the end of civilization as we know it and this creates a sort of artificial pressure to encourage cohesion. For the seclusion style groups, individuals must give up much of their existing lives to participate fully in a community.
The choices become limited just by joining because locations for these groups are often very far off the beaten path. It is a life commitment, not so different from a career diplomat who gives up their home to live their ideals abroad. Those participating in these communities also see a barrier to re-entry into regular society if they chose to leave, due to a gap in employment and lack of progress in wages or savings that might have occurred in `regular’ society.
The co-housing system is also a huge commitment, but a financial one. The homes in these communities are priced to absorb the costs of common space, often resulting in properties far above average market rates and priced so high, that only the accomplished professional can aspire to own one.
These folks are still fully engaged in society, and their community structure is often based around family style living; or a sort of `chosen family’ for individuals who may not have a biological network that works well for them. These communities absolutely require a high level of income and financial competency for participation.
I have participated in intentional community over a ten year process that took us from book store discussion group, to in town shared housing and expenses with aspirations for land. But when the time came that one smaller group had resources and others did not, those without the financial resources had to either pull up roots and follow the leaders, or be left behind. The group divided and essentially fell apart.
Why, because the community itself was essentially based on the residential status of the group members. Without the “glue” of shared living space or expenses, it didn’t stick. Those with local obligations couldn’t go, and those with the means went. In the long history of humanity, basic physical security was an enormous part of community cohesion. You could not survive without the tribe, village, etc., except in rare cases.
I do not believe it has to be this way. In fact I think the modern society and all its safety nets, emergency resources, various living situations, and subsidies make it almost impossible for the `external pressure’ model of community cohesion to be the primary driver of the group. I own a home. I have a life I like within the overarching culture though I have great frustration with the culture itself.
I want community, but I have no need to go to someone else’s home base and I have no desire to pull up stakes and give up all I have worked for. This I believe is the position a great many people are in, but they associate intentional community with the primary forms that require major material commitments or sacrifices from individuals. What are the choices for those who cannot meet these terms?
I adore sharing living space with individuals in my community. There’s no doubt that it enriches my day to day life when I have that. But not everyone is going to have the wherewithal financially to jump on board with major money based models. And because survival isn’t dependent on group attachments in modern culture, the seclusion style communities have limited appeal.
When one doesn’t desire to live in these situations or when it isn’t practical to co-habitate, what are the options? My push here is to generate a conversation about what constitutes community. Can we have a sense of commonality, mutual support, and connection that is not dependent on outside pressures for survival? Can we have a system of human interaction that is not dependent on physical cohabitation to force social interaction? I believe there is immense untapped potential in the IC concept and this appears to be the biggest space yet unfilled or not fully considered. Thoughts?
Morghan
________________________________
Hello Morgan, Thanks for such a well written and inquiring note here about community and your own search. As the founder of The Mariposa Group community, I’ve studied “community” in just about all of its shades and hues for a good number of years, along with the interpersonal dynamics which so often determine what (and how) succeeds and fails in the community quest.
What I suspect would help you tremendously right now, would be for you not only to raise the questions you have, but also to present your own best vision of what would work the best for you community wise. What vision of community would excite and please you the most? I certainly appreciated hearing your very intelligent thoughts and observations here. It would be great to hear what you see yourself desiring the most at this point in time. In essence, perhaps providing your first pass attempt at answers to your own questions. I know that I would love to hear them.
Best regards,
Eric
________________________________
True Financial Security, Deep Interpersonal Friendship & Comfort, A Pleasing Inquiry into living Life, Spiritually & Successfully done right now, here on earth… with Fun & Play ! I invite you to explore this with us.
The Mariposa Group If you find this Newsletter stimulating, intriguing or just simply enjoy it; please send it to a friend. If you would like to receive this free community newsletter, or to send it to a friend, please click here. If you would like to be removed from this mailing list, please click here .
Return to Top
SUSTAINABILITY: CREATE CONSCIOUS COMMUNITY
Earth changes, economic collapse, decaying eco-systems drive us to create conscious communities, eco-villages where we thrive and survive or else we’ll die. Soon we’ll extinct ourselves, genocide by our own devices. Communities are our future.
We’re a self-destructing, suicidal species. Fortunately there are some of us who’re pulling our heads out of the sand, recognize there’s an elephant in the middle of the living room and are doing something about it. We’re on the Titanic; she’s going down. No matter how much we bail, bail, bail, it’s too little too late.
Time to think outside of the box. Break on through to the other side. Now hold on, jump. We’re on the edge of the cliff and we need to trust each other and remember deep down underneath it all, we know how to fly.
Tribe, family, love, support. Together we get down and dirty, dig our hands in the soil, toil, sweat, hard work, yes, and yet, such joy, self satisfaction, interactions, connections, rewards beyond imagination. You eat what you grow, harvest, pick. By thine own hands, created (with the help of God Source and nature.)
You commune with nature, Gaia, Mother Maui. She nurtures your soul, essence and being, envelopes you with her love. Her delicious, crisp, clean, cool air fills your lungs, wakes up your nostrils with fragrant aromas. Pure water, balanced, alkaline PH, soft taste, rich with natural minerals, quenches your thirst. You hunger no more.
Your belly and soul, full, abundant, over-flowing with vibrant, dancing molecules, food, water, air, sun, fun flowing through your total being. You’re alive! You’re in Shangrila, Nirvana, Paradise, Heaven on Earth–Maui.
We, Synergy Community Farms (www.synergycommunity.com) and the Temple of Tantra (www.templeoftantra.org), Maui, Hawaii seek adventurous souls, pioneers, beings willing to break new ground, blaze the trail, create a model of sustainable, self-sufficient community that others wish to emulate and start where they live.
We’re building the ark. The economy’s sinking and we need new models for living. The time is now. There’s a lot to do. It’s hard work. We’re laying foundations, installing infrastructures, raising barns and buildings, clearing the land and planting our future, a new way of being in harmony with one another and the land.
Realize you matter. What you contribute counts. You can make a difference. Your community needs you. Your community’s the world and all her beings. We need each other to not only survive, but thrive and make the world a better place for all to be.
Synergy Community Farms – Maui, Hawaii
Aloha World. We’re the Synergy Community Farms with our first, primary location in Maui, Hawaii. We are also the home of the Temple of Tantra (www.templeoftantra.org) and School of Tantra (www.schooloftantra.com). We envision that eventually tantric farms/ashrams/temples will exist all over the globe, a return to what was before as evidenced by many ruins and archeological digs now revealing our true past.
Our main focus right now is creating intentional, sustainable, conscious communities. Our core principals are based on tantra (means weave) in its purest sense, that of creating right livelihood, sharing love, loving one another, weaving together and seeing how we can best support each other.
Together we focus on that which serves the highest good while simultaneously respects the rights of each individual. We do what we can to nurture and support each individual member of the community as well as the animals, plants, land, water and air. We realize all are essential for our life, pleasure and enjoyment.
We’re a blissed-based culture with a strrong focus on agape love, love for one another. Most of our members have some kind of spiritual practice which involves meditation, reflection, compassionate/kind (non-violent) communications and prayer. We feel some kind of connection to a higher power beyond self while not necessarily describing it in traditional, religious ways. Many remember oneness and incorporate GodSense within Self. All revere and respect individuality, consicousness and free will for we realize diversity is the foundation of life.
Synergy Community Farms (SCF) has been known by many names over the years and has been in existence since 1979. SCF was founded by Dr. Sasha Lessin and some of his hui partners (who will remain nameless at this point in time until we receive permission (if we chose to even chose solicit it) to include in this ongoing saga) back in the day. We honor and respect their contributions for we have grown and become what we are because of their efforts. We carry forth a vision of love and connection while realizing that we accomplish what we do because “we build upon the shoulders of giants”, our forefathers, those who came before.
This land is very sacred, spiritual and has been a haven for healing since its inception. Hundreds if not thousands have been through these portals (as this truly is an interdimensional portal, a vortex to higher dimensions and levels of awareness for those sensitive enough to grok it), and they have received profound healing, messages and lessons for their evolution to higher awareness and universal consciousness.
Some have had it easier than others. There are even those who are no longer with us in this dimension. With each passing of one of our universal/global members, we become more aware of our connection with all on both sides of the veil. They add to the energy of this magical place. They are all honored, loved, adored, respected.
You know who you are, both on this plane and others, and since this is a portal, others who come here often see them. We smile as they gift us. Fear not, for they are all part of the divine plan, the eternal, universal connection between this realm and higher realms.
This land is a portal to ascension and as such, has been recognized by many and has been dubbed, “The Ascension Center”. There is another, supporting web site soon to come called www.ascensioncenter.org which will be online as time permits. I will record more information there while this site will focus on the community vision.
Meanwhile, today we are focused in bringing you some essential information so you might better understand the role and value of this sacred place for the growth and expansion of consciousness for humanity. This energy, this land must be protected, from development and those who do not understand its significance. This land is conservation land, preserved, protected for ages and while many have tried to use it otherwise, the land calls those who protect it and protected it remains.
There are those who, on an ego level, do not quite understand why they are called here, to Maui and to especially to this land. But their soul knows that they have been called to be Guardians, Champions, Stewards of these islands. And some are called to this particular land. It has been so since the beginning and will remain so long after we ascend to other realms.
I was called from Pennsylvania in 1993 to come to Hawaii. I left everyone I knew. It made no sense at the time, yet I was compelled and could do nothing else but respond to its becon. I landed on the island of Oahu and at that point in time was aware that Oahu, while nice and I am grateful that she welcomed me into her arms, was not my final destination. I knew Source would reveal more, in due time.
I met Dr. Lessin in 1997 and he was the catalyst for me to come here. When I arrived at SCF, I knew that very first night that I was at last home and that my wandering around the planet had at last ended. As verification, I slept soundly through the night for the first time in four years after suffering horribly from insomnia.
I love this land and she loves me. This mountain has an energy, a consciousness and this land, at the foothills of this incredible “beast” has an even more intense, magical energy and properties that are unknown anywhere else on this Earth.
I personally believe, based on my personal chanelling and information downloaded from Source, my Guides, Council of Elders, Soul Family and Higher Self, that this land resides on top of the interdimensional portals of the Halls of Amenti.
Other locations around the world are at the same longitiude. They ring this planet. This location is part of that ring. It’s critical for what is about to unfold for all beings of this, and other worlds.
But then again, what do I know? Perhaps I’m just an eccentric old hippie who loves my home and the adorable cats who live here with me. We share all with my incredible, prescious husband and friends and family (both by blood and my spiritual family) who come to visit, hang with us and some even live here (at least 6 months).
I write this “blog” entry on 12/28/11, the countdown to 2012 and all the magic that time has for us in store. My cat, Tiger, sits on the water tank at the height of our window outside the office and complains, begs that I feed her. The water flows consistantly, creates a pleasant sound like a gentle waterfall as it drip, drip, drips into the tank, filling it, keeping all who live here blessed with the most incredible, pure, energy-filled and vibrant water in the world that springs from the mountains behind us. Paradise. What a life.
We are blessed. All is well. There’s a peace that fills this land which I hope permeates out to you who read this.
We are an intentional community, an experiment in extended family, in tribe, in ways known before and long lost in the hubub of the modern industrial complex society we now face. Can we return to more simpler times?
I find if we dig our hands in the soil and eat the riches of the land, the fruits and vegetables so full of life our tongues squeal with delight as living molecules release their vibrant, intoxicating tastes across our tongues, that we somehow return to center, to the core of ourself. But how did we lose our way in the first place?
I remember days, over 50 years ago, as a child our father would drive us to visit neighboring farms. We lived in a city, in Pittsburgh. But in the 60s when you could drive 5 to 10 minutes in any direction and still find farms, cows and chickens.
I saw it come down, taken over, become huge box stores and giant highways spanning hundreds of miles. One by one the farms were plowed under. Food production went from down the road with neighbors who smiled and had faces you knew and names you remembered to so far away you had no idea who was growing what and their motivation became pure profit. Love was removed from our food. We now suffer because of it. But it’s never too late as long as we live.
Get back to the land. Find your roots and you’ll find yourself. Create, join, discover intentional communities. Remember who you truly are. You are part of a family. That family may not be the one you were born into. But that’s ok. Love them anyway even though they’re dysfunctional. Unconditional love doesn’t require anything else but loving.
Somewhere there are those who love you and will help you heal, learn and grow, evolve to a being with whom others are delighted to interact with, hang out with, love, be with, share love, get intimate with and yes, get involved with.
We are the future. Communities are the future. They are the only things that are sustainable. All else will fade away.
We need to remember who were were through the past and come full circle here to this now, clear on through to our future. Become who you’ve always desired yourself to be. You can do it. We can make it.
Recent Comments