community | intentional community | structures…
By structures we mean…
- Shared Vision & Purpose
- Core Values
- Tools & Protocols to support both the attainment/alignment and maintenance of the above, both for individuals and the wider community group.
- Agreements: member agreement with all of the above (and to implement and honour any agreements) is essential for healthy community living.
As a society we often associate agreements with rules and with restriction and loss of freedom. For us, agreements are about stepping into alignment with self-responsibility and actually allowing for a fuller, more sustainable expression of freedom.
view our working document for community relationship structure here
The rough structure of an )i( intentional community as we currently see it…
Please note that this is a very early stage working document.
Vision & Purpose
To create intentional community, embracing the highest values, where humans, and all forms of life, can truly thrive …yes, survival is a component but thrival is the goal.
To create a beautiful future today, for all the children’s tomorrows
Guiding Principles
Mother Earth, Consciousness and the Children’s Fire
Individually taking responsibility to raise our conscious awareness whilst (and through) living in ‘right’-relationship with the natural world.
The Children’s Fire reminds us to implement seven-generational thinking in all that we do, for all our relations (animal, mineral, plant and human alike).
Being States
These are five high-level states of being that members of the )i( strive to both attain and maintain within the Self. They are our closest approximation of attaining oneness in this dualistic reality and are foundational in informing all aspects of the )i( and )i( Community.
They are Unity, Love, Joy, Peace and Beauty.
Member Attitudes (this is a working title!)
These attitudes are important in enabling us to attain the being states.
self-authorship / self-responsibility ● self-discipline / dedication ● non-judgement ● inclusivity and compassion for all life ● seven generational thinking ● and more…
Agreements, Tools & Protocols
- Commitment to pragmatic personal daily/ongoing practice: mind, body, spirit, emotions
- Commitment to community building tools such as:
- sharing circles | Circle of Foxes | NVC | conflict resolution / Relationship Council | Loving Challenge
- an agreed joining strategy
- an agreed exit strategy
- and more…
Skill Sets
A whole range of skill sets from veg growers to carpenters, healers to ironmongers…
One idea that has been offered is the potential for larger communities (or networked community groups) of up to 150 members in order to cover the key skills required?
Resources (Members / Community)
Land, money, physical tools & structures….
Communal Living
One of the challenges of modern living, both regarding environmental impact upon the planet and the diminishment of social cohesion, is of everyone living in increased isolation and thus servicing an increased need to have their own stuff (tools, kitchen utensils etc). Of course there is a balance to be attained here but in general this stands.
One example of this is community cooking and eating arrangements
no kitchen
different scenarios — journey / stages — 5yr plan kinda thing?
)i( online structures — polling — asking questions — ….
a rich, global network of diverse communities that share the )i( vision, values etc
local environments ecology culture etc
need to be able to MOVE – true resilience is in shared, vision/values, agreements and the subsequent relationships
The Council & Situational Leadership
We suggest that communities will be governed using the old, tribal way of the Council.
The Council is a form of Deep Democracy where all members of the community are engaged. This usually takes the form of 8 distinct societies that represent 8 different perspectives, who are in turn represented by a male/female pair of ‘Chiefs’ who are also associated with that direction.
We also suggest a transient form of leadership where individuals are encouraged to step forward (when they see a way forward in a given situation and sense it appropriate to do so) and take responsibility for supporting the community in moving forwards. This is done for the love of the wider community, not for personal ambition.
( Hmmm, can see potential issues with this one? …who has the authority to do this? …maybe offered as a proposal that then needs to be supported by community members? )
Other Concepts…
Gift Economy / No Money
The goal is to seed communities that are able to transition towards no money: where interactions are based upon a mindset of abundance.
**** Si, need your words here really.
