Congrats on the project, Nicole! Looking forward to hearing more, do keep us posted!! Regarding what would make a regen village ideal for us, I'd suscribe to many of the things you said. As a plus, I'd add some shared spirituality. No need to believe in the same things, but to have an awareness and openness for the mystical. Also artists, music and general enjoyment of beauty and life as part of the day to day of the community. It's not just about regenerating what's been destroyed but also about living our life to the fullest together. 💙 M.
I think that it very true, and I didn't touch on it here. A sense of purpose, and a joyful life shared together. I am going to edit the article to include this piece, and I will tag you. Believing in the same foundational things -- such as treating the environment well -- are important, while people of many religious/spiritual belief systems could coexist.
Great question to answer! Your list provides much good food for thought. On your
My must-haves are shared beliefs & values that counteract the toxic beliefs we were programmed with by our culture, full and equal participation in community life and shared work (according to one's means), community property held in shared ownership including land and buildings (no private property beyond personal belongings), and a culture of airing grievances openly and quickly, with a clear and comprehensive path to resolving conflict, and a commitment of each person to do the personal work necessary to live in community in a good way.
Oops, can't edit! I meant to add that while I really your Prosocial Frameworks point, I don't agree that conflict is inherently anti-social, but rather quite the opposite. In my experience avoiding conflict inevitably drives a wedge between people in any relationship, without exception.
While conflict that is handled badly can also drive people apart, I believe a willingness to engage in conflict is the only way that relationships can move past the surface stage of politeness into real depth and intimacy. The process of meeting conflict and moving all the way through it to the stage of repair is what forms the kinds of bonds that truly make a community - at least community in the fullest sense, the way the word used to be used to mean in times past.
My opinion is not that conflict isn't good. It can be very revelatory, and here at Ecovilla there is a community building group called "Being in tension with intention" that explores just that. It's more so that often we arrive at conflict because of all these unconscious behaviors and patterns we have that are anti-social such as projection, selfishness, lack of empathy/awareness/curiosity towards the experience of the other. My opinion is that a lot of conflict wouldn't happen at all if we were more aware and practicing pro-social behaviors and frameworks.
Fully! I believe that we have a chance to design and agree to news ways of relating and existing, and you would want to go in with a group of people who are dedicated to that, and ideally already have experience in conscious communication (such as learning to air grievances in a quick but dignified way), or are very open and willing to learn.
The part of ownership that is important to you, I am curious what that represents to you? Do you feel it is insurance against inequality, a way of securing proper care of the buildings/lands over time, etc? There are so many spectrums of what good community can look like. I feel that not enough communities implement an income sharing model for example, but not all of them need to.
Again a great article, Nicole! Thanks for putting this together. It serves as a great help to design a regenerative seminar and incubation place we are on the way to realising in Germany. I’ll take this inspiration to our next investor meeting.
I’d also like to add a note to Systems Exit: I see it rather as a ‚not have‘ aspect.
regenerative villages and projects are beautiful inspirations for wider society. In my opinion any such place needs a few people who are willing to go out and share their insights as well as open the doors for people from wider society. In so many western countries - maybe beyond that, too - people don’t integrate what they haven’t seen being done elsewhere. (Unless a strong visionary lives with them, which I knowing of 5 towns in whole Germany).
regionally, nationally and globally things will not change if regenerative practitioners take an exit-strategy. Only discourse and lived examples have the power to transform the destructive ideas of e.g. ethnocentrism and industrialism.
Regenerative village life & making is about taking responsibility not only for ourselves but also for wider society. It’s hard and draining - and I speak of experience - and it’s rewarding. :)
Ooh, this is a good one. I think systems exit represents building entirely new systems rather than fighting against the old ones. I believe what you're touching on is isolationism, which I agree is not useful for global impact, cultivating relationships, or sharing learnings.
It is definitely about taking responsibility.
Imagine the power of multiple incubation places like yours establishing themselves as sovereign territories that represent an entirely new country, connected through shared regenerative values instead of ethnicity or nationality.
I would love to know more about your project as it blossoms and look for ways to promote your work.
Fantastic! Thank you so much for this! We are definitely building towards the same things.
I know I need to learn more about the "spirit of place" and communicating with the land about what it needs. And I need to figure out how I want to promote that within RegenBuilder -- to keep people from getting ahead of themselves making the digital representation without first consulting the spirit of the place. 🤔
Spot on! We want to model these things in our mind, and forget that land is a physical reality, and even farther from our minds is the concept of spirit. I would love to see checks and balances that keep us from living only in this mental reality. The comment is similar to Marta y Andreu's above, with a call for more sensibility to spirit and connectivity with the spiritual realms. I am going to add this piece to the article, because I didn't touch on this connection piece.
I was relating to the Placemaking & Indigeneity section. I do think you included this -- I had just heard the term "spirit of place" to refer to that aspect of land projects.
I'm honestly not sure where I fall on the *shared* spirituality aspect of a community. I do think building spaces to allow for open divine expression through the arts is very important. Encouraging open and deep conversations is great. And I'd love to pull out my hand-drum around a campfire every now and then. So I suppose as long as the "shared" part is enabling the exploration of your own personal spirituality -- rather than trying to enforce or evangelize any particular form of spirituality -- it could be great.
This is such an important consideration, and to me it's the core of my spirituality (and the only spiritual aspect that is a must-have for me, that everyone must share).
This is also why I have such an issue with modern construction and development-intensive projects. Razing a swath of land flat with bulldozers, wiping out all living beings on it and disturbing the earth itself in a really big way, simply isn't compatible with listening to the land and actually honoring it's voice, unless it's done with great care and ritual and to serve a great need.
Congrats on the project, Nicole! Looking forward to hearing more, do keep us posted!! Regarding what would make a regen village ideal for us, I'd suscribe to many of the things you said. As a plus, I'd add some shared spirituality. No need to believe in the same things, but to have an awareness and openness for the mystical. Also artists, music and general enjoyment of beauty and life as part of the day to day of the community. It's not just about regenerating what's been destroyed but also about living our life to the fullest together. 💙 M.
I think that it very true, and I didn't touch on it here. A sense of purpose, and a joyful life shared together. I am going to edit the article to include this piece, and I will tag you. Believing in the same foundational things -- such as treating the environment well -- are important, while people of many religious/spiritual belief systems could coexist.
Hi Nicole! I'm glad my comment helped you with the article. I hope you find or found that wonderful ecovillage with all those beautiful standards.💙 M.
I have to build it 😇
Would love to see your village blossom into fruition, yes to all the things!!
You're invited <3 I want to know how to support your sunflower lab and make sure that blossoms the way it wants to.
Great question to answer! Your list provides much good food for thought. On your
My must-haves are shared beliefs & values that counteract the toxic beliefs we were programmed with by our culture, full and equal participation in community life and shared work (according to one's means), community property held in shared ownership including land and buildings (no private property beyond personal belongings), and a culture of airing grievances openly and quickly, with a clear and comprehensive path to resolving conflict, and a commitment of each person to do the personal work necessary to live in community in a good way.
Oops, can't edit! I meant to add that while I really your Prosocial Frameworks point, I don't agree that conflict is inherently anti-social, but rather quite the opposite. In my experience avoiding conflict inevitably drives a wedge between people in any relationship, without exception.
While conflict that is handled badly can also drive people apart, I believe a willingness to engage in conflict is the only way that relationships can move past the surface stage of politeness into real depth and intimacy. The process of meeting conflict and moving all the way through it to the stage of repair is what forms the kinds of bonds that truly make a community - at least community in the fullest sense, the way the word used to be used to mean in times past.
Also I love your input! Keep it coming <3
My opinion is not that conflict isn't good. It can be very revelatory, and here at Ecovilla there is a community building group called "Being in tension with intention" that explores just that. It's more so that often we arrive at conflict because of all these unconscious behaviors and patterns we have that are anti-social such as projection, selfishness, lack of empathy/awareness/curiosity towards the experience of the other. My opinion is that a lot of conflict wouldn't happen at all if we were more aware and practicing pro-social behaviors and frameworks.
Fully! I believe that we have a chance to design and agree to news ways of relating and existing, and you would want to go in with a group of people who are dedicated to that, and ideally already have experience in conscious communication (such as learning to air grievances in a quick but dignified way), or are very open and willing to learn.
The part of ownership that is important to you, I am curious what that represents to you? Do you feel it is insurance against inequality, a way of securing proper care of the buildings/lands over time, etc? There are so many spectrums of what good community can look like. I feel that not enough communities implement an income sharing model for example, but not all of them need to.
Again a great article, Nicole! Thanks for putting this together. It serves as a great help to design a regenerative seminar and incubation place we are on the way to realising in Germany. I’ll take this inspiration to our next investor meeting.
I’d also like to add a note to Systems Exit: I see it rather as a ‚not have‘ aspect.
regenerative villages and projects are beautiful inspirations for wider society. In my opinion any such place needs a few people who are willing to go out and share their insights as well as open the doors for people from wider society. In so many western countries - maybe beyond that, too - people don’t integrate what they haven’t seen being done elsewhere. (Unless a strong visionary lives with them, which I knowing of 5 towns in whole Germany).
regionally, nationally and globally things will not change if regenerative practitioners take an exit-strategy. Only discourse and lived examples have the power to transform the destructive ideas of e.g. ethnocentrism and industrialism.
Regenerative village life & making is about taking responsibility not only for ourselves but also for wider society. It’s hard and draining - and I speak of experience - and it’s rewarding. :)
Ooh, this is a good one. I think systems exit represents building entirely new systems rather than fighting against the old ones. I believe what you're touching on is isolationism, which I agree is not useful for global impact, cultivating relationships, or sharing learnings.
It is definitely about taking responsibility.
Imagine the power of multiple incubation places like yours establishing themselves as sovereign territories that represent an entirely new country, connected through shared regenerative values instead of ethnicity or nationality.
I would love to know more about your project as it blossoms and look for ways to promote your work.
Fantastic! Thank you so much for this! We are definitely building towards the same things.
I know I need to learn more about the "spirit of place" and communicating with the land about what it needs. And I need to figure out how I want to promote that within RegenBuilder -- to keep people from getting ahead of themselves making the digital representation without first consulting the spirit of the place. 🤔
Spot on! We want to model these things in our mind, and forget that land is a physical reality, and even farther from our minds is the concept of spirit. I would love to see checks and balances that keep us from living only in this mental reality. The comment is similar to Marta y Andreu's above, with a call for more sensibility to spirit and connectivity with the spiritual realms. I am going to add this piece to the article, because I didn't touch on this connection piece.
I was relating to the Placemaking & Indigeneity section. I do think you included this -- I had just heard the term "spirit of place" to refer to that aspect of land projects.
I'm honestly not sure where I fall on the *shared* spirituality aspect of a community. I do think building spaces to allow for open divine expression through the arts is very important. Encouraging open and deep conversations is great. And I'd love to pull out my hand-drum around a campfire every now and then. So I suppose as long as the "shared" part is enabling the exploration of your own personal spirituality -- rather than trying to enforce or evangelize any particular form of spirituality -- it could be great.
I am in agreement about not needing shared spirituality as much as shared values (although they can be very intertwined).
Some communities were founded purely around spiritual beliefs, but real society is a spiritual charcuterie board.
My interest is to design places where people can practice their beliefs without conflict.
This is such an important consideration, and to me it's the core of my spirituality (and the only spiritual aspect that is a must-have for me, that everyone must share).
This is also why I have such an issue with modern construction and development-intensive projects. Razing a swath of land flat with bulldozers, wiping out all living beings on it and disturbing the earth itself in a really big way, simply isn't compatible with listening to the land and actually honoring it's voice, unless it's done with great care and ritual and to serve a great need.