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The purpose of this article is to acquaint you with the current communal living project
(which I call the GroundWater Co-op) but
first I want to talk about Communal Living IN GENERAL.
I have enough experience with Group Living to understand that it is VERY important
WHO you’re living with.
I once had to evict someone because I was informed that – “if HE does not leave,
then the rest of us WILL.”
(& this was happening while I, the resident landlord, was (for 4 weeks) out-of-state, on a meditation course)
Anyway, I just want to acknowledge that HARMONY in a group living situation is not ‘guaranteed’, nor is it likely to occur by accident.
That said, I still think that EVERYONE SHOULD DO IT.
We are Social Creatures; and group living approximates how we (humans) were ‘designed’ to live.
The Best Possible version of this – is where everyone sees everyone else every day, and all sit down to eat dinner (at least) daily. AND where people have gotten to KNOW one another (well) / have formed heart-connections at a deep level and have BECOME a FAMILY.
~ “A family is a group of people living together in a house made of love.” ~
THIS is the ideal. Where everyone in the family would do ANYTHING for anyone in the family. Where Love and Trust is complete.
What could be better than living (every day) with people you love ?
Besides
There are clear advantages to living in a community that is sizable. Maybe, on your own, you may not be able to afford to have a swimming pool, but a family of SIXTY-FIVE could easily do so. (though I now believe that we should not bother with one of those chlorinated concrete things, we should build a Natural Pool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeJjQk8Z8RQ (Are Eco-Friendly Pond Pools the Future of Swimming? 1:16)
The options available to us are (roughly) proportional to the number of people in the family.
But there will be an Upper Limit above which the group would be too big to function properly as a family. [that’s why I don’t think we should grow our family above 100 people]
CITY vs. COUNTRY ~
I have lived in the city and I have lived in the country; and I don’t think the choice is a hard one. Frank Lloyd Wright recommended to – ‘go out into the country ten times farther than you were thinking.’
The quiet. Nature. The safety. Think about our kids. Neither trees nor humans grow well out of concrete. Even if life is a bit harder, it’s still worth it.
Even if you decide to stay in the city, or in suburbia, you should still do what you can to ‘Find your Tribe’ and bring it as close to a True Family as you can.
Have weekly potlucks with your neighbors (or friends. ‘Your Friends ARE your Family.’ )
When a big city is working properly, life there can still range from ‘pretty good’ to ‘very bad’.
But
What do you think will happen if the power grid should go down, or there should occur some other major disruption? (and there are NUMEROUS things that could trigger a collapse)
Once people in a city have no electricity, no water and, after 3 days – no food (any) city will become the WORST place to be.
Do you know of ANY city that has back-up plans for what to do if the grid should go down? How to continue to provide clean water to the populace? I don’t.
Cities (except maybe for Christ Church in New Zealand) are full of strangers. If the grid should (for any reason) go down, very soon will Good People begin doing terrible things to whoever is around. (to what lengths would YOU go to protect (and get food, water, etc. for) YOUR immediate family ? )
If law and order should suddenly evaporate, you’re NOT going to want to be in a city.
Order IS cooperation. But once people no longer believe that cooperation is feasible, good manners will no longer prevail.
Unless you have (much) more faith in civilization than I have, you should consider leaving the city now, while it’s easy to do so. And find your tribe.
If things ‘go south’ you’ll be hard put, if you’re on your own.
All that being said, I’d like you to know – that MY reasons for wanting to set up the GroundWater Co-op are (basically) because I think we should do everything we can – to create a “Heaven-on-Earth” environment where we can live and our kids can grow up.
Bringing this about may not be easy, but the goal is simple : The Best Life Possible.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [ the Co-op ]
Human Loneliness is not just some little problem.
It is the Driver of Industries:
Pornography
Prostitution
The International SlaveTrade (which creates mainly sex slaves.)
There is more slavery in this world right now than there has been at any previous time.
The International Dating Industry
And Loneliness is a significant driver of other industries too:
The Weight Loss Industry
The Cosmetics Industry
The Fashion Industry
And what about the Alcohol and Drug Industries?
[Ask yourself this question – “In each 100 times that drugs or alcohol are consumed, how many involve the ‘desire to get laid’?”]
It is now understood (by medical science) that, on a personal level –
Loneliness is as ‘good’ a predictor of morbidity / mortality
as is obesity or heavy smoking.
The Human Family is not even close to coming to terms with this little problem.
I have, myself, participated (as a customer) in the online dating industry for the past 8 ½ years;
so I feel (by now) I have become acquainted with the problem of loneliness.
There is a story that I’ve heard many (many) times: A certain woman will tell me that she focused her attention on her career, and, for the past decade, she worked hard, and has now become successful in her field. But now she realizes that she’s lonely.
What women want is – real feelings. They want to love and be loved.
Generally, what they imagine (& hope for) is to find a sincere man who wants the same thing they do.
You may want to have a look at an old post:
https://worldfamilytrading.com/loneliness/?v=7516fd43adaa (published in June, 2018)
For many people (on this planet, right now) –
the pain of loneliness is somewhere between excruciating and unbearable.
Well –
I want to DO something to address the problem of loneliness:
I want to create a village (starting small, and finishing up at around 100 people)
Multicultural. All ages. Teaching & learning. Working and playing. Raise a lot of our own food.
Get to KNOW each other. Optimize Living.
Take on the loneliness problem. Study it. Using ourselves as subjects. Figure out WHAT WORKS.
Study the problem (through our own inner life) over time.
Put together a workable recipe that others could follow and be confident of success.
Imagine what it would be like
to live with a bunch of people (that you’ve gotten to know well) EACH of whom is determined
that YOU should be happy.
That’s what I’m hoping for.
True Family.
(This happens to be what our planet needs too) And maybe we can work on that later. I hope so.
In my view, our planet is in Real Trouble. And WE are that trouble. Either we will change and Do Better, or we could do such severe harm to the Great Mother ~ that we may well perish.
[Nor should we be thinking – “Well, if things get Too Bad here, we’ll just Fly Away to another world.” We must NOT do that, or think like that! Why should ANYONE think that if we wreck THIS planet that we would NOT wreck the NEXT one? NO, No, no ! If we do NOT come together and learn to take care of each other (and the GREAT MOTHER too) then perhaps we DESERVE to die. Maybe we SHOULD perish ! ]
Looking around – at human Folly, there would not seem to be much reason to be optimistic. But we (humans) are not the only show in town. It says (in the Urantia Book, p. 51 that) “In the affairs of men’s hearts the Universal Father may not always have his way; but in the conduct and destiny of a planet the divine plan prevails; the eternal purpose of wisdom and love triumphs.”
We are NOT the Authors of Creation (nor did any ONE of us create his own life) Maybe we’re just a two-year old pulling all the pots out of the cupboard.
But surely we should not presume upon God’s mercy. Whatever we can think of to do to preserve our planet-home we should DO it. And I happen to have a few ideas on that. But as Wind-in-his-hair says (in ‘Dancing with Wolves’) : “No man can tell another man what to do.” So – (once the GroundWater family considers itself to be “Okay”) I will have some proposals, some suggestions to make as to HOW we may be able to come to the aid of our beleaguered planet; and one (or more) of these ideas MAY be pursued / taken on by the family (or some part of it). But the family will make that choice. Perhaps, once we get to know each other, we will see ourselves (when working together) as quite a force to be reckoned with.
Here are some of my ideas:
ThinkTank (invite experts / visionaries to participate)
Solar System Scale Models (for schools & cities)(build and market [or just market the instructions] )
Survival ThinkTank board game (I’ve done some development on this project already)
Legislation ~ amend the Constitution, making it illegal to damage our Life-Support systems / any person can petition the courts for an injunction
We already have a Defense department. (War) Let’s establish a Ministry of Peace.
Establish / enable weekly neighborhood potlucks (world wide)
Reform our schools: augment (pep rallies / cheerleaders) with training: How to connect with and appreciate “Others”/adversaries / how to get to know strangers / move out of Enemy mentality
Teach conflict resolution skills / foster Compassion Trust Justice (nurture Peace)
Create Psy-Fiction films & literature ~ (create “re-do” stories & films; What would history look like if we’d HAD the spiritual maturity to be humane?)
Clean Culture / work to clean up our culture
Establish a World Government (outlaw War)
I believe that it’s the PEOPLE (in ANY enterprise) that is the most important component.
People (really fine people) are the KEY.
And, of course, people vote ‘with their feet’.
No one is going to show up for such a project as this if their heart is not in it.
Having spent 17 years (1995-2012) in a Religious Order (https://gccalliance.org/ ) [and being a Philosopher] I don’t see the world quite the way most people do. For the most part, I would say – we live lives that are self-centered. We are selfish and self-absorbed.
Perhaps you realize this.
Maybe you feel ready to try for a higher life.
(As Hafiz says – “You might as well attempt something real along this path.”)
(While the first “job” of this family will be to end loneliness, loneliness is not a requirement. We’ll ‘take you as you are.’)
Let me tell you something about the qualities of the people I’m hoping will show up:
Humanity – (kindness, respect, compassion, warmth, honesty, authenticity, humility)
They want (somehow) to make the world better.
Curiosity – a desire to understand more deeply the most important things of Life.
Clean habits: (people who ingest poisons, [who smoke or drink, or who abuse drugs] should not apply)
“It takes a village to raise a child.” And as that’s one of the things we’re going to be doing,
we need people who are willing to take on the character development necessary for becoming a good role model.
Intelligence (brilliance even) is a ‘plus’ but not a requirement. Character is more important: Love, courage, unselfishness / generosity, persistence / tenacity, sincerity, desire for spiritual growth.
If you cannot tolerate sitting down together and sharing (at least one) meal every day, with the whole family – this probably is not for you.
[Also – I am expecting that we will have weekly “house meetings” – to check in; Any unmet needs or issues?; where are we? (all) in our journey with loneliness? any changes? What caused the change? What could we do to make our life better? etc. ]
While I do NOT want the job of establishing or enforcing rules,
I do NOT happen to think that casual sex is a good program.
If we were wiser, we would (I believe) have some ‘fear’ of sex – (the way we should respect God)
There’s way more going on (when it comes to sex, or God, or Human Life) than we’re aware of.
I would consider Faith a ‘plus’, but not a requirement.
While our Values do ‘fall out’ of our Beliefs … even so –
whether you CARE is much more important than the details of belief.
~~~~~
It is popularly supposed that between those who use the word “God” and those who do not there is a great gulf. But the gulf lies elsewhere. It lies between those who dogmatize, either positively or negatively, and those who recognize in great humility that something within them bears witness to realities which may be momentous in our lives, but which lie beyond the grasping net of our categories of thought.
– Phillip Hewett
[Some people believe that Knowledge is finished and some do not. – A’J]
You have to be true to yourself, but you have to be true to your best self, not to the self that secretly thinks you are better than other people.
– Stephen Gaskin
It seems to me like this. It’s not a terrible thing – I mean it may be terrible, but it’s not damaging, it’s not poisoning to do without something one wants. . . . What’s terrible is to pretend that the second-rate is first-rate. To pretend that you don’t need love when you do; or you like your work when you know quite well you’re capable of better.
– Doris Lessing
Nothing is too wonderful to be true. – Michael Faraday
The whole order of things is as outrageous as any miracle which could presume to violate it.
– G. K. Chesterton
The only thing that makes life possible is
permanent, intolerable uncertainty: not knowing what comes next.
– Ursula K. Le Guin
Millions of persons long for immortality
who do not know what to do with themselves on a rainy afternoon.
– Susan Ertz
Work isn’t to make money; you work to justify life. – Marc Chagall
Those who don’t read
have no advantage over those who can’t. – Mark Twain
We are like flies crawling across the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel: we cannot see what angels and gods lie underneath the threshold of our perceptions. We do not live in reality; we live in our paradigms, our habituated perceptions, our illusions; the illusions we share through culture we call reality; but the true historical reality of our condition is invisible to us.
– William Irwin Thompson
If you go into even the best restaurant in the world and ask for bread and water, they’re gonna bring you bread and water.
– source unknown ( I used to hear this around MIU when I was there.)
[As Steve Jobs says: “Don’t settle.”]
“In Louisville, at the corner of Fourth and Walnut, in the center of the shopping district, I was suddenly overwhelmed with the realization that I loved all these people, that they were mine and I theirs, that we could not be alien to one another even though we were total strangers. It was like waking from a dream of separateness, of spurious self-isolation in a special world. . . .
This sense of liberation from an illusory difference was such a relief and such a joy to me that I almost laughed out loud. . . . I have the immense joy of being man, a member of a race in which God Himself became incarnate. As if the sorrows and stupidities of the human condition could overwhelm me, now that I realize what we all are. And if only everybody could realize this! But it cannot be explained. There is no way of telling people that they are all walking around shining like the sun.
Then it was as if I suddenly saw the secret beauty of their hearts, the depths of their hearts where neither sin nor desire nor self-knowledge can reach, the core of their reality, the person that each one is in God’s eyes. If only they could all see themselves as they really are. If only we could see each other that way all the time. There would be no more war, no more hatred, no more cruelty, no more greed. . . . But this cannot be seen, only believed and ‘understood’ by a peculiar gift.”
― Thomas Merton, Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander
~~~~~~~~~~
For the most part we live alone. Isolated. A stranger to our neighbors.
We do this because that’s how society is ‘organized’. It’s what we already know how to do.
Also – the Modern Age (and its affluence) has descended upon us quite suddenly. (Certainly the past 100 years has seen a great deal of change & development) And we have, rather unthinkingly, just gone along with it. It is as though we have adopted as Fundamental Principles: Ease / Comfort, Convenience, Independence/Self-sufficiency, and the ‘Inevitable March of Progress’.
And there’s always the matter of Which Club we belong to: Most of us don’t even consider living in a tipi, because that would be inconsistent with the behavior of those who belong to the Club we think we belong to.
In many African cultures, EVERYONE (as they grow up) learns to carry a burden on the top of their head. In the West, this practice is (as though) shunned. Why? Culture. Clubs.
It is well known that Henry David Thoreau took himself off to Walden Pond for the purpose of living simply. In his book “Walden” he talks about how much energy white people spend building (and then maintaining) a structure in which to live; while the Indians (who were happy to live simply) spent relatively little, giving them more time to do other things.
Are we to imagine that our own society’s status quo is equivalent to the path to the Greatest Joy and to True Human Fulfillment?
I doubt it. I think – if we apply ourselves, we can do better.
~~~~~~~~~~~
Some of you (reading this) will have already read some other essays that I have published here (on this site; there are 130-some essays available here.) If you have read some of these, you probably feel like you already know who I am. But (for newcomers, especially) I should say some words about myself – (more than a little, really – I need to say enough for you to get a feel for who I am):
My name is A’Journe Spyker. I live near Sisters, Oregon. I am a Philosopher and a Teacher. (As I look around and see the societal casualties and the individual casualties, I blame Education for these.)
I grew up in northwest Ohio. The second of three sons. My parents were decent and hard-working. ‘Home’ included a small commercial greenhouse, a garden, and a nursery. There was generally quite a bit of work to be done.
[I used to hear our dad say – “One boy – a whole boy. Two boys – half a boy. Three boys – no boy at all.” He was, of course, talking about production, about getting work done.]
But there was not always work that had to be done. And when there wasn’t, we were free to roam. And we did so. We’d go back to the creek (probably to catch frogs, or sometimes crawdads). Swing (by a rope hanging in the Buckeye tree overhead) – up to the roof of the well-house. Or build a tree-house.
Or we’d wander farther – over to Hover’s Woods; or (just beyond the woods) to the Gravel Pit. Which had water in it. This is where we went fishing. Or swimming.
With the help of a neighbor, we put up a rope swing – in a big (dead) Elm tree at the edge of the gravel pit. Two (manila) ropes descended from a high branch of the elm; and to these we attached a piece of galvanized steel pipe (with an eye-bolt near each end) making a trapeze, which, at rest, could be reached from near the edge of the bank above the water. And there happened to be a (live) Shag-bark Hickory tree (favorably positioned) a bit farther away from the water. So we nailed 2×4’s to the trunk of this Hickory, making a ladder to a small platform, 10 or 12 feet up.
So a person could get himself onto this platform, and someone else could throw him up the trapeze.
You’d have to pick your feet up (to clear the bank), but you’d then find yourself well-propelled out over the water. We would let go at the top-end of the first swing, and drop into the water (which was at least 8 feet deep). This apparatus provided us with considerable fun. For years.
We were unsupervised. It seemed to us – that we had real lives.
[Even when I was quite young – when I’d see some kids playing in a yard (in the suburbs of Lima) I’d think to myself – “Oh, this isn’t right ! They have no place to roam!” I would feel really sorry for them.]
We (all three of us) participated in Scouting (Boy Scouts of America). I was in Cub Scouts, then Boy Scouts, then became an Assistant Scoutmaster. I loved hiking and camping.
[Ever since I could walk around and pick up a rock, I’ve always loved rocks and trees.]
After high school I went to University of Idaho, on a football scholarship. After 3 years at Idaho, I flunked out, and went back to Ohio. I went to a Business School (in Lima) for a couple years. Studied Accounting and Business Administration.
Got a draft notice (1969), so I enlisted in the Navy. Spent my first year studying Russian (at DLIWC, in Monterey)
When I got out of the Navy (1973) I moved to Seattle. I had friends there (with whom, in the old days, when we were students at Idaho – we’d talked about ‘playing commune’ someday)
And for the next eleven years, the main thing that I did – was that Collective Living project – (of which, for many years, I was the ‘resident landlord’: I lived there; and I made it work / I took on the responsibility of seeing to it that the people there were happy). I learned some things in those days – about group living.
Attended MIU (Maharishi International University, in Fairfield, Iowa) 1976-1980. (BA in Education)
Met a British/Canadian/Gypsy woman – Moira Morningstar (at an Education Conference in Bellingham) We got married (Quadra Island, British Columbia) in 1986. We built a house there.
In 1992 & 93 I took myself off to the Counselor Training Institute (Vancouver, B.C. – for three intensive weeks); Earned a ‘Certificate of Interpersonal Counseling’ (Couples & Group counseling).
I had, for several years, been working as a school janitor. But I realized – I should be teaching, which meant going back to school to get a ‘Masters in Teaching’. After considering U/Vic, Simon Fraser, & UBC, Moira and I went on an extended tour of the western United States (to look at U.S. schools, for me). I applied to Evergreen State; Lewis and Clark; George Fox; and University of New Mexico. [I took the GRE before leaving Canada. And had to fly (twice, from Tucson to San Diego – to take the PRAXIS & the CBEST tests)]
All four US colleges accepted me.
But – I did not attend ANY of them. On our way back to Quadra Island (B.C.) we visited Sedona (Arizona), where, at Oak Creek (Red rock Crossing, near Cathedral Rock), we ran into some people who were part of a nearby Religious Order (Aquarian Concepts Community, it was called then) – a woman and 3 kids. I played with Amadon & the Twins; while Moira talked with Len Mana about the community.
I guess we kind of fell into a Cosmic Rabbit Hole there. We hung around a few days, met people, attended some evening classes, got Personal Transmissions, and decided THAT’S where we should be.
We went back to British Columbia, sold our house on Quadra Island, and moved back to A.C.C. in Arizona.
Within a year of becoming a part of this Community, Moira and I got divorced. We had been married for 10 years; and, in many ways, it was a good marriage. Very good, I would say. We were Best Friends, and enjoyed being together. But (we found out) that she was quite an Old Soul, while I am a relatively young Starseed.
[Before we went to Sedona, we realized – that SHE was a Starseed. But (our guess was that) I was an Earthling, (a Urantian / a First-Light Soul). We learned (from our Transmissions) that we were BOTH Starseed; but that I was ‘younger’ ; and this meant that I lacked the spiritual maturity to (properly) lead in a Relationship. [I think that women tend to be more spiritually mature than men, (which is why the man should always seek the counsel of his mate in important matters) but I was just too far behind my sweetheart to ‘be the man’ I needed to be.] We divorced.
I would not describe life in this religious order as ‘fun’ or as ‘easy’. But I would say that it was Good. When you have 50 or 100 people all making a sincere effort to be in God’s will, probably some good things are going to happen.
I sang in the Bright and Morning Star Choir (for 15 years). Was in a couple (smaller) bands: the Starseed Acoustic Ensemble, and the Planetary Folk Group.
Was able to attend numerous Community Transmissions. These were always a Blessing.
The community owned land (with a sizable garden) on Oak Creek (downstream from Red Rock Crossing). There was an old stone cabin there, not far from the creek. I was, for a time, able to live in that cabin. We had many critters there (at the garden): goats, horses, pot-belly pigs, chickens, emus, peacocks (beautiful of course, but too loud at the wrong time of day). There was even a baby javelina (which Kamon, our head gardener, had stolen from under the noses of his parents. He called him ‘Pigrut’ / (pig-rat because javelinas, while they LOOK like pigs, are actually descended from rodents) Anyway Pigr’t (just a little guy) would every day be there in the middle of our circle, at our Morning Prayer. As to whether he prayed with us, I don’t know. But it was pretty heavenly, I thought.
For a couple years my main job was to Teach the Little boys (ages 4-6 There were no little girls in this age group). We would often go ‘walk-about’: I’d teach them what could be eaten. (They liked doing this) I told them they must NOT eat any bugs – without roasting them first — because of parasites. I taught them how to tie their shoes. I made up a song (and taught it to them; I accompanied on guitar) to teach them the Days of the Week. Taught them how to use carpentry hand tools (and a drill press). I would take them (in a van) to Art Galleries, or to the Library. I read them stories (such as “The Animal Family”) Best job I ever had.
For a couple years I built tipis and yurts. The yurts needed lattice walls, rafters, a hub (at the center/and top-end of the rafters), door-frames and doors, a platform / floor. I did all these things; but mostly I sewed: Canvas (or vinyl). Building with a sewing machine. Magdalena taught me. I enjoyed it. (and came to comprehend the genius of the Welt Seam) Best job I ever had.
In 2007 the Community moved south: (in stages) to a 165-acre ranch (on the Santa Cruz River) at Tumacacori, about 20 miles from Mexico. Beautiful. Someone donated to us – a big, old steel-frame windmill. And, it just so happened – that we had a PLACE to put that windmill: Near the north fields there was a 6-inch steel pipe protruding from the ground. Uncapped. If you’d drop a pebble into it, there’d be a pause, then a splash. It was a well casing. And we reckoned we sould use it.
This windmill (the motor and the pump) needed rebuilding; and I applied for the job.
There’s a tapered steel box (full of gears, etc.) at the top, where the fan attaches. The people who made that windmill called this the “motor”. I would call it a ‘transmission’, since its job is to translate rotary motion (from the fan) into up-and-down motion which can operate the pump (which is meant to live below the water table, down in the ground). All these ‘works’ were ingenious. The pump itself (a brass cage – housing stainless steel balls) just needed a little TLC. I had to order some parts to make the ‘motor’ okay. Best job I ever had. [You can ask me, if you want to know – what happened the day we stood up the tower]
Near the east entrance to the ranch was a modest, little, adobe house – which we called the “Feast House”. Well this got remodeled and (considerably) expanded. And it happened to fall on me – to do the welding for this project (and that was a lot of welding). I built a straight staircase on the east side – to an outdoor deck. Which also provided access to the (new) second-story living quarters.
On the west side I built a 2-story spiral staircase (providing access to the rooms on the 2nd floor, and (on up) to a big deck atop the living quarters. This (whole thing, but especially the spiral stairs) was the biggest and most interesting welding project I ever did. (e.g.- figuring out how to construct the long, spiral handrails) And, of course all the decks needed guard rails; and I built all of these. Oh – and there was a little steel porch roof, which I added to the east deck entrance. [and THAT little ‘porch’ project is the ONLY project I ever did – in which I did NOT make some mistake. Otherwise, seems like there was ALWAYS some error – to monumentalize my fallibility]
Best job I ever had.
GCCA already had a Doctor (physician) and a couple of Nurses (as members), so, when eldership decided to create a Hospice, I was chosen (along with a certain woman) to become Certified Nursing Assistants (CNA’s). Elie Elied and I went through a three-month training (this was in 2007) and became Hospice CNA’s.
We would go out (to see patients – at Care Facilities or at individual homes – mostly in Green Valley) perhaps 3 days a week. I felt I had learned JUST ENOUGH (in the training we were given) to begin doing this work. I learned (almost right away) that we are ALL THE SAME: Whether or not a person needs help (seeing to their physical needs) we ALL HAVE THE SAME NEEDS. And (most importantly) we all need Love and Care. Respect. Companionship, Friendship. We need to be Seen and to be appreciated and enjoyed.
Seeing to a patient’s physical needs – that’s basic. And, of course – it’s important. But being WITH PEOPLE as a friend … ENJOYING them ~ THIS was (in my view) the Real Ministry.
Best job I ever had.
I spent 17 years at GCCA; and I’m glad for all of it. It’s true that (in October of 2012) I was asked to leave. They kicked me out – for Intellectual Arrogance, Spiritual Stagnation, Presumptuousness. At least – those were (in my case) the standard complaints. Also – I had the nerve to question the wisdom of a certain thing that Gabriel (our leader/founder) said [during a Wednesday morning community-wide prayer. He said something about a certain neighbor. He said it in jest; and we all knew it was in jest. But I still thought he’d made a mistake; and I did not keep this a secret. While I did not think I was being disloyal, my thoughts & comments were not taken well] And I got kicked out.
As to whether that was a ‘good thing’ or not – I consider that to be above my pay grade. But I’m inclined to give it the “benefit of the doubt” (so as to maintain a positive attitude).
Anyway – I learned a lot during my stay at GCCA. And I have not forsaken those learnings. I learned about Rebellion and about (ugly) Pride (nor do I consider myself free of these evils). I also learned about Starseed (and the four universes they may be from). That most starseed – on this world, right now, and that’s about 1/17th of the population – are Fourth Order. [not something to be proud of. We’re rascals. Rebellious. And we’re not here by our own choice]
And everything I learned from the Urantia Book. I still believe all these things.]
And I still think highly of that community (the people there) and their leadership – Gabriel & Niann, and for all the good work that they do (and want to do). In my soul, I bless them.
Best cult I was ever in.
I consider myself to be a friend and a (grateful) student of Jeff Goebel:
https://holisticmanagement.org/certified-educators/jeff-goebel/
https://aboutlistening.com/wordpress-files/about/jeff-goebel
In 2016 I attended a 3-day workshop/seminar that Jeff led – in Belen, NM. (Belen is the Spanish word for Bethlehem) : “Conflict Resolution through Consensus Building”. It was great.
Pretty much the entire Conflict Resolution Industry is Adversary-Oriented. This is NOT Jeff’s approach. He believes in “100% Consensus” and commitment to “Doing the Right Thing”. And he makes it work. He says – “Better to be the Guide on the Side rather than the Sage on the Stage.”
He is rather quiet. Humble. He facilitates (apparently) simple exercises. But all the while he is equalizing/evening out the Power in the room.
He teaches skills. He facilitates communication. Clarifies the situation. Clarifies goals.
I am certain that there are (important) things he does which are yet invisible to me.
Experiences in my early upbringing indoctrinated me into (the joys of) Collective Effort:
When I was six (and Jack was four) our mom, one autumn day, took us (with her) to a certain farm about 5 miles away to help make Apple Butter. (Since then I have, a few times, made apple butter; but that was the only time I helped make it OUTSIDE) Out in the yard was a wood fire, over which was a (very large) copper pot – to stir which – someone had fashioned a large ell-shaped stirring spoon. The part in the pot (of apple butter) was vertical; and the (level) handle part was quite long, because of the heat of the fire. A man did this job (of stirring the cooking apples) I helped carry firewood. Meanwhile, the kitchen was FULL of women – cutting, coring, and pruning apples (which would then find their way to the copper pot outside). I do not remember the seasoning operation, or the jarring of the finished apple butter. But I presume we came home, at the end of the day, with some of the finished product.
That was (everyone’s) job for that day – make apple butter. Wonderful.
Also there was Cider Making. Our family happened to own a small, two-basket cider press. And we USED it. And this was always a Collective Project. My mom had grown up on a farm (about 7 miles to the east and south) in a big family (a dozen kids – to help work the farm). So – cousins etc. from the Rousculp family would usually show up when we made cider at our place.
We never had to BUY apples. There were enough apple trees in that part of Ohio: we would pick them up from the ground. And the women-folk would cut out the bad spots.
And with the type of press we had – there was a basket under the (hand-cranked) mill, while the other basket was under the Screw – getting the juice squeezed out. The juice ran out of the trough into a bowl on the ground. Then the cider would be strained and poured into jugs or bottles. And in the cheese-cloth straining cloths would be lots of Yellow Jackets. They always showed up too, and would get drunk on apple cider. They were in Heaven. Me too.
https://worldfamilytrading.com/making-apple-cider/?v=7516fd43adaa
In the middle of my Scouting career I was inducted into the Order of the Arrow (a Service Honorary) I think this was my first serious exposure to the notion of Service (as a way of life). After the Tap-Out there is always (a bit later) an Ordeal – a day of hard labor and Silence (no speaking. Is not most of our talk a form of indulgence? I think so. Holding your tongue forces you into a different way of seeing – one which is less “about you”.
Albert Schweitzer says –
I don’t know what your destiny will be, but one thing I do know: the only ones among you who will be really happy are those who have sought and found how to serve.
In the early part of my time in Scouting, I saw rope being made. (This was at Camp Lakota, during a Summer Camp there). For me this (twisting rope, from ‘yarns’) was shocking. (& wonderful)
Years later, when I was 17, (after seeing Royce Pfeiffer walk on a Slack Rope, in his back yard in upstate New York) I built a rope machine – so that I could also have a rope usable for walking on. I could not afford to buy a piece of rope that fat, so I bought a bunch of sisal small stuff (¼” maybe) and twisted that together (with my home-made machine). Then cut that into thirds, and twisted that (in stages) till I had the fat rope I needed.
Tied it between two trees, so that the middle just cleared the ground, with my weight on it.
Before trying to walk, first learn to just stand. Middle of the rope. Face one end of the rope. Toes out (both feet). Front-back stability is normal. But right-left stability goes to zero. What a HOOT !
A Human Being can learn to walk on a slack rope in 20 or 30 minutes. (and anyone who CAN do this – should) I don’t know of any other activity where this happens: you go through this period (in the middle) where you COULD stay on the rope … but you will not. You will step off.
At the beginning, you can not stay on so you step off. (otherwise the rope would swing wide and drop you flat on the ground)
You’re using your body, but you’re training your brain; and pretty soon your brain figures it out. Before you’re ready for it !
THIS is the MIDDLE : Your brain has already figured out how to stay on top of the rope DESPITE all the sideways moving around. But these (odd) sideways motions are yelling in your ear: “Danger, Will Robinson”. “This is too much thrashing around. You can’t stay on the rope.” And you step off ! (even though part of you knows – you could stay on) It’s SO interesting ! You have to really take yourself in hand to get past the Middle.
And once you can stand (& not bail) walking is not so hard.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/ct-GpmxCKhU (Emilia on the slack rope 1 minute)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Apx6xS93wqE (Tatiana Kundik on slack rope 4:40)
Also (early in my time in Boy Scouts) Troop 37 needed camping tents. So we did a (protracted) Paper Drive. People saved up their newspapers for us; and we’d come pick them up. Pick-up trucks. Boys.
I don’t remember where all we got newspapers, but we got a LOT of them. I think we sold them to some company (in Lima) that chewed them up to make insulation. (I’m not sure. I was young.) Probably it took us months. But we did it. When we had enough money, someone submitted the work order to a company who built canvas tents. We bought ourselves (I don’t know – 8 or 10) Baker Tents. Medium brown. Oiled canvas. Sewn-in floor. Tall in front. Sloping roof. Short wall in the back. Mosquito netting in the front. Full front flap – which could be tied down hard, making a front wall, or it could be extended forward as a porch / awning. Poles & stakes too. Sleeps two or three. Those were Good Tents for us – for many years. ~ Collective Fundraising / problem solving ~
I do not own a dishwasher, nor do I aspire to own one.
I LIKE how the water looks, how it moves, perfectly – when I rinse the flat bottom of my cooking pot: the bottom sort of “fills up”, as though it were a shallow bowl. The inside requires more work; but I still like how the water rinses the far side, then the handle side, as I swirl and pour it out down the handle.
If someone were to happen by and offer me $30 or $40 million, I would soon spend a bunch of it. I would confer with whoever has already thrown in for this project ~ and we would try to make an intelligent decision as to WHERE we should establish the Ground-Water Co-op / our ‘Village’.
And this place could be ANYWHERE in the world.
I’m pretty sure (I’ve looked at a lot of properties, online) that, for 10 or 20 million dollars, we could buy a nice property that’s already able to house a hundred people. We could just GO there, and set about recruiting the (best possible) people – till we have a Full Complement. [We want all ages, of course; and we want good Gender Balance]
But as I think it unlikely (that someone will simply endow us with plenty of money), it seems sensible to limit our search (for suitable property) to the northern United States or Canada.
I’m pretty sure that [for about $2M, maybe even $1.5M] we could find a good piece of property (with acreage and which is already capable of accommodating quite a few people; it’s just that to grow, we’ll have to improvise / expand our housing)
Here’s what I think comprises an “ideal property” : Plenty of land – so (we &) our kids can ROAM. Water: (ocean-front, or lake frontage, or river frontage, (or a stream, at the very least); and the water should LOOK LIKE WATER. I’m not saying it must be drinkable, but it should NOT be the color of mud (as was the water in the creek, where I grew up). But I’ve now been around enough to know that SOME water actually runs CLEAR. THAT’S the kind of water I want for us (& for our kids).
There should be forest nearby. And, if I could choose, I would choose mainly Hardwoods; but I’m not too picky about this. All trees are Good. (besides – I’m no great fan of mosquitos or black flies)
Ideally, our land would have access to a part of the ocean which is Good for Scuba Diving (or free-diving / snorkeling). The planet we live on is mostly covered in oceans – and this (underwater) world is one I would love for all of us to have easy access to.
The reason I think we should live where there’s a Real Winter – is (partly) because Winter makes life harder (it will challenge our Character and Intelligence) ~ but also because I (very much) hope we can build a (big) dome to LIVE in.
Reform the environment.
I have seen numerous videos of a house encased in a greenhouse or a dome; but I don’t think that’s the way to go. Our dome-house should be filled MAINLY with trees and plants (and a dining area, and a Dance Floor, and whatever else we want to put in it); our bedrooms (and the various Common Areas: Library, computer room, sauna / bath house, laundry, various work-shops) could be built into the perimeter wall.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ma0o8V3uJJY
(The Eden Project UK | The Largest Greenhouse In the World 6:47)
What I’m imagining is a (circular or elliptical) dome – about 300 feet in diameter. This would enclose an area of roughly 2 acres. A pretty big space. Enough for some food gardens and food forest. Orange trees, grapefruit trees. Trees and plants of all kinds. (maybe volleyball; we just have to make the choices)
There would be a masonry (perhaps air-creet) perimeter wall of more than 900 feet long (enough for our various Common Spaces plus 60 bedrooms, (9 feet wide X 12 feet long – which is the size of the bedroom I’ve been living in, comfortably enough, for the past decade)
I would like each private living space (bedroom) to have a small entrance/vestibule containing a Master (electrical) switch, so that the whole space beyond can be made electricity-free for healthy sleeping. (And we should take similar precautions with our cell phones.)
Also I think we should do what’s necessary (which is not a lot) to earth our bodies (re-establish electrical continuity with the ground (with the Earth): go barefoot a lot, and sleep grounded.
https://earthinginstitute.net/ (movie [76 min], book, etc.)
It is my hope that our dome-home can be furnished with bidets (no more toilet paper).
The dome structure itself would sit atop this perimeter wall. – thus maximizing the space available to us: a big (indoor/outdoor) Living Space. If you happen to love cross-country skiing, you need only go outside (in the winter) and do it. We create a 2-acre Paradise in the midst of our home.
The obstacles to creating such a dome, I’m pretty sure, will be formidable. But I’m confident they can be surmounted.
I’m a U.S. citizen and a Landed Immigrant in Canada. And the reason I expect we’ll end up in the northern U.S. or Canada – is because I can DRIVE THERE (from where I am now – in Central Oregon).
I happen to have quite a few tools and machines (which – probably we should make use of). We’d just need to load them into something (which we’d have to acquire; though I do own 2 pick-up trucks) and then just drive everything (and ourselves, whoever’s here (or “in”) by that point) to wherever we’ve decided to go.
If you’d like to take part in these ‘early’ decisions, then apply early.
I have been a home-owner before (Seattle & Quadra Island); but right now I only rent. So – I’m unable to invite someone to show up here (in Sisters, Oregon) as my guest (which I would be happy to do, if I owned my own place).
But if you’re genuinely interested, let me hear from you, and we’ll figure something out. Use the CONTACT option – which is part of the Main Menu on this site. Besides contact information, say enough to introduce yourself.
$ $ $ ~ Since I’m expecting to use the ‘quick & dirty’ getting-started option : [i.e.- land with buildings / a big house (though not able to accommodate 100 people) … to acquire which we’ll probably need about $2M), and since I myself do not have money to invest, I’m in no position to “sell tickets”. INTEREST and DESIRE are what will get you in the door. Whether you are able to contribute money will be secondary.
The average cost of a home in Sisters, Oregon = $829 K. If there are 20 good people (strongly interested in the GroundWater Co-op project) – each of whom are able to throw in $100K THAT would be enough to get us onto a good piece of land. (and we’ll figure out together how to solve all the other problems, once we’re there)
I’m expecting we’ll end up somewhere with electrical power and good internet (we need to select such a place).
If you have the ability to generate income FROM ANYWHERE, I think that would be a real“plus”. Anyway ~ I would suggest that one of our Founding Principles should be to Maximize / Optimize the work options of each person ~ (since Heaven should be our aim, and that of course includes Individual Fulfillment for everyone. I consider this to be obvious)
We should, of course, explore various possible “cottage industries”:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jXs0q6UBjEQ (High Profit Crops that EVERY Farmer Needs to Know to become a Millionaire 9:18)
We could get a container farm for under $170 K : https://www.freightfarms.com/faq
Maybe we could offer Winter Sleigh-rides.
{These days it’s quick and easy to explore possibilities}
I expect the Family to be Self-Governing. We will (naturally) take responsibility for establishing Goals and Strategies (e.g. – “How much money do we NEED to earn? & “How should we accomplish that?”)
“Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in a world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact, It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.”
– David Beckham
I think it would be nice to have ~
People who are bilingual / multilingual
Teachers
Builders
Bee-keeper
Farmers / gardeners
Experienced child rearers
Experts with horses & other livestock
Accountant
Videographer / photographer
Cultural anthropologist
Attorney
Architect / Dome-Wright
Draftsmen
Licensed pilots
Dancers / folk-dancers
Landscape designer
Interior designer
Web-Master
Coder / programmer
Navigator / orienteer
Event planners
Choirmaster
Human potentialists
Composers
Computer expert / repair-person
Plumbers
Experts in Finance or Real Estate
Commercial fisherman / sport fishermen
Electricians
Finish Carpenters
Masons (stone, brick, block, rammed earth, concrete)
Cooks / chefs
Philosophers
Writers
Skilled sailors / canoeists
Artists
Dreamers & visionaries
Rich
Poor
Devotees
Entrepreneurs
Big rig driver
UFOlogists (especially students of Dr. Steven Greer)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQIyqhqpNAs (Dr. Steven Greer Describes His Face to Face Encounter & Physical Contact w/ an Alien (Part 9) 9:31)
Sociologist
Political scientist
Engineers / inventors / problem-solvers
Earthship experts
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RV6JjxRNdpM ( Refuge #earthship Update With Michael Reynolds 8:30)
Musicians singers & instrumentalists
Movie producers, directors
Poets
Jugglers
Make-doers (problem solving / improvising)
Story tellers
Psychologist / therapist
Nurses
Physician / internist
Administrator skilled with psilocybin microdoses
Dentist
Pharmacologist
Economist
Martial artists
[everyone should have the opportunity to learn Wing Chun, so they can defend themselves, or, if such a situation arise – defend others]
Pacific Rim Body Mastery coach
Arborist / lumberjack
Crafts-people (potter, jeweler, weavers, sewers, knitters)
Horticulturists
Healers
Geologist
Lapidary
Machinist
Blacksmith
Foundry-worker
Welders
Mechanics
Bicycle repair-person
Tile setter
Economist
Permaculturists
TM Teacher
Scientists
Historians
Piano tuner
Mathematicians
Survivalists
Athletes / coaches
Technicians (of all sorts, incl. 3-D printing)
Diving instructor (SCUBA)
Hunters / foragers
Students of the Urantia Book
[“At the end of your earth life you will all expect mercy; therefore do I require of you during your mortal life that you show mercy to all your brethren in the flesh.”
– Jesus / The Urantia Book 1571:4 ]
Our skills do not define us; yet all skills can be valuable, can enrich the Family.
“The house protects the dreamer,
the house allows one to dream in peace.”
– Gaston Bachelard
This project [of creating the Groundwater Co-op / a Village to end Loneliness] is (unashamedly) Utopianistic. At every juncture (where every voice should be heard and valued) we should aim toward Heavenliness (Heaven on Earth): the best possible place for us to live and for our kids to grow up in.
A Loving Family.
It will be a Journey (more than a destination); and it’s going to be Good. But we should not expect it to be easy.
Everyone who has experience in Self-Development (already) knows – that of all my enemies and adversaries, NONE is as dangerous and formidable as myself.
As Solzhenitsyn points out – “The battleline between good and evil runs through the heart of every man.”
&
“It is not because the truth is too difficult to see that we make mistakes… we make mistakes because the easiest and most comfortable course for us is to seek insight where it accords with our emotions – especially selfish ones.” [or, as Pogo Possum says – “We have met the enemy, and he is us.”]
There is also the fact that we will bring into being an entity which will be (to quite an extent) beyond our control.
We aim (as I’ve said) for Heaven. But it will not be Control Freak Heaven.
You might want to re-watch the (2003) film with Steve Martin – “Cheaper by the Dozen”.
If it succeeds, it will be because everyone WANTS it to.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[what immediately follows is the ending to James Stephens’ novel – “The Crock of Gold”] :
With wonder and delight, the daughter of Murrachu watched the hosting of the Shee. … The eyes of those who do not hesitate nor compute looked into her eyes, not appraising, not questioning, but mild and unafraid. The voices of free people spoke in her ears and the laughter of happy hearts, unthoughtful of sin or shame, released from the hard bondage of selfhood. For these people though many were one. Each spoke to the other as to himself, without reservation or subterfuge. They moved freely each in his personal whim and they moved also with the unity of one being … While she looked the dancing ceased, and they turned their faces with one accord down the mountain. Those in the front leapt forward, and behind them the others went leaping in orderly progression. … A little further and the bushes were green and beautiful, waving their gentle leaves in the quietude, and beyond again, wrapped in sunshine and peace, the trees looked on the world from their calm heights having no complaint to make of anything.
In a little they reached the grass land and the dance began. Hand sought for hand, feet moved companionably as though they loved each other; quietly intimate they tripped without faltering, and, then, the loud song arose – They sang to the lovers of gaiety and peace, long defrauded –
“Come to us, ye who do not know where ye are. Ye who live among strangers in the houses of dismay and self-righteousness. Poor, awkward ones ! How bewildered and bedeviled ye go ! Amazed ye look and do not comprehend, for your eyes are set upon a star and your feet move in the blessed kingdoms of the Shee. Innocents ! In what prisons are ye flung? To what lowliness are ye bowed? How are ye ground between the laws and the customs? The dark people of the Fomor have ye in thrall; and upon your minds they have fastened a band of lead, your hearts are hung with iron, and about your loins a cincture of brass impressed, woful ! Believe it, that the sun does shine, the flowers grow, and the birds sing pleasantly in the trees. The free winds are everywhere, the water tumbles on the hills, the eagle calls aloud through the solitude, and his mate comes speedily. The bees are gathering honey in the sunlight, the midges dance together, and the great bull bellows across the river. The crow says a word to his brethren and the wren snuggles her young in the hedge. … Come to us, ye lovers of life and happiness. Hold out thy hand – a brother shall seize it from afar. Leave the plough and the cart for a little time: put aside the needle and the awl – Is leather thy brother O man? … Come away ! come away! from the loom and the desk, from the shop where the carcasses are hung, from the place where raiment is sold and the place where it is sewn in darkness: O bad treachery ! Is it for joy you sit in the broker’s den, thou pale man? Has the attorney enchanted thee? …Come away! for the dance has begun lightly, the wind is sounding over the hill, the sun laughs down into the valley, and the sea leaps upon the shingle panting for joy, dancing, dancing, dancing for joy….”
They swept through the goat tracks and the little boreens and the curving roads. Down to the city they went dancing and singing; among the streets and the shops telling their sunny tale; not heeding the malignant eyes and the cold brows as the sons of Balor looked sidewards. And they took the Philosopher from his prison, even the Intellect of Man they took from the hands of the doctors and lawyers, from the sly priests, from the professors whose mouths are gorged with sawdust, and the merchants who sell blades of grass – the awful people of the Fomor … and then they returned again, dancing and singing to the country of the gods….
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Riding Out at Evening
At dusk, everything blurs and softens..
from here out over the long valley,
the fields and hills roll up
the first slight sheets of evening,
as, over the next hour,
heavier, darker ones will follow.
Quieted roads, predictable deer
browsing in a neighbor’s field, another’s
herd of heifers, the kitchen lights
starting in many windows. On horseback
I take it in, neither visitor
nor intruder, but kin passing , closer
and closer to night, its cold streams
rising in the sugarbush and hollow.
Half-aloud, I say to the horse,
or myself, or whoever, let fire not come
to this house, nor that barn,
nor lightning strike that cattle.
Let dogs not gain the gravid doe, let the lights
of the rooms convey what they seem to.
And who is to say it is useless
or foolish to ride out in the falling light
alone, wishing, or praying,
for particular good to particular beings
on one small road in a huge world?
The horse bears me along, like grace,
making me better than what I am,
and what I think or say or see
is whole in these moments, is neither
small nor broken. For up, out of
the inscrutable earth, have come my body
and the separate body of the mare:
flawed and aching and wronged. Who then
is better made to say be well, be glad,
or who to long that we, as one,
might course over the entire valley.
over all valleys, as a bird in a great embrace
of flight, who presses against her breast,
in grief and tenderness,
the whole weeping body of the world.
– Linda McCarriston
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