Viva Gaia Villages
Peaceful, Conscious, Creative Communities
- What makes us different?
Sociocracy Decision-making
Ethics, Values and Natural Law
Permaculture and Green Technologies
Innovative and Ongoing Education
Creativity, Freedom and Self Expression
Looking after our Elders
Health and Healing
Communication and Conflict Solving
Historically, the vast majority of communities struggle to sustain themselves longer than a few years. And the major reason, is not the wrong style buildings, or the wrong type of land, or starving to death etc.... but usually to do with the lack of capacity for members to solve conflicts peacefully. Most folks lack of training in how to peacefully live together, ends up undermining even the best of intentions.
Hence, at VivaGaia Villages, our baseline pre-requisite for all villagers, is training in:
- Ethics,
- Natural Law
- Compassionate Communication
- Conflict Resolution
- Sociocracy (beyond Democracy decision-making process)
And regular up-skilling is also essential every 6 months or so.
Sociocracy - beyond Democracy |
Sociocracy is a living, evolving, integrated system of values, principles, patterns, practices, and tools for self-governance with shared power designed for people who share a mindset of a world that is nurturing, respectful and inclusive. In this mindset, they choose to work together collaboratively to realize their visions in ways that balance the fundamental values of efficiency, effectiveness, clarity, inclusiveness, and respect while embracing, the realities of uncertainty, continual change, evolution, and growth.
Sociocracy consists of a combination of tools and processes:
3 Tools for Sociocracy. https://www.sociocracyforall.org/3-tools-from-sociocracy/
What is Sociocracy? https://www.sociocracyforall.org/introvideo/
Sociocracy consists of a combination of tools and processes:
- We distribute decision-making authority into teams of people that we call circles.
- The decision-making method for circle decisions is consent: that means a decision is made when no circle member objects to the decision. One objects to a decision when a decision negatively impacts how the circle can achieve its shared aim.
- Links connect related circles. Links are circle members who are members of two related circles and can carry information back and forth. They also balance the power relationship between the circles.
- Circles define roles to make sure all functions of their circle are executed. Circles choose by consent which member fills a role.
- Most circles use rounds – the practice of talking one by one – in their circle meetings.
3 Tools for Sociocracy. https://www.sociocracyforall.org/3-tools-from-sociocracy/
What is Sociocracy? https://www.sociocracyforall.org/introvideo/
Ethics, Values and Natural Law
4 Ethics - Love - Compassion - Truth - Awareness ( Bob Podolsky)
... with the extra Pillars of - Transparency - Accountability - Beauty - Win-Win
Upholding the Ethics is foundational to every aspect of village life.
They are lived through our decision-making processes, education, mentoring, music and dance and constant up-skilling. Every villager knows that without the Ethics, we are likely to fall into the chaos that befalls most communities without these guidelines.
Natural Law is distinct from Man-made Law - it is the Science of Morality- see Mark Passio videos HERE
... with the extra Pillars of - Transparency - Accountability - Beauty - Win-Win
Upholding the Ethics is foundational to every aspect of village life.
They are lived through our decision-making processes, education, mentoring, music and dance and constant up-skilling. Every villager knows that without the Ethics, we are likely to fall into the chaos that befalls most communities without these guidelines.
Natural Law is distinct from Man-made Law - it is the Science of Morality- see Mark Passio videos HERE
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The 10 Commitments - living Humanist Values.
The old 10 Commandments were probably useful in their day. But surely, its time for a freshen-up? And of course, being 'commanded' is old Dominator thinking. The New Earth is more about Interdependence and the balance of individual Freedom and collective Responsibility.
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Innovative Education and Mentorship - from birth to death
Life-time Learning is highly encouraged and leading-edge educational systems are an integral part of everyday village life. Peer to Peer education is encouraged whereby children teach each other, with the teachers utilised as facilitators and mentors.
MENTORSHIP- All children from Age 7 - and each new village member is assigned a mentor/guide to support them in becoming the grandest version of themselves that they can be. Mentors may be either other children, or elders.
All alternative education systems are utilised:
Montessori, Steiner etc and the The Kin School based on the Ringing Cedars books, Tekos, Russia
MENTORSHIP- All children from Age 7 - and each new village member is assigned a mentor/guide to support them in becoming the grandest version of themselves that they can be. Mentors may be either other children, or elders.
All alternative education systems are utilised:
Montessori, Steiner etc and the The Kin School based on the Ringing Cedars books, Tekos, Russia
Focus on Creativity, Freedom and Self Expression
Creativity and Self Expression are woven into every aspect of daily life in the villages.
All forms of expression - Art, Sculpture, Music, Writing, Poetry, Dance, Ritual, Architecture, High or Low Tech Design etc are highly encouraged (as long as they are ethical).
Beauty in all its forms, is highly valued - from the design of a toilet block to the soaring arches of a healing space.
All forms of expression - Art, Sculpture, Music, Writing, Poetry, Dance, Ritual, Architecture, High or Low Tech Design etc are highly encouraged (as long as they are ethical).
Beauty in all its forms, is highly valued - from the design of a toilet block to the soaring arches of a healing space.
Looking after our Elders
A paradigm shift is needed in how we treat our Elders - and at VGV, we are committed to ensuring that the wealth of knowledge and wisdom of our Elders is not wasted by hiding them away in old people's homes. Elders can live on their own, in group houses, or in state of the art healing facilities, if needed. Their participation is encouraged in decision-making, creative endeavours, child-minding and whatever they need to remain active and important members. Loneliness, the biggest killer of our elderly, will be erased or minimised through preparing and sharing meals together, participating in the 3 hours of Gifting per week and the endless creative pursuits available.
Health and Healing
One of the first tenets of good health is self responsibility. Hence at Viva Gaia Villages, we encourage a life-long culture of good food, exercise, yoga, meditation and alternative healing practices. Also, our plan is to have state of the art healing facilities including Med Beds and Celestial Chambers when they become available. People with mental, spiritual and addiction issues are strongly supported to do everything they can to fully heal to enable them to become fully functioning participants in village life.
LIVE-IN RETREATS
For those who need a serious break to heal and recuperate, there will be a section for non-villagers to attend live-in retreats where they can access all the healing resources till they are back on their feet again.
LIVE-IN RETREATS
For those who need a serious break to heal and recuperate, there will be a section for non-villagers to attend live-in retreats where they can access all the healing resources till they are back on their feet again.
Animals and Pets
All animals are welcome at the villages
- as long as they comply with the environmental guidelines decided by the villagers.
Spirit of the Horse Programmes - a magnificent melding of horse and human to create healing for both.
- as long as they comply with the environmental guidelines decided by the villagers.
Spirit of the Horse Programmes - a magnificent melding of horse and human to create healing for both.
Permaculture and Green Technologies
All the latest technologies will be utilised to ensure our Food, Water, Soil, Air and Aether are as pristine as possible.
- Regenerative Agriculture
- PermaCulture
- ElectroCulture
- Leading edge innovation - ie Free Energy technologies
Food
Our focus is on healthy, home-grown if possible, and organic.
We provide for ALL interest groups - ie Vegan - Vegetarian - Pescatarian - Carnivore etc
Differences in values are managed by living in the smaller sub-villages that cater for those with different interests/values.
All meat, fish and diary must be ethically and sustainably sourced - preferably on the village.
Except for Cafes and Restaurants, large group shared meals will cater for only Vegan and Vegetarian.
We provide for ALL interest groups - ie Vegan - Vegetarian - Pescatarian - Carnivore etc
Differences in values are managed by living in the smaller sub-villages that cater for those with different interests/values.
All meat, fish and diary must be ethically and sustainably sourced - preferably on the village.
Except for Cafes and Restaurants, large group shared meals will cater for only Vegan and Vegetarian.
"The core to mental and physical health is a strong individual, family and community. Without strong, meaningful interconnections, we become weakened and disconnected from our true creative and loving capacities." ~ Frances Amaroux, VGV Founder.
INSPIRATIONS
Here is a short list of writers and thought-leaders who have inspired this me and this project over the years.
(will add more detail as it comes to mind ;-)
Here is a short list of writers and thought-leaders who have inspired this me and this project over the years.
(will add more detail as it comes to mind ;-)
- Frijof Capra – Book: The Turning Point
- Ken Wilbur
- Don Beck et al - Spiral Dynamics
- Buckminster Fuller
- Riane Eisler – Book: The Chalice and the Blade
- Michael Tellinger - Book: Contributionism
- Foster Gamble – Thrive
- Barbara Marx Hubbard
- Bandler and Grinder NLP founders
- Fred Alan Wolf
- Michael Talbot – The Holographic Universe
- Bob Mandel
- Bob Podolski – Book - Flourish!: An alternative to Government and other Heirarchies
- Hazel Henderson
- John Demartini
- Arnie Mindell
- Mark Passio
- Neale Donald Walsh – Book: Conversations with God
- Peter Smith
- David Hawkins
- Dick Harbers – Quantum healing
- George Kavissalas – Our Journey Home
- Colin Joe Byrne
- Robert Scheinfeld - Book- Busting Loose From the Money Game
- Charles Eisenstein
- Brendan J Murphy