Our world is heading towards rapid change, as is our planet; the indications are that these changes will make the emerging world a very different place. How different is up to us – we can change our world, and, in a more modest way, contribute to planet Earth’s transformation. It behoves us well to develop some ideas about what it is we want this future world to look like, how we want it to be different to today’s.
Lots is spoken, written and filmed about why we are where we are, what we do not like about the present and how we need to change to survive in future. But where is the translation of these sentiments into action taking place, on a greater than simply community scale? Have we truly defined what we want? Do we know how to get from here to there?
Why a laboratory, and not a community? Is there a difference between the Laboratory here being developed and a community, like the 33 listed in Wikipedia under “eco-villages”, or the many more in the Global Ecovillage Network?
Yes & No. This is not intended to be an evasive answer, rather it indicates that there are quite a few similarities as well as some fundamental differences. All however have in common people who have got together out of a desire to live more lightly on this earth and in more meaningful interaction with nature, the planet and all life.
Let’s start with the differences : although all sharing the common desire mentioned above, many are essentially formed around an idea, a charismatic leader, a belief, in response to surrounding circumstances, etc. and may have a central theme, e.g. be an agrarian community, be an artists or writers’ colony, or wish to give expression to some belief or lifestyle. The diversity and scale of these eco-villages vary greatly.
The Light Living Laboratory goes much further by being created to develop, test, refine and then teach and make available models for new social interaction with a world mostly not yet aligned with the principles of sustainable living. Unless we change, society as we know it will disintegrate.
This key characteristic of the Laboratory being an outreach organisation requires that all who join are very clear that this is a place of experimentation, of trial and error, of dynamic development. Its underlying intention is that all who live in it need to be willing to try new approaches to anything that constitutes a community or social issue. Only people within the community will determine what needs adjusting or needs to be tried out. People who enjoy set ways and look forward to retiring to a quiet spell of rose-breeding are unlikely to enjoy the Laboratory setting (although, to be complete, the Laboratory will require the right type of rose breeders too!).
So, by way of generalisation, a community would be a more settled place, while the Laboratory will continually seek out areas that lend themselves for improvement and change (against the backdrop provided by our philosophy), and thus will be a more dynamic environment. View the Laboratory as an old-fashioned workshop from which wonderfully crafted and tested models for living harmoniously with nature will be released to the world and will help shape this future world.
The Laboratory’s output will be available to anybody anywhere; the service and consultancy function of the Laboratory will provide assistance in adapting and scaling any model for any specific environment or application.
To avoid delay in delivering its concepts, and not reinvent the wheel, the Laboratory anticipates working closely with leading eco-villages and sustainable communities globally. Indeed, early contacts are in the process of being set up. We seek to operate as consciously of our Oneness as possible, and in the knowledge that this needs to be given expression anywhere.
To be able to serve the ideals of the Laboratory, the definition and design of the physical community is required to adhere to certain 3 key guidelines : (a) as the community is dedicated to helping heal the earth through strong intentions its centre will be a community meditation / intention centre; (b) all building works need to harmonize with the landscape and will involve intuitive exploration with the land and nature; and, (c) as one of the core principles of the Laboratory is to encourage a greater re-integration of humanity into nature, the physical design of the community will be required to show a nature-centric design.