Sustainable Tarpon Springs - Community Resilience

A couple of years ago, one of my favorite publications, YES! Magazine, featured an article along with a test on individual and community resilience.  I think everyone should take this test to see how ‘flexible’ we are in the face of fluctuating economic, social, and climatic challenges.  Here is the link for you to check out:  http://www.yesmagazine.org/issues/a-resilient-community/how-resilient-are-you

The questions and concepts were not new to me, as I had visited intentional communities who formed for similar reasons.  I was almost ‘too aware’ of how fragile our social networks were.  Admittedly, I read more doomsday sources than I should have, and although they were good food for thought - they were not solution-oriented.  They were an attempt to wake folks up to the bleak scenarios we faced if we didn’t dramatically change our collective trajectory.  Initially motivated by fear of what would happen, I gradually realized how much power there was to change the world when we discovered what we are for more than what we are against.

The loveliest aspect of ‘intentional communities’ is the whole concept of ‘intention’ itself.  We are tapping into the creative power within us to manifest what we dare to dream.  We have amazing creative capacities, and nothing is set into motion without an idea first.  So, putting forth a more defined and collective intention can lead to a more anticipated result, or perhaps a ‘direction’ leading to an unanticipated manifestation that is bigger and better than our wildest dreams.  

Operating in the realm of ‘conscious intention’ helps us to be more accountable for what we are asking of the Universe.  The by-product is becoming more focused, centered, and especially attuned to LOVE which is at the heart of all of our sacred dreams.  In spite of this sounding ‘New Age’, there is excellent scientific evidence to back up what I am only poetically describing.  Physicists recognize the untapped power of ‘consciousness’ and are creating elaborate tests to see if they can predict positive outcomes.  I’d recommend checking out The Institute of HeartMath http://www.heartmath.com and the Institute of Noetic Sciences founded by astronaut, Edgar Mitchell - http://noetic.org to name a few.

On a more practical level, an intentional community gathers the most conscious visions of a group, and utilizes the strengths of all who are part of the shared vision.  Every person has a different history, different background experiences, but the common ‘denominator of desire’ is to share his or her life journey with others.  The common ground we found in Tarpon Springs was both in the desire to grow our own food - especially through permaculture; build a sustainable local, resource-based economy; ‘trade’ services; share our lives, time, and talents with one another - while recognizing something mystical had drawn us all together for a purpose yet to be discovered! 

We are on the cusp of change in our world, a dramatic shift in paradigms, as a whole.  A couple of years ago, 2012 was sensationalized by films and media, but the power of collective vision has brought us  to a profound opportunity to choose the future of our dreams!   What do YOU dare to dream, and do you share that dream with others?  Perhaps it is time to rediscover the sustainable partnership models that made Earth Communities resilient for aeons, and know it is HERE NOW if you choose to take part!