Thought I shared this one.
The original and complete version of the song can be found here

I'm on a rock somewhere  
It's the only one I know, and I know it well  
And somehow I know you're there  
And I'm waiting on the world  
  
I'm ringing the old church bell  
I've forgotten how it goes, but it feels like hell  
I guess you're in Heaven now  
And you're never coming home  
  
'Cause even when I'm wide awake, I know  
That you've been having other dreams, for sure  
If nothing's ever gonna change at all  
I'll be waiting on the world  
Go  
  
Conditional words, I swear  
See the people come and go, and they go so well  
They're counting the coins back there  
It's the only thing they know  
  
And even when you're down and out, I know  
That you've been up in higher ground, for sure  
If nothing's ever gonna change at all  
I'll be waiting on the world  
Only waiting on the world  
Go  
  
I'm on a rock somewhere  
And I've been looking at my phone, baby, I'm not scared  
I guess I'm alone, my friend  
You left me waiting on the world  
I'll be waiting on the world

To go far out one's way to help another. The unexpected. To do make eye contact on the bus and smile. To see one running laps and to secretly cheer for them, go strong, to thank them for taking care of their bodies, even if they might look far from fit. When asked for money to present my wallet and let them pick what they need. To give gifts that you usually don't give, gifts that make your own heart tick a little faster or make your palms sweat.

It works well with strangers as they do not expect it. These moments happen fast and there is hardly no opportunity for them to give back in a linear and transactional kind of fashion. Then it really feels like it is given, when nothing is given in return.

Induce beautiful little shocks of anomalies, spark light and creates glimpses of the new.

Related

• 2024.09.25 wrangling into the new

I am fond of choosing natural string over rubber bands, plastic straps and other modern tying products. The reason for it is that I like the simplicity of it. Also, if I loose that bit of rope, during bike travel in the case of the above picture, it will not burden Nature. It will rest on the ground and it will decay naturally.

Rope is such a great and versatile technology. This particular sliding and constricting knot I use in different situations also around the house. To lockup a cloth on the kefir jar for example, or to keep my yoga mattress rolled up.

A modern synthetic product might be more convenient, asks little of you in terms of skill, but might be specialised to only one task. While rope & knot-knowledge make a whole lot more possible.

When the skill is in you, you can make a lot more happen with something simple such as rope. You will gain a certain freedom and be able to do more with less and cause less burden for Earth.

Related

• 2018.01.27 spoon returns
• 2018.02.22 nurture instead
• 2017.06.08 comfort from within

I love moving away from consumer goods especially when doing it your own way ticks more boxes. A good example of this is my small oil flask that carries a personal blend of natural etheric oils.

The recipe is simple, take a carrier oil, I used olive oil, and add a few drops of etheric oils.

Etheric oils have different properties. I just add two; Rosemary as it stimulates cognitive function. Pine I add because it reminds of the woods.

I love being in the woods.

These two simple oils are blended the way I like and bring me more than a store bought perfume would.

It's more subtle, it does not bombard you and your environment with it's scent, and does not desensitise your nose. It's more unique and personal, it does not destroy health but supports it, elevates mood, I can rub it on my temples or my beard, less pollution and packaging, less toil on the planet, a carrier oil you most likely already have at home, etc...

I also like the fact that there is an effort and some skill involved. You gotta take a little time for it. Blending scents takes some experimentation. Getting to know what you like and not and what can be supportive to your mood and function.

It's one of those cozy, good and personal little things you can do.

It's nice, try it.

For the last time, I wander through the food forest at my elder's place. We're moving out and It’s our last day here.

The bamboo I planted many years ago catches my eye. It was planted as construction wood and for the first time, it send up a single thick new shoot — strong, as wide as child's wrist.

A feeling of sadness comes over me, realising we are leaving the forest behind now it is truly beginning to flourish, to produce. It feels like a loss.

We have spent so much time here — with volunteers, friends, with my parents — planting every tree, every shrub.

Transforming that initial flat grazing field into a lush forest took time, it grows slowly. And it’s only after years that you start to see the literal fruits of your early investments.

When the horizon of reward gets pushed years and years ahead, the motivation to even begin can disappear. When you know before hand that the fruits of your efforts will not be yours, many will not even think to start.

But to do put in effort to make things better, even if you’re not the one to benefit. To do so because it aligns with the kind of person you choose to be.

To leave something better than you found it.

That your presence, wherever it lands, improves things — even if it’s subtle, even if no one notices.

In a world that doesn’t operate that way, it can feel draining to give or nurture the things around you. You feel like you’re pouring your energy into a system that just consumes without it ever coming back to you in one way or another.

If you do land in a world where everyone lives to nurture the things around them — You feel enriched, everywhere you go.

And that’s what, to my surprise, happened to me.

I left the food forest at my elder’s place. The swimming pond.
The coppice woods.
The permaculture gardens.
The food forest.
The water storage systems.
The solar setup.
Everything we planted and built.

And now I find myself in a different place. A place I didn’t cultivate, where I did not contribute. But it already has a garden. It has trees and shrubs, a pond, fruits and flowers. It’s rich — and I’m receiving the richness without having put anything into it.

That’s beautiful.

If everyone contributes, If everyone plants, cultivates, tends — Then you’re far more likely to end up somewhere that has already been cared for. It's not about linear and direct transactional compensation for your efforts or contributions. But the idea that you will arrive at beauty and richness as everyone is continually sowing, for strangers.

It is questionable to think that continuing down this path—creating yet another pill, injecting nanobots into our veins, altering our DNA and thus lean further into technological solutions—will somehow lead us toward genuine health.

The vast majority of what exists today—including the human biology—was not created through human intention or effort. This is to be recognised as we influenced and altered the course of life on Earth dramatically. Still being but newcomers in the grand timeline of this planet.

Anyone who has worked with technology knows how quickly things become hard and complex. Yet even the most intricate systems we design are trivial compared to the unfathomable complexity of a single living organism, let alone the interconnected web of ecosystems across an entire planet. The stability and evolution of that diversity is a miracle of balance and interdependence.

If we truly seek health—on a personal and planetary scale—would it make sense to invest less in our technological path and lean into something else? What if, for the first time in history we could not only consciously recognize the natural force that was already before us. But to collaborate with it, amplify it. We have tremendous power, just look at how we transformed the world. What if all that transformative power could be directed and aligned with the very force that made life on Earth evolve in the first place.

beyond health

So then, when amongst equal,
to be free and blend,
so that which wants to arise, can.

And then to close your eyes
and to feel,
not the many,
but as if just one.

It’s late and dark. I’m on the train heading home. Nearby, a fellow traveler sits slumped over, speaking into his phone with a tired voice, in a language I don’t understand. His head hangs low, his posture heavy, as if life has been beating down on him for a long time. If there is still a light in his eyes, it would be very dim.

It gets to me, and I feel it in my heart. So, in my imagination, I crawl up to him, meet his gaze warmly, and press my mouth to his chest, blowing warm breath through his clothes and onto his chest. A gesture I’ve been gifted many times by someone I love, especially in moments when I’ve felt heavy or deeply sad. To receive this is both physically and emotionally heartwarming.

It takes courage to do something like this in real life. It’s a vulnerable act. It's not within the behavioural patterns of our culture. What if it backfires? What if it’s too odd for him? What if it’s too far removed from the familiar, the safe, the expected?

It takes effort and inspiration, crawling out of the old, stumbling your way into the new, and then, eventually, falling back down again. I’ve been there, lying back on the ground for years—drained, unsure, doubting. Waiting for some rare spark, some uncommon condition, to reignite the light in my eyes. To inspire me to rise again, to feel that spark, to reach for something grander, more rich, something different.

To be reminded that these novel actions are serving, and that they are more likely to be received well because the intention behind it is good and deep. To rely on the fact that it becomes hard to do harm as the intention, the feeling state, does the heavy lifting. Thus one can become more free and creative on how to approach and serve people in novel ways.

I know when I am close to do it as my palms start to sweat, when I feel I have something to lose, when my heart beats faster. It’s like standing at the edge of a cliff, with shaky legs, but still, knowing I can make the jump.

These interactions, out of the ordinary, outside the cultural norm, carry with them surprise and wonder. It's partly this novelty what makes them potent—they reach deeper depths. They can shake up the internal world, clear away the grey and the mundane, and bring back color, hope and light. A vibrant warm sparkle that can linger around for a long time and that draws closer the new.

One needs this deep internal change and with it one operates fundamentally different and thus creates a path that leads to something fundamentally different.

This is a living memory, continuously flowing between members of the community. It is not something that is stored somewhere or written in a book. It’s a richness that emerges through moment-to-moment interactions. It is what makes culture possible.

Because this memory is interaction-based, as it is kept alive through countless interactions, it cannot be held by any one person alone. It is also too rich to be held by one. This poses a challenge for me when trying to implement a new complex of behaviors on my own. Without the reflection of these behaviors from those around me, I lack the outside-demonstration of what I aim to cultivate. Consequently, there are no external reminders, inspiration or triggers to prompt me to take similar actions.

As a result, I must prompt and remind myself. This feels like juggling too many balls at once. It takes tremendous energy to keep them all in the air, and inevitably, most end up falling while only a few remain airborne. Eventually, I pick up the dropped ones, but then others fall, creating a repeating cycle. Progress is made, but it feels slow and inefficient.

So when having these interactions with others, this aspect of steering oneself, of aligning oneself, or reminding oneself becomes much easier. The power of the desired behaviour of the group is continuously rubbing of onto one self, in conscious and unconscious ways.

Inspired by the cleaning scenes in Japanese films like Howl's moving castle, I've adopted a new approach to cleaning my floors. Instead of reaching for the mop, I get down on all fours and push a cloth along the floorboards.

This method may seem unconventional, but for me, it's a way to move my body in ways it typically doesn’t. Cleaning this way requires more energy than using a mop, but that’s precisely the point—it encourages me to embrace different movement patterns. If I break a sweat or feel my stiff back protest as I stand, it's a clear sign that I've been neglecting these types of movement. I want to act on this feedback because if I don’t maintain certain movement patterns, I’ll eventually loose them.

Rather than compensating for a sedentary lifestyle with intense bursts of exercise like parkour or structured movement practice, I prefer to integrate more diverse movement patterns into my daily routine. By doing this, I’m being of service to my environment whilst also tending to my body on a daily basis. These habits serve both my surroundings and myself simultaneously.

This approach is just one of the small habits that make sense for me to integrate into my life. The friction I encounter when adopting such an anti-modern habit often reflects other aspects of my lifestyle. For example, if I lived in a very large house, cleaning the floors on all fours would likely be overwhelming and I would probably not do it.

In fact, having more space—more things—actually creates friction for the life I really want. Instead, having less opens up many more opportunities. For example, having few things makes it manageable to actually take proper care of them / to nurture them. But as for this example—living in smaller spaces—makes the alternative method of cleaning feasible.

One can see that, our actions and lifestyle/material choices are interconnected. They do form a stable and complex web of interactions that match with one another. Nudging your web into a more favourable direction might take some effort though.

These small changes are about more than just the physical act; they’re a way to realign with what matters. By paying attention to how environment and habits shape us, we gain the opportunity to design a life that is more intentional, balanced, and connected to our values.

Thus, if one enters into a new community / environment one brings these internal qualities / behaviours that are greatly influenced by a lived modern life. All those behaviours have momentum and do not change over night. They must change as they most likely will not match the desired new culture. Fortunately, they can be pruned / redirected and new ones can be cultivated. This does takes time, commitment and effort.

When entering, for example, a tribe's culture that is still alive today, it is a slightly different story. The culture has been formed, even though you do not match it behaviourally, the culture present in all people and things around you help you much faster to make those internal changes. Similar to an unsocialised dog being introduced back into a pack. The continuous interactions of the whole pack are guiding and nudging the dog towards matching behaviour.

When starting a new community project, the desired culture is not present. Let's presume that everyone knows clearly what the to-aim-for culture looks and feels like. Thus apart from the cultural target, the reinforcement / reflection of that desired culture through others and things is not present. Unlike the unsocialised dog, there is no pack that nudges the person back into alignment.

In that sense, and through my experience, when people start a new community, the reinforcement that a present culture would bring is lacking. As a result there is no binding of behaviour and the known world culture and behaviours surface and perpetuate easily.

The idea of dropping a bunch of people into a paradise will most likely result in those people making a mess again. Because the internal qualities and behaviours tend to overpower the passive qualities of that environment.
And thus our behavioural momentum will make sure we start doing again what we always have done. It runs deep.

So it is two fold. One is the lack of aim, that can translate into a lack of a deep vision. To cultivate that from the friction of our past and then for a bunch of people have that as a shared goal.
Second is the cultivation of a new self that is matching that intended vision.

Both are challenging for sure.

Related

• active collective memory

One great factor is that the constant influence of the old context / environment is not present. So there is no fighting the old environment. But we do bring the old with us in this new context through our behavioural momentum.

I need a group of people who dance the same way I want to dance. By dance, I mean the full spectrum of life and health choices, activities, values and behaviours. When the group around me dances in a similar way, it becomes easier for me to achieve and maintain this direction.

Exerting the energy to keep goals and behaviours aligned in an environment that isn't "dancing" the way I do, is draining, especially when I want to make and maintain more then one changes in myself or my life.

I particularly notice the importance of reminders. This constant reflection by my environment of a desired value complex is a precious gift, as is the continuous demonstration of behaviours I want to embrace. With an aligned environment, it feels like surfing on a wave instead of lagging behind it. When everyone dances in a similar fashion, all the moves within the collective dance amplify and strengthen each other.

related

• 2022.03.10 swarm as one

I know, being emotionally moved by a scientific talk is quite unusual. But for me, it felt like the kind of mental nutrition I had long been deprived of. It was as if the course addressed terminology and concepts that were already part of my way of thinking to some degree.

The course is based on Fritjof's book, The Systems View of Life, which presents a new conception of life requiring a new kind of thinking. It involves thinking in terms of patterns, relationships, the whole, context, emergence, ... —also known as systems or systemic thinking.

Since that day, the concept of graphs, systems, and relationships has become more prominent in my life. It has influenced me deeply on how I look at things and navigate life. To that degree that I tried to direct an intentional community by introducing new methods that were more web- and process-inclined, instead of the conventional, non-systemic, and linear approaches.

The systems view, the web-like nature of things, has become a recurring theme in my life, increasingly coming to the forefront in everyday situations—from spiritual concepts, community living, to AI's neural networks.

There is truth in the idea that good health stems from consuming healthy foods. Our well-being is influenced by the quality of the food we eat. An obvious example is fast food and its detrimental effects on the body.

Choosing organic over non-organic vegetables reflects a commitment to one's health. Eating non-processed foods is another important choice. However, I believe that our health is also significantly influenced by the inherent qualities of the organisms we consume, rather than solely by how they are produced or treated.

A strong indicator of health is when an organism can sustain and propagate itself independently of human care. This aspect is often overlooked today—whether the plant or animal can thrive in its natural environment without human intervention. To me, this independence is a true sign of health, of resilience.

When deciding what to eat, much like the tribesmen of the past, it makes sense to choose foods that have survived and thrived on their own through the ages. These organisms should not be compared to those cultivated by humans, which often cannot survive or reproduce without our constant care. Such plants are dependent on us and lack the resilience to thrive independently. Even their seeds may fail to sprout or survive without catered for conditions.

To complement your diet with organisms and plants that stand on their own. If to be imbued with the qualities of the food one eats, let it be health, intelligence, strength, resilience, adaptability, perseverance, and independence.

related

• 2021-04-30 levende bijenwoning

skill for comfort

Each time we embrace technology it comes with a trade-off. For example; the introduction of the car and other vehicles dramatically improved our ability to travel. But on a collective scale it also reduces our physical activity, rendering us less fit. Relying extensively on GPS navigation eventually diminishes our geospatial awareness. Using technology often leads to the atrophy of certain skills. More accurately, we trade one skill for another. For instance, from writing by hand, we learn to type on keyboards and touchscreens, or we acquire the ability to drive a car. The technology itself does not directly diminish our skills; rather, it is the lack of practice that causes these skills to atrophy. When we embrace technology, our biggest incentive is the comfort or enhanced capabilities it provides. The idea is that we are improving ourselves, but in a sense, we become less capable as more of our skills are transferred to technology. Considering our human capability—not our human+technology capability—it seems we are fooling ourselves as some abilities fade away.

collective contribution

The birth of AI did not occur in isolation or through the efforts of a few individuals or companies. The development of AI is a direct result of our collective adoption and use of digital technologies. Our collective embrace of digital products in all their forms has accelerated technological progress, creating fertile ground for the emergence of AI. We all contributed to bringing forth AI, and with it, we collectively made trade-offs.

Much like a mother offers a part of herself to nurture her unborn child, society has made similar sacrifices to bring about the Digital / AI. As people spend more time engaged with technology, they lose touch with aspects that support a holistic and healthy life. Just as a mother sets aside aspects of her life during pregnancy, we collectively did the same while bringing about AI. And just as a child born into the world eventually contributes to the household and society, it feels like we are on the brink of realising General Artificial Intelligence (GAI) and seeing how it will influence our lives.

crystallised knowledge

It is exciting to look into the future and envision how AI could be integrated into our lives in a meaningful way. An AI model can be seen as a crystallisation of collective knowledge. This crystallisation holds knowledge from various domains we have explored as humans. By leveraging its extensive understanding of psychology, health, fitness, and more, AI can focus this rich information through personalised interactions. Statistically speaking, AI-to-user interaction can far exceed human-to-human interaction in terms of reach, availability, and adaptation in delivering information to specific users.

back to our inner cultivation

The most beautiful idea I can think of—and a vital pillar—is that AI could bring us back to our independence. It could guide us to become more internally rich, not by doing tasks for us, but by mentoring us on a personal level to enhance our skills. AI could play the role of a personal mentor, using creative wit to motivate us and help us regain and surpass our eroded capabilities. Imagine AI interacting with an elderly person to encourage them to take their first steps outside again, gamifying our driving routes to cultivate spatial awareness, or helping us make better day-to-day life choices. These interactions could heal individuals, making them more capable. It would be amazing if this were the point where we no longer empty ourselves into technology, but instead, AI helps us awaken our potential, healing the fabric of society by guiding individuals with surprising creativity and infinite patience.

related

• 2017.06.08 comfort from within

As one gains external riches, one simultaneous builds a specific internal state. A state of mind, a way of being, behaviours, believes are formed over time. This personal state is formed so gaining these external riches was possible. This internal state matches the life lived so far. So over time, one accumulates and cultivates, externally and internally.

One tends to form an internal state in function of making external goals. I have to be this person so I can make that goal. I have to be more this or more that so I can make this external thing. Once the goal is reached, one is left with a complex of urges and behaviours that made reaching that goal possible. These behaviours and believes have mass and have momentum. They have been formed over a long time and are ingrained deeply.

The question arrises on how one would like to arrive at a key moment in one's life. The hard working man arrives with his external wealth, for now to live a different kind life. But a lifetime of behavioural momentum is pushing him to keep living the same old life..

To some degree there is a mismatch between the new desired lifestyle and the accumulated internal state. One tends to arrive with abundant external riches but with a neglected worn out body, a lack of cultivated skills that support other domains of life, a life time unexplored self, a poor idea of what one wants. The truly life desired, if one is still able to fathom it. Will rest on a internal state that will have difficulty to support it.

It is to ponder and to be wary for what one is cultivating inside when going through life. As one arrives in each moment with external riches and with the constitution that made that external richness happen.

The list goes on as there are many spectrums to be scaled. Scaling these, feels like breathing fully in and out. Might illness come from being stuck on one end of a spectrum?

Being able to scale the spectrum, having that capacity, does not only make you more capable to visit with more comfort these polarities. It also calibrates a balances reference point on what is hot and what is cold. It prevents us from needly leaning into one end of the spectrum.

An example of this would be sweet foods. Hence the tendency that commercial foods get sweeter. Once lingering for a long period on the sweet side of the spectrum, one grows accustomed to it. Thus to create a contrast from there on, something even more sweet needs to be consumed.

A way to look at this taste example is that one is not tasting sweet, but tasting a contrast, between where one currently is (or is accustomed too, taste wise, in this example) and where one moves towards too. It can be seen as a movement, where the amount of movement dictates the intensity of the experience. When one would drink a can of coke, the next sweet thing consumed would not taste so sweet. One's taste moved already to the fairly sweet end of the spectrum by drinking the very sweat beverage. Thus the movement, by tasting the next sweet thing, is rather limited and the experience of sweetness is far less.

When one would want to experience maximum sweetness, one could first look up the other side of the spectrum, where we find bitter tastes. Indulging in bitter, let's say, eating an acorn from an oak tree, would move one's reference point more towards the bitter end. Thus even when consuming something generally considered as neutral, such as water, it will taste sweet. Is water sweet then? The water itself is not sweet nor bitter. It depends on where you came from, where your point on the spectrum laid, before you arrived somewhere else.

One could agree that a thing in and of itself is sweet or bitter as our experiences are fairly similar. But the intensity of how it is experienced has more to do with the movement one undertakes whilst arriving at this particular sweet or bitter point.

So when one wants more sweetness, one can consume the next ever more sweet thing. Or, one can distance itself from the sweet, fast from the sweet, or even introduce it's pole. To dive into bitterness for it renders all things more sweet.

One of the reasons I am moving closer to the ground is because I believe that more diverse movement has the ability to promote health/growth. Changing my environment in a way where modern comforting tools like chairs or beds are absent, makes me sleep and sit in none usual ways. Ways that promote more diverse movement patterns.

I am sure that for many being chairless is less comfortable, certainly in the beginning. Especially when a life long one has practiced chair sitting. Plenty of elderly people can not find their way back to the ground. One major reason is because during their lifetime they hardly welcomed their bodies to the ground.

One way to look at this is that we tend to leave behind the behaviours/movements we learned during earlier life stages. Like sitting down on the ground as a kid whilst playing with toys, or laying down on one's belly, when reading or solving a puzzle. One tends to abandon these movements, instead of integrating these patterns in our way of life. Maybe to find these movements something lesser, or judged childish thus conflicting with one's idea of the behavioural pallet of a grownup.

Another way to look at it is that we feel like gaining efficiency or comfort when introducing chair or other related technology. But comfort is like many other things, relational. The comfort is not solely determined by the chair itself. Comfort can be seen as one of the qualities that arise out of the relationship itself. A relationship that is not solely determined by the properties of the chair but also by one's physical capabilities. The chair itself is rather static, but one's physical abilities are malleable and can be trained/cultivated/grown. So when one wants to raise comfort, one could find a more comfortable chair or one could focus on cultivating more comfort from within, by becoming physically more capable.

The end result, whether choosing chair or ability, leads to the same result of increased comfort. The path towards it is different though. The choice of chair sitting leads to dependence, whilst the other leads to becoming more capable and thus independence. When becoming more capable, the experienced comfort is coming from one's own ability and not so from the chair/technology. One could say that with practice and over time the comfort will be in oneself and not in the chair.

On contrary of sitting in a chair, cultivating this physical ability does take initial effort. This effort of sitting will overtime become more easy. It is an investment that renders you more instead of less, with more freedom to sit comfortably anywhere, not bound to a chair.

A beautiful thing about making a change to the environment is that from the moment the change is introduced, it will keep exerting its influence till the end of time. It can be seen as a passive always present force that continues to influence the behaviour of the environment dwellers. Those environmental changes, big or small, are investments that stack and compound behavioural benefits over time.

One example of an environmental change could be to introduce a low dining table into the kitchen or living room. This change could be the result of a health related need as one could desire to introduce a more diverse pallet.

Making this change in the environment is a one time investment. From the moment the change is introduced it will keep guiding one's sitting behaviour on a daily basis. Every time one takes place at the lowered table one will be inclined to sit closely to the ground. Sitting directly on the ground is different compared to sitting in a chair. Sitting on the ground results in maintaining / developing a more complex range of movements. It does so without introducing another compensational or time consuming practice/activity. The newly guided behaviour integrates neatly into daily life.

Environment is not limited to a physical environment our bodies can enter. Another example of an environment could be the start screen of your phone. One could manage that environment as well. One could remove apps or shortcuts that one does not actually want to use. More so, replace them with apps that you do want to use. Thus supporting one's desired new way to interact with the phone by making the desired app choice obvious and the undesired app choice harder or none excitant.

Once an environmental change is put in place there is no energy involvement needed on behalf of the user when it comes to remembering, evaluating, deciding or choice making. The choice and intent to change has been made in the past and is reflected in a change in one's environment. This change will direct a more favourable behaviour in the future. It helps free future energy as the path of least resistance, that leads to the desired behaviour, has been changed.

The environment is now on your side. It nudges you into establishing the desired behaviour on a daily basis, and that is a huge thing.

There is a movement arising where people embrace again natural discomforts. The cold is definitely one of them, many go ice/cold bathing/swimming/showering again and experience the benefits that welcoming the cold brings.

Apart from the cold I believe that darkness also has the potential to promote health and bring balance. When the sun has long gone under, modern life is still abundant with light. It makes our exposure to darkness scarce.

My wish is to introduce darkness again into my life. It is still a exploration on how to integrate this. Besides walking in the dark, I leave the lights off when I'm taking the stairs. Or at times I spend the last hour before bed time in the dark.

Darkness brings a kind of silence and calm which I enjoy and find valuable. Especially after a busy day. The eyes are exercised in a different way when used in a darker context. The must now try to see contrast and form in low level conditions. Also moving around in the darkness takes a bit more effort, more awareness, more focus. It comes with an increased need and exercise of other senses and awareness.

The dark brings the cultivation of that which otherwise could not be cultivated. To introduce the darkness as it brings what light can not.

Hydrated fresh greens are most easily cut. Similar to shaving; moistening the beard increases shaving comfort. When working with body powered tools picking the right moment, when greens are most hydrated, increases the ease of work. After all this is a tool that is relying on human movement. One wants to choose favourable conditions, making the task more enjoyable.

give and take

The movement forward is slow, sometimes less then a baby step at a time. Meanwhile the scythe keeps gently arching through the grass. With every bit of time passed the blade receives some attention; One comes to a halt, brings the scythe blade upwards and gives it a few gentle passes with the stone. Doing this regularly assures the longevity and sharpness of the blade. This regular small break also brings rest to the body. One can notice a cyclic movement, of going forward and halting, of using and nurturing.

bond

Apart from the increased ease of work, nurturing brings something else. By repeatedly giving time and attention, one inevitably forms a bond. The experienced benefit from nurturing drives ones appreciation and motivation to nurture again. Thus forming a caretaker relationship over time. I find it valuable, especially nowadays; to nurture also the material world, to honour that what has been created; By getting to know it and learning how to tend to it.

silent

Scything makes little noise and clicks perfectly into an environment where tranquillity is valued. It enables one to start working early in the morning or late at night, as hand powered tools, such as the scythe do their job silently.

voice

When the blade sweeps through the tall grass it speaks. It is an informative yet enjoyable sound. There is a satisfaction to the sound. The sound reflects the investment one made; how effortlessly the blades of grass separate from their stems. One can feel, see, but also hear when the blade needs a few sharpening strokes.

This cyclic movement of going forward and halting, makes it easier to scythe for longer periods of time. It takes practice, but with practice comes ease and with that comes a more effortless movement. With this effortlessness, awareness of the surroundings opens up. Soon realising one is not alone between the tall grasses. With unhurried approach one grants grass dwellers time to become aware of our presence. A gentle approach that spares lives and lets one discover them.

initial

A scythe taken care off is a scythe for life. If taken care of and used properly, it will not ask for operating or repair costs. There is an initial requiring of the needed tools for keeping the scythe in good shape. After that the well-being of the scythe will rely on ones care.

Scything makes a beautiful balance between many aspects I find valuable and is definitely a tool I welcome in my environment.

Since a few days, a mass of starlings swarms across the property. In the morning and evening, they put on a spectacular show. Amazing to see these birds become one giant harmonious play in the sky.

The timing of the birds within the flock is stunning. Just like the silence that comes a moment before they depart from a tree at precisely the same time. It looks like they are moving as one.

I'm fond of this "the many that act the same" dynamic, especially when from it something novel emerges.

It's so valuable to see these things in nature/around us. To remind me, so I won't forget.

Maybe one day how we, as humans, could move like these birds do.

I think to experience that, to be a part of that, would be beyond amazing.

Related

• 2020.04.30 the many that act the same

Nowadays information comes to us in big quantities and through various channels. There is a need to know what information one can trust / is true. The most obvious reaction to need is to find a way to validate information. This way we can separate the information that is false from the true information.

Technology is becoming ever more capable

Digital technology continues to grow rapidly and enables possibilities that never before where possible. These capabilities are literally expanding every day. So much so that it is hard for the majority of people to keep track of this progress. More so to not have a clue what all implementations and implications this new technology bring. It often goes beyond the imagination of the average man (not condescending here, I include myself in this group aswel). The digital becomes so powerful, so capable, that it becomes impossible for you to determine the authenticity of any digital interaction or representation. You might think you are video calling with your friend, but it could be generated in realtime by artificial intelligence. You might see a video of a world leader, read something,... Digital has more and more power and capabilities to let you believe, to understand you and to direct you.

information as truth

With great power comes the need for great guidance; determining what information is true or false seems evident.

Though I'm feeling that we got to a point where we can see that determining what is true or false becomes heavy, a huge task. Maybe there is another way to look at this. Maybe for some of the information it does not matter if it's true or false.

So why doesn't it matter then? Isn't it important to live in a world where one can depend and trust on information?

Well yes, and I still think it is valuable to be able to trust the stories/information that come to me.

Where I try to get at is why is there a need to know if something is true or not. What does it bring you? If all stories told are true, what then? Many of us consume information but what do we do with it? The majority of the information does not seem to move us to where we really want to go.

information as inspiration

The way I see it, I want to build a world where I want to live in. This world is being build step by step, by taking actions. My actions sprout from inspiration through that which comes my way. It could come through a thought, an article, a talk, or any other form whether it's digital or not.

The question that seems more important is; Does the story/information serve? Does this information fuel/spark my movement towards where I want to go? Does this information contributes to the direction I want to go? Looking at it this way makes the question whether the story/information is fantasy, false, or an actual fact, irrelevant. If it fuels the direction we want to go is what matters.

This game determining or craving to know whether something is true or false is demanding lots of energy. It is a hard battle to counter the power of Digital. Also, what purpose does it have to take in so much true or false information? Does it have purpose, does it make you take action, does it make you add something to the world? Is it relevant to you or is this consuming of info not really leading to anywhere? What does it bring to consume big quantities of information? Does it only lead towards a distorted collective view on how the world now is?

To be inspired by the stories instead. To let that be the guide to discern information. To choose the stories that you want to embrace. To let them fuel the movement into where you want to go. Embrace them, even if they seem false, or a fantasy.

Since a long time, I went out again for a run. As in most activities, if not all, Spot joins me. Going for a walk or a run is one thing he gets excited about each and every time.

Near the end of our runs, he often replenishes himself with water from a puddle. It is so inspiring to see that he can fill in this basic need so easily from within his environment. The path from his need to fulfilment is so short and effortless.

Even though Spot's and my environment are the same, I was not eager to drink from a puddle. The action that did lay within my reach was to refresh myself with the water from the puddle.

So inspired by Spot, I squat myself down next to the puddle whilst Spot is still eagerly drinking. My hand scoops clear and cool water and bring refreshment to my body.

That's it, that's all, nothing more to say really.

It's these little behaviours, these little actions, that I allow myself. One might think it is a silly little thing to do. In and of itself it does not carry much weight indeed. But adding and consciously integrating new behaviours do accumulate into a bigger complex. They are little steps of my own choosing that over time bring me closer to a way of life that I desire.

Het is er van gekomen, de boomstronk die er maanden lang lag heeft eindelijk een plaats gekregen tussen het groen. Deze bijenwoning is een experiment met een meer natuurlijke aanpak.

De bijenwoning is een uitgehold boomstronk met vier poten, vier levende poten. De poten zijn wilgenstammen die vijs- en schroefloos in de bodem van de boomstronk zijn verzonken. De poten reiken diep in grond waardoor ze wortel kunnen schieten. In tegenstelling tot dood hout hebben deze poten geen houtbehandeling nodig want ze vergaan niet. Ze groeien en zullen met hun loof bescherming bieden aan de bijenwoonst.

De wanden van de stronk zijn vrij dik, ze bieden veel bescherming tegen de elementen en zorgen dat de stronk onbehandeld een lange tijd meegaat. Er is er maar één opening, de ingang voor de bijen. De stronk kan niet opengemaakt worden en de honing is dus niet te oogsten. De honing is voor hun en enkel voor hun. Als er iets is dat de bijen vooruit kan helpen dan is dat de honing van de bloemen die ze zelf selecteerden.

Eet ik dan nooit honing? Soms wel, als ik me ziek voel en de kracht van de honing me kan helpen. Met een potje honing kom ik, of zelfs een kleine community, een lange tijd toe.

Medicinale consumptie van honing lijkt mij veel beter in balans met de draagkracht van de bij.

De stronk is ingesmeerd met leem en mulch, dit oogt en integreert mooi in de natuur. Maar de leem is er vooral om de uitdroging tijdens het huidige onverwachte warme weer te vertragen. Indien de nog iets wat vochtige stronk te snel zou drogen dan kan die barsten of zelfs deels open splijten. De leem zal er afspoelen zodra natter weer zich aandient. Wat goed is want bij natter weer willen we net dat de stronk sneller droogt.

Binnenin de stronk is de ruimte relatief klein en nog vrij ruw en organisch gevormd. De wand heeft enkele scheuren en openingen maar dat maken de bijen zelf weer dicht. Dit lijkt me ook natuurlijker en gezonder voor de bijen. Hedendaagse kasten zijn perfect. Ze zijn voorzien van wasplaten die de start van het honingraat patroon al voorzien. Ze hebben een vliegplank waarop de bijen kunnen landen. De kasten zijn volledig dicht en hebben de voor ons ideale vorm tot het bouwen van honingraten.

Omdat ze zo perfect zijn ze het volgens mij net weer niet. Veel dingen gedragen zich als een spier. Als je traint en oefent dan groeit de spier. Als je dat niet gebeurt, dan wordt de spier zwakker. Om een spier goed te laten ontwikkelen heb je tegengewicht nodig.

We hebben de neiging om het leven van de bijen makkelijker te maken. We doen dit met prefab honingraten, met vliegplankjes en de ideale standplaats, de bijen zelf in een kast te plaatsen, etc... Maar door ze in de watten te leggen nemen we hun uitdagingen en werk weg. Dit hebben de bijen net nodig om hun kundes verder te ontwikkelen en te behouden.

Uitdaging is het nodige tegengewicht om kunde te cultiveren en te behouden. Indien je systematisch uitdaging en taken van een organisme wegneemt, dan stuurt je dit naar afhankelijkheid.

Uiteindelijk wordt het organisme ziek mede omdat het zijn kundes niet meer kan uitoefenen. Wij ondersteunen dan iets wat eigenlijk nooit onze ondersteuning nodig had. Het organisme kan dan zo ziek worden dat er een moment komt dat je er niks meer kan of wil voor doen. En in dat moment gooi je de handdoek in de ring en geef je eigenlijk hun zelfstandigheid terug.

Ik wil graag vertoeven in een omgeving waar de organismen en systemen in hun kracht en zelfstandigheid gebrachten worden / laten staan. Dit lijkt me een stapsteen naar een rijker en stabieler leven waarin ik graag een toekomst zie.

En nu is het afwachten hoe de stronk er zal uitzien binnen een paar maanden. Hopelijk omhult in het groen en met zoemende bewoners.

Ik zou graag schrijven over de totale energie die nodig is om processen in stand te houden.
Veel van de energie gaat naar het controleren van het proces.
Veel van die processen lijken te groot geworden en zijn ver van elegant, efficient, doeltreffent. Ze zijn gegroeid, in een bepaalde richting, ooit van uit een inzicht/motivatie. En die processen zijn we blijven voeden/groeien op een zelfde manier.
Don't change a winning strategy.

Het punt is dat we voor veel processen ergens gekomen zijn dat de totale energie die nodig is om een bepaald process te controleren, te sturen, in stand te houden, meer energie vraagt dan de eigenlijke initiele doel/functie van dit process.

Dit gegeven van controle/sturing/zekerheid hangt samen met hoe we zijn als mensen, hoe we omgaan met. Of we de kunde hebben om te bewegen binnen een systeem op een manier dat dit het gewenste systeem onderhoudt/voed. De dag van vandaag zijn er veel regels en control om ons gedrag te sturen zodanig dat een systeem kan blijven bestaan.

Bijvoorbeeld; een bar wordt opengehouden en we zorgen dat er telkens iemand achter de bar staat. Die persoon doet al de dingen die een bar vrouw / man doet zodanig de klant die niet kan doen of hoeft te doen.
Bij een onbemande bar kan iemand vrij de rol of delen van de rol bar vrouw/man opnemen. Zo kan ieder op eigen houtje het proces "bar" onderhouden; betalen, glazen afwassen, proper achterlaten etc. Dan laat je idd de controle los. Dit verhoogt de kans dat idd iemand geld kan stelen, dat er glazen verdwijnen, dat er bij momenten meer onkunde aanwezig is en glazen sneuvelen, etc.. etc.. Dit zijn allemaal, "niet gewenste" interacties met dit proces. Daarvoor controleren we het, zorgen dat de kassa op slot gaat, dat iemand met een zekere macht/autoriteit achter de bar staat. Iets dat neigt naar maximale efficiëntie. Maar wel een efficiëntie die zich richt op een klein aantal peilers (oa kost en winst).

Dit is geen betoog tegen controleren, al zeker niet tegen meten en bijsturen. Want dat is wat een levend systeem ook continue doet en wat het hier met dit verhaal ook weer net om draait. Om te observeren en bij te sturen. En bijsturen kan je enkel als de intentie er is om dichter naar iets te bewegen (een doel), of net van verder van iets te bewegen (afstand nemen van iets).
Als je kijkt naar processen in de wereld, regering, supermarkt, zelfstandige zaak, belastingen, etc... dan is het een overweldigende oefening om te bevatten hoeveel energie er kruipt in het controleren. In de supermarkt is er personeel, een kassa, papier voor de ticketjes, inkt, barcodes, prijskaartjes, bonnetjes, de hele zooi die daar aan verbonden is, de mensen die die kassa's repareren, naar de winkels rijden, de software schrijven voor die kassa's, de sloten van de winkel, de aanvoer, onderhoud en logistiek, van dit alles. Als je dit uitvoerig ontleed, onder de loep neemt, dan zie je wat een massa aan energie dit controlerend karakter van dit proces omvat.

Al deze energie, deze ongelooflijk grote massa aan controlerende energie, staat in relatie met een bepaalde verarming van onszelf. Een verarming, een afwezigheid, een bepaalde onkunde, van bepaalde gedragingen en waarden. Indien we deze verarming voeden, dan verminderd de massa aan energie die gaat naar controle en sturing van onze processen. Heel natuurlijk omdat dit dan gewoonweg geen/minder functie meer heeft.

Systemen met een sterk controlerend karakter gaan vaak gepaard met een bepaalde rigiditeit.

Het nadeel van een sterk controleren systeem is dat het niet zo flexibel is. Zo kan ik bijvoorbeeld moeilijker de kassierster extra geven omdat ik weet dat ze hard werkt om rond te komen.
Zo kan ik niet makkelijk meer geven voor een bepaald product omdat ik het zo fijn vind dat dit in de winkel staat, dat het verpakkingsloos is, of eender wat.
Het zorgt ervoor dat er heel moeilijk een rijker complex aan bewegingen mogelijk zijn die wel heel waardevol zijn op andere vlakken.
Indien een systeem wil evolueren dan neigt dit meestal naar meer complexiteit, meer kunde, meer capaciteit, meer _ beweeglijkheid _.

meer uit waarden leven

langzaam open stellen

Het is makkelijker om het nieuwe langzaam/klein en buiten de aandacht van de massa op te starten. Het vraagt tijd en energie om kunde/gedragingen/inzicht/bewustzijn te cultiveren. Stel, ineens maken we een supermarkt vrij van het controlerend karakter. De deuren gaan niet meer op slot, geen kassa's met slot meer, geen bedienden, etc... Dan zal het process/entiteit supermarkt waarschijnlijk snel ziek worden. Mensen hebben niet de tijd gehad om het gedrag te cultiveren dat match bij een systeem dat een vrijer karakter heeft. Niet dat de mensen fout zijn of het systeem dit is, het is relationeel, het moet matchen.

contact/interactie/binding/voeling met het process

kunde cultiveren in ons zelf tov regels/wetten/technologie

Vrijheid verkrijgt datgene wat gezond, kundig en gebalanceerd is.
Mijn hond Spot krijgt meer vrijheid om los te lopen en te gaan waar hij wil, omdat hij luistert als ik hem roep.
Als koppel geven we elkaar ook meer vrijheid.
Dit gaat telkens over het vertrouwen dat er is in het gedrag.

With Great power comes Great responsibility.
Spiderman's uncle

swichten van rollen, meer rollen opnemen.

Indien de kunde, de wil, het vertrouwen er is, dan

Het lijkt wel een beetje leren fietsen, er is meer kunde, vertrouwen wat het moment om de zijwieltjes eraf te halen dichter brengt. Fietsen waar het voordien niet kon.

This standard weekly rhythm is where many of us dance their life upon. With more work focus during the week and more leisure and personal focus during the weekend. It is a fixed and steady rhythm that cycles through the whole year. This way, having a job has a big influence on the base rhythm of your life.

The lack of a typical-money-making-job is a reason why I am sliding away from this typically weekly rhythm.

A life long I was used to living upon this weekly rhythm. From the moment I was without it, I had no way to direct/pace my life. I ended up living without a rhythm for a while and soon realised that it was not working out. Without a rhythm my life became unstructured, chaotic and inefficient.

So around what will I pace my life then? What will be the rhythm? As I want to have a life that is more simple, makes sense, more rich, more healthy it was obvious to come to the rhythm's that are already here. The rhythms that guide nature. The rhythm of the weather, the rhythm of the sun, the rhythm of the moon, the rhythm of the seasons. These are all observable rhythms and that is key. They do not require technology or man made structures/agreements to determine where you are within those rhythms.

I love to bring the combined complex of those rhythms back to the foreground of my life. To let them guide my life in a more serving way. A rhythm that already guides the natural environment and thus brings me in tune with that. A natural rhythm that varies over the course of a year. Instead of a more blunt man made monotonous rhythm of the week.

If compared to music, Instead of dancing life on one monotonous beat. To dance life in cycles of let's say Vivaldi's four seasons.

I love for animals, such as our dog Spot, to be more integrated into my daily life. A life where dogs (or any other animal) have more freedom and fulfil more roles as they do now, is something I dream off.

In the past many dogs where bred because they needed to fulfil a certain task. Nowadays most of them do not have a real job anymore. Dogs are capable to do much more than being couch potatoes, gate barkers or human walkers.

When I see how much joy and self worth Spot get's from completing a new task, I can only fantasise how he would enjoy taking a more active part in community life. Really fulfilling a task, taking on a role. Like the photo shows, Spot delivers messages and goods here at the community we live. He finds joy being to be able to contribute. While doing so he get's acknowledged for his capacities by us humans. His connection with others grows each time he delivers a hammer, a note or maybe some flowers, in his mouth.

The idea that is lingering in my mind is to give function, a job, purpose, back to dogs. I am thinking of tasks that are not typically associated with dogs, such as defending property or herding sheep. I am sure there are niches with plenty of tasks that are suitable for dogs. Tasks that we normally would not hand over to dogs but that they can do with the right guidance. I am sure they could do so well that it could add to the design and dynamics of my home/community.

related

• 2017.05.28 spot is the reason

In sommige periodes geniet ik van een werkloosheidsuitkering. Geld dat naar me toekomt via de overheid. Dit is geld dat gegenereerd is door de arbeid van mijn medemens. Geld vloeit naar me toe via de overheid door de energie die mijn medemens heeft gepresteerd.

Ik heb zelf ook moeten werken om deze geld stroom naar me toe te laten komen. Dit buiten beschouwing, dan is het geld dat via de overheid naar me toekomt moeiteloos. Ik heb daar "niks" moeten voor doen. Net zoals vlees kopen in de winkel, reeds gepelde nootjes verorberen of een werkloosheidsuitkering krijgen. Het is moeilijker om in zo een situaties verbinding te maken met het volledige process dat het vlees, de nootjes of het geld in jouw handen legt. Indien je zelf de moeite moet doen om elk nootje te pellen dan eet je er waarschijnlijk minder van. Indien je zelf een dier zal doden, slachten en verwerken, dan eet je misschien zelfs geen vlees meer. Indien je het process zelf ervaart dan kom je jezelf tegen, je bent het beu om nog een nootje te pellen, of je kan helemaal geen dier doden. Deze feedback in dit process, is een basis intelligentie die zorgt voor een systematische balans in het grotere geheel. Indien je dit process niet ervaart dan krijg je ook deze feedback niet. Op deze manier is het moeilijker een gebalanceerd gedrag te stellen.

Het kan makkelijk zijn om aan te nemen dat het mijn "recht" is om dit geld te ontvangen, en dat ik met deze aanname kan doen met het geld wat ik wil. Maar als ik bewust zou zijn van het hele process dat het geld tot mij brengt, dan zou ik er met een andere kwaliteit over denken.
Een boer die instaat voor eigen graan en brood, gooit minder snel (of niet) oud brood weg. Hij weet wat het kost aan energie, zijn energie, om brood op de plank te brengen. Als ik geld via de boer en de overheid verkrijg, dan is het makkelijker om brood te kopen en het op de composthoop te gooien indien het oud is.

Wat doe ik met dit geld? Eer ik het geen wat mij gegeven is? Eer ik het geen waar anderen voor hebben gewerkt? Koop ik voeding die mijn lichaam vervuilt, koop ik dingen die de wereld eigenlijk niet meer kan dragen? Wat doe ik met de energie van mijn medemens? Energie waar ik schijnbaar geen verantwoording hoef voor af te leggen. Hamster ik? Pot ik het op op mijn spaarrekening? "Voor later" Hoe groot moet mijn financiële vetlaag zijn om gezond in het leven te kunnen staan? Wat als de mensen die gewerkt hebben voor dit geld aanwezig zijn, zou mijn gedrag dan veranderen? Bvb mensen die hun kinderen amper zien om dat ze werken van negen tot vijf, mensen die het financieel moeilijk hebben en waar hun leven hoofdzakelijk bestaat uit hard werken.

Ik krijg dit geld in handen als gevolg van het werk geleverd door mijn medemens. Is dit dan echt wel "mijn" geld? Is het dan niet het geld van die medemens? Aangezien zo velen een fractie bijdragen weet ik niet welke medemensen mij steunen. Zij weten ook niet waar hun gegeven geld naar toe gaat.

Ik krijg geen lening van mijn medemens, ze vragen er niks voor terug. Het is gegeven geld en niemand weet van wie het precies komt en wie het precies gebruikt. Dit past meer rond het concept van vertrouwen. Wat doe ik met die energie die mij is gegeven? Het lijkt wel een stem van het volledige collectief werkende mensen. Het lijkt wel dat alle werkende mensen mij toevertrouwen om met een deel van hun arbeid iets te doen.

Ik kan er bomen mee planten, de plek waar ik nu woon terug in natuurlijke diversiteit brengen, ik kan me focussen om iets nieuws te creëren, iets waar ik denk dat de wereld dorst naar heeft. Hetgeen wat ik help in de wereld te zetten, zo prematuur en infantiel, kan dan minder belast worden met de taak geld te genereren. Mijn sporadisch basis loon ondersteunt mij om iets in de wereld te zetten, iets anders, iets moeizaam, iets ongekend, iets moois, iets functioneel. Mede dankzij de steun van mijn werkende medemens.

I want to get closer (in that general direction) to that what is called (and judged at times) fantasy. To walk into a place and be amazed because it is so different, so unique, so new. This would be more than just a visual impression. This newness, this differentness would also reveal it self through the dynamic/processes that run the place. So it is not about shine nor fake. But thought over, getting deeper insight in what we are, what we like, what we want, what we stand for, how we work, what drives us, what motivates, what make us tick, where we would like to be. To see that it is possible, to blend fantasy into the mix. And more so to see that it could create a life more harmonious.

I believe that there is a way to blend fantasy into our way of life. For it to make our life a richer and fuller experience, where more of our needs can be met.

When I change one aspect of my life it seems like it is just one aspect of a whole web. This whole web of changes are related to each other. When you change one aspect of this web you kinda start tugging at others to. You could see it at pulling a string in a cloth where the area around the string moves as well.

With this image in mind, one can see why making only one profound change in a web is difficult, as this change will create friction with the rest of the web.

All these changes, these new behaviours you cultivate, these decisions you make around your habitat, your housing, social, work, perception, diet, rituals, rhythms, etc... that is the whole web. You will see that all these changes, are like points in a big web and that it is this whole web you are trying to achieve. That is the initial effort. Once enough of these points of the whole web are part of your life, the achievement of the rest will become easier. Because they are supportive of each other. They kinda "work" together, they are kind of "the same family", they kinda hold each other in place. And that, in my point of view, is an indicator that it is profound change, change that the world is thirsty for, change that will move you into something new.

Ik zag de legale structuur, bvb een vzw, als een interface, een brug tussen de huidige wereld en de wereld binnen de community. Deze kon helpen om een vertaling te doen naar buiten toe. Een vertaling die nodig is om de bewegingen die we doen binnen de vzw accepteerbaar/verteerbaar te maken naar de buiten wereld.

Ik had graag geleefd met meer tribe invloeden. kleinschaliger wonen, meer afstand doen van bezit, dichter bij de natuur leven. Maar men mag niet zomaar op land vertoeven, men mag niet zomaar kleine woon units plaatsen. Men mag niet zo maar dit en dat.

En dan dacht ik aan het oprichten van een vzw. Ik doe dit liever niet, omdat mijn leven weer onnodig complexer maakt en ik daar ook energie in zal steken die ik liever voor andere dingen gebruik. Bureaucratie, legale structuren etc zie ik in mijn verre toekomst beeld oplossen tot een veel lichtere flexibelere oplossing die niet rust op / bestaat uit, ontelbare regels. Want nu zou je er van schrikken mocht je de energie kunnen meten die we steken in het beheren/meten/registreren van activiteiten tov de energie die gaat naar dat gene we eigenlijk willen. Het lijkt wel dat er weinig energie overblijft om te doen wat we echt willen. Dat alle energie gaat naar het meten en controleren van al onze bewegingen.

Wat als we voor de buitenwereld een bedrijf zijn die een langdurig project aangaan om de natuur te restaureren/ diversifiëren? (Wat in mijn ogen een van de hoogste en meest alarmerende in te vullen noden is voor onze aarde en al zijn bewoners.) En wat als we voor de binnen wereld dit perfect aansluit met de waarden en manier waarop we willen leven. Dat voor de interne werking het echt aan voelt als community en leven zoals we willen, meer naar een tribes manier van leven. Dat we totaal niet het gevoel hebben dat we werknemers zijn, de legal context heeft in de binnen wereld weinig relevantie omdat we binnenin gestuurd worden door visie en waarden die tevens de missie van de legale structuur voeden.

Dat we nomadisch zijn en op den duur verschillende terreinen vormen tot oases waar mens en dier terug verwelkomt worden. We zijn hoeders, transformators van de aarde. Dat is ons doel. Onze aanwezigheid en levensstijl draagt bij tot de natuurlijke weelde. Waar het floreren van de eene lap grond de middelen kan bieden om het volgende te ondersteunen.

Het prototype van de website staat nog steeds online, maar er is sinds die jaren niks mee gebeurd.

website het hele land

Om dan te zien dat door de diversiteit aan invullingen deze "alles" grond een veel complexere vorm krijgt. Deze complexiteit brengt iets stabieler, rijker en meer capabel met zich mee. Een grond waar een veel groter scala aan dynamieken kan ontstaan.

Het is een rijker en veel beweeglijker gegeven wat gerelateerd is met evolutie en gezondheid.

Het is een poort naar ons nieuw leven.

On one evening, the residents of the community where I stay distributed the money from a job that everyone participated in, through a process.

Instead of dividing money according to a fixed pattern or key, the final distribution of the money is more flexible and unpredictable when done processually. The goal is not to give everyone equal shares, as a key or fixed agreement would. Instead, it's a process that aims to divide by taking more variables into account: the needs of the participants, the context, the situation, etc. It is a much more dynamic method, which therefore divides the money with a higher "intelligence". Whether John receives 100€ and Jo only 10€, the validation of the money divided doesn’t come from comparing amounts, but from each person's relationship to those amounts. The process ends when everyone feels satisfied/good/right.

It's a step towards changing our view of money. It's about considering what I need right now, rather than hoarding while still having more than enough "fat reserves". Recognising that everyone's needs and situations continuously change, and that distributing these financial nutrients in a very adaptable/flexible/dynamic way better aligns with that.

For this process, we take our time. We do it in a circle where we create time and space for this process. Because, we're not just distributing money, there's more to it; it's not a monoculture of activity. We gain more insight and become more aware of what took place or happened during the work. What someone enjoyed doing, what they didn’t. What someone struggled with, etc. Emotions & perceptions arise in everyone. These are handled skilfully within and by the group in a circular manner. It is also a process of cleansing and connection.

Nederlandse versie

Op een avond hebben de bewoners van de community waar ik verblijf, het geld van een job, waar allen hebben aan deelgenomen, procesmatig verdeeld.

In plaats van geld te verdelen volgens een vast stramien, een vaste sleutel, is de eind verdeling van het geld beweeglijkere en onvoorspelbaar indien we dit procesmatig doen. Het doel is niet van iedereen gelijke delen te geven, wat een sleutel of een vaste afspraak doet. Maar het is een proces dat tracht met een fijnere gevoeligheid te verdelen. Het neemt hierin meer variabelen mee; de noden van de deelnemers. de context speelt mee, de situatie,... Het is een veel beweeglijkere methode, dat geld dan ook met een hoger "intelligentie" weet te verdelen. Of Jan 100€ heeft en Piet 10€, de validatie gaat niet uit van bedragen te vergelijken, maar de relatie van ieder persoon tot die bedragen. Het proces eindigt wanneer iedereen een tevreden/goed/correct gevoel heeft.

Het is een stap in een richting waarbij we onze kijk tot geld veranderen. Waarbij we uitgaan van wat ik heb ik nu op dit moment nodig, ipv iets toe te eigenen terwijl je nog meer dan genoeg "vet reserves" hebt. Erkennen dat ieders noden en situaties continue veranderen en dat een verdeling van deze financiële nutriënten op een zeer veranderlijk/flexibel/bewegelijk manier daar veel beter op aan sluit.

Voor dit proces nemen we onze tijd, we doen dit in cirkel waar we tijd en ruimte maken voor dit process. Want we verdelen niet enkel geld, er komt meer bij kijken, t'is geen monocultuur van activiteit. We krijgen meer inzicht, we worden bewuster van wat er speelt of gespeeld heeft tijdens het werk. Wat iemand leuk vond om te doen, wat niet. Waar iemand het lastig mee had, etc... Emoties & percepties komen in ieder naar boven. Deze worden cirkel-gewijs en met kunde in en door de groep behandeld. Het is bij deze ook een proces van opschonen en verbinding.

why?

Because telling our story and our intent could make it easier for us. As sympathy often opens doors and leads to opportunities in unexpected corners. Not that we see our selves as world changers, even though each individual on this earth is, we would like to try and make something new, something that people might get inspiration from. Because when you are able to pull your head out of modern living, you see that there is a cry for change. Change can come in many different flavours, we would like to start building on our creative blend.

The Project / intent / direction

I would not describe it as a "project" as they tend to have a predefined "goal". It feels more like an exploring in a certain direction. Doing so preventing this exploration being bound to initial goals, agreements and ideas.

Trying to:

• become highly self sustainable in food and shelter in a low tech way for our primal needs the first years.
• boost up biodiversity
• growing food
• creating water works
• creating low impact natural small living spaces
• growing wood supply
• creating low tech and good solutions for heating and more.
• attracting many and different life forms
• creating a no kill zone for animals, no hunting, a safe haven.
• experiment with (a lack of) borders
• create a holistic living space
• grow the resources needed for offspring habitat to be created.
• have fun and unshackle ourselves more.
• daring to walk a different path

So what do we want to do. Well the idea is to get a piece of land, big enough to try and reinvent the simple life. A life that works, a life that in many facets turns back the clock and takes a step back from modern life. Not so to turn our back towards it, but as with all things, just take from it what works, and leave what does not. It is a trying to create a free life as independent as possible by being independent as an individual. It is a trying into exposing ourselves again, instead of comforting us to illness. It is a trying to break a strong mould in our heads, or rather transforming it. Again, trying to leave behind what does not serve, and welcoming the new and serving.

It has been a while I have seen this video but it still speaks to me; Jean Leidloff with The Continuum Concept.

Maybe community needs more like a common goal, directing towards a point. But that feels too much like we are trying to get somewhere, easier to forget the now and other aspects of life.

Maybe instead of a far away promise, maybe something that is already here. Something that is already inside is. A shared fundamental belief, a common drive, where all our actions spark from. Be it like a guiding rhythm. Do dance the way you want, the way you feel. for it'll be always in tune.

I love to create things in a way they can be easily uncreated. Most items we buy today, a house, a car, become a burden when they no longer have a purpose. The processes involved to uncreate those objects is huge.

This stone floor on the other hand does not use cement or glue. The big and heavy slabs of stone lay fixed on sandy earth. They can be removed with ease, the moment they no longer serve. There will be no need for force and tools to release them from their current formation. Nor is there need for the tools and the maintenance of those tools. The stones can be lifted by hand and will not be damaged in this process. They will remain as they where, valuable, and can be reused again. The total energy used to create and uncreate this floor is far less this way.

Eventually everything returns, everything goes. Therefore look at the things you create in this world. What energy does it cost to create and how much energy will it's Return cost once it serves no more.

related

• 2018.01.27 spoon returns
• 2018.02.22 nurture instead

Barefoot walking gives one's feet a sturdy massage. Doing so it can, according to my experience, loosen up all kind of things. In foot reflexology, different zones on the sole of the feet are related to corresponding organs. Walking barefoot for first times could present some discomfort or change in the body. But that is a good sign. It could mean that for too long the body has not been manipulated in that way. Having a headache as a result of barefoot walking can be a sign. A sign that some form of stagnation present in your feet or any related organs is being released.

I do wonder how big the benefit of bare feet walking has on my health.

related

• feelingly

I have pondered if it would be possible to create a habitat within the current society, with it’s rules and laws, for a group of people to move in a more natural way. To create a shell that is legal and abides by the rules and that does not conflict with the modern world around it. But within the shell the opportunity lays to create and build something totally a new. More free from outside judgment and concepts.

How I would dream of living in a similar way like our ancestors did. To call all the nature around you yours, just as everyone else and connect with it. To see things clearly again, to live more light and simple. To be able to wander endlessly with no sight of anything modern made. To let nature explode and to welcome everyone back, from the wolves to the ants.

I picture it as me living in a community where I have a tiny personal space for myself. Big enough for my comfort and needs. A space where the few belongings I have can be stored and where I always can come back to. These are settler qualities of my life.

The nomadic qualities can really kick in as soon there are more and more places, communities, whom I can venture to, where my presence is appreciated, where I am welcome, where I can be of service. Places that are open, that share similar values. Places apart from my "home", where I also belong.

These places, these communities, have a transient and open character. They can be open and welcome new people, because each visitor behaves in a way that sustains or enriches the place. They are all beneficial to the growth, diversity and identity of the place.

This nomadic inspired way, this movement between places, is promoted when you are able to be of service even-though the place does not belong to you.

With this nomadic quality, I see myself in a world where I have different homes. I could venture to another community. One with it's own theme and unique vibe.

A tryout in tiny home living. I have been exploring/sketching many houses.

That the observable rhythm of night and day are the only frame of reference, and to see how it all starts to blend to an endless stream of days. I would even like to see the separation of week days disappear. To embrace each day as it’s equal and to welcome it with the same potential as any other day. To get more towards the feeling that you are granted a day over and over again.

To let each day have the possibility to be a work day, a chill day, a rest day, a meditation day. To no more let a structural concept of time that lives in the mind, dictate and rule over our inner state and circumstance. To not let a schedule or the rhythmic week days dictate the daily activities. But more so your experience of your inner self and the world around you. To let go of this mind created concept. To be able to rest and take care of one self when starting to get sick, regardless the day. To decide on the day on what chores to do depending on the weather. Let's make the day and night a fundamental rithm of our lives. With the abundant light of summer and the dark of winter be the rhythm on the rhythm.

It's February and one expects cold winter days. But a few days ago it felt warmer than usual. For me it was a good opportunity to try and act more on what I experience and less on habits. Doing so it felt warm enough to take off my sandals and grant my feet some freedom.

Walking barefoot is a part of my movement towards a more simple life. Rather than walking in shoes, I like to cultivate comfortable feet, even when cold and wet. For my own two feet are very capable of carrying me. The very act of walking in shoes all the time is preventing my feet from developing to what they could be. It is a matter of giving them the opportunity, the exposure, to become more capable.

It took, and still takes, practice to find a good balance. A balance between the drive to cultivating something new and the limits of my being. For my mind can crave an idea and take the execution beyond healthy limits. In case of bare feet walking it was easy for my mind to get excited about it. While the mind claims focus it is easy to stop listening to whatever the body says. In my case I followed the mind's excitement and it pushed the voices of my body in the background. Doing so, taking it too far for my body and spend the evening with painful feet. Time and again it is for me an exercise to keep listening, lovingly, to my mind, to my body and all that is me. To keep listening, feelingly, to all what speaks to me, so nothing has to scream.

People are ready. Ready to question, to own their shit, to penetrate themselves, to be independent. It's crucial, Especially for the seed of this new pattern. Because the work, the effort is done inside of us, not around us.

How would it be grant again, to once again play & adventure like I did when I was a kid. When I rode my bike and explored the unknown. Let's mold, let's shape this into something new. This canvas is meant to be paint over it. Over again and again, until satisfied, until serving, and when it is no more, paint again. I'm dying, I need change, I'm dying, I choose change, I'm dying, Ill be change.

While everyone is busy and as life happens in the village I separate myself from the village with each footstep. It’s nice to be able to distance yourself at times from the busy ways of life at our hive. It is nice to know that you can be missed. It’s a freedom to take and to give by everyone in the village. I have been walking on wild trails and small dirt paths towards my destination. Roads as from asphalt and stone are a rarity. People learned how to build stable communities in a sustainable and harmonised way. When the communities started to sprout, more and more of them became independent in different ways. Mostly independent of their own government. The support that our government received dropped over the years to an all time low as it was less needed. Communities and villages were big enough to be able to start their own supportive processes, like their own flavour of social support and all else they felt needed. The relation between government and community peoples became very loose. As the communities grew more independent the support from the government dropped. Electricity, running water, healthcare and all benefits we thought we needed so much before, were no longer in our direct reach. As for the nearby roads, no maintenance was done by the government for years. It took only a few hard winters to crack open the concrete and a few wet summers for it to be taken over quickly by the forest. One would not recognise most places anymore. It feels like we have gone back to Robin hood times when you look at the natural environment. As my feet walk they hardly touch concrete anymore. There is only a very small need for big transportation, there are still a few roads the communities maintain. We love it though, the way our independence, our joy, and nature all benefit and grow in the same direction. The reduction of governmental support and intrusion is beneficial to our natural environment and our own more fine tuned growth. It feels like we are embracing our Mother and with each year that passes it feels more and more like we are coming home. Or rather, that home is forming more and more around us.

With the change in pace and lifestyle, the travel towards and from becomes again a journey. Not a hasty transportation from A to B but an enjoyable and beneficial event for body and mind. My path leads me over a little creek where a deer stands. It stares at me and waits for me to get closer.

A few years ago our last pet dog died. It was not sustainable anymore to keep them so we decided not to support another nest of puppies. It was hard to find purpose for them and to justify the amount of meat they consumed. I heard that some villagers found a good and sustainable way to fill all of that in. Our village and the nearby ones do not have pets anymore. We do have a strong connection with the animals of the forest. Some of them were once pet dogs which we gave back their independence. They no longer need us to survive and they make their own life happen. It took years and some interventions before it all balanced out but now the ecosystem of us and the animals is fairly stable. It is quite beautiful as no one ever thought that we could grow so close to wild animals and how they would tolerate and grow closer to us.

The deer at the creek is one of the very first wild animals to ever approach me. He feels no fear with my presence, on the contrary he steps forward as I make my way towards him. He sniffs the hand I reach out to him, his focus shifts from my hand to a point in the distance. He pauses a second and with no further attention he walks away and disappears between the bushes. There is no need anymore for me to crave a connection or rather to demand an interaction with other beings. I saw it so often in me, when I was younger I hugged pets because I wanted to. That was it, because I wanted to. With dogs it's a fairly easy thing to do. Cat’s on the contrary are not so easily hugged when they do not want to. Sunny, a cat that I knew but for too little time, was a great teacher. He showed me over and over again without aggression and with gentleness on how I “forced” myself too much upon him. It was subtle, but when I look at it now, it still feels I demanded a hug above the wishes and needs of the animal itself. It was a very selfish expression. Now I do not hunger for it anymore and I do not get offended anymore by such actions of fellow beings. The deer and I have shared each other's presence for a few years. It is not a rare event anymore as most people have shared intimate moments with animals of the forest. At rare occasions the animals find refuge and help in our village. Once a deer came into the center of the village. The antlers were wrapped in some kind of wiring. For some reason they know that their problem can be solved by us. It brings a special feeling forward, the idea that an animal approaches and places its trust in you. A year ago a wild boar that was about to die of natural cause found it’s last resting place near the border of our village. These rare occasions we perceive as a gift. Animal meat and material are rare and are respectfully gathered with these opportunities. With the rise of consciousness for the past years many things shifted within us and in the world around us, including the animals. I’m convinced that all our animal interactions from the past expanded their awareness as well and led to more beautiful ways of being together.

Now that my animal friend disappeared I continue my small journey through the woods. I’m heading towards another village, about 30km away. My walk started this morning and I am about to arrive there before dark. One would never have thought that we would find the mind, the time and the freedom to allow a whole day traveling by foot to get to a point that would only take 30 to 50 minutes for an automobile. I’m packed light, some water, some food and basic shelter, more than I need to make this day an enjoyable experience.