..........

Well, we approach an interesting time, a new election cycle is but weeks away. I like to have hope and keep it close. I have to say that I have rarely paid this much attention to an election. I have gone so far as to create a newsletter that details the political situation. Essentially it is a digest of news story links, a bit of humor and a way of keeping up an archive of our current state of affairs. My take is still optimistic but that is not wholly unmitigated to say the least. Prayers are in order.

As to our situation, well, I feel that, one way or another, no matter how this election goes we may well find ourselves more intent upon finding our way to what we want. I have been talking to my family members about what I've been doing here with the Community of Light and there is more interest than in years past.

I believe that we are close to being able to do what it is we want. It is a matter of chance, circumstance and resources all coming together. It is closer with each day.

We can all begin to prepare, saving our own funds, talking to others, reading up on various aspects of community, visiting some nearby communities, imagining how we'd like to have our own dwelling, considering how we'd each make our own income once we had a place that was our own. Just think, we might be able to get out from under the "renters rat race" and move on to property ownership. We could become employers. We could be helping the world we love become the place that we'd love to see it become.

Imagine!

Community of Light

We want to co-create a community in a rural area, grow a good portion of our own food, create a profitable cottage industry, and so be self employed. We want keep well the land that we live on and engage in right livelihood. We also want to contribute to the community around us and so benefit our society. Ideally, we would want to be near enough to a good sized town maybe some 50,000 or so, a college community would be something to consider. We could each use our talents, abilities, or professions to provide for ourselves as well as whatever "cottage industry" would be.

You are all welcome to express your ideas about what our community should be. We are, after all, the persons who will make it up.

There are a lot of ideas that we've discussed but I want everyone to know that what is or has been in issues are meant as working concepts. This whole idea is a work in progress and so let us know what you think.

If you have not been to the Community of Lights web page we now have a listing of communities that are forming. It may be educational to visit some of those sites to see what's new in the community universe See the links at: Community of Light

If you would like to leave a telephone message for us, you can, at this voicemail: 415-364-3045

Thanks, Dan and Wendy

Email Address: creative1@creativeideasforyou.com

These are the introductions from persons that have written us since the last issue. Please go to Subscriber's Introductions if you would like to see the profiles we have on file currently. Some but not all of these people may have additional information there.

Elizabeth Li .......... lyzli@hotmail.com

Would you please add my name to your mailing list? I found your site on the internet while researching cooperative living and was excited to find you! thank you.

Ki ........... kimbc_23@yahoo.com>

I believe it is necessary to create new sustainable communities and am interested in learning more from your site and project. healing light ~Ki

Recent additions to the CommunityOfLight Yahoo Group:

Luxan1 ………. luxan1@yahoo.com

Emmybeth79 ………. myownwoman@sbcglobal.net

raven112007 ………. raven112007@yahoo.com

vwfatmobile ………. vwfatmobile@yahoo.com

bush jim ………. wambatron@hotmail.com

Anonymous, so far .......... Twoearthandsky@aol.com

Others who have written in to me directly:

Anonymous, so far ………. ap_mama@hotmail.com

Paula Hamilton ………. naturesapothecary4u@yahoo.com  

Lois Valleau ………. Valleau7@cs.com

 P. Hamilton ………. naturesapothecary4u@yahoo.com

My name is Paula. I would like to move to a community where the residents are interested in protecting the environment and living a lifestyle closer to the earth

I have been a metaphysician for thirty-five years. Currently I support my family selling my own line of natural living products, which I handcraft and sell at farmer's markets throughout the southland. I teach an eight week course on the everyday use of essential oils for health, beauty, home and garden, at adult schools in the San Bernadino area. And I teach herbal soap and lotion crafting at the local park and recreation center

I am a certified life skills coach and hypnotherapist. I had a practice in Tarzana, Ca. until two years ago, when I relocated to the mountains seeking a simpler way of life. In my practice I specialized in helping children and adults with ADD and ADHD learn coping skills such as organization, purpose and priorities, communication, and relaxation techniques.

I look forward to communicating with the group in the future. Presently I have no suggestions on how to proceed. This is all very new to me. At this point I'm not even sure what my expectations are. I expect I'll learn a lot from all of you, and gradually form a clear picture all the possibilities. I hope that my talents and skills will serve as a useful addition to what you plan to create in your community.

Nathan Holloway ………. raven112007@yahoo.com

1) Describe your idea of a desirable community.

A desirable community to me would consist of loving people that are all willing to work together for a family of peace.

2) What ideals do you feel are important for a community to hold?

The way the livestock and animals are treated. If it were up to me, I would make sure the animals were free to roam the town and live a happy life. (Until of course the time that we must kill them.)

Terry Kok .......... biostar_a@yahoo.com

Alternative awareness, budding biospheres, cooperative consciousness, deviant dharma, earth energy, freedom future, gaian groves, home healing, intuitional intelligence, jolly jokes, kind kink, loving lifestyles, mutant magic, natural nuggets, organic order, peace politics, quality questions, renewable resources, sacred sexuality, tasteful tantra, unusual utopias, valid vibrations: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/aeonspirit/

bush jim ………. wambatron@yahoo.com

1) Describe your idea of a desirable community.

I would see the primary focus on ecological balance and nature preservation. While I would like a spiritual focus as well, that tends to lead to a multiplicity of paths that can cause divisions if it is held to, to tightly. If is kept loose and as a sharing it can be a growth experience, If it is controlling and limiting it tends to break communities apart.

2) What ideals do you feel are important for a community to hold?

Mutual respect for all. Others as well as self. And the animals. the plants, the rocks, and the soil. Sharing and caring, with an emphasis on self responsibility.

3) Why do you want to join a community?

Reality is a reflection of our perceptions. It is easier to hold a healthy, positive perception when surrounded by those of like mind.

I am helping to start a new community in the Saluda SC area on the property of an abandoned Universalist Church in a very heavy wooded area in near the state capital.

Along with others we will be trying to add 20 acres to the property.

Also we will be trying to build new living space for people who move there or stay for a while.

The current building is in near ruins and was built prior to running water and electrical use in this area. It also sits far from any electric grid and water grid.

I like help find low cost alternatives to dragging electricity and other utilities to the property, attracting people who might be interested, and similar needs.

The community will be a Spiritual Community based upon the ideas that Adin Ballou came up with for Christian Non Resistance (i.e. later Tolstoy, King, etc.) and as a holistic type retreat center.

Regards, Neil Carrick .......... neilpatrickcarrick@hotmail.com

bush jim ………. wambatron@hotmail.com

There is a start up community in Hawaii. The person connected to it wrote me and let me have the URL for his website. He has joined in the Yahoogroup and here is the URL or the site: http://members.fortunecity.com/fbush2/rainbow.html

Roy Lent ………. r@rlent.com

Writes in from Costa Rica,

Yes, we are putting a website together but so far, it is incomplete.

See: www.goodneighborfoundation.org We are about to put this together better as we are working on a name & a constitution. We have found a number of farms that are suitable, all around Lake Arenal. They are suitable if you have no hang-ups about a very active volcano looking over your shoulder!

Jordan Ososki .......... worthearth@yahoo.com

My name is Jordan Ososki. I live near Atlanta/ central Georgia. My friend and I are also seeking to form a community. In particular, we would like it to be focused on sustainability (permaculture design) and artistic/innovative/creative/spiritual endeavors. I have stumbled across the Community of Light ring and your Creative Ideas site. I couldn't help but notice just how many parallels I have drawn from your actions and choices of living with my own. I too have so many ideas, and not just your average "float on by" day dreams.

BeiYin .......... being@falconblanco.com

Hi Dan, have a look at: http://falconblanco.com/fbdiscus/intention.htm

..........

 There are advantages to having the "common currency", our own form of either notes, "IOU contracts" for time, trade, goods, or services, or simple barter.

We do not have to stick with just one of these systems. I do not believe it would be possible to abandon the US dollar for some time, even if that were acceptable to everyone and made one of our "goals". That said, it, the use of the dollar has its drawbacks. With its exclusive use we'd be tied to the larger system more directly, have to account more to others, IRS and taxes, and we'd all have "baggage" associated with it. Not that those issues would make it impossible to use the dollar.

I have the impression that barter would be something we could all use, or make use of. Each person would be able to underwrite their own "value" by their actions, their word, and "coming through, or following through. By those I mean keeping one's word, and giving full value. Also making sure a barter is a win win-win. Both party's benefit as well as the community. I know that we'd be able to manage a barter system once we thought out rules for it. One idea that I've heard of is the use of witnesses for a given bargain and that the bargain is spelled out by and for witness(es) so that disagreements can be ameliorated.

Having our own form of currency, whether it be some form of "registered IOU", a promissory note for good and or services could be things, which we'd integrate into our community to facilitate trading and economic cooperation. It might be that we'd have some form of printed certificates that would "be good for X, Y, or Z, say a number of hours of work, or certain other goods that a given community member would offer up for "sale".

 A very easy way to give food to the hungry is to set the Hunger Site as your browser's home page. Check out the Hunger Site to see what it is about and how it works.

Just for a taste of what we might be looking for:

Heartwood is for sale both the bodywork school and the land 50 min, 16 miles east of Garberville, or 11/4 hours north of Laytonville.

It is 200 acres w/ airstrip, about 2500-3200ft elev. W/ natural springs. It was an old homestead, then a real estate hospitality base. Some 30yr old dorms, an awesome temple, a barn/office/activity room, a garden, an orchard, great views, and about 6-9 outbuildings, houses, etc. Check out the website at heartwoodinstitute.com. Bob and Roy are the owners and they live here in Eureka. Chela is the retiring Pres. Of the school, and lives off-site. The place needs lost of maintenance. It's also 2 miles from the epicenter of the "Emerald Triangle". It's quite the community out on Island Mt. Rd. Did I mention the awesome views? Mark Schaffner Vocational Caseworker, TPP @ EHS 707-445-7163

If you want to research intentional communities this is a good place to start.

Communities Magazine comes out regularly and is a resource for those seeking to explore communities. The directory that is a great primer in the variety of the community universe. You can write them at the address given below. This is their office address.

Communities Magazine, 138 Twin Oaks Road, Louisa VA 23093 USA or call them at: Tel/Fax: 540-894-5126. Their website is at Intentional Communities

The resources on the Northwest Intentional Communities site might be valuable. There are lists of legal documents, process advice etc. They're at: http://www.ic.org/nica/resource.htm

This is a list of places seeking members, communities forming and the like. I have come across it at the F.I.C.'s website: http://elph.anu.net/reach/reachbook-all.html

It might be a place to do research, who knows there may be a place within a relatively short drive.

My yahoo ID is available for use as a means to chat online. I am willing to schedule a time(s) during a given month where we could chat. I am thinking that a Saturday or Sunday would be the best time overall, however I am open to suggestions. Please advise.

If you are a member of our Yahoo group you can access the current polling data, or vote: this is the link to our group This is what we have at "press time" this time around:

What kind of climate would you want to live in?

Choices	Votes	%
Tropical	1	8
Subtropical	2	16
Forest	2	17
Woodland/meadow	7	58
Tundra	0	0

What sorts of things would you want to use the land for?

Choices	Votes	%
Farming	5	13.51
Raising livestock	3	8.11
Raising feed crops	2	5.41
Hunting	2	5.41
Gathering	5	13.51
Fishing	4	10.81
Utilitarian crops	2	5.41
Fruit bearing trees	7	18.92
Lumber/milling	0	00.00
Water/solar for alt. power	7	18.92%

What land locations would you like?

Choices	Votes	%
Island	8	18
Peninsula	8	18
Land bound w/coast	8	18
land bound no coast	7	17
High altitude	7	17
Low altitude	7	17

Would you consider a buy/sell/relationship with the outside world?

Choices	Votes	%
Yes	11	100
No	0	0

Should there be a membership fee of some kind for entrance into the community?

Choices	Votes	%
Yes	3	33
No	6	66

Would you consider having the community based outside of the United States?

	Votes	%
Outside the U.S. preferred	1	9
depending on country chosen	3	27
Neutral - no preference	0	0
would but not first choice	4	36
NOT consider outside U.S.	3	27

This is what The Dalai Lama has to say on the millennium, which began 01/01/2004. All it takes is a few seconds to read and think about. Do not keep this message. The mantra must leave your hands within 96 hours. You will get a very pleasant surprise. This is true even if you are not superstitious.

Instructions for Life in the new millennium from the Dalai Lama:

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs: Respect for self, respect for others and responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

14. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go some place you've never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19. Share your knowledge. It's a good way to achieve immortality.

Thoughts on life forwarded by a friend of mine; I pass the word on to all of you:

The most destructive habit..........................Worry

The greatest Joy........................................Giving

The greatest loss.......................................Loss of self-respect

The most satisfying work............................Helping others

The ugliest personality trait.........................Selfishness

The most endangered species.....................Dedicated leaders

Our greatest natural resource.......................Our youth

The greatest "shot in the arm".......................Encouragement

The greatest problem to overcome.................Fear

The most effective sleeping pill........................Peace of mind

The most crippling failure disease....................Excuses

The most powerful force in life..........................Love

The most dangerous pariah..............................A gossiper

The world's most incredible computer................your brain

The worst thing to be without.... ...................... Hope

The deadliest weapon....................................your tongue

The two most power-filled words....................."I Can"

The greatest asset.........................................Faith

The most worthless emotion..........................Self-pity

The most beautiful attire............................... a SMILE!

The most prized possession......................... Integrity

The most powerful channel of communication.........Prayer

The most contagious spirit....................................Enthusiasm