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LIVING IN AN INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY

 

Whether you are new or experienced in living in intentional community, the following questions are a good starting place to explore your feelings and requirements around shared living and communal spaces:

Please reflect on these questions

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GENERAL COMMUNITY QUESTIONS 

1/ What about community guidelines (rules)? It’s good to check out the community guidelines and see if you feel comfortable with them.  

 

2/ Code of Ethics (Astanga Yoga Guidelines for successful living)  

YAMAS - moral restraints: non-violence, truthfulness, non-stealing, right use of energy, non greed
NIYAMAS - personal observances: Cleanliness (Saucha), contentment (Santosha), Discipline (Tapas), self study (Svadhyaya) and surrendering to the divine (Isvara Pranidhana)  

YOGA PRACTICE WILL HELP EVERYDAY LIVING AND SMOOTH RUNNING OF THE COMMUNITY, when there is a group we will attempt to have at least 1-2 sessions per week focussing on the following:  

ASANA - poses or postures

PRANAYAMA - mindful breathing 
PRATAYAHARA - withdrawal of the senses 

DHARANA - concentration 

DHYANA - Meditation  

 

3/ Have I met everyone? If you’re the one moving into a new community, make sure you meet everyone before you agree to move in.

 

4/ What things in common or skills can i offer and are you ready to live in a community? 

A great place to start if you’re looking to become a member is to figure out if you have things in common with the project. 

also think about: 

  • INVOLVEMENT amount of time you need for yourself and time around others

  • ROUTINE your routine and how it will impact others

  • CLEANLINESS How your cleaning habits fit in with the new project (it’s the number one argument when living together) FarmFam runs a clean communal space and Land policy

  • ETHICS are your ethics in line with the projects? (FarmFam supports natural foods, chemical free products etc)   

  • DIET Your dietary requirements (FarmFam is open food policy, so long as food is ‘consciously chosen and sourced’)

  • SPIRITUAL will your spiritual preference be met? (FarmFam is a Spiritual place) 

  • LIFESTYLE do you have a holistic lifestyle (FarmFam is a Holistic Project, wherever possible we choose non allopathic medical routes)

  • ARE YOU A FREE THINKER?  At FarmFam we choose to question the science 

 

5/ Fitting in to a new social circle?

living in a community is a great way to make friends and have an instant social circle, especially if you’re new to an area.  It’s essential you are clear about what you're looking for, see the COMMUNITY QUESTIONS, all new people will be required to respect people’s private space 

  • PRIVATE DWELLINGS respect peoples physical space, do not enter a private dwelling without permission    

  • PERSONAL SPACE respect everyones space and right to personal space and alone or work time 

  • PERSONAL ROUTINE we will respect others routines and inform others of preferences and timetable 

  • COMMUNICATION we are all different, we will try to ‘meet on common ground’.  Respect others mental and emotional space

  • PRIVATE PROPERTY * You agree you are responsible for your own property, you agree you take full responsibility for your own possessions and safety and respect others property and FarmFams Property whilst at the project.  You agree you will pay for any damage or breakages you cause whilst at farmfam to other residents or guests property or FarmFams property or possessions . 

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INDEPTH COMMUNITY QUESTIONS

want to dive deeper into the psychology of community living? 

exert from the book ‘Creating a Life Together’ practical tools to grow eco villages and intentional communities ~ Author: Diana Leafe Christian 

 

  1. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING FOR YOURSELF?

  2. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING FOR THE WORLD?

  3. WHAT DO YOU WANT MORE THAN ANYTHING FOR THE HEIRS OF PLANET EARTH AND YOUR CHILDREN? 

  4. WHAT DO OTHER PEOPLD DO THAT UPSETS OR HURTS YOU? 

  5. WHAT DO YOU FEAR OR WHAT CAUSES YOU ANXIETY? 

  6. WHAT MAKES YOU ANGRY? 

  7. WHAT MAKES YOU CRY OR MAKES YOU VERY UPSET? 

  8. IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN YOU CHILDHOOD AND CHANGE YOUR MOTHER (OR PRIMARY FEMALE CARER) WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? 

  9. IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN YOU CHILDHOOD AND CHANGE YOUR FATHER (OR PRIMARY MALE CARER) WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE? 

  10. WHAT DIDNT YOU GET AS A CHILD?

  11. IF YOU COULD MAKE SOMETHING IN YOU CHILDHOOD BETTER, WHAT WOULD IT BE?  

  12. IF YOU COULD MAKE SOMETHING IN YOUR CHILDHOOD GO AWAY, WHAT WOULD IT BE? 

  13. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO FEEL SAFE? 

  14. WHST DO YOU NEED TO FEEL LOVED? 

  15. WHAT DO YOU NEED TO FEEL HAPPY? 

  16. WHAT KIND OF COMMUNITY DO YOU WANT? 

 

From Creating a Life Together book by D L Christian, this book is also highly recommended to read if you are starting to community live AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE ONLINE AT MANY OUTLETS 

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