..........

We live in exciting times, as the old Chinese proverb goes. I have what may be an irrational optimism, still I would favor this perception to that of some acquaintances who bemoan our fate and worry their anxieties into personality bending conditions. That is not for me in particular.

Though I have no doubt that the future is unforeseeable, I'd rather face that unknown with optimism rather than pessimism.

This issue has several persons who are seeking community members, participants, those willing to cooperate to form a community. Perhaps one of them is suitable for us? We won't know until some of us write them, ask questions, hard ones, nice ones, good ones, curious ones, but questions. We may have in this, or some soon to be published newsletter just the place for us.

We have several new subscribers so welcome them, write and ask about what they might like or not. Networking is the main way we can find ourselves building community even as we may be quite far apart, and whose to say that we may not find we have someone within driving distance or that they are close by to someone we know?

I hope that each of us takes some time just to say hello and so get to know each other.

Dan

I received this note and include my reply since it sheds light on part of what I'd like to see happening in our community.

Hello Dan Brady,

I am beginning a search for the community that is a proper environment to raise my daughter and myself toward goals that I have envisioned for the next few generations. I would like to know more about your community, is this a village, co-op or a group of truly creative master-full people each seeking an individual expression that is synergistic?

Do you have land, home, power, laughter, plants and children involved in this project?

Write soon, Jael

This is what I wrote back:

We would like something that could best be described as a village of friends, there would be cooperative ventures involved with this, as well as individual efforts. I would hope that we consist of creative individuals, but you may judge for you self by looking at the profiles that we have gathered so far. We do not yet have land, a home, or because of that, power, save for the power of imagination to move us forward. Some of the people involved have children, plants, meaning gardens for food and pleasure are in my vision of what we'd like. As to laughter, well, I do like to laugh, tell jokes, and sometimes be quite silly. I am a second grade teacher and that comes with the territory, so to speak.

Thanks and welcome to a new subscriber:

Jael .......... Buddhaeeyore@aol.com

We have new members, opportunities, informational resources,and more. Again, you can view all the old issues at the Community of Light's Home Page.

If you would like to leave a telephone message for us, you can leave one at Wendy's voicemail which is 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.

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Renee .......... O0renee0o@aol.com

I've realized the difference between life and living, mere survival and true happiness ... I am, therefore, sincerely interested ... I am ... with a will. looking for the way.

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kerry thorne .......... kerryp3@hotmail.com

Hi my name is kerry. I am a 43 year old woman living in Canada. I am tired of the rat race. I have been looking over your website for a couple of hours reading all the profiles , I have been amazed at all the like-minded people. I have many of the same philosophies and beliefs. Please include me in your contact list, thank-you.

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Jessica Cochran ......... fcjessica@earthlink.net

I am a mother of 3 and a biology student in Florida. I work part-time fundraising for a statewide nonprofit arts organization, and I also volunteer in public school system. I will only teach in a small, alternative school setting. My husband and I rescue exotic animals and show many of them to school children to educate them about responsibility for the earth, themselves and all creatures. My husband and I are interested in being part of and helping to build and earthship community. We are currently exploring property options in the Appalachian Mountains. We own a home in W. Central FL and are eager to sell it once we have found the right place and the right people in which to build a community. We are spiritually open-minded and accepting of all life styles and spiritual paths, we do not believe in "converting" people to any religion. We want to create an eco-spiritual community where we can grow our own food, interact with a larger community (perhaps a small city), and educate each other and children in an open, natural environment. I have done considerable research about intentional communities, although we have not yet visited one. Please contact me if you share similar ideas or would like more detailed information about our plans thus far.

---Peace,

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Zoie .......... zoie@rof.net

I found your information on your web page. I am very interested in the concept of community living.

I am a 58 year old woman, divorced, no children. I have lived most of my life in the Colorado Rocky Mountains and I am use to the rural lifestyle. My primary earning skills; I am a professional organizer, I design and make jewelry and I teach Taekwondo (hard form martial art). I have also taught Theater Arts for 30 years and I have an extensive retail background.

Other odds and ends: I can drive anything: car, truck, front end loader, tractor, motorcycle and atv. In the Summer I am a master gardener, creating art from trees, shrubs and flowers. My hobbies are: writing screen plays, singing and volunteering at a parrot rescue center. My newest goals: to learn to play the guitar, to fly an airplane, to be more proficient in Spanish and sign language. Every year I issue myself challenges, the main one for next year is to find a community of kind hearted, interesting people.

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Denise ............... pyungahn@webtv.net

Well, I am a nature loving woman with a kind heart. I love others and have much compassion. I dream of living with my husband and raising my children in a community that is "good". I, personally, want it to be drug-free, sexual exploitation-free, etc. I want the people around me to be kindhearted, basically just people who want to live a good, simple life...people who want to AND DO the next right thing. The world has become a violent and ugly place and I want to separate myself from all of the negative. I think growing a portion of my own food is a healthy, chemical-free and wonderful way to eat.

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Colette Cameron. ............... colettecameron@hotmail.com

I would greatly appreciate it if you do give out my email address for anyone in Australia as well as placing me on the mailing list.

I here you can get by on very little down south. Our daughter fell in love with this little island , "Omiteppi" while on a field trip to Nicraragra. We've been browsing the net for real-estate in Costa Rica sense then. Lot of great deals, like the 465 acres on a 1000 acre lake with lakefront and mountains too.$295000( I really like this one) , poor access, but not far from the coast or towns. In the add it states" jaguars have been sited on the property" ( check out the picture) Then there was the 250 acres on an Island 45 min down river from the closest town. If you ever think of "South" check out http://www.hot-tropics.com/real-estate/listings.html or even if you just want to have a small mental vacation.

We just returned from Atlanta, where we attended a workshop or seminar given by Caroline Myss. She has a real good way of putting things into proper perspective.

Till next time Love Jim and Peggy Simpson

From New South Wales, Australia:

Please add me to your mailing list.

I am interested in locating any person(s) or groups who may have an interest in subject of "cooperation" located in New South Wales, Australia. To date, web search engines find virtually nothing on this. I'm interested potentially in any/all cooperation but especially in any cooperative ideas for land search and development (with modest means).

Sincerely, John Byrnes

Paula Kay Hall ......... Paula@fiberpipe.net

Hello,

I was surfing about, keeping my eyes open for some one who could use my land. It's 35 acres of semi desert in Wyoming. It will begin to snow any day now and there is no seasonal flooding. -probably not appropriate for you but you might have a buddy to pass my e-mail along to. -- enjoyed the profiles, Paula.

Joey .......... joey@zeeboe.com

The property I own is lagoon front, approximately 150 mi. south of Cancun, 20 north of Belize, 10 - 15 mi. to the Caribbean and 20 mi. to the state capital Chetumal, where there is a national airport with daily flights to Mexico City. The land is only 60 acres, but there is much more available and would be an easy process for me to purchase and put into a land trust because I am a Mexican Citizen. There is abundant fresh water (crystaline blue and turquoise) and the vegetation is subtropical. The property is filled with Mahogany trees which provide the best wood to build with, and milling facilities close by. I have already purchased a wind and solar generator and inverter system - that I have imported and stored in Mexico. A well would be very easy to build.

Perhaps 20 - 30 people is what the community start with, which would live in communal housing and share the responsibilities of both the community and the business. The resort will provide 12, 4 person max. capacity bungalows, with communal areas. And the main 'house' will have some dorm-style rooms. There will also be a small chicken farm, a greenhouse, a small school and an area for environmental causes. The revenue that is taken in should be managed by the core group, and profits should be shared.

Mike Mikesell .......... maheshwa@cswnet.com

My name is Jane and I have been traveling around looking for a self-supporting community. I met Mike who has 360 acres here and 82 acres nearby. A valley floor of pasture land is at an elevation of approx. 1500 feet and is surrounded by protective forests rising up to 1,700 feet or so.

Mike has designated an area for those who want to live on their own on their own property but still be part of a community and another larger area where people can build their own small dwellings and have a community center.

Owl .......... gobstoppers@earthlink.net

When it comes to my experience with other communities I have found that many are strongly influenced by the physical (what's outside) rather than the spiritual (what's inside). When a community works together all members should benefit, be happy and feel respected.

A more difficult job than finding a complimentary group of people is hard to imagine. For everyone to get along requires re-thinking of self-importance by all parties. Achievements of the group rather than the individual must become everyone's goal.

I bring with me a small family. My wife, Ginger and a nine year old daughter. We have the makings of a seed community. Seventy three acres with a good water spring and a separate medium sized stream. If we work together to construct earthship type housing on this property I believe that by the time we complete this small "seed" community we will all know who the permanent members of the "family" will be. At that time we could vote as to whether to seek a larger place, perhaps in a different location. The land is located in Alabama.

Feel free to contact me if you are interested in pursuing this goal. At this point I feel that if we never start we will never enjoy the benefits of belonging to a wonderful family, promoting the causes of peace, love, caring and sharing.

..........

I DO need continued prayer, please...pray...

Please continue to pray for a miracle. Whitey is a severe alcoholic. if god would please touch his heart, soul, mind and body, healing them to such an extent that Whitey would not only leave the alcohol forever SOON but become a very righteous man of g-d. please pray that Nadine remains strong and dedicated to prayer even when all looks futile. please pray that the reunion between them will be to the glory of the almighty creator. Thank you.

For those interested in preserving our natural environment this is an activist organization that coordinates through email campaigns: biogemsnewsletter@savebiogems.org See more below:

From:.Robert Redford ...

Subject: Thank you from Robert Redford

Fellow BioGems Defender,

Email has proven effective we can all participate, it is rather easy to do. I feel it is the least we can do.

I just wanted to thank you for visiting and taking action against President Bush's plan to open the Arctic Wildlife Refuge to oil development. This on-line campaign, which began with an email message to a few thousand people, has already generated 450,000 letters of protest to Congress. The fight for the Arctic Refuge continues on Capitol Hill, but there's no doubt that we've helped turn the tide against the president's destructive proposal. What a shining example of our collective power to make a difference! We'll keep you posted on the outcome of this important fight for our natural heritage.

In the meantime, if you want to do even more to help save America's last wild places, then please visit http://www.savebiogems.org/yellowstone/.

There, you'll learn how the Bush-Cheney energy plan endangers Yellowstone and other unspoiled wild lands of the Rockies -- and how you can help save them.

Thank you Sincerely yours,

Robert Redford Trustee, Natural Resources Defense Council  

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

Communities Magazine comes out regularly and it is a resource for those seeking to explore the life in a commune. The directory that they have is a great primer in understanding the variety of life out in 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

You might also find the resources on the Northwest Intentional Communities site to be valuable. There are lists of legal documents, process advice, how to find people, etc. They can be found 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 for some of you to do research and get a good impression of what is available in your area.

I would like to know how many of us would like to use either or both of the methods below to encourage communication between us all. Both methods have advantages and so I am asking for feedback. Please let me know which means you'd prefer or if you have other ideas.

Free Long Distance Calls!

I have noticed that nearly half of the email addresses we have use AOL. It is not surprising perhaps but could be useful.

AOL has an instant messenger that is free to download from their site and allows voice chat between users. I have talked cross country and although it has some quirks, it does work, and it is free.

I am encouraging all of us to use this AOL service so that we can talk to one another. Once you log on any friend that is also online becomes available. Any one of you who would like my user name will be welcome to it.

Survey Says:

From: Lenita Davis .......... neeterxxi@yahoo.com>

We do have survey results! It seems that we are, for the most part in favor or of a woodlands environment.

he results are on the club website. Here's a direct link: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CommunityOfLight/polls Once you have joined the group you click on the question and it shows the results for each question. Not hard to do at all. The polling does not close, we want to keep tabs on what we, as a group, would like for our community.

Ted K Gillem .......... TGillem@juno.com

My thoughts on this is that we should really try to acquire property somewhere in the southwest where cold weather is not a factor. I believe a community could prosper more and be more efficient in itself if the weather was nice. I am not sure how much land is in that part of the U.S. but it could be cheap if it is out of the way.

I have never lived in such a community but would consider it a learning experience. If it was located near a city of between 5,000 and 50,000 population we could possibly survive better also. Correct perception of our community in the neighboring communities would be a plus also. If the neighboring communities get an incorrect perception of our community and its ideals, then we might bring the authorities down on us and make it extremely difficult to function.

I believe if given the opportunity to work and contribute to our community, everyone involved and invited to join could live together in harmony. I would be willing to work in the neighboring community to contribute monetarily to our community.

My idea is if the community as a whole owns the land and rents parcels and dwellings to individuals then the community could be self sustaining and someone could not get upset and break away with their parcel. One suggestion I read on your website was to let individuals buy into the community and then if they wanted to leave buy them out. That raises issues of what the buyout is worth after the community has been there awhile. And would the buy in pass onto survivors after the initial members death.

I really envision a community based somewhat on the Kibbutz society of Israel. They are self sufficient and provide security and nurturing to their residents. Community of Light could start out that way in a small sort of way and then become larger as resources and individuals warranted.

I found a great place to chat on-line. It is IRC from the UK. You can download the program by just going to www.Mirc.com. I have been chatting with ease with people from all over the world. It is very user friendly and you can set up separate chat rooms. Never tried AOL instant messenger before.

These are some of my thoughts. Thanks again and do put me in touch with other interested individuals.

I was sent this by a good person, and though it may be true, and or it may not be, in our world it is just as believable, read on and enjoy:

A Charlotte, NC lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against fire among other things.

Within a month of having smoked his entire stockpile of these cigars and without even having made his first premium payment on the policy, the lawyer filed a claim against the insurance company. In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost "in a series of small fires."

The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason: That the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion. The lawyer sued....and won!

In delivering the ruling the Judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous. The Judge stated nevertheless, that the lawyer held a policy from the company in which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure them against fire, without defining what is considered to be "unacceptable fire," and was obligated to pay the claim.

Rather than endure lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid $15,000.00 to the lawyer for his loss of the rare cigars lost in the "fires."

NOW FOR THE BEST PART... After the lawyer cashed the check, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of ARSON! With his own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used against him, the lawyer was convicted of intentionally burning his insured property and was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000.00 fine.

"Since the concepts people live by are derived only from perceptions and from speech and since the perceptions are received and interpreted only in light of earlier concepts, man comes pretty close to living in a house that words built." Robert R.W. Smith

A RITUAL OF SACRED ENCOUNTER

There is one violence, only one. That is allowing words to dominate perception and experience. War grows from this.

There is one violence, only one. That is allowing words to distort, inhibit, interfere with the immediacy of perception, the immediacy of direct experience. War grows from this.

There is one violence, only one. That is allowing words to veil the intimacy and power of perception and experience, and by this, to so diminish life that we are left feeling cheated and angry. War grows from this.

There is only one violence. That is allowing words to generate perception and experience...that is allowing words to generate the perception and experience our spirits would generate if we only gave them the chance.

Allowing words to generate perception and experience produces a weak mentality and shallow reality. Our alphabet was invented. Words are a technology. There is nothing natural about them. The mentality they produce is manufactured. The reality they produce is manufactured. War is also manufactured. Peace is not manufactured. Peace is produced by other means.

There is one violence, only one. That is not seeing God. War grows from this.

Words are far more dangerous than radioactive material. Wielding them outside of a framework that holds them at bay is lunacy. The framework I teach and discuss, I call 'A Ritual of Sacred Encounter' get some people together and invite me to come and sit with you.

Michael Bridge: bmichael@neteze.com

"VISIONS OF UTOPIA: Experiments in Sustainable Culture" A Documentary by Geoph Kozeny

* A brief history of 2500 years of shared living

* Exploration of the "glue" that holds communities together

* Insights about what works and what doesn't

* In-depth profiles of 7 diverse contemporary groups:

Camphill Special School (Glenmoore PA, '61) Twin Oaks (Louisa VA, '67) Ananda Village (Nevada City CA, '69) Breitenbush Hot Springs (Detroit OR, '77) Purple Rose Collective (San Francisco CA, '78) Earthaven Ecovillage (Black Mountain NC, '92) Nyland Cohousing (Lafayette CO, '93)

See and hear community members tell their stories in their own words. Producer/director Geoph Kozeny is a veteran community networker, community consultant, and author. 94 minutes of information & inspiration! In color, professionally produced, NTSC (American VHS) format.

Price: $33 includes Shipping within the US. Add $2 for shipping by Priority Mail: online: http://store.ic.org/video [secure website] phone: 800-462-8240 (US & Canada) or 540-894-5798 (outside North America) email: mail: FIC Video, 138 Twin Oaks Rd Box EB, Louisa VA 23093

Some of you might like to check out this link to the past in Indiana. In the early 1800's there was the "New Harmony" group of people who started a community. Here's the link:

http://wwww.avsands.com/Travel/Places/newharmonyindi_une_av.htm