its raining man

Its been raining today, all different kinds of rain from buckets till misty clouds. The snails love it, the lettuce tastes even better freshly washed I think :) Collecting snails and relocating them to outside of Schweibenalp is a important job on days like this.

Today  my day my sun was shining full force, together with 3 wonderful volunteers we made the house shine and had real nice talks for example about how important it is to do the things you do with love and devotion. I feel when I do this the it does not really matter what I do because then all feels just perfect. The thought of not always wanting to do something special, or be something special, but see the special in every moment and in everything.

Something special that might sound like just another meeting are the Gemeinschafts eveings, a round for the community that usually happens twice a week ...if not more. Its like a a family getting together where besides the sharing of everyday themes and events there is space to look at  relations, all sorts of  feeling and conflicts. A way I could describe these evenings is that through each other we are faced with mirrors and  learn and share to step by step find ways how we can see, love and accept ourselves and each other in all our diversity to be able to together grow experiment further in creating our playground of the future. Yesterday  the theme was the relation between man and woman and the process of conflict.

I wish I could explain it better, but a t the moment the words don't want to get out. For me these meetings are a great learning, that I can say very clear.

Just now came back from the Bar, little room next to the dining hall, where Charly and Norbert played guitar and sang oldies. Sang along and danced a little, so nice. Now going up to the Alphaus to sleep. Tomorrow Havan at 7.15 -Fire ceremony

Good night!

...a couple of days ago the sun was shining and it was summer dress weather! Had half a day off and went kayaking with Karsten on the lake of Brienz, so beautiful....

Field(s) of play and experimentation

One way I experience Schweibenalp is like a wonderfull test area for new ways of living and working together in a way that works for all. To Keep it playfull the slide and swing support us :D

Be creative and loud and never start to doubt!

* photo made yesterday when we went swimming in the Brienzer See...ice cold and wonderful! Feel happy and silly like always :)

Good bye Berlin, I've moved on to the Center Of Unity, Schweibenalp, feel super excited and would love to share my adventures!

Various people have asked me to stay in touch and share stories of what is happening here up in the mountains so I will try write as much as I can!

This blog was born five years ago, when I moved from Cardiff to Berlin...feels like another lifetime when I think about it now. So much has happened in these years... swapped Berlin for Bucharest and back..... started to work with Trial&Error on projects.... lived in the country side supporting a Community Supported Agriculture farm....got to know the Dragon Dreaming community, organizing workshops in Berlin....and more :)

Thank you all for the wonderful time we could spend together! I've learned so much about myself, especially through our intense group processes. You are all wonderful mirrors to me :)

Why did I move?

Through all the experiences I've realized that I feel strongly about exploring and experiencing new life and work forms that are ideally equally supporting personal development, group process and are in service to the earth. Project that are transparent and does not exploits people or resources.

I feel that the way I (we) have been working in conventional systems basically involved a lot of planning and doing of projects that the majority of the time work toward personal profit. This personal profit, sometimes seen as 'personal freedom', a lot of the time implies that someone is working for you. This someone does not have this 'personal freedom' and looses..... A lot of the time we are not aware of this because the processes are not transparent: Did You for example know that with buying a new Mobile phone you indirectly give money to rebels in Congo to buy guns? Your mobile phone contains conflict minerals. I feel the importance to be aware of this, finding new alternatives and letting go of this old fashion sense of 'freedom' and trying out new ways essential. In the case of Mobile phones a Group of people are developing an alternative: Fair Phone www.fairphone.com  and there are millions others creative ways to be fair!

Besides global effects I also feel that the conventional system have challenging effect on me on various other levels......heavy group dynamics, exhaustion and disconnection of why I (we) are actually doing all these projects, lack of consciousness about natural resources. No space to get deeper in our deepest motivation nor time to evaluate and celebrate.

Step by step my wish arose to live in a community to more intensely experience  innovative and sustainable options and to experience group processes side to side ..... so I kept my eyes open for possibilities to explore.

Last December I first visited the Community and Eco Village Schweibenalp: Center of Unity, in Brienz, Switzerland www.schweibenalp.ch

"Schweibenalp's Vision is to live in a holistic way that makes a peaceful, sustainable and conscious togetherness possible. Together with enableling mindfulness, awareness and transparency with oneself and others to leads to a responsible and sustainable behaviour in Ecology, Economy and Society. At Schweibenalp People from different cultural, religious and spiritual traditions can live together peacefully with the Motto “Free in the mind – united in the heart”."

From the start on I felt a beautiful resonance with the site, the nature, the community, the seminars (rediscovered the exciting feeling I have when I'm dancing) and Vision. After a couple of intensive visits I suggested to come and support the Seminar household work. Last March we tried this out and it suited for all! On the 17th of July officially moved over, just perfect :)

So far for now, till next update! Will definitely try to post something about the wonderful Alpine Permaculture Garden and the great international gatherings that will take place, like GEN - Global Eco Village Network Meeting.

With Love.

Judith