permaculture

[rick valley <bamboogrove@cmug.com>]

>Subject: Re: Zone 6
>From: "Graham Burnett"
This has been an interesting thread for me, even if my comments have been a
bit wild; getting serious now.... (I hope I don't offend anyone) 
In the context of facilitating design course- the spiritual/psycho-social
realms are absolutely necessary; as our zone 00/zone 6 thread has
demonstrated, there's also great potential for exclusion/turn-off, etc.; 
I, for one, have found some of the best times in design courses to be when
we've gotten a diverse group to the point where the participants are
comfortable enough with each other that they can respectfully share these
things. I like to make space for this; I do not, however, spend alot of time
detailing my sense of the spiritual, but I do try to respond honestly (and
briefly) when asked.
If anyone out there has stuff to share on how to encourage "non
denominational" and inclusive spirituality (or stories about) "what work(s)"
in permaculture workshops, I'd be interested in hearing it. To give a clear
idea of the context I am working in, I am not usually in a group with a very
high common denominator on the "woo woo" scale- ie, hand-holding in a circle
can't be done too often, as some have done in permaculture courses I have
participated in. (but not as a lead facilitator)

I feel very strongly that changing point of view/way of thinking, that
teaching use of a variety of modes of thought, that creating a support
group/creating community is the powerful part of permaculture workshops (at
least in my culture) So how can we include the spiritual without driving off
those who have different ideas of what spiritual is? I have had jack Catholic
priests, born again Christians, Zionist Jews, traditional Native Americans,
Neo-Pagans, logical-mind scientists, all in the same workshop... and
sometimes we've done very well, thanks.
As a "didn't work" story, there is the witch thread from the 2nd. Intnl. Pc
Conf. at Evergreen State College in Olympia Washington in '86- now that was
interesting! 
-Rick


Rick Valley Northern Groves 
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