Introduction
Have you ever wanted to live in a place where everyone supported one another? Have you ever wanted to wake up in the morning without stress, and eager to start the day? Have you ever wanted to really, really enjoy the way you make a living? Do you want to live a life full of magic, wonder, and joy?If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, then perhaps Dragonvale is what you seek.
This presentation is a brief introduction to the planned community of Dragonvale. My goal here is not to set up hard and fast rules, but rather introduce the concept in a clear form while hopefully inspiring those who read it to become involved in its creation.
The name Dragonvale has evolved over many years, and to us it has developed a deep spiritual meaning that reflects our relationship to magick and the natural world around us. The dragon itself is a powerful totem that contains within it all living creatures on Earth. It is a symbol of strength and unity, and it is these aspects that make the symbol of the dragon appropriate to our community.
Dragonvale is a dream to create a self-sufficient, sustainable community whose members have a deep spiritual connection to the Earth, make a living in common, and share in each other's lives. We wish to build a family (or tribe) based on the principles of mutual love and support. This doesn't mean that we'll never have disagreements or get annoyed with each other. In fact, being human, it would be unrealistic to think that is possible, but by living in an environment of trust, commitment and love, we can more easily deal with the inevitable issues that arise between even the most well-adjusted folks.
Making a living together means that, as a group, we share in the day-to-day work necessary to support us all. This could include working in gardens, cleaning common areas, teaching children, or building homes. To earn money together as a community, we plan to have public events that will not only provide financial support for the community, but will also allow us to work together, eliminating the necessity for outside slave-wage jobs. These events will also give us the opportunity to teach others about the benefits of community and sustainability in a fun and non-threatening manner.
The great thing about festivals is that no matter what your skills and abilities, there will always be a way for you to be involved. Whether you are an artist, crafter, accountant, holistic healer, massage therapist, mechanic, cook, fortune teller, or really anything at all, we can find a way for you to do what you love. Of course there would be no rule against having an outside job, but if the community can sustain our basic needs, then any outside job would be entirely optional. That being said, we would encourage people to spend as much time with the community as possible, since as many of us have seen, the less time spent together, the more people drift apart, and the weaker the web of community becomes.
Our community will be a small, compact village with its own architecture, music, and culture, reflecting (more or less) a celtic theme with a very natural, organic feel to it. Several of our seasonal festivals would be open to the public -- limited to specific areas -- where visitors can experience a healthy community lifestyle while being entertained. In this way, we can show others the true value of community, and that living in a sustainable manner does not mean deprivation or suffering.
We do not intend to reject technology, though it will no longer be the central focus of our lives. We intend to have one area of the community -- possibly a large community building -- that will house our computers, phones, entertainment equipment, and so on. In the rest of the community, we will keep things as "natural" as possible. Of course that doesn't mean that technology is forbidden in those areas, but we ask that people minimize electronic gadgets outside the "tech area."
Nothing in here is written in stone, but I want to be as clear as possible about the vision and where it was headed so that we are all on the same page. It doesn't mean that we will not stray from this plan. In fact, it is more likely that we will, but that's part of what a growing a community is all about.
Ultimately, I think that the most important things to keep in mind are our primary goals of creating a living community based on immanence, living sustainably, and mutual support.
Sacred Lands
Sacred Lands is a non-denominational, spiritual organization that is the heart of Dragonvale. We use the term "spiritual" rather than "religious" because it is open to many spiritual paths, including Hindu, Christian, Pagan, Jewish, Muslim, Animist, Taoist, or any other path, so long as they understand that there is no "one right" spiritual path, and hold with the basic tenents of Sacred Lands, which is:"Humans are not, nor can we ever be, separated from the Earth. We are animals, and though we may be different (as no two animals are alike), we are not of greater value than any other. We have no special rights handed down from some far off power. We are one strand in the web of life on this planet, and we are magnificent creatures. Just as birds are magnificent, and algae is magnificent, and deer are magnificent. This amazing world that we share with our brothers and sisters in the community of life was not made for us alone, nor is it ours to conquer, rule or exploit. We are fellow beings in a world teeming with life."
Sacred Lands provides a vital service that benefits the community and its members by organizaing community rituals that reflect our diverse religious practices, while honoring the Earth and the web of life around us.
Goals
The primary goal of Dragonvale as a community is to exist. Our existence is dependent (at least for now) on our income, and to that end, we must do a few things in a business-like fashion. That being said, we should remember that there are many ways to run a business, and not all of them fall within what is considered conventional. In other words we can run a successful business without falling into the trap of letting the business run us, and we can do so without sacrificing our values.We will explore some of the financial details later, but for now, let's consider what this project is all about. As far as we are concerned, we are first and foremost a community. The events we offer, sponsor, and host are means to that end, while offering us the additional opportunity to teach others about community, sustainability, and the interconnectedness of all life.
This is an example of the kind of architecture that we would like to have for Dragonvale.Village Layout & Design
The specific layout of the physical community will be suggested by the land upon which we decide to settle, but there are a few basic ideas that we can offer with some certainty:The general layout of Dragonvale will probably be circular (a sacred shape), with a gathering space at its center.
There will be one main central building that will contain the Sacred Lands offices, meeting space, bedrooms, a professional kitchen, showers, and space for larger public events.
We will have some kind of natural land buffer between the community and the outside world, whether we own the buffer ourselves or we purchase land abutting a protected area like a national forest or preserve.
We will have enough land to farm and raise animals for food and clothes, with our ultimate goal being self sufficiency.
We will use local materials as much as possible to build our structures.
Our structures will be natural in their construction, clay, earth, sand, straw, wood, stone, sod, fabric and other natural materials in their construction. The types of construction will again depend on the land, but there are several building methods that we are considering including: timber frame & strawbale, cob, log, cordwood, earthships, low impact roundhouses, and yurts.
All our dwellings will make the most effective use of geothermal and passive solar heating to minimize our energy use.
The individual homes of the community will be fairly close together, small, with minimal -- and if possible, self-contained -- utilities.
There will be both public and private areas of the community.
Our technology level will be decidedly on the low side. This means that most of the electronics, appliances, tools and such will be limited to certain key areas. We might, for example, have some sort of media building that would house our computers, television, and any other electronic gadgetry that we feel might still be some use to the community. Other areas with technology might include the kitchen, workshops and office areas.
We will utilize extensive recycling systems including organic composting, humanure toilets, grey water, and direct reuse of items and materials. This means that we will also be limiting our use of "disposable" items such as paper towels, cleaning products and packaging.
We expect to eliminate the necessity of outside jobs once the community has sufficient income on its own. There will be no prohibition of outside jobs as such, but many communities fail because people spend more time elsewhere instead of interacting with their community. Outside work is therefor discouraged in as much as it distracts people away from the community.
We will all be working to heal ourselves as individuals by unlearning the toxic memes of civilization, and creating a health human culture based on mutual support and an awareness of our interconnectedness to the community of life.
Lastly, we feel that it's important that, since Dragonvale is the home of Sacred Lands, everyone in the community be a member of the Sacred Lands organization. We are currently exploring what this might mean, and will post more as we know more.
Kinds of Events
Our events will be diverse and informative without being preachy. We are exploring the idea of a large Harvest Faire that could end up bringing in the bulk of our income for the year since it has the most potential to get people to visit us, spend their money, have fun, and learn something. The other events, though fun and informative, would be secondary. That's not to say that they won't gain importance as time goes on of course. The following is a list of potential community events (in no particular order):Dinner Theater: This could be a monthly or even weekly event. We could have one day for young children and might include events like story-telling, and magic acts. This would keep us friendly with the locals and an early show would allow parents to get their kids home in time for bed. Another day might offer family entertainment and since there would be no school the next day, could run a little later and be a bit more theatrical. The we could have one night -- probably Saturday -- that would be the wild night. Bawdy tales, ale and Wenches galore! This would be for the strictly over 18 crowd. Once we grow a bit, we might even offer a children's event to be held in another building so the parents could enjoy themselves.
Performance Space: On days without a dinner theater, the space could be used to feature musical acts or poetry in a coffeehouse or pub atmosphere. We can feature our own people, off season renaissance faire performers, or special guest artists who prefer small, intimate venues. This would be offered whenever we felt like it, or to fill space as needed.
Medieval Theme Events: Organizations like the SCA would naturally be drawn to a venue like this. Sundays could be reserved for these events which might include SCA gatherings, theme weddings, or pretty much anything that might benefit from a traditional (almost medieval) tavern atmosphere.
Spiritual Gatherings: The inn and the surrounding land would be ideal for all sorts of gatherings. We could offer the space at a reduced rate for other spiritual groups or in exchange for labor as needed by the community.
Bed & Breakfast: This could be something that could happen almost immediately once the first building is done. The guest rooms would be in a different section of the building from the Sacred Lands offices or private living space.
Seasonal Festivals: There are eight solar festivals that we celebrate, and a few of these could become quite popular as public events. As was already mentioned, we expect that an elaborate harvest festival would do quite well, but on top of that, Yule, Beltane, Midsummer and Samhain could also draw a significant number of visitors if done properly.
For example, at Yule we could offer a warm indoor feast with natural decorations, sleigh rides, music and even a visit from the Holly King himself. At Samhain we could feature a costume ball with lots of traditional games, food and drink.
Lecture Space: These probably wouldn't be the most lucrative events for the community, but every little bit will help. Naturally, we would be looking for lectures that tied in somehow with the values of Sacred Lands.
The Guilds
The concept of guilds in this case is not meant to create a division of labor, but rather to give those who are particularly gifted in a particular area the structure needed to lead others in necessary projects. It is important to note that unlike the "real world", no one profession is above any other. We understand that each profession is important to the survival of the whole village, and it doesn't matter if you're building a home or bringing water to the person who is building it.Of course not everyone need belong to a guild, but there may be times when everyone at some point will help with a guild project. During harvest time for example, the Horticulture Guild may conscript everyone in the village to help harvest the vegetables, or if the Wood Workers' Guild is raising large beams for a new building, they might need a few extra hands to help out. The guilds are meant to help organize projects more effectively.
The following list is meant to illustrate possible guild options, but is in no way the final word on the subject. We may discover that some guilds are better combined, while others may be completely unnecessary. Time will tell.
- Actors' Guild (Those who act and tell stories)
- Artists' Guild (Those who create visually)
- Bardic Guild (Those who create with music)
- Council of Dragonvale (Those who lead)
- Healers' Guild (Those who heal)
- Horticulture Guild (Those who cooperate with the plants)
- Husbandry Guild (Those who cooperate with animals)
- Merchants' Guild (Those who deal with money and trade)
- Midwives' Guild (Those who handle birth and death)
- Mudders' Guild (Those who play with mud/cob)
- Seers' Guild (Those who watch for danger)
- Tinkers' Guild (Those who invent, and while it's necessary, work with any complex technology)
- Warriors' Guild (Those who defend - specifically they are the community security during events)
- Wenches' Guild (Those who serve)
- Wizards' Guild (Those who make magick)
- Wood Workers' Guild (Those who discover the mysteries hidden within the trees)
- Writers' Guild (Those who create with words)
Compatibility
Perhaps the most difficult step is to find people who are compatible with our vision of community and the people involved. We are all coming into this with emotional baggage and dysfunctional programming inflicted upon us by civilization, and it will take time for each person to heal. Unfortunately there may be some who may be too broken, and so not compatible with Dragonvale or its people.Some may say that we are being "exclusive" with our community or that our expectations are too high. To those people, I would say that, rather than being exclusive, we are being specific about our wants and needs. That is not to say that our way is "the one right way." We are simply saying that this is how WE want to live, and that it's better to know what we are trying to build BEFORE getting involved. Indeed we are being exclusive, but our exclusivity is not based on some kind of arbitrary value judgement. This is what we want to do, and if our way of doing things speaks to you, then let's talk. If on the other hand the way of living that I have outlined here is not to your taste, then that's fine too. We wish you well and no hard feelings.
We are currently working on a self-evaluation test that potential community members will take to explore their compatibility on their own. Once the self-evaluation is complete, then it would be time to meet others online and talk about the vision in detail. That's the time to ask questions, share concerns, and decide if Dragonvale is truly where you are meant to be.
The next step would be to meet people in person. This would be the first step to explore someone's actual compatibility with the folks involved in Dragonvale. This is the time to move ahead or walk away. Getting past this stage does not mean that an individual is a full member of Dragonvale. That process will take at least a year and a day to interact on a daily basis. After that time, the current members would sit down and talk about it with the individual and decide if the person is ready to commit, needs more time to evaluate, or is just incompatible.
Once someone is accepted by the community, there would be a rite of passage and a commitment ceremony.
It Takes A Village
Generally speaking, folks like us are not made of money since it is not generally a significant focus in our lives. It is however important (as long as civilization lasts) to have some money to operate in this society -- even at the edge of it. Since it is unlikely that any of us have the tenacity to become millionaires any time soon, we will have to seek alternative methods.One thing that all of us can do is to get together a modest amount of money -- say around $5,000. What's that you say? That's not enough to build a community? Well, you're right. It's not enough by a long shot -- on its own. If on the other hand you pool your resources with 99 other people, then suddenly you have $500,000 which is more than enough to buy land and build.
We are currently in the process of seeking land, and plan to buy within the next year.
In order to protect everyone involved we will create a community trust that will hold the money, purchase and pay for all construction costs. That way no one person will have control of it, and we all decide what happens to it. I cannot stress enough the importance of commitment here. Once the money goes into the trust, it belongs to the community. If someone changes their mind and decides to leave, they do not get that money back. That's why it is very important that when you commit to Sacred Lands and Dragonvale, you understand what you are getting into.
That being said, if someone decides to leave on good terms (i.e. they have not violated any major community laws) then we will do whatever we can to help them transition out. If we have spare money available, then we MAY be able to help them get started, but of course there are no guarantees. Keep in mind that although we are not building a cult here, there does have to be some level of stability, and if people can step in and out of their commitment as easily as changing their socks, then it creates a very unstable environment for everyone involved.
Size Matters
The population of a functional community can be anywhere between 50 and 300 adults and children (plus or minus 50). Our goal with Dragonvale is to not go over 150 villagers. We feel that this number offers us the greatest diversity of skills, personalities, and talents, while allowing us to be completely involved in each others lives. Of course the only way to know for sure if this number will work for us is to see what happens. We will have to reevaluate our population level as time goes on. We may discover that 80 is too many, or we may decide that we need 200 to make things work.Role Playing
As I said earlier, each of us is coming into this with a lot of emotional baggage that needs to be purged before true healing can take place. This may be a long process for some people, and many potential community members might not make it through that phase. There are many tools that we can use to facilitate the purging and healing process and perhaps make it easier on the individual, and the community in general.One of the most useful tools in this healing process is role playing. Yes, I'm talking about those nerdy games like Dungeons and Dragons that you have all played (come on, admit it), but instead of creating a fantasy character that has little resemblance to ourselves, we create a character that reflects the ideal person that we wish to become, and we role play that character in our every day lives. In psychology, this method is called fixed-role therapy. The usual procedure is that the client is asked to write a self-characterisation and, drawing upon this, the therapist writes a sketch of a new character which the client, if he finds it plausible, is asked to enact for two weeks. This character will not be someone who is the complete opposite of the client but instead is likely to introduce some new construct orthogonal to the client's major existing construct dimensions. During the enactment period, the client is encouraged to "become" the new character, and several therapy sessions will be held in which the client rehearses the role, focusing on situations which he is likely to enter outside the therapy room.
This is essentially the same thing I'm talking about when I say that if we are to create our own community and culture, we will all have to create our own role models. In other words, rather than having a therapist create our new character for us, we will create our own.
In a healthy society, we would have positive role models all around us that we could emulate, but alas in this culture, healthy role models are sorely lacking. So that leaves us no choice but to create our own. Each person seeking to become a part of Dragonvale will create a role model or "character" that reflects the ideal person that they would wish to become. Now I'm not talking about creating some fanciful wizard with extraordinary powers -- although a wizard is not out of the question in our community. I'm talking about creating a model of how you would like to develop emotionally, spiritually, physically, mentally, and so on. Naturally this must be a realistic goal, so for example, if you are 5 feet tall, it would be a bit foolish to imagine the ideal you at 6 feet. The person will then begin to role play their character until that character becomes second nature, and eventually becomes them. The phrase "fake it 'til you make it" is applicable here.
Another thing to keep in mind about this process is that our role models are meant to be the ideal us. That is certainly a lofty goal that may take years to achieve, and so we have to remember to appreciate and love who we are in the meantime. Our role models are not meant to make us feel like failures, but to give us clear personal goals. In any given situation, you might ask yourself "what would the ideal me do?"
Of course there are other purposes for having these role models. Since we are creating a new culture, our characters should reflect that. These may be the characters that we will role play during festivals and events.
If we are successful, then perhaps one day our grand children will not need to create fictional role models.
Getting Started
We have created an online forum for discussions about the community and Sacred Lands. Please join us there if you'd like to talk more about the ideas we have in mind and you have an interest in creating something new and wonderful.[Sacred Lands Discussion Forum]
Community Resources
Here are some useful links that cover many aspects of community building.
