Why we all need collective power

You may wonder why I see community as important in the field of spiritual purpose. It’s a belief that has only emerged for me in the past few years of mounting turbulence.

     It’s now very hard for lone individuals to sustain their spiritual beliefs, as well as a healthy, realistic view of life in general. Why? Because what we experience as ‘reality’ is largely a fabrication, manipulated by social media, big business and the elite. I don’t see this as a conspiracy: it’s simply in their interest to convince us that we’re isolated, vulnerable and dependent. Read more

When I think about how we can all prepare better for the turbulent times ahead, raising the resilience of local communities comes up as a top priority: this is something we can all contribute to, without waiting on all the many policy steps which national government should be taking. Sadly, human society has become highly individualistic, and many of us lack the skills to deepen human communities. However, cultivated ecosystems can teach us a lot about community, as well as other aspects of human wellbeing and resilience. Here are some examples from different contexts.

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Project CLAAR is about community-led adaptation and resilience: an urgent need given the future outlook. Alan's Seeding our Future project is working with the Network for Social Change and others on plans for a substantial initiative, gathering key players and trialling a number of innovative approaches. See more here.

If you define community quite widely, you are probably part of several. This resource can help you assess the groups you’re in, and how they fit your needs. I’ve listed seven kinds of community: review how many of these you’re involved in. Read more

Our podcasts feature Alan Heeks in interviews discussing his natural happiness approach, well-being, and personal growth. Tune in for thoughtful conversations and practical insights to help grow your own happiness. Tune in here.

How can we find our steady centre in these uncertain times? Where do we place our faith and our hope? This day of exploration and support will include times of prayer, meditation and sharing, with periods outside for walking contemplation as a micro pilgrimage, and for communing with Nature as a micro vision quest: recognising the power of space and silence. More details.

This weekend offers a shared space to explore as a peer group how we harvest the fruits and adjust to the losses of getting older: a chance to look afresh at our past and present, and consider the future we’d like to help create. How can we serve as elders in these troubled times, and be good ancestors to those who come after us? What’s the balance, in later life, between inner contemplation and outer action? This retreat is intended as a supportive circle for men who would like to explore these and other questions. More details.

An ecological footprint is a measure of how much productive land area your lifestyle requires, and how far this is from sustainability. The UK average footprint is between 5 and 8 global hectares per person, based on different experts’ views. This is a story of how simple measures at the cohousing project I co-founded achieved a carbon footprint of only 2.4 hectares per person. Read more here.