New Age, Alternative,
Metaphysical Publication
Aquarius-Atlanta.com

Intentions

Spiritual Communities: Trouble in Paradise?

by Diana Leafe Christian

“Our community will be built entirely by spiritual guidance, prayer, and manifestation,” the teacher of metaphysics declared firmly. She and I were eating lunch at a picnic table at a communities conference. “That's what they did at Findhorn and that's what we'll do too.”

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It was an awkward moment. I felt skeptical and concerned for her group's well being. I'd been editing Communities magazine since the early '90s and had been teaching workshops on how to start new ecovillages and intentional communities in today's challenging financial and zoning climate, and was just finishing my book on the subject. (Creating a Life Together: Practical Tools to Grow Ecovillages and Intentional Communities. New Society Publishers, 2003).

“While it's true Findhorn's founders got guidance from devas and manifested most of their physical needs by faith and prayer for a few years back in the early '60s,” I responded, “I don't know of any other communities that have done it. And Findhorn hasn't done it either since about 1970.”

“And in fact,” I plunged on, “some of the worst community failures I know of are spiritually oriented communities, where the founders started out assuming they could just rely on intuition and guidance alone, but really-a group also needs a common vision-”

“We have a vision!”

“And also a budget, a strategic plan, knowledge of the real estate market, access to funds-”

“We'll manifest the funds!”

“And a good legal structure, and know how to do a land-search and get reasonable financing- Um, may I ask, do you have an amount of money set aside for this now? Rural property will probably cost several hundred thousand dollars and-”

“All will be provided!”

“Oh, well... great,” I finished lamely.

“Spiritual manifestation is a proven science that works,” she declared frostily. I retreated to my salad.

I didn't have to be clairvoyant to know that this group had little chance of success. First was the power imbalance. This lady was clearly boss, her students followers. And, they hadn't a clue about how to start a community. They didn't have any money, hadn't made a business plan, and hadn't yet grokked the exorbitant local land market.

I longed to share what I'd learned with this lady. I wanted to tell her I'd interviewed dozens of founders of communities and ecovillages that had succeeded and had failed. I wanted her to know that most aspiring community groups-probably 90 percent-never get off the ground, often mired in conflict, heartbreak, and sometimes, lawsuits.

I wanted her to know that founders of what I called the “successful ten percent” use heart-centered methods of vision and grace and guidance, as well as setting up budgets and strategic plans, researching and choosing a legal structure, finding and financing property, and developing or renovating it.

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