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Intentions

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And most failures seem to result from what I call “structural” conflict – problems that arise when founders don't explicitly put certain processes in place or make certain important decisions at the outset, creating one or more omissions in their organizational structure. These seem to function like time bombs. Several weeks, months, or even years into the community-forming process, the group erupts in major conflict that could have been largely prevented if they had handled these issues early on. Much of this could be prevented if its founders paid attention to at least six crucial elements in the beginning.

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1. Identify your community vision and create vision documents.

2. Choose a fair, participatory decision-making process appropriate for your group. And if you choose consensus, get trained in it.

3. Make clear agreements-in writing (including choosing an appropriate legal entity for owning land together).

4. Learn good communication and group process skills; make clear communication and resolving conflicts a priority.

5. In choosing cofounders and new members, select for emotional maturity.

6. Learn the head skills and heart skills you need to know.

I wanted her to know that newly forming spiritual communities seem to experience more structural conflict than most groups. I suspect this is because their founders sometimes tend towards a soft-focus, whole-picture orientation – what's popularly called “right-brained” thinking. This often frustrates and even repels other potential cofounders who may use more logical or systematic “left-brained” thinking. Founders of spiritual communities are sometimes accused of deceiving others about money and power issues, when in fact they simply hadn't focused on clear, explicit communication about finances and decision making, and didn't realize such clarity was necessary. These founders often dismiss the primarily “left-brained” potential cofounders who could help them, considering them merely “bean counters,” when the latter simply want to understand the financial, legal, and decision-making arrangements before they leap in wholeheartedly.

If you're planning to start a spiritual community yourself, and if you operate mostly in right-brained mode, I urge you to ally yourself with more left-brained compadres who can help ground your community ideals in workable business and legal strategies. (And if you're a hard-core left-brainer, I urge you to hook up with more holistic-oriented colleagues who will help you keep your heart open and help you remember why you want to manifest this wonderful vision in the first place.)

Diana Leafe Christian's workshop, “Starting Ecovillages and Intentional Communities,” will be held in October at Earthaven Ecovillage. For info, call 828-669-3930  or email culturesedge@earthaven.org. Article reprinted by permission New Society Publishers.