Building Authentic Community 13 June —19 June     Rob Dreaming & Ambre Auroville    £250/€350

So many groups with high ideals of peace, ecology, healing, cooperation, equality and justice have come together only to founder on the rock of intractible internal conflicts and strife. What was missing has always been an understanding that the process of creating a group is as important as the aims and ideals of the group. The tools for honouring process have rarely been applied together consistently, consciously, and with deep commitment. We are talking about first building a basis of unity, and then using compassionate communication, concensus decision making, creative conflict resolution, and sharing from the heart to build authentic community. These are not complicated tools, and their use can be inspiring and loads of fun, but they require some commitment and practice.

THE SPEAKING HEART BRINGS LIBERATION By exploring some of the fundamental themes of human preoccupation, by participating, witnessing and enjoying community and personal time, we can come together to know ourselves in a real sense, learning the art of true speaking and action that will bring clarity and greater resolution to our lives. When we listen within the heart, we understand others more deeply and inevitably ourselves too, increasing our connection.

Here is a outline of the kinds of things—working, playing, learning and just hanging out together—that we'll be doing together to build community. The actual content of the week will be determined as much by the needs of the participants as the agenda of the leaders, who after all, in a community are just group members!

CONSENSUS DECISION MAKING AS A DEEP SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLE

Consensus is a decision making process which supports the human architecture underlying social change. It provides a structure which transforms the passion of change-oriented groups into effective action teams. Properly practiced, it takes the group beyond the wrestling of individual egos to forge decisions which incorporate the best intentions and wisdom of all participants, decisions which everyone can support.

Here is a outline of the kinds of things—working, playing, learning and just hanging out together—that we'll be doing together to build community. The actual content of the week will be determined as much by the needs of the participants as the agenda of the leaders, who after all, in a community are just group members!

	Initiating Meaningful Contact Opening and getting to know each other. Exploring the wasteland (have to, ought to, right/wrong, being nice, judging, labeling, diagnosing, expectations...). Thinking of what we want, not what we are: transforming the images that separate us.
	Sharing from the Heart The native American Way of Council gives the power of speech to one person, and everyone else in the group has the responsiblity to listen. The talking stick goes round (and round) the circle giving everyone the chance to speak. These sharing circles are a magic ingredient in building trust, openness and above all authentic community.
	Learning Together We'll practice the language of compassionate communication which encourages us to feel the healing power of empathy and to stay in the present moment focused on feelings and needs, the key to heartfelt communication in community. We'll also learn and practice other essential community skills—concensus decision making, mediation, and how to facilitate a group.
	Working Together This Centre is run by the participants and volunteer staff. So, once in the week you'll find yourself on the team that cooks our evening meal. Participants will also work a couple of hours a day caring for the organic vegie and flower gardens, and maintaining the Centre. And there's no better way to connect than in the washing up team!
	Playing Together Every afternoon most of us gather together on one of the gorgeous local Aegean beaches. Others go for hikes on the mountain donkey paths led by staff member, Mark Taplin. Later, after dinner, back at the Centre, someone may lead some Greek dance. For the indolent—chess and backgammon.
	Solving Conflicts Together Conflicts between individuals in groups, even those with a common vision, are endemic. And human permaculture, sees everyone of us, with our differing viewpoints, as essential ingrdients in the community soup. Resolving conflicts creatively allows us to see and connect deeply with the other. Mediation and facilitation skills provide the basic tools.

Please note: Kalikalos offer a 10% discount for booking two successive workshop weeks

Rob Dreaming — Since the age of 19 I've been interested in the mysteries of life, searching for those things that make sense of the chaos that I witness in the inner and outer life. I have found the greatest nourishment to be in the languages of the heart. In my journeys I have found and continue to practice many things such as Yoga and meditation, dance, music and ritual theatre. I have become a trainer of the Avatar course and currently write and illustrate childrens books. Living in a community some years ago had a life-changing impact for me, and initiated my journey into the importance of speaking from the heart and the recovery of my connection to all things.

Ambre has lived for most of her life at Auroville, the international spiritual community dedicated to human unity and cultural diversity, where one of her main focuses has been holistic education. She has an enduring interest in inner exploration and inner work, values that she demonstrates at the small forest community she has created at Auroville. Ambre's interest in group consciousness and personal liberation led her to develop the Auroville experience week programme which she currently leads for guests and future newcomers.

Contact Ambre Auroville at ambre{at}auroville{dot}org{dot}in

Contact Rob Dreaming at:

4 Sutton Drove Cottages
Sutton Drove
Seaford BN25 3NG

Tel. 01323 893 910
Mobile: 0044 787 075 6030

Web: www.heart-source.com