Utopian Communities
Without being to political, I don’t think our current system is working. The environment and humanity is being destroyed at an astonishing pace. To be the biggest shark at all costs is being congratulated. And the reason most people stay in this path by the (western) society is “because there is no other way”.
What motivates me
My ideal or Utopia is a place where I can be connected to nature, be in a community, work together to make the lives of everyone better and ideally surf everyday. I’ve found something similar in Schloss Tempelhof. I want to see for myself, how people consciously choose to live, how they are organised, what hurdles they face. That’s why I am exploring as many ‘utopian communities’ as possible. I want to embrace the positive aspects of every community and give an insight to my findings on this blog.
Well, let’s address the elefant in the room, I really don’t want to join a cult. Communities have gotten a bad reputation, which I don’t believe in, but it would also be stupid to be completly oblivious going in.
Finding Utopian Communities
Is it a cult checklist?
- religious freedom
- democratic decision making
- awareness for nature
- efforts for a sustainable living
- Queer friendly
- Aware of discrimination and actively working against it
Different kinds of communities
To be able to communicate a little better, this is a short introduction to the different words that are in the air, when it comes to living alternatively.
-
Commune
A Community, where everything of life is shared, including the income. The bonds between members are tightly interlaced, while overcoming the typical “family” structure. Some of the principles most communes share are consensus decision-making, non-hierarchical structures and ecological living. -
Intentional Community
The umbrella term for all, there is no preconditions to become an intentional community and there is no rules or ways to live associated with it. -
Ecovillage
An ecovillage is an intentional, traditional or urban community that is consciously designed through locally owned participatory processes in all four dimensions of sustainability (social, culture, ecology and economy) to regenerate social and natural environments. -
Cohousing
A space that prioritizes connecting people within private homes and also empathizes on neighborly connections. -
Co-op's
Cooperative living, often used in student living, which usually shares housing and expenses.
