larahna's Page

Thank you, Sista Larahna. Peace. We are ONE.
Bro Bakari

Lovely to meet you.
cheers.

No problem - glad you're at home here. But don't be afraid of the wiki - you can't break it by editing.

Idea 4 u: Mel King, former MIT professor, founder of the Community Fellows Program at MIT, first Black man to run for mayor of Boston, hes a great community organizer, a good grandpa and a kind ear on any social/ community issue, good Efficacy and coping training connections.
Peace
from a Boston Sistah
on the road in NC
MIT Community Fellow 1995-96

Larahna,
I visited your www.worldhelptrainingcenter.org site -excellent to see someone walking the walk!!!

I'm working with Open Source Global Village: this time of year probably finds you quite busy on site. But, since I didn't see any updated pics on the site,

I'm full of questions: what are you doing for electrical energy and fuel?
Have you animals? What are you planting (food forest, raised beds)?

It'd really be cool to keep tabs with each other and compare notes on how each of us reach solutions for the same issues. -do you have the interest (time and energy too) in such an exchange? maybe once a month or every two weeks?

>However.....it does NOT generally move them to the point of action;

There is a book called Deep Survival: Who Lives, Who Dies, and Why
by Laurence Gonzales If you read it with the concept that people live and die by their paradigms ( paradigms which could be totally false), you'll get an inkling of why I think few people actually act. It's outside of their paradigm.

If you yourself, took, say Tom Brown Jr.'s Standard Class (http://trackerschool.com/) or a course from Frank and Karen (http://earthwalknorthwest.com/), then armed yourself with a blanket, a knife, knowledge about the local plants and animals, and tried to live in primitive forest on that knowledge alone, you would find out a great deal about your own paradigm that you might not already know.

People have to see a successful working paradigm before they'll even consider trying a new one to shelter, feed, and clothe themselves. Most will still turn their noses up at many things that are valid but not within their paradigm when it comes time to put rubber to the road.

Gregory on this site is part of a commune called the Farm (www.thefarm.org); they've been around a long time. Maybe you could get ideas from them on how they help with people's paradigm. If I am able, I will travel there to see their methods.

Also, I heard Orin Lyons of the Onondaga Nations speak of "raising their leaders up" (www.onondaganation.org). I really want to see how they do this first hand but am not sure how to ask this of them, maybe you would know how to. They are the ONLY Native Americans which are truly sovereign and issue their own passports.

->equally convinced that if we don't work out the kinks and bugs in the ->social system then all the best tech

I agree 100%. I know how brain washing works to move people's paradigms but I don't believe in using those methods like cults and advertising do. I'd like to think there is a way to show people a working paradigm, let them experience the paradigm, and then let them choose on their own.

->Collecting the personnel and financial support has been exhausting.

From what I see at Open Source Global Village, this is true after most people realize participation in OSGV isn't theorectical or ivory tower discussion -it's truly living and creating a different paradigm. I'm trying to address this disconnect that causes people to dis-engage after all the interesting conversation is over. And the real begins.

Also, at the Tracker school, there was an idea taught: to do a task lovingly, with one's full attention. It was also hinted at that all of one's present karma must be dealt with while doing real work, and the product of your work reflects you and your karma.

>.should this development have been launched in spring or summer?
I'd like to say spring but you'll also know the local culture (like starting it on Christmas day probably isn't a great idea). Timing is critical in my opinion.

>Are people really ready for this type of drastic project living >experiment/test?
>What is a better way of gathering a core group committed to the point of >packing up and heading to the wilderness?

I'm still gathering ideas but here is one idea forming in my conciousness: make it a transistion. set it up so the first few visits weed the slackers out but make the earnest people feel successful; like they "could do this". try to recognize what in people will help you build the community and what in people will tear your effort apart: screen for that in watching the people actually doing work.

I feel strongly the land must be prepared first so people can feel see and touch the fact that the land will feed them if the people take care of it.

Which brings me to another point. I read your website on being soaked all the way through to your insoles in rain. Had you build a little debris hut upon arrival, you could've waited the rain out (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=myghxFyf6e4). These things work, I know, I have lived in them in monsoons and 9 to 13 degree F weather. I barked mine -on the third layer.

I believe the Tom Brown Jr. paradigm of: teach your people how to make shelter, get water, fire and then food. So, as a test trial have them, on their first visit build, maybe not a debris hut, but a hexayurt or a wikiup.
Then have them gather their food with your supervision, from the land. Have them prepare a good tasting dish. Teach them how to make mats from tall grass or reeds for rain panchos and sleeping mats. Here is a great resource: "Survival Skills of Native California" by Paul D Campbell if you don't have the cash to have someone teach you these skills.

Why am I suggesting these primitive skills? Because they work. Because once you yourself have used them for shelter, drink, warmth and to feed yourself for at least a week or two, YOU WILL KNOW you can leave any job, any city and live well. This is FREEDOM from the current financial system. Until you know you are free, you cannot go beyond the stretch of your old chain or out the open door of your old cage. You owe this to yourself.

Then you can build your own village in a way that promotes such freedom.

>Should I make an appointment at the nearest mental health clinic?

Hell no!!! :] because you are trying a new paradigm, other people will see from their paradigm what you're doing is crazy. at times, the paradigm you were raised in will also tell you you're crazy to try to leave it (after all, it's sheltered you, fed you and clothed you).

>Is this vision really important and if it is won't the resources eventually come for it to manifest?

To sound paranoid, no. The current financial and educational system has systematically made it almost impossible for anyone to truly want to leave the comfort and igornance of their paradigm. Every day, advertising brainwashes those of us who experience it farther and farther away from shifting our paradigms in the right direction.

the matrix wasn't just a geeks movie :]

Change will come by those of us who can, not by those of us who consume.

>So...unless an infusion of capital comes in..like yesterday...
>this project will be scaled back to the theoretical development on paper

No, I beg you not to do this. Instead, do this with minimum cash; this is the only way in this era unless you have big pocket contacts. Here's a way:

1. Learn primitive living skills, practice them until you can live free and wild. This will take two years. Do this while working at what you normally do for cash.
2. Create a non-profit of a type which will allow you not to pay property taxes.
3. Get this book PERMACULTURE: A Designers' Manual by Bill Mollison and Reny Mia Slay and find people who have used this manual on their own land SUCCESSFULLY -there are many people who have failed, and ask them if you can visit. This will take another year. You can find successful permaculture people here: http://lists.ibiblio.org/mailman/listinfo/permaculture
4. Then, if the property is no longer yours, then get another tract donated -free and clear. Ask Marcin on this list how to do this and as many other people as you can.
Choose your tract accordinlgy to what you've learned in #1 and in #3.
5. Food forest the land until it will at least feed three people. This will take another two or three years.
6. Invite the people you know have helped through steps 1-5 to be part of the 3 person team.
7. Rotate one person back off the land into the local financial system, business or job, so that your people have contact with the outside world and you build ties to the local community.

But what do I know? Maybe I know nothing. I could be full of shit. Do what works for you.

Of course, if you want to start living outside the current system now, come help us on Factor e Farm for awhile. :} Let me know if you're interested.

Larahna,
I would really like to hear back from you on all the rambling I did.

...and I really do hope you continue your efforts.

please find a way: over, around, through -or completely outside of!

hello LaRahna,
...hope you got your cell phone work as a modem.

I'm caught up on my work and am now catching up online.

Do you still have the land?
What do you think of a transitional method to introduce the new lifestyle to people (and yourself)? ..say, maybe a planned week or weekend for a given group/individual?

Back in Gallup for a week or two; then will be all over NM and AZ planting the seeds for humans to grow into :).

I'll be really busy with my clients this week, but if I see you online in the evenings (Mountain Time), I'll shout to see if you wanna chat then.