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more diverse and providing many different person communication through electronic
ways for people to find their relationship to multimedia and the growth of self-
the community. organising, consensual collaboration. He says
The conference itself was a feast of that intentional communities - as centres of
presentations, papers, workshops and research, demonstration and training - will
conversations during the day and dancing, act as 'cultural midwives' to the new era of
singing and a film in the evenings. Both Jan planetary consciousness. This became the
Martin Bang and Michael Luxford made central theme of the conference, this sense
presentations about Camphill ('Spirituality that a sustainable future is only going to be
in Camphill' and 'Camphill: Community and possible if we make a fundamental shift to a
its Value' respectively). Vibeke Alfred came new social and cultural paradigm. Our future
to give a poster presentation about Camphill will not simply be assured through new
and Social Pedagogy and, in addition, a technological breakthroughs but through a
number of Camphill people joined the ICSA shift in consciousness, a cultural
Board, whose main task is to plan the next transformation that will lead to social
conference in three years' time. renewal. These ideas have much resonance
Many of the presentations and workshops in Camphill circles. Rudolf Steiner spoke at
described inspiring stories of people around great length about the successive phases of
the world working together in community. human development from group
Others described processes of change and consciousness to the present phase of
possible renewal at work in communities. individualisation and how we must find our
Some of the talks and discussions had way forward to a new sense of universal
something of a dystopian flavour to them in consciousness. In this light community is
that it seems there is recognition that we seen as a preparation for the next era of
have reached a tipping point in terms of our human development.
economy, our society and our use of I think that what I got most from
resources; and the future prospect is one experiencing Findhorn over these days was
of imminent crisis and collapse. The only a re-affirmation of the need to be open to
possible hope is that people wake up and diversity, to validate individual initiative and
make the necessary move to a more to seek active engagement with others
sustainable way of life based on co- beyond the boundaries of the community. I
operation and sharing rather than was also able to experience a sense of
competition and egoism. Robert Gilman, who spontaneity, fun and celebration along with
has helped to shape the direction of the a welcoming openness to the other person
Global Ecovillage Network, gave an opening that I feel has retreated more to the
presentation about the historical transition background in my Camphill experience. I
in global culture and consciousness from have a feeling that with all the
what he terms the 'tribal age' to the 'age responsibilities of providing a professional
of empire'. He went on to imagine the kind care service and with all the many
of cultural transformation that will be challenges facing us in recent years
necessary in order to enable us to move something essential has receded into the
from the empire consciousness that background - our celebration of community.
dominates our society today to the As we move forward into a more complex
planetary consciousness of the future. This and diverse future we might do well to try
cultural transition that is already at work and restore the balance between all the
will be characterised by diversity, many aspects of community life in Camphill.
innovation and choice, more person-to-
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