~ The Wooded Way ~

I have just been engaged to create a large rainforest mural for a new cafe called 'Just Grounds' in Lismore, NSW, Australia and, as such, my work on The Wooded Way will need to go 'on hold' for the next 4 to 6 weeks. However, this project will add a few more dollars to the Gaia Dreamspace fund so that we can commence the physical work of clearing the land around the first week of June.

Blessings always kindred, Beau 

Check out the many new resource links HERE

The Wooded Way has joined or become affiliated with the Four Years.Go global network for organisations working towards global change and shift in thinking by the year 2014. In addition, the Gaia Dreamspace project is now a member of the Transition Towns network and is working in affiliation with the Mulvena Road Landcare Group. Finally, we are also working towards becoming affiliated with the Sustainability Research Institute (SRI) in Byron Bay (see also the Living Together Network link). 

The Wooded Way meeting on the 24th March did not meet the attendance and membership numbers we were hoping to achieve and, as such, I am now working towards holding a series of talks and seminars at different locations prior to holding another meeting at Gaiaspace. 

 ~ MORE INFORMATION ON TO FOLLOW SHORTLY ~

GAIA DREAMSPACE UPDATE:

The Dreamspace project at Larnook saw visits being made by Peace, Oli and other members of The Woodede Way and all agreed that the land itself has great potential but requires a lot of groundwork and effort to clear lantana and other weeds before that potential can be properly explored or realised. I am also exploring an option to relocate the current Gaiaspace meeting rooms in Lismore out to the property in the next few weeks, with the possibility of leasing the adjoining share at a nominal rate while some complex legal matters are being sorted that will eventually allow us to purchase the property. The lease agreement will still provide us with a residential building entitlement to establish a small community haven on the land, as well as the Temple of Gaia, permaculture gardens, etc  already proposed. (see HERE for more info).

THE AUTUMN-WINTER EQUINOX (Mabon) - a time for reflection

Excerpt from Glenys Livingstone at Pagaian.org

"The harvest is manifest in the food we eat, the related lives we live, and the beings that we are. We must accept the descent: it is to Wisdom … in this Cosmology that is where true power is found, in the Sentient Dark. And the ritual is a space for grieving for all that is lost." There is a Mabon/Autumn Equinox video at YouTube:PaGaian Mabon 2009

The original proposed equinox dinner has been cancelled due to its close proximity to our first major public meeting outlined above. As such, a new date has been proposed for MONDAY, 3rd MAY to celebrate the coming of the winter months.

Please click HERE for more information.

  
This is the way of it ...

Currently, The physical assets of The Wooded Way consist of:

This website as an online meeting place and information sharing resource.

A leased meeting and creative space known as GAIASPACE in Brewster Street, Lismore in the beautiful 'Rainbow Region' of Northern NSW, Australia. GAIASPACE is currently undergoing a clean-up and renovation in order to get it ready for our inaugural AGM planned for mid-late February.

Approximately 3 acres of stunning land at Larnook, 30km Northwest of Lismore, being the GAIA DREAMSPACE (working name only), that has been put aside for the creation of a Gaian Temple, community garden with labyrinth, gathering space, temporary accommodation and camp site.

Our longer term objectives are:

The completion of the GAIA DREAMSPACE as the 'home-base', ritual and teaching facility for The Wooded Way incorporating the TEMPLE OF GAIA and the Order of The Wood.

The publication of THE WOODED WAY handbook of Gaia Conscious living.

The creation of a Wooded Way intentional community or communities.

The creation of Wooded Way 'haven' homes (Cohousing projects) accommodating up to 12 members using purchased shares on existing Rural Land-sharing Communities and eco-villages.

Our core philosophies are:

• The recognition that the Earth is a living, sentient being in her own right and that she is called GAIA, the Mother.
• The recognition that GAIA is a part of the universal body and nature of GOD, the Father.
• The recognition that all life on Earth, including humankind, is symbiotically connected with unique roles to play as part of the oneness of Gaia.
• The recognition that there is no unique divinity of Humankind over and above any other forms of life on Earth.
• The recognition that all life is sacred and that to unnecessarily harm other living things is also to harm the body of Gaia, and thus, our selves.
• The recognition that all life on Earth needs air, water and nutrition in order to live and, as such, we must strive to maintain the basic building blocks of life in as clean and pure a state as possible.
• The recognition that, currently, due largely to the unconscious activities of humankind over the ages, Gaia is in a state of dis-ease and requires our assistance to heal (and vice versa).
• The recognition that the most healing power that exists is Love, and to love life is to heal Gaia (and our selves).
• We recognise that the current way of living on Earth is unsustainable and that we need to re-think how we choose to live as part of the Gaian symbiosis.
• We feel that a Gaia conscious, community-orientated, extended family model whereby part-time resources and family responsibilities are shared, yet still respect the need for personal space is a far more sustainable way of living.
• We believe that a 'Primalist' philosophy free from material and emotional excess is achievable.
• We believe that adopting an approach to life based on sustainable technologies in everything from energy supply, to building, food and transport is also achievable.
• It is our intention to build the first independent, 100% Gaia Conscious intentional community as a transparent, living example of a new lifestyle for others to learn from (Long-term aim).
• It is our intention to manifest a number of linked 'havens' (such as the current GAIA DREAMSPACE) on other sustainable communities and eco-villages that resonate with The Wooded Way philosophy of life.
  (This involves purchasing shares to build expanded homes and is an objective that is achievable immediately once funds are made available. Currently there are at least 4 possible Haven venues in Northern NSW open to this.
  
  

Dare to be different!

Where do we go from here?

To me, it would be a sensible approach to create the GAIA DREAMSPACE on the land we currently have available at Larnook. This gets us all working together on a shared gathering place that we can then use, but mostly it brings us together as a communal 'family' creating something that we own and can take pride in. While this is in process, it would also make sense to create a 'handbook' detailing our philosophies, aims, objectives, etc as an ongoing reference tool. Linked to this would be a Wooded Way workbook, being a collection of land care techniques, building techniques, permaculture techniques,  suppliers and every other resource available to meet our objectives.

- blessings always, Beau.