~ The Wooded Way ~

The Inaugural AGM to form
THE WOODED WAY ASSOCIATION 
is finally happening.
For details, click HERE

Pre-nominations for The Wooded Way Association Executive and expressions of
interest in being on the Foundation Committee in general are now being received.
Please call Beau on (02) 6622 5678 or email thewoodedway@gaia.net.au to
register your interest, or to nominate for a specific position.

Positions available are as follows:

Chair
Vice Chair
Secretary
Treasurer
Publicity Officer*
Public Officer*

*Note: During the initial foundation period, the roles of Publicity Officer & Public
Officer may be held concurrently with one of the other executive positions.

I would like to declare my personal interest in pre-nomination for the
position(s) of VICE CHAIR and/or PUBLICITY OFFICER.

Despite being Founder of The Wooded Way, I am NOT nominating for the position
of Chair for the following reasons:

1. The position requires someone who is a natural 'leader' to take charge of things,
facilitate meetings effectvely and delegate responsibilities as required. 
I  am more of a creator, a 'seer' or 'visionary' than a natural leader.

2. I would not like to see The Wooded Way as a spiritual movement, community
and philosophy of life, labelled a 'cult' or 'sect'. By removing myself from the
'key' role of Chairperson, this tendency is negated.

3. I strongly feel that The Wooded Way needs to be approached from a democratic,
perspective where ideas are put forward, discussed and implemented together
as a community ... or family. Until now, I have felt like I have been 'dictating'
things too much as the conceiver of a grand vision. It is time now to hand the
reigns over to YOU to take hold of this initial vision and re-invent it to become
YOUR dream ... to be made manifest.

Blessings, Beau Ravn. 

  
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' of The Wooded Way.

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 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.
  
  

Where do we go from here?

Right now, we first need to become more formalised and organised as a functioning body. This basically means forming as an Association (in order to gain access to funding and other resources) and holding structured meetings*. Once we start our meetings, we can then decide as a community where to go from there.

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.

But, as previously stated, these are purely MY ideas and thoughts put forward as a starting point to expand upon ... a seed from which to grow. But this is NOT all about ME! It is ALL about US, so if you have any thoughts, ideas, suggestions, wisdom, knowledge to share on anything of interest to your community, please share them here. You might prefer or have ideas for a totally different approach to that which I am suggesting. This is very important to share, especially if I have made some mistakes or suggestions that are incorrect, inappropriate or offensive in any way.

*I actually prefer the term 'gatherings' myself ... but then, I also prefer terms such as Chieftain, High Elder, Scribe, Keeper and Elders for  positions on the Executive Commitee ... or would that be the 'Elder Circle'! ... must be my pre-medieval ancestral memory gene kicking in again, hehe!).

- blessings always, Beau.