Conscious Tribes are groups of 10, 20, 30 people -
united existentially, psycho-emotionally, and creatively -
in their action, in the co-creation of conscious local cultures.
My impression is that many of us share the vision of decentralised, conscious, community-based cultures embedded in nature. But how to make them real? Or another way to put this question might be "how do we weave ourselves together? How do we weave new social fabrics?"
The Conscious Tribes proposal is to form small, local tribes aligned with the cultures we wish to co-create. And not just aligned at the practical, physical, creative level of permaculture, eco-construction, local food production, alternative economics, and so on. Above all, as I have said, I believe we need to study the subtle yet simple art of becoming “non-biological extended families” - and learn to love each other, and be-loved-by each other “universally” (more about this term later). I believe we need to learn to travel through The Great Mystery in deep intimacy with each other, while we´re in the process of co-creating our new cultures. Why?
Because traveling in this way, our hearts stay open and strong. And I believe that´s the vision we share: the vision of strong and open-hearted cultures. And because traveling in this way, we all become more authentically ourselves. And because traveling in this way, we come to know our oneness. And because whatever cultures we now co-create Will Be Made Of Us.
So forming a Conscious Tribe isn´t like setting up a club, or forming an association. It´s about embarking upon a profound and intimate journey with others - the journey, or adventure, of the heart. Conscious Tribes are places of activism - of participation in the practical, real, physical co-creation of alternative cultures. Yes. But above all, they are places of homecoming for the heart and soul - places that support us in living our everyday lives in consciousness, humility, intensity, and love. Because then, as Gandhi said, We Are The Change.
Conscious Tribes are active on four levels: the universal or spiritual or existential level of our interconnectedness and belonging; the psycho-emotional level of our individual and collective conditionings; the mental or intellectual level of our understandings and beliefs; and the material or physical level of our action in the world. And I will be making specific recommendations to help Conscious Tibes come together, and get started – on all four levels. I will be recommending that whenever they gather they give time to nowness and indefinability and oneness, that they give kind attention to their ideas and emotions (and take good care of the shenanigans of their egos) - and that they advance their plans for the co-creation of their own, local, alternative, community culture.
You could say Conscious Tribes embody a holistic or integral approach to community co-creation. And I´d agree. But that way of putting it sounds a bit dull to me! I see them as so much more than that...
Because they are set up to attend lovingly to the existential, mental, emotional and physical levels of our being, they offer us the opportunity of bringing our consciousness, minds, hearts and bodies into alignment. Conscious Tribes offer everyone the possibility of a journey of individual self-knowledge. I see them as places of personal transformation.
And I see them as more than that too! Because, as each individual transforms, so does the energy field of the tribe - which then becomes more and more palpable, and powerfully supportive of everyone.
And I see them as more than that too!! The energy field of the Conscious Tribe also, I believe, inevitably radiates out beyond the tribe - and carries healing into the turmoil of the world - contributing to our collective evolution. I see the energy field of the Conscious Tribe as radiating out spacially (touching those around them), and also (as I described in the last chapter) as radiating temporally (touching the generation to come). This is why I often refer to Conscious Tribes as “seeds” of conscious cultures to come.
And...
You can form one if you want!
You can take these words off the page, and give them shape in your local area!
You can start talking with your friends about forming your own, local Conscious Tribe!
There´s no need for any authorisation or permission!
There´s no Conscious Tribes Headquarters where you have to file your application –
and provide the documentation that proves your worthiness!
You can just do it!
Extra support´s available, if you want it (all the information´s in the last chapter *).
And perhaps read some more chapters - and then see what you feel! **
But as soon as you feel ready... well:
my only intention and aim and prayer and dream in writing this book
is to share a clear-enough vision and offer solid-enough resources
so that people will feel inspired and equipped to start their own Conscious Tribes!
*
*The last chapter of the book refers you here: https://www.tribusconscientes.com/support-apoyo
**You can already download the Preface, Contents and first three chapters here: https://www.tribusconscientes.com/
*
Mark Josephs,
"Mark the Mystic Activist"
Aragon, Spain
Summer, 2024
This article is Chapter 2 of the (very expanded) third edition of "Love & Revolution"
(the foundational text of The Conscious Tribes Project)
due out later this year.
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listen to it for free,
or buy it as a paperback (at cost of print and post).
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