Vision
A community founded on the principles of harmony with Nature; where work is meditation in action. Organic agriculture will be used to transform the fields to feed and support the community. The natural beauty of the Robson Valley, Kakwa Provincial Park and the Ancient Cedar Forest Provincial Park will encourage us to promote eco-tourism and greater appreciation for the environment. Our dwellings and sustainable life styles will be used as examples to a larger society to identify the possibilities.
Common Ground
Spiritual Practice
I commit myself to active spiritual practice and to align with spirit to work for the greatest good.
Service
I commit myself to the service of others and to our planet, recognizing that I must also serve myself in order to practice this effectively.
Personal Growth
I commit myself to the expansion of human consciousness, including my own, and I recognize and change any of my personal attitudes or behavior patterns which do not serve this aim. I take full responsibility for the spiritual , environmental and human effects of all my activities.
Personal Integrity
I commit to maintain high standards of personal integrity, embodying congruence of thought, word and action.
Respecting Others
I commit wholeheartedly to respect other people (their differences, their views, their origins, backgrounds and issues), other people’s and the community’s property, and all forms of life, holding these all to be sacred and aspects of the divine.
Direct Communication
I commit to using clear and honest communication with open-listening, heart-felt responses, loving acceptance and straightforwardness. In public and in private I will not speak in a way that maligns or demeans others. I will talk to people rather than about them. I may seek helpful advice, but will not seek to collude.
Reflection
I recognize that anything I see outside of myself-any criticisms, irritations or appreciations-may also be reflections of what is inside me. I commit to looking at these within myself before reflecting them to others.
Responsibility
I take responsibility for my actions and for my mistakes. I am willing to listen to constructive criticism and to offer constructive feedback to others in a caring and appropriate fashion, to challenge and support each other to grow.
Non-violence
I agree not to inflict my attitudes or desires (including sexual) on others. I agree to step in and stop, or at least say that I would like stopped, actions (including manipulations or intimidation) that I feel may be abusive to myself or others in the community.
Perspective
I take responsibility to work through and put aside my personal issues for the benefit of the whole community. I will resolve all personal and business conflicts as soon as possible. I acknowledge that there may be wider perspectives than my own and deeper issues than those that may immediately concern me.
Co-operation
I recognize that I live in a spiritual community and that it functions only through my cooperation and my good communication. I agree to communicate clearly my decisions. I agree to communicate with others who may be affected by my actions and decisions and to consider their views carefully and respectfully. I recognize that others may make decisions which affect me and I agree to respect the care, integrity and wisdom that they have put into their decision-making process.
Resolution
I commit to make every effort to resolve disputes. At any time in a dispute I may call for an advocate, friend, independent observer or mediator to be present. In the event of a dispute continuing unresolved, I will have access to a Grievance Procedure. I commit to following this procedure [to be decided by the community].
Agreements
I commit to keeping agreements I have made and not to break or try to evade any laws, rules, or guidelines; to have honest dealings with all bodies and to pay all charges and dues owing.
Commitment
I commit to exercising the spirit of this statement of Common Ground in all my dealings.
Altered States*
Drugs and substance abuse are not welcome. Limited alcohol use is accepted. Smoking is prohibited due to limited indoor spaces, and the potential for catastrophic damage to our local forest.
* Local adjustments have been made. Acknowledgement and thanks to the Findhorn Foundation and the New Findhorn Association (NFA).
Decision Making
Consensus will be the basis for community governance.
Spiritual Path
All paths are welcome. Individual and group meditations are seen as a beneficial aspect which enhances community life.
Land Ethic*
All land is intended to be kept in trust, not to be sold or mortgaged for speculative purposes. Land is to be cared for, but not in the traditional sense. All development is to be made with a minimum impact to the land, and with sensitivity to the flora and fauna, acknowledging their place in the whole.
Planting, gardening, farming and reforestation will be aimed at long-term sustained use, with emphasis given to stabilizing and increasing fertility of the land, using natural methods.
Specified areas are to be designated as “wild” or wilderness areas and not to be developed or altered in any way.
All development, whether buildings, landscaping or food production must be of an ecologically sound nature, harmonizing with its surroundings, avoiding any polluting or harmful processes.
*Local adjustments have been made. Acknowledgement and thanks to the Findhorn Foundation.