Community has become the new buzz word in the consciousness scene. It seems like everywhere I look, someone is promoting a new community. Gaiam just bought up a chunk of companies (Zaadz, YogaMates, Lime, etc) and is building what seems to be a massive online community. MySpace and Facebook have millions of "community" members. Care2.com boasts over 8.5 million conscious friends (wow!). Yes, these are all very powerful social online networks.
But the key word there is ONLINE. Haven't you noticed that there is an abundance of on-line communities and not enough REAL communities? So I ask: what about the human connection?
Because technology has become so advanced, we've gotten really good at bringing people together via the web. Clearly, this is a great tool for connection and a wonderful way to reach the masses. But it definitely shouldn't replace the other. In fact, in my eyes, it should really just become the vehicle to promote them.
The in-person, face-to-face, I can touch and feel you connection will ALWAYS be more powerful, genuine, and real then the on-line thing. When you engage the senses - sight, sound, touch (my favorite), taste (equally as fun), and smell - in the interaction, the genuine nature of that connection is magnified. As they say, "this is where the magic happens."
The challenge is that it's hard to bring people together. Between scheduling, money, time, blah, blah, blah, there are lots of reasons for why people don't organize real communities. But the truth is that gathering the tribe is the only sustainable, feel good thing to do. The community provides support, joy, guidance, love, mirrors, and feedback. They are the people that bring up our sh*t, stir up the darkness, and push us into the light. Our communities are the one's that make it real.
I've come to realize that selfcentered is becoming THE COMMUNITY for fresh conscious people to connect live. In addition to providing the necessary educational tools and experiences through our trainings, we also provide the resources and support to be community leaders. We teach our Architects how to host weekly Pleasure Loves Company Gatherings, throw super-fun Conscious Indulgence parties, lead PDM (public display of meditations), and simply get together to kick it (most already know how to do this one).
I bring this to light because I often hear from people that they want to become an
Awareness Architect but they are afraid to teach. I get it; public speaking can be scary. But the great thing about our platform is that you don't have to be a speaker if that doesn't fit your vibe. Once you get the training, you will have the right tools to be a connector, or a party-planner, or someone that inspires. All of these roles are invaluable to the movement.
Being a new school leader of consciousness is not about following somebody else's lead.....it's about being authentically you and inspiring people with your truth.