Inner Transition – Vision 2030
What follows is taken from a number of visioning sessions: public workshops covering Society and Values, Community, Education, Government, Biodiversity (none were run that specifically addressed inner transition). A gathering of the Heart and Soul group did a guided visualisation imagining walking through Totnes in 2030, meeting friends in the market square and reflecting on the years that have passed since 2009.
One person’s vision
This comes from a visualising exercise done with the Heart and Soul group in October 2008, imagining walking through Totnes in 2030 to meet a friend for a drink in the market square.
Visit to Totnes in 2030
I will have travelled down from Staverton – how? Horse and cart? Tricycle? Train? Golf trolley/ our community of 9 houses + pub now much more communal.
Countryside will be different- more orchards- forest garden style- more trees.
I think of all tough things we have gone through in the world – 2008 when capitalism first obviously threatened – then disintegration of financial system, more frugality – little travel. Houses poorer inside, all intensively lived in. enormous variety of styles
Weather extremes- hard to cope with- today quite mild and pleasant
Communication worldwide still working, hearing of islands washed away, whole coast and inland seas: tsunamis and volcanoes frequent, wars over territory and death of millions of people. A lot of incomers in Devon, usually coming with few goods.
Town government had been taken over by militant group but now run by an open council, with voting by show of hands.
Animals and bird mix much better freely with human population less distinction town and country
My sister still in Australia she did come over by boat and stayed a couple of years, but went back because of her children and grandchildren. I have shortly returned from seeing her -great effort- sea voyage but pirates a danger worth it because we closer than ever we’ve been.
Instead of knowing many people in Totnes as I did 20 years ago I now feel I know everyone. Great feeling of friendship: reliant on each other as our pensions have disappeared.
Groups, colleges, talks story telling still continue as ever – education, music, still very important. Very aware we’re in the midst of a great change not only in way of life, but also in consciousness: close to the earth. Life and death seen as close together, all part of the spirit of the earth in which we live.
From a member of the Heart and Soul group
Common Elements of Positive Visions
Below are some of the themes commonly expressed in the visions we collected – though of course none by all!
Increased sense of community
We know many more people, especially those living close by.
We depend on each other, helping with skills & time.
The old and vulnerable, those with particular needs are cared for by “community” not professional statutory services.
Groups form to take on necessary tasks and then may disband
Lots of ongoing teaching of skills, including to young and old, from old to young.
We live simply, but not without subtlety and complexity, so that we can ALL simply live.
Learning to get on with each other
Developing and using skills for getting on with each other can be seen everywhere in daily life.
All adults are learning what’s important for children’s healthy development and translating that into their day-to-day relating with children.
Emotional literacy and communication skills are at the core of what children are taught. Adults have also learnt – often after difficult situations – how to communicate well with each other, to soften and resolve conflict, when to let go and when to really push for what you want. It’s taken a lot of practice and patience but in the end we’ve learnt that it’s better to keep getting on than falling out!
People of all ages make use of the help that’s offered in dealing with difficult feelings or unhappiness.
Many in the Heart and Soul group envision a transformation in human relationships towards greater co-operation in all aspects of life; sharing of space, facilities and food; open-heartedness, respect for and appreciation of all life; wisdom appreciated and aspired to. People are more engaged and focused in what they do and feel their contribution has meaning and is important.
Changing World View
We have been through difficult times of shifting expectations, many have lost a lot of what they grew up believing life was about – job, savings, perhaps even their pension. It helped that many went through this at the same time, reducing the stigma, and that there were some supportive places to go.
A delight in all that’s living in our relationships and creativity has replaced the over-riding pursuit of money, and of identity defined by ownership of objects. People generally live in smaller houses – it’s impossible to heat large spaces in the winter – more of them shared. As we started to take more responsibility for our lives we got back a sense of power too – that we wanted a say in what happens, can mend and make more of what we need to live.
There’s less sense of rich and poor, and more is owned communally. Potential competition with city migrants is viewed as a challenge to meet and share and learn.
Diversity
We have been and still are assimilating immigrants successfully – from UK cities, from overseas. We find they also have skills and values we can learn from, – about living in less space, forming community, working through conflict, ways of understanding and working on the land. The connections that are made help with some locally organized trade with far off places.
Children and older people, those with disabilities are valued and involved much more in daily life – elders’ contribution is blossoming and acknowledged, children are learning “on the job”.
Connection with Nature
People are outside more – growing food, walking and cycling – creating a positive circle of increased safety, resilience to weather (!) and shared activities.
The decrease in cars has made more space available for green resulting in increased familiarity, understanding and interaction, between humans and birds, insect and animal populations in the town.
The air and sounds that we live among are quite different – cleaner air, birdsong, more sounds of wind and water, people’s voices.
There’s more time and creativity
The pace of life is slower – more time for conversation, for being rather than doing. There’s more willingness to make eye contact.
Arts and music still play a large part in local life; much more handcrafts are visible as you walk around town – both in what is worn and what decorates houses and public spaces. Spontaneous inclusive celebrations draw on everyone’s creativity and talents.
Life and Death
Whilst Life has become more celebrated and cherished Death has become less of a taboo subject, and is talked about in the midst of vigorous living.
There is less of a feeling of using medical science to hold onto life at any cost. People can choose the timing of their death without fear of legal repercussions.
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