Community As Sacred Geometry

Double Rainbows

The expectations I brought with me to Earthship Biotecture were that I would walk away with experiences, skills, new friends, and knew that I would have no idea as to how this journey would affect my life. My goal was to set out to do the best I could, and to see what nourishes me.

Enthusiasm comes from the Greek word en meaning in, and theos meaning God. Enthusiasm is sharing in an energy that is conceived of as divine (György Doczi). It is something felt, released, shared and experienced. Kaj Birket-Smith, Danish Anthropologist, describes this experience of enthusiasm by the Polynesian Maoris word, Mana, as a strong feeling that "life is unity, in which not only gods, but also things, which to us are - lifeless - have a part." Enthusiasm therefore, is a sacred force that permeates existence. Tapu is the Maoris' word for their responsibility to comply with Mana; a supreme law. Both the Chinese and Japanese refer to this as a child-like innocence or love of life. This is symbolized in the graphic tattooed on my forearm.

I have been exploring harmonic proportions in relationships with everyone around me reflected in my waking and sleeping life, along with the idea of rhythmic vibration as harmonic sharing. What does this mean? Essentially, all old and new stages of growth all share the same angles and same proportions. Sacred geometry through social connectedness. Perhaps another way to talk about it is a little more metaphysical, being mirrors. The theme of this entry, of this entire blog, is my attempt to articulate and share how we actively or inactively are mirrors for others. We reflect back to those around us our own projections. If we put forth more intention and awareness towards our interactions with others, we can begin to reflect to people in our lives, the way they want to be seen. They then will reflect the way we want to be seen.

Photo by Randy Risling - Toronto Star

In my desert journey, the joys and the challenges, in conjunction with this different twist on mirrors, I see how the Taos Mesa has reflected what I wanted to see. As it has also reflected what I was not ready to see, and observing how it has pushed me beyond my constructed and unconscious limits. I can only assume it does the same for all who come to this place . . . A historical and contemporary crossroads. Energetically and literally.

Making friends with house mates

Photo courtesy of Randy Risling - Toronto Star

It may be difficult to tell how large this beetle is from the photo. I removed him from my hip with my beer can. The length of his body, including his antenna, were as tall as the can.


More stories with pictures!

Grey Water Botanical Cells

Diamond blade saw to cut through volcanic rock. After a couple of weeks with jackhammer to no avail, we had no choice but to step it up.

Here you can see both the diamond blade saw and jackhammer at work.

Rock out. Laying in the EPDM. No shoes. Baby tarantulas.

PVC pipes soon to have pumps to circulate and recirculate grey water. Overflow goes to septic tank. Although I would choose to install a black water botanical cell after the anaerobic process, it's just not happening on this job due to the volcanic rock.

Plumbing

PVC to septic tank. Recirc line. Effluent grey water into cell.

Septic line jackhammered through lower stem wall. Be sure to have a negative slope!

South side of framing here is the bathroom. The grey box and vent you see is for the washer and dryer. Notice the electrical through the framing at the top. 

Grey water vent through framing. Back drop is can wall between the bedroom and bath. Not a weight bearing wall. 

Plumbing to kitchen.

Water lines.

Adobe Wall Pack-Out

Remember the tires?

The electrical lines have not been packed out with adobe because we have not yet had the inspection. Thirty foot air vent is the hole outlined in blue.

Bottle wall meeting southeast interior wall with final finishes. The dark coloration on the wall is where we evened out the wall a bit between the tires to even out the surface for finishing work.

Southwest interior bottle wall. Notice the electrical is still exposed.

Roof, Berm & Cistern Burial

Northeast view. Extending wing walls, installing vents and POM box, finishing perlins, insulation and prepping for metal work. Box below berm at center is the exterior end of the 30' air vent used in conjunction with the vents as a convection cooling system.

Southwest view.

After laying rigid insulation up from ground to vigas and rim joyce, it's all covered up with EPDM prior to attaching metal roof. The pearlins are clearly visible, ready to receive the metal.

Detail work around vents at southern most part of roof. Probably the most challenging part of the roof. Four guys with roof experience, no clear order of operations and with a necessity to be legit for the framing inspection. Having fun here to keep it light.

GLASS, BOTTLES & EVOLUTION

Exterior of one bedroom Global Model - Not the Lone Tree job I've been working on.

Bottles for bottle bricks.

Cut bottles to make bricks.

A team of five ladies found, measured, cut, taped and laid out these bottles to co-create a design which had to be cleared by both foreman. All bottle work is subjective, with the requirement to meet Mike Reynold's request of blue and clear bottles. There were no clear designs or drawings given to us. We kept the space we needed to fill in mind, along with what we had to work with . . . And of course, we end up with a spiral. The three of us designers are all about spirals; our bodies are adorned with them and our cosmovisions surround them. Creating sacred space in the home.

The foremen blessed our design with a sense of elation that Mike would love it! We laid out the true space, set out the bottles, and cleared the design. We took pictures and drew out a schematic to keep us true to the design, as well as create a point of reference so we wouldn't deviate from our agreement.

Order of operations. Take measurements of space you have to fill, know the layout. Inventory the quantity and colors of materials you have to work with, and create from there. Verbally become clear on the design, literally stake it out, lay it out, get it ok'd, take a picture, draw a picture. This makes your concept really clear. This is the creative process. From this point, you collaborate with the execution. The nature of the creature takes on its own identity, especially with the help of the decision-making processes in the execution amongst three creative and sensitive women who naturally are project leaders.


Your design is your point of reference. The creative process is a spiral, you go out and come back in. When you get off track or can't make a decision or agree, refer to the drawn design and photos. This is what was agreed upon. Keep it objective. Don't take it personal. Collaboration. Disillusion of the ego and execute. 


Evolution.

Roughed-in can wall. Bottles to be laid on top.

The south end is wider than the north end. The bottom is flat, the top slopes with the viga, which is protected by plastic and is porcupined. First row of bottles.

Laying first bottle brick.

We started off working around the electrical because we still haven't had the inspection. It's challenging if not even possible to move forward with any project without the inspections. Ron gave us the go-ahead to cement in the wires because the electricians will fully be able to extrapolate where the lines are and where they are going by being able to view both sides of the wall.

North end of bottle wall.

Here's an idea of what kind of ambiance a bottle wall can create.

COMMUNITY: A Contested Word

In earnest and with immense gratitude, I studied Environmental Anthropology at the University of Washington. I did fieldwork as an Anthropologist around South America observing, analyzing, and critiquing the efficacy of alternative local development and social change at a grassroots level, as well as international development projects initiated by the International Monetary Fund and World Bank. The idea of community, empowerment, well-being, development, and sustainability were at the core of my academic-activist career, as well as the center of the modernization-development discourse, especially in neoliberal expansionist policy. They are all qualitative buzzwords and are extremely subjective. Two people using the same words will most likely be talking about different things unless they define them. 

Bringing the light into the darkness, or bringing the darkness into the light?

After academia and after working in the field in South America, as many of you know, I live and work in the grassroots of alternative local development and social change. I'm immersed in exploring and educating myself on what sustainability is and how sustainably I can live. Moreover, living in an "intentional community" on a farm, living in a broader context of a "tight-knit community," and working on a farm and at farmer's markets, truly being immersed in it for the last 23 years, community for me is a very real social fabric. There is a spiritual and environmental element of this culture that links my many communities together. It is not easy. Many people can talk all about it but few are doing it. To those who are in the depths in this work, I lift my hat to you. For those about to embark on the journey, may it feed your soul. I am blessed to have so many mentors, elders and teachers inspiring and influencing me in my journey of seeking out my pack. My tribe. There are many. 

Salsa dancing after a day of hard work.

Reminiscing after dinner about where we set our bar and why. Self love. Gratitude. Sharing. 

Doing dishes after dinner.

Relaxing. Reflecting.

I define community differently each time I talk about it; for this blog, I'll commit to this definition . . .

Community: Kinship ties not of blood; a network and support system of mutualistic synergies of self-reliance and dependency co-created by people living autonomously yet together, sharing their social capital and resources (skills, time, labor, food, land, tools, life . . .) based upon mutual agreements, shared values and cosmovisions in a defined geographic scope. It is a rhythmic vibration; a harmonic sharing of old and new stages of growth where we all share the same angles and the same proportions. 


It will be individually and collectively defined differently and or similarly. It is without a doubt, subjective and full of meaning. Mirrors. Enthusiasm. Sharing one's life with others in a meaningful way, being connected to the sources and natural phenomena that sustains oneself. 


A love of life. "A strong feeling that life is unity, in which not only Gods, but also things, which to us are lifeless - have a part, called Mana. This enthusiasm is a sacred force that permeates existence." Tapu, a Maoris word for their responsibility to comply with Mana, a supreme law. Community is Mana.

Photos as objective stories for processes, methods, and techniques.

Looking west from The Hive.

It is insane that I am out here, basically doing an internship / apprenticeship in construction out in the desert. It's now week 8 for me. I am getting to know myself so much better than I did before, and understanding. Seeing. Integrating shadow and light. Becoming acquainted with my own culture, process, and values.

Mike Reynolds: Dogma & Profits

Inspiration.

More Inspiration.

What's left of the Nautilus.

Bottle "wall" section & door at The Hive.

Ceiling over spiral staircase in The Hive.

The title for this blog being, "Photos as objective stories for objects, processes and methods," is all I can give for this extremely subjective experience. Where I am right now is purely subjective and my tendency is to be critical and analytical, and it's too soon. I want to evaluate my experience, and know - as of today - that my experience is to experience and not judge nor evaluate. I will leave the Mesa not knowing how this phase of my life will shape me or my near future . . . or rest of my days.

Water Organizing Module Schematic

W.O.M. team work assembly line.

Grey Water Botanical Cell: The Hive

Marissa plumbing through the stem wall, after jack-hammering through volcanic rock.

Round bottle wall for bathroom; vertical windows & gray water botanical cells.

W.O.M., Grey & Black Botanical Cells, Sewage with Lou.

Bilge pumps for drawing water from botanical cells.

Grey water pump that draws from bilge pumps.

Marissa & Kelley plumbing the bathroom.

Power Organizing Module set up.

Ready to take outside to test.

Electrical outlet

Light switch wired.

Builder's Level

"I'm feeling positive about this measurement." Dave.

Teamwork.

Trusses: Getting ready for the greenhouse.

Can mix matrix.

Kerouac

Brother Brett prepping for cement.

Coleman

Lay plastic, dirt, mesh, water and cement.

Pouring cement in the rain.

Curing for Saltillo tiles.

Backroad to the Castle. No joke.

No doubt about it, I am being challenged. I'm beyond my limits and expanding across the ceaseless horizons, and I'm not broken. I know myself well enough to see that there will be many, many times I will recall images, stories, people, smells and memories of my time here and see what a major impact it made in my life. I will long to be there again. I'll glean from it forever. It nudges me to be as present as possible and appreciate each moment.

Old Press Office with E.V.E. in the background.

Double Rainbow

Press Office / Educational Facility & E.V.E. Photo courtesy: Kristen

Skylight next to my bunk and shelves.

I left the skylight open while we were on the job site. It is now monsoon season. Big storm today. I came home to my thermarest soaked, my two wine boxes of clothing soaking wet, and not only wet but spattered with adobe that had melted off the walls. After laying cement all day, and in the rain, all I wanted to do when I got home was take a shower and put on warm clothes. I came home to this and spent the afternoon drying and washing ALL my clothes. I melted my IGT Stewardess outfit. Bummer.

Wet Clothes. Notice my New Mexico plates?

In closing: guidance given to me. Wisdom and vision apparently have the same Germanic root word, wissen. Wisdom is knowing our experience, knowing our past. Vision is basically seeing in our imagination or in the supernatural. That may not be the perfect recall, but it's basically the gist. In order to know where we're going, we have to know where we've been, know where we are by being in the moment and seeing into . . . what we want to bring into the world. So much of our experience is shaped merely by how we choose to think about it. I'm practicing mental alchemy I see.

I have not been dreaming since I've been here. That's strange to me. 

Blowing you inspiration, vision, joy, health, communication, and of course, love.