Starwalkers

Meals are planned, prepared and eaten together. Three meals a day are shared by those at home at the time. Household duties are also shared. Each household has a weekly community gathering to discuss schedules, deal with issues, and make decisions about community living. Playing and having fun together are valued as important aspects of a shared life.

All community decisions are made by consensus. There are ongoing training and discussions to learn more about the consensus process. Time and attention are given to resolving conflicts that arise in the community. We also practice compassionate communication and devote energy to deepening our understanding and skills of getting along with others.

Each participant has regular meetings with an advisor. There are structured weekly individual meetings and also more informal meetings during the week. The advisors come to know the promise of the participants, to draw out from them their gifts, to challenge them to look at all aspects of their lives, to see where they are stuck and where they flourish, and how to promote balance. Guided nature wanderings and other activities that help us to deepen our knowledge of self in relation to the universe are regular events. At no extra charge, participants can be involved in workshops, classes and retreats offered by the Starwalkers program or by others who come to teach at the sites.

How participants spend their time depends on their individual gifts, desires and needs. A participant artist may want to spend a good portion of the day painting. Others may want to become involved with environmental groups in the area, or spend quiet time in nature, or help out in the garden. Some may be interested in organizing a May Day parade, performing street theater, designing cultural activities, setting up a bartering system. Or researching ideas to make the homes more environmentally friendly, building cob hermitages, educating others - there is no end to the creative possibilities – guided by the knowledge of one’s gifts and using them to serve the world.

Participants may join ventures already in progress in the Starwalker community. They can become involved in a learning community for ages 5-20, a CSA garden (Community Supported Agriculture), The Center for Sustainable Living, a weekly peace vigil, wild plant rescue, a dream group, making art and practical items from recycled materials, “Making Your House a Home” (helping people with cleaning, cooking, beautifying), or “Clear and Simple” (helping people to organize and simplify).

Ideally, participants are able to spend whole days involved with the Starwalker community. Some may need to take on a part time job and the community would schedule its time to meet their needs.

Our community differs from many intentional communities in that there are stable residents who own the homes and other residents who are here for a determined time period. When we planned the program, we decided it was more economical and environmental to share the large spaces we already had rather than accumulating additional space. Although the community is designed to be non-hierarchical, there are determined needs of the owners and differences in roles. The permanent residents will clearly define what they need in terms of the care of their homes and belongings.

Learning how to live together all the time. Learning how to put up with others’ idiosyncrasies, how to plan meals around everyone’s tastes, how to appreciate the promise and offerings that each has. Learning compassionate communication and how to resolve differences. Learning to craft decisions that take into account everyone’s needs. That is how we live together.