Remember this?

Yesterday evening was the long-awaiting event where I spoke in public about Green Acres Village. As I introduced myself to those present (about 25 people), only a few of whom I actually know, I mentioned that I’ve done lots of presentations of various kinds to groups, large and small, all over this country, but never locally. So I never had to worry about blowback! That got the first laugh.

Another laugh erupted when I mentioned that, in the ’80s, I was a violent peace activist. . . That, in fact, it was this experience, and my shuddering recognition of it, that led to my current philosophy of life, which includes embracing the dynamic contrast within any contradiction, rather than identifying with one end and polarizing against it’s “opposite.”

All in all, I spoke for 30 minutes, and then another hour or so was taken up by literally everyone there passing the mike to each other, as each one intensely both spoke what was on his or her mind and listened to one another. Nobody feared censorship, even normally shy ones joined in.

During my talk I had focused on the world view which generated Green Acres Village, and that is my own conscious embrace of paradox or polarity, contradiction as the creative driver of whatever comes next.

I mentioned there what happened during a lecture on Boolean logic, given by a professor back in graduate school. I, still innocent, had shyly asked: “But what’s wrong with contradiction?” And he stood there, his face growing red, and finally sputtered, “Because from a contradiction, anything follows, ANYTHING!’

Yes, ANYTHING! The space between two poles is not neutral; it is, in fact, dynamic, a pulsing presence, the growing point that each of us can learn to inhabit moment by moment our whole lives long.

So yes. Let us cultivate contradiction; appreciate how it opens us to new possibilities. Then, take a risk, experiment. See what happens next. And above all, learn from mistakes!

This way we break through the too tight box of cultural expectations.

This way, we COME ALIVE.

 

The main “contradiction” that ignited the group last night was that between Individual and Community, the one that has spurred the growth and evolution of Green Acres Village. For too much emphasis on  Individual freedom, and the result is anarchy, chaos, greed; and yet, too much emphasis on safety in Community, and the result is cult, hive mind. Both poles are necessary. Both feed off each other.

Here’s part of a post Karen Lynn Burr, of Indy Holistic Living put up on facebook this morning:

The four people at the top right are the all Green Acres Village gals: Marita, myself, Elisha, and Carisa.

Here’s some initial comments on that facebook page:

I’ll end this with a quote from a long ago essay that I think I posted recently, but it belongs here as well.