First Seed a Spirit Seed by Brother Scott

I am a member of an intentional community - a group of people coming together to work and play together, a circle of friendship and support, brother and sisterhood and mutual growth.

Coming together with each other in Intentional Community is becoming more important by the day. If you're curious or called, this book is based on the first year in the lives of a forming group. Why they did it, what they did, how they managed the group meetings and work projects, and what was learned.

THIS IS A MUST READ FOR FORMING COMMUNITIES!

The nature of communities and comings together has changed in the current times with big pieces of land being prohibitively expensive, but even a group made of locals with their own small homesteads like us faces the same human challenges and processes during its formation and life.

The first year is when so many big decisions are made and every decision brings more questions; when we are learning to be with each other, manage our growth, and that we cannot change the world, only ourselves.

Read about our structure, interactions, mistakes and the overall incredible experience of coming together by choice. From the first meeting through our formation and growth into a smooth-running unit, it's all here.

I HAVE DECIDED THIS IS REALLY YOUR BOOK, NOT MINE.

It does no one any service for the book to sit here on my computer. I don't really want a book deal for the same reasons I don't want a record deal... I'd rather put it here in its entirety where it will do some good. So here it is! If after reading it you'd like to donate to the cause to help feed the guy who devoted a year of his life to writing it, there will be a button at the end and an offer of the book as a .pdf file. If not, just pay it forward and help plant good seed in fertile ground.

Please make sure NOT to claim any portion of this as your own work or reproduce it for profit. You may excerpt and print out whatever you like to get it wherever it needs to go, but the work is still copyrighted (©2009 Scott Beckwith). Link to or credit www.brotherscott.com whenever possible, thanks. Other than that I release these words to the wind in hopes they can be seeds in your gardens.

Peace,
Scott
February 2010

First Seed a Spirit Seed ~ A year in the lives of a forming intentional community

For those who aren’t there yet, and those who aren’t here yet.
To Samuel Wolf, firstborn of our circle.

May this work only serve to help unite all called into small circles; from there we will see the bigger circle these links make up and hopefully live accordingly.

Here is what I know.
We are in a state of great change in precarious times.
A diverse group of people came together by choice and grew around our differences.
Others talk and pontificate on their theories... we did it, in 2007, in the middle of Texas.
A tremendous amount of work was done on projects by and for each other.
A lot was learned by the members about running a group and various homestead tasks.
A room full of adults made decisions without anyone getting screwed over or their ass kicked.
Amazing.

With every month that goes by it seems ever more important that that this book be available. I pray as I write this it may serve as seed to bring us closer together in all ways and inspire & feed those so called to help it happen. May it serve you for the highest good.

If some of this is a little strong, forgive me – my purpose is to be real with you about the happenings, not to sugar coat anything. I’m not here to pass out candy, and there is only so much tongue a man can bite before he loses the ability to speak clearly what needs to be said. That said, the strongest word is action and these are the words of those who have done it. In a world of chaff, here is some wheat.

This is the true story of the forming of an Intentional Community – just what that is and how we did it will be addressed; please consider it, however, to be a work of fiction as the creative process has taken its liberties, to protect the innocent, and as real names, dates & places are not important. You know who you are. Don’t you? Also this parallels an awakening within me, so it's as much one man's journey into the circle as a document of this particular group experience. Our group lives separately but much of this will apply to those who group and live together.

Thank you so much for your attention. I hope this helps you along, whoever you are and whatever path you are walking towards the great ocean of love and brotherhood. Wherever and whenever this finds you, I wish you well.

Brother Scott ~ Spring, 2009

Practical notes to the reader: Any quotes or excerpts will have full credits listed at the back of the book. I capitalize some words having to do with Greater Things, including names of the directions and seasons. I capitalize Earth both as the glorious planet and the humble dirt; it's the same "Greater" to me. Sometimes I make words up or form contractions that don't exist in "correct" grammar. I'm not an English major. I like semi-colons and run-on sentences; what can I say, spice is the variety of life. But nowhere in here is there a word pluralized with an apostrophe! Cut that out! "Ho", or "Aho" is Native for "Truth has been spoken", or thereabouts. Their equivalent to "Right on!" This is journalism, not scripture. This work is ©2009 but let's work together to get the pertinent bits where they need to go. Other terms & conditions may apply. Discontinue use if rash persists. Objects in windshield may be closer than they appear.

In early February I was honored to be interviewed by Ryan & Mandy of
www.withinreachmovie.com as they bicycled through on their way to Austin.

I Introductions	go
II Coming Together	go
III Building	go
IV Bonding	go
V Becoming	go
VI Beyond	go
VII Offerings	go
VIII Credits & Resources, links, "donate" button	go