PTEV Mandala

Introduction

We were introduced to the concept of the mandala process for identifying goals through a workshop led by Robina McCurdy, co-founder of a community in New Zealand, who works internationally in community development and permaculture design. 

A mandala is a circular design which, in this context, is a tool for diagramming an intentional community's core values, principles and attitudes, and activities.  It is our hope that by agreeing on our core values, our principles and attitudes will naturally grow out of those core values.  And likewise, our activities and structures on the land will be in alignment with our principles and attitudes in each topic area.   

When you click on each section of the graphic below, you will see the concepts we have discussed in each topic area and at each level, with items on which we have reached consensus marked with an asterisk.  We have found this process to be a way of grounding ourselves in our core values and defining our principles and attitudes as we plan our specific activities and structures on the land.  We have found it relatively easy to agree on the core values, while it has been more challenging to translate those core values into principles we can articulate and specific activities we can agree to carry out.  When questions arise around a controversial or confusing topic, it has proved to be very helpful to return to the mandala for guidance. 


Click on each section of the Mandala to view the items that PTEV members have consensed on.

View PDF format of all the tables of consensed topics: Click Here to download it.

PROCESS:
ACTIVITIES
*asterisk items consensed:  

Seek consensus

Facilitate

Resolve conflicts using conflict resolution tools such as NVC, etc.

Create celebrations and rituals

Create sacred space

Plan and carry out community-building activities

Promote the use of the mandala for goal-setting

 

PROCESS:
PRINCIPLES & ATTITUDES
*asterisk items consensed:  

Honest, compassionate and direct communication *

Inclusive decision-making *

Maintain alignment with core values *

Nurture the spiritual dimension *

Stimulate community interdependence *

Address all conflicts

ECONOMICS:
ACTIVITIES
*asterisk items consensed:  

Have at least 2 rentals *

Apply for grants *

Internal loan fund *

Use the Ecological Footprint as one tool to measure group consumption

Use Operation and Maintenance (O&M) costs as part of true cost projections

Apply for grants, donations, subsidies, including for low-income access *

Create not-for profit entities *

Economic/class diversity trainings *

Car sharing *

Develop community businesses to generate income *

Hold educational activities as a community business *

Develop internal economy, e.g., barter, Ecovillage dollars, hiring internally *

Develop work equity system/policy as one tool for community building to address low-resource access *

Shared ownership of land and buildings *

Limited equity ownership *

Research other models of ownership, entrepreneurship and loans *

Membership agreement specifies minimum required levels of participation *

Sliding scale for assessments based, in part, on number of adults and residence size*

Sliding scale for assessments based, in part, on need and ability to pay pending availability of funds*

 

COMMUNITY BUILDINGS:
STRUCTURES & ACTIVITIES
*asterisk items consensed:  

Meditation Playhouse – All Season *

Commercial Kitchen, Certifiable Option *

Community Woodshop *

Bathhouse open for all members *

Barn for Ag *

Age-Appropriate Indoor and Outdoor Youth Spaces for Toddlers through Teens *

Covered Space for Community Resource Storage (building materials, etc.) *

Classroom/Education Space *

Outdoor kitchen

Central place for recycling, reusing, and trash

Green houses

Garden shed

Teen residential house

Office space

Fire circle

Sacred space, roofed but semi-open

Places for quiet spiritual practice (meditation, yoga, dance…)

All weather sacred space for 50

Rentable creative arts space for music, dance, etc.

Multiple-purpose spaces for eating, meeting, public interface.

Places for eating and gathering all together *

Places that promote hobbies, crafts, do-it-yourself and community cottage industries *

Storage places for food, equipment, tools & limited space for personal belongings *

Public interface facilities *

Facilities for overnight guests *

In-ground cellars, food storage *

Common laundry facilities for all, excepting for special needs *

A mechanical repair facility for bikes, cars and other equipment and for R & D *

Small retreat hut for adults *

 
ECONOMICS:
PRINCIPLES & ATTITUDES*
*all items consensed:  

Legal feasibility 

Openness to creative financing 

Protection of individual equity 

Low income access 

Permaculture principles 

Economic viability 

Uphold the dignity of every member 

Positive model for greater society 

Supportive of changing personal and family needs 

Sustainable over many generations 

Openness to creative financing of purchases 

Fosters personal growth 

Embracing paradigm shift toward interdependence 

Balancing community needs and individual needs 

Equal voice for owner members 

Think globally, act locally 

Fair trade principles 

 
HOUSING:
ACTIVITIES*
*all items consensed:  
Beautiful and comfortable homes 

Emphasize on-site/local energy sources 

Variety of materials and techniques 

Sustainability change agents 

Place inviting gathering places throughout the land 

Create an R&D team to acquire knowledge and skills in utilizing local building materials 

Collect rainwater and sunlight energy 

Reuse wastewater on site 

Measure our consumption of electricity 

Retrofit current buildings to conserve energy 

Houses will have a planned relationship with pathways, gathering places and neighbors 

Adopt a plan that specifies maximum size of footprints per dwelling type 

Option for members to build homes, within guidelines 

Option of common designs for building components 

HOUSING:
PRINCIPLES & ATTITUDES
*Limiting personal profit

*Adaptable/flexible design

*Energy-efficient homes

*Favor natural and local materials

*Healthy homes

*Honor needs for privacy

*Enhances interaction and connection

*Unified aesthetic design elements

*Permaculture design principles

*Willingness to invest in alternative ideas

*Harmonious with the landscape/environment

*Small is beautiful (size does matter)

*Appropriate use of resources

*“Reduce, reuse & recycle”

*Access for people with low financial resources

*Encourage opportunities for community built residences
SITE DESIGN:
ACTIVITIES & STRUCTURES
(GENERAL SITE DESIGN only some consensed*)

Three acres of active agriculture *

Edible landscaping

Animal husbandry – bees, chickens, etc.

Greenhouses and plant nurseries

Areas for growing useful raw materials – bamboo, etc.

Spaces that are warm, welcoming, and inspiring

Intersecting pathways that facilitate human encounters

Special nooks that promote intimate human interaction

Sacred spaces

Pervious, peripheral parking places for residents and guests

Passive solar energy collection for buildings*

Onsite active energy generation – wind, solar

Rainwater collection, storage and distribution systems*

Living systems for gray and black water treatment

Composting toilets

Water storage systems

Wildlife ponds

 
COMMUNITY BUILDINGS:
PRINCIPLES & ATTITUDES*
*all items consensed:  
Sharing resources, space and costs

Sustainable technology

Frugality

Promote social connection

Integration with land/nature

Efficient design

Healthy buildings

Promote spiritual engagement

Creative and beautiful design

Life-cycle consideration and costing

Adaptability for future uses

Accessibility for all

Permaculture principles

Low-impact techniques
AGRICULTURE:
ACTIVITIES*
*all items consensed:

Agriculture-based trade

Humane treatment of creatures

Beautiful landscapes

Sharing work

Cooperate with each other, other ecovillages, other farms

Help individuals develop skills and talents

Creative use of waste

Foster interdependence with and understanding of Nature
AGRICULTURE:
PRINCIPLES & ATTITUDES*
*all items consensed:

Cooperation

Mutual indebtedness

Education of selves and others

Appropriate specialization

Abundance

Fertility

Reverence for all of Earth’s elements: soil, water, sun, air, etc.

Reciprocity with Nature

Honoring diverse contributions

Seventh Generation thinking

Gratitude

Promote health of ourselves and of the Earth

Kindness to all kinds

Appreciate beauty

Optimal self sufficiency

Emphasize local production and consumption

 

 
CORE VALUES*
*all items consensed:

Balance

Beauty

Compassion

Courage

Creativity

Curiosity
Empathy Equality Flexibility

Forgiveness

Generosity

 Harmony

Health

Honesty

Humility

Humor

Inclusiveness

Inspiration

Integrity

Interdependence (on each other and the land)

Joy

Justice

Respect

Responsibility

Reverence

Simplicity/Frugality

Spirituality

Sustainability

Trust

Wisdom
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