University of EarthQuesting for a more comprehensive dream

(Abridged version – omitting illustrations)

Spirit of the Land Foundation

Union of International Associationshttp://www.spiritofland.org/SL_unie.html

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Challenges and Opportunities

Designing an “impossible bridge”Possession of the whole ?Symbolic dimensions

Pattern of meaningful dreamsDesign challengesInitiatives: different ways of knowing

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The “Impossible” Bridgebridging across very great differences

WomenConservativeEnvironmentOld people Indigenous thinkingSecular thinkingWealth

MenLiberal IndustryYoung peopleWestern thinkingSpiritual thinkingPoverty

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Possession of the Whole?learning from a ball game

Gaining possession -- attacking and tacklingKeeping the ball -- “its mine”!Keeping it moving -- “running with the ball”Preventing access of others to the ballPassing the ball -- to my team onlyScoring against the others -- making them loseWhat is a good game?

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Symbolic Dimensions

Architecture buildings institutions and management structures knowledge and information

Image - Dream - StoryPersonal and social dynamicsLearning pathways and representationHonouring traditional patterns

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A Pattern of Meaningful Dreams

A university about the Earth and the Land

A university for People of the Land

A university of planet Earth as a whole

A university made of earth

The Earth as a university of life and learning

An emerging image of a potential university

A framework for the diversity of present dreams

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Dream Pattern 1: A university about the Earth and the Land

Academic study of the Earth and the LandResource managementHealing the LandetcModels: “Rural university”

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Dream Pattern 2: A university for People of the Land

For those people attached to the landFor Aboriginal peopleFor wilderness peopleFor deep ecology peopleetcModels: “Ecostery”

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Dream Pattern 3: A university of planet Earth as a whole

Beyond the “international” university model

Reflecting the diversity of the globeSymbolizing the Earth

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Dream Pattern 4: A university made of earth

Constructed using earthIn a style blending with the earthIntegrated into the local environmentUsing, and developing, local skillsetc

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Dream Pattern 5: The Earth as a university of life and learning

The Earth as the curriculumLiving as learningRelating to knowledge embodied in the Earthetc

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Dream Pattern 6: An emerging image of a potential university

University of Earth as an emerging archetypeRelating to an implicit, potential frameworkEmbodying the future through dreamingEnriching the present with the futureClarifying understanding of a future universityetc

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Dream Pattern 7: A framework for the diversity of present dreams

Developing a holistic conceptual frameworkRelating conflicting dreamsRecognizing mutually irrelevant concernsDiscovering richer frameworksEmbodying polarities and paradoxesetc

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Design Challenges Building the “impossible” bridge

Embodying traditional understandingRelating incompatible understandingsComprehending the architecture of the wholeBlending science and artWealth and PovertyPolitics and PersonalitiesPerfection and ImperfectionWorking with paradoxes

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Design Challenge 1: Embodying traditional understanding

Honouring learning from the pastEmbodying living insightCreating bridges to alternative perspectivesExpressing cultural identity

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Design Challenge 2: Relating incompatible understandings

Recognizing different perspectivesFacilitating transition to other modesWays of understanding such transitions

Dancing between paradigms Tethering for decompression Stepping stones across a river

Bridges between different languages

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Design Challenge 3:Comprehending the architecture of the whole

Allowing for future creativity and insightPragmatics of present opportunityRelating the incompatible appropriatelyLearning from past architectural exercises

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Design Challenge 4:Science and Art

Ready answers may be part of the problem Scientific rationality Artistic elegance

Marrying “Beauty” and the “Beast”Involving both hemispheres in a solution“Music of the hemispheres”

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Design Challenge 5:Wealth and Poverty

Building anew with few resourcesSustaining initiatives with limited resourcesManaging use of funds

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Design Challenge 6:Politics and Personalities

Conflicts and disagreements are in the dreamCreation needs the tension of oppositesLeaders also carry conflictsLeaders are also learnersLeaders in conflict are part of a learning patternReal diversity requires real disagreementDesign is a power play

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Design Challenge 7:Perfection and Imperfection

The ideal does not encompass the realNeed to work with real limitations

resources people knowledge

Harmony of perfection of imperfections

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Design Challenge 8:Working with paradoxes

Part explaining the wholeLocal vs GlobalFrail connections vs Massive contradictionsDancing with paradoxesDesign as a constraint on future freedomRelating antagonistic skills & insights

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Different Ways of Knowing7 complementary initiatives

Lifestyle initiative

Healing initiative

Information initiative

Arts & culture initiative

Adventure initiative

Retreat initiative

Research & educ. initiat.

Bush camp experience

Healing camp

Songlines and computers

Artists’ camp

Adventure camp

Retreat camp

Research & educ. camp

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Initiative 1: LifestyleBush camp experience

Intentional communityEco-tourism facilityEco-villageAlternative lifestyleCultural interaction

Eco-tourismSemi-permanent placesDeveloping friendshipsKeeping tradition aliveAwareness of the landLearning western ways

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Initiative 2: HealingHealing camp

Desert sanatoriumAlternative therapiesCounselling ‘Dry-out’ centreHospice functionCamphill community

Desert healing centreTraditional remediesCounselling ‘Dry out’ centreTerminally illSickness of spirit

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Initiative 3: InformationSonglines and computers

Studying oral cultureAdapting interfacesRepresenting knowledgeVisualization techniquesRural networking

Tradition onto CD & WebAdapting game technologyNew ways of learning Kinship patterns on CDRecording song & danceDeveloping insightArtistic possibilities

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Initiative 4: Art, design & culture Artists’ camp

Encourage art & cultureArtist colony modelDesert architectureArt in contextArt and the landArt and knowing

Art as part of life processSharing approachesArt and kinshipContinuous creationLearning to listen

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Initiative 5: AdventureAdventure camp

Eco-camping toursEco-trekkingGraded experiencesManagement educationSurvival trailsVision quests

Survival togetherRespect for sacrednessReading the landCreating survival songlinesListening to the land

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Initiative 6: RetreatRetreat camp

Desert retreat centreContemplation centreSecular retreatShared or isolatedPersonal growth

Place for peace & quietTime aloneSpiritual renewalDifferent practicesHonouring the landCelebrating kinship

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Initiative 7: Research & education Research & education camp

Relationship to the landWays of knowingDifferent paradigmsResource managementStrategic thinkingMytho-poetic dimensionsCultural boundaries

Ways of knowing the land Indigenous knowledgeEthno-botany studiesEarth architectureCosmology and mythologyLow-resource developmnt.Exploring imaginal realityLanguage teaching

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Implementation Phases

Develop imaginative presentationsInteract with potential partnersBuild in partner insights and modalitiesDevelop multi-thread feasibility studyInitiate design competitionsDevelop and test initiative programs….

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Phase 1: Imaginative presentations

Develop a variety of presentations Make available on websiteProvide for feedbackBuild imaginative appreciation

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Phase 2: Partnership building

Interact with potential partnersIncorporate partner concernsDistinguish variety of partnersDevelop modes of partnershipDevelop modes of sponsorship

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Phase 3: Incorporate diversity

Build in partner insights and modalitiesProtect socio-cultural diversity

complementarity incompatitibility

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Phase 4: Feasibility study

Develop multi-thread feasibility studyBuild in complementary resource structure

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Phase 5: Design competitions

Initiate complementary design competitionsFor a part, or for the wholeFor features

Personnel Financing Management and decision-making Promotion and image building

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Phase 6: Testing programs

Develop and test initiative programs

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Phase 7: ????

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