In the Shadow of the Guru

Posted on November 5, 2019 by

Referring to himself as “the biggest asshole” in the county, a group’s spiritual teacher “told us if we could work with him and learn from him, we could deal with anyone in any situation.”


Missed Opportunity at the Goat Ranch

Posted on October 29, 2019 by
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Ted and Sally were truthful when they said they had no idea what they were doing, either running the business or establishing a community. They didn’t, much to the dismay of their departing managers and volunteers.


Founder’s Syndrome

Posted on October 22, 2019 by

The original founder, visionary, and main public point person for Bellyacres for over a quarter of a century laments that some members came to consider him “the root of all present, past, and future problems in the organization.”


Entrepreneurship and Long-Term Planning in an Income-Sharing Community: A Report from the Frontlines

Posted on October 15, 2019 by

The pace of running a competitive multi-million-dollar business like East Wind Nut Butters can clash with the often slow and seemingly disinterested pace of the community at large.


The Expert

Posted on October 8, 2019 by

Wow! This woman has it all! She’s the answer to so many of our current dilemmas! What could possibly go wrong? A lot.


Village-Building Stumbles: A few of the things Earthaven Ecovillage has gotten wrong

Posted on October 1, 2019 by

Those of us privileged enough to find ourselves in an intentional community often imagine that our environment will be free of the horrors and evils of the world. But alas, we bring it all with us.


Life Together – a video series from the Bruderhof

Posted on September 30, 2019 by

LIFE TOGETHER is a video series created by members of the Bruderhof, a Christian movement of intentional communities. The first six videos in the series are focused on intentional community… Read More

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Idealistic & Spiritual Communities: A Thriving Ecovillage Template

Posted on September 26, 2019 by

Submitted by Pacific Domes — Cristina Chadwick Many people, going about their busy lives, take pride in calling themselves realists. Realists tend to view idealism as impractical – however, in… Read More

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Why Americans of All Ages are Coming Together in Intentional Communities

Posted on September 24, 2019 by
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This article was originally published by TIME and accompanied by a video: https://time.com/intentional-communities/ ‘Everyone Needs Someone Else’ BY JEFFREY KLUGER There’s not a lot to do in Syracuse, N.Y. when… Read More

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Community Communication

Posted on September 24, 2019 by

“Can you put the gas in the truck, please?” A seemingly simple request provides a case study in the importance of precise, clear communication.


The Shadow Side of Community

Posted on September 17, 2019 by

The more friendliness we have towards difficult parts of ourselves and difficult aspects of living in community, the easier it will be to make the journey together.


Notes from the Editor: Exploring the Shadow Side

Posted on September 10, 2019 by

A higher standard for interpersonal accountability and care makes the effect even more devastating when feelings of safety, security, and affection in community turn out to be based on illusion.


Publisher’s Note: Facing the Hard Things

Posted on September 3, 2019 by

In order to create healthy, thriving communities that are replicable models for a cooperative, sustainable, and just human society, we need to talk about what hasn’t worked.


5 Tips on How to Contact an Intentional Community

Posted on September 2, 2019 by

Taking the plunge to visit the community you’ve researched can be scary. Here are five tips to consider when contacting a community for the first time through ic.org. 1. Be… Read More

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The Shadow Side of Cooperation – get your free download!

Posted on August 27, 2019 by

A natural follow-up to our Summer 2019 Sexual Politics issue, Communities #184 (Fall 2019) focuses on The Shadow Side of Cooperation. We explore problems and pitfalls, disappointments and betrayals, unintended outcomes of cooperative attempts ranging in impact from trivial to tragic. Authors’ stories describe the clash of idealism with reality, communication breakdowns, cultural patterning, internalized oppression, rights and boundary violations, founder’s syndrome, business and organizational struggles, power, ego, disempowerment, dysfunction, trauma, and strategies to address these and other challenges. Please join us!


Seeking community? 950 options for you.

Posted on August 21, 2019 by

Are you seeking a community to join?  Well, here’s some good news, we know communities looking for you! 950 intentional communities are open to new members right now. See the full list… Read More


Does Community Heal Trauma, or Reproduce It?: Challenges for abuse survivors living in community

Posted on August 20, 2019 by

Survivors of traumatic abuse face many problems in trying to form and participate in community. Trauma-informed community commits to keeping the survivor safe in wide zones of ambiguity, as challenging as that might be.


The Red Flag of Hypocrisy

Posted on August 18, 2019 by

The most troubling thing isn’t when a charismatic leader uses gangster tactics, but when the people in his office, who sing the songs of love and community values, are complicit.


Do Communities Need Feminist Dissent?

Posted on August 16, 2019 by

In the midst of wider social movements in the areas of gender and sexuality, communities everywhere need a place for feminist dissent and a willingness to engage in difficult conversations. Dissent is part of how we build resilience together.


How to Stop Climate Change and Never Be Lonely Again

Posted on July 30, 2019 by

Empowered, sustainable communities are the antidote to isolation. And they are the pivotal technology that makes renewable energy, essential for reversing climate change, actually renewable.


DVD Clearance: 60%-75% off all documentary DVD’s!

Posted on July 29, 2019 by

We’re clearing out all DVD’s and nearly giving them away for free. All DVD’s are just $8 ~ Get ’em while you can!View more at our Video page.

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Relationships in a Community-Forming Group

Posted on July 23, 2019 by

While trying to start a community with poly-friendly collaborators, two monogamous partners achieve greater clarity in their six-year relationship, and end it.


Centering the Margins: Diversity and Inclusion in Intentional Communities

Posted on July 22, 2019 by

Article originally published at http://cynthiatina.com/ “I came to Camphill thinking I was going to learn about social therapy for people with special needs, but then I learned it’s actually mainstream… Read More


Diggers & Dreamers receives the 2020 Kozeny Communitarian Award

Posted on July 20, 2019 by

The Foundation for Intentional Community (FIC) recognizes Diggers & Dreamers as the 2020 recipient of the Kozeny Communitarian Award, honoring the indomitable spirit of Geoph Kozeny, who devoted his adult… Read More

Filed Under: All Blog Posts, Events, FIC

Pros and Cons of Polyamory

Posted on July 16, 2019 by

Polyamory comes with abundant advantages as well as numerous downsides; a polyamorist weighs the tradeoffs, grieves disappointment and loss, and celebrates love.


I Survived a Dysfunctional Polyamorous Relationship and Learned Some Lessons about Love

Posted on July 9, 2019 by

Love is too strong an instinct to be dismissed, repressed, or restricted, even if it is not returned. The author recovers from a soul-crushing breakup.


The Sting of Discrimination: When Polyamory Is Considered a “Red Flag”

Posted on June 25, 2019 by
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Previously on the path to community acceptance, an applicant experiences for the first time “the direct sting of bigotry, the shock of exclusion based on stereotypes” when her family is denied on the basis of polyamory.


What should you listen to? Podcasts for the community minded.

Posted on June 24, 2019 by

We love podcasts for their ease of listening and multitasking. Get a dose of inspiring stories and current news while making your morning tea, on the way to work, or… Read More


Craft Weaves Together a Community

Posted on June 20, 2019 by

A story by Thumbs Cassidy, a person with a mission (in his case the promotion and construction of yurts) who travels from community to community educating and demonstrating. Excerpt from an… Read More


The Triangle of Consent

Posted on June 18, 2019 by
5 Comments

Recognizing each other’s agency, addressing power imbalances, and communicating with honesty and clarity about sexual desires and boundaries are all essential elements of consent.