Wind Spirit intentional community

See visitor page for more information

spiritfamily@hotmail.com

don@windspiritcommunity.org

info@windspiritcommunity.org

Wind Spirit Community is a 12 year old community, which is located partially on the same land as the old Christmas Star Community. Christmas Star was begun in 1979, but was owned by one family. At this time we have 7 community members, although a few of them at this time do not live at the community. Many of the community members are original members of Windspirit. We also have a couple home plots open at this time, which should raise the population of the community back to about 12 people when they are filled. Members range in age from 28-62 years old. During the fall through spring the actual population of the community is usually between 10-30 people when you include the interns and visitors. Summer is usually between 6-12 people. As in most communities the population of Windspirit can change from day to day.

Each member of the community is unique and has different skills. Community members' skills include permaculture and gardening, healing arts, astrology and counseling, graphic design, wood working, building, irrigation systems, music, art, mediation, and community development.

Windspirit uses a consensus minus one voting system in making major decisions during meetings. This means

that our goal is to get full consensus, but decisions can still be passed even if one member votes against the consensus. This is done to make sure that no member can hold the community hostage with stubbornness. In reality we hardly ever use the minus one. Everyone in our meetings gets a chance to express their views and then negotiation takes place to create a consensus solution. On minor issues we use a 75% majority to come to a conclusion. Windspirit usually has one meeting a week during the active season from October through May. In the summer time we have them less frequently. All members of the community, interns, visitors and guests are asked to attend weekly meetings if they are staying at the community. Many announcements for the week are made and it is a good opportunity for visitors and guests to introduce themselves. Twice a year we have a two-day meeting called a bi-annual meeting. Most major decisions are made during these meetings. These meetings are for lease-holding members only.

At Windspirit we place a great importance on the social and spiritual aspects of the community. We feel it is extremely important to have positive social interaction with each other at Windspirit. We place importance on having fun, celebrating, and sharing meaningful dialogue with each other. It is our goal to be as real as we can with each other. To support each other's spiritual growth and healing while, realizing that it is not always easy to be a human on the planet right now. We attempt to not expect perfection from each other, but also encourage each other to grow and learn from our mistakes. We aspire to live in harmony with the earth and be good stewards of the land. We attempt to be as sustainable minded as possible, while also being realistic about what we can afford to do with the resources and help that we have. Ultimately our goal is to be of service and to increase our ability to accept and love each other. This goal is for ourselves, other people at the community, and all of our relations and nature. We are not a cult in any way! We have no leaders and are open to all spiritual practices as long as they do not hurt anyone else. We honor diversity of thought and spiritual practices!

We often have community gatherings to celebrate full and new moons, solstices and equinoxes, holidays, and peoples birthdays. At night we have spontaneous meetings in the community kitchen and around campfires. We have a weekly potluck on Sunday. We also have at least two weekend gatherings a year. Usually one in the fall and another around Easter.

We feel communities that have positive relationships among community members is what makes a community a great experience more than any other aspect. This is what makes Windspirit such a great place. Between the environment and the people, Windspirit is a sanctuary for all who are there. We strive to attain balance in the areas of work and free time and to accomplish and learn a lot while also enjoying the rewards of living on the land with each other.

We encourage good custodianship of the land and its resources to seek beauty and flow in our environment. We seek to develop attunement with all life and remember that we are caretakers of the

land that supports many species of plants, animals, and insects. Biodynamic farming and permaculture are the goals of our ecological practices. Fruit trees and vegetable gardens are 100% organically grown.

Photo's top to bottom

A weekly meeting

Ceremony area

View from parking area

Dirt road coming to WS

Reeds

A green valley, sometimes

Garden meeting

top of the temple

see visitors page for more information

MISSION AND VISION



Refining our vision

We are evolving our commitment to ourselves and the global community. In refining our vision we are encompassing an ecological, spiritual, educational center integrating the principles of body, mind, spirit and earth connections. Continually deepening our connections to spiritual guidance we have been developing our co-creative partnership with nature, ourselves, visitors locally and from around the world.

With the addition of cell phones, satellite internet connection and website, our remote location has better communication resources than ever before. Our community goals include building infrastructure improvements over the next several years. We are in the process of upgrading our camping area’s and within a few years hope to have a larger greenhouse, pool and better guest accommodation for hosting retreats and workshops. Our most recent 2007 improvements include a gift shop and underground sauna, these are aside from all the little projects that happen here every month. We are hoping to have the resources and people power to build an eclectic showcase of green building techniques that harmonize with the desert environment. Along with this we are planning a solar well for our continuing path to sustainability. In the near future we will be setting the ground work to develop a small cottage industry but with the instability of members right now that will be slow to evolve.

In continuing to nurture the community/land trust we established in 1995-96, as a AZ non-profit corporation our ecological goals of preservation of this eco-system sanctuary have grown. Our eco-system now contains over 1500 fruit, nut and native trees, of over 100 varieties. We have been adding many new varieties as well as adding to our overall fruit tree population. We have expanded our gardens with the addition of the circular garden as well as expanding the variety of vegetables and ground fruits. We are committed to 100% organic methods of food production along with continually working to bring WSC more in line with permaculture practices. All this creates a sanctuary for a large bird population as well as many animals some of which our on the endangered list.

With all these goals in mind, Windspirit invites you to come and co-create with us this vision. If our mission resonates with you and you feel inspired please join us. With a spirit of service we are committed to this path. We appreciate your positive reinforcement, thoughts and prayers, physical and monetary help. If you can contribute in any way, please contact us. We now have several types of memberships available, If you are interested in becoming a member or associate member please contact one of us listed below. We will send you a information packet via e-mail or s-mail.

We our continually updating and adding information about our community and information supporting the local and greater global community. If you have any questions or would like more detail you can contact

Community update In this section we give updates about current conditions here at Wind Spirit. July 2008

When you read most community websites you might think they are close to the utopian ideal, glowing descriptions of goals, values, visions that most anyone would desire. We are not immune from some of this either but I will add that when our community is functioning at a high level it can seem like a utopia. I wish it where that way all the time, but that is not the case, the ever changing paradigm, expansion/contraction is the process of life. Who wants to write on their website about some of the not so good experiences we have gone through dealing with people in the past, all we can say is that we get a little better at community living all the time learning form all our past experiences. So as you read through our website keep this in mind and do not build unrealistic expectations only to be disappointed. We like to promote the positive, not be naive about the negatives but to view these issues as growth opportunities on our path.

Our community has been experiencing many changes in the past several years. We have lost two core members, dear friends, Richie and Patricia who have passed on. Three other core members are taking time away, Brian to pursue his doctorate, Kimmy’s music with the band Woodland Realm and Clark whose business is growing at a rate that demands all of his time. Along with all this we have had some issues with a few other community members who have now left the community. There is a small group of us here, 7 right now (March), that number changes often as visitors, and work exchange people come and go. All our housing is filled which leaves mostly RV's, buses and tents for housing at this time. We are discussing building additional housing with what money and energy we have to work with. Living here is on the primitive side so do not expect a resort.

As you read about our community on this website know that our goals, values and vision are intact. At times our moral could be better, our accomplishments have slowed a bit, and the small group living here is at times overwhelmed. Even with these current challenges our commitment is stronger than ever and we are enthusiastically committed to our path.

We encourage people who feel drawn to Wind Spirit to come visit with us and enjoy and experience our community. A sharing mutually beneficial experience is had by most who come here.

Seeking new members/families
At this time we are actively seeking individuals or families to join our community. This is the perfect time for new members to join in, as we are in the midst of change. Come co-create with us on our journey to help nourish people and nourish the earth. Let’s work on diminishing the ego’s hold on us and set our intention to create a "Point Of Light" so needed on this planet.
The serious issues with the environment, peak oil/oil wars, loss of civil liberties via the Patriot Act, dismal financial predictions for the average person/family via Global Economic policies make it a time to come together and seriously consider community in it's many forms.
Information on membership can be obtained from calling or emailing members listed below.

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