Press "Enter" to skip to content

Intentional Communities — 50% Less Hippie Than You’d Expect | Bianca Heyming | TEDxCardiffbytheSea


so I’m gonna put it to you straight the

so I’m gonna put it to you straight the moment somebody learns that I live in an

moment somebody learns that I live in an

moment somebody learns that I live in an intentional community it will be myself

intentional community it will be myself

intentional community it will be myself up to some very interesting questions

up to some very interesting questions

up to some very interesting questions question number one so how many husbands

question number one so how many husbands

question number one so how many husbands do you really have question number two

do you really have question number two

do you really have question number two who here is the leader I’ve even had

who here is the leader I’ve even had

who here is the leader I’ve even had somebody come up to me at one point and

somebody come up to me at one point and

somebody come up to me at one point and say are you able to leave just a blink

say are you able to leave just a blink

say are you able to leave just a blink if you need my help and I’ll come get

if you need my help and I’ll come get

if you need my help and I’ll come get you there’s another impression about

you there’s another impression about

you there’s another impression about somebody who lives in an intentional

somebody who lives in an intentional

somebody who lives in an intentional community and that is that we must be

community and that is that we must be

community and that is that we must be very great at creating bonfires we must

very great at creating bonfires we must

very great at creating bonfires we must all play guitar and we spend most our

all play guitar and we spend most our

all play guitar and we spend most our evenings passing the doji to the left

evenings passing the doji to the left

evenings passing the doji to the left hand side now don’t get me wrong those

hand side now don’t get me wrong those

hand side now don’t get me wrong those communities do exist in fact they’re

communities do exist in fact they’re

communities do exist in fact they’re everywhere

everywhere

everywhere however today I’m wanting to kind of

however today I’m wanting to kind of

however today I’m wanting to kind of deepen and broaden an aspect of living

deepen and broaden an aspect of living

deepen and broaden an aspect of living in an intentional community that perhaps

in an intentional community that perhaps

in an intentional community that perhaps is overseen or even worse it just kind

is overseen or even worse it just kind

is overseen or even worse it just kind of lies right underneath the skirt of

of lies right underneath the skirt of

of lies right underneath the skirt of vulnerability so let me give you a

vulnerability so let me give you a

vulnerability so let me give you a little bit of context January of 2011 10

little bit of context January of 2011 10

little bit of context January of 2011 10 people came together in a San Diego

people came together in a San Diego

people came together in a San Diego living room and asked one very simple

living room and asked one very simple

living room and asked one very simple question what if we raised our kids

question what if we raised our kids

question what if we raised our kids together and I’ll tell you of these 10

together and I’ll tell you of these 10

together and I’ll tell you of these 10 people some of us were friends and some

people some of us were friends and some

people some of us were friends and some of us didn’t even know each other but we

of us didn’t even know each other but we

of us didn’t even know each other but we had two things in common

had two things in common

had two things in common number one we are absolutely 100%

number one we are absolutely 100%

number one we are absolutely 100% committed to improving our mind our body

committed to improving our mind our body

committed to improving our mind our body our spirit and pushing ourselves to

our spirit and pushing ourselves to

our spirit and pushing ourselves to become better humans

become better humans

become better humans and number two we have no issues in

and number two we have no issues in

and number two we have no issues in calling attorneys to write up proper

calling attorneys to write up proper

calling attorneys to write up proper agreements you don’t get those together

agreements you don’t get those together

agreements you don’t get those together too often fast forward that was January

too often fast forward that was January

too often fast forward that was January fast forward by May we moved on to the

fast forward by May we moved on to the

fast forward by May we moved on to the Emerald village nine acres at the time

Emerald village nine acres at the time

Emerald village nine acres at the time ten adults seven or at that time six I

ten adults seven or at that time six I

ten adults seven or at that time six I was actually seven months pregnant so

was actually seven months pregnant so

was actually seven months pregnant so let me put it to you this way

let me put it to you this way

let me put it to you this way today nine acres ten founders seven

today nine acres ten founders seven

today nine acres ten founders seven children to teenagers a number of guests

children to teenagers a number of guests

children to teenagers a number of guests residents chickens goats rabbits Gardens

residents chickens goats rabbits Gardens

residents chickens goats rabbits Gardens food forests and when people come to

food forests and when people come to

food forests and when people come to visit our community they’re like look at

visit our community they’re like look at

visit our community they’re like look at the kids are playing and climbing on

the kids are playing and climbing on

the kids are playing and climbing on trees look daddy gopher snake look daddy

trees look daddy gopher snake look daddy

trees look daddy gopher snake look daddy I’m up in the tree with a bunch of

I’m up in the tree with a bunch of

I’m up in the tree with a bunch of poison ivy or they see our tables and

poison ivy or they see our tables and

poison ivy or they see our tables and they see our tables full of food and and

they see our tables full of food and and

they see our tables full of food and and they see us laughing and they see us

they see us laughing and they see us

they see us laughing and they see us looking on each other and having heart

looking on each other and having heart

looking on each other and having heart heart connection with each other and and

heart connection with each other and and

heart connection with each other and and there is this assumption that we get all

there is this assumption that we get all

there is this assumption that we get all the time or people are like you know

the time or people are like you know

the time or people are like you know what this is how people are supposed to

what this is how people are supposed to

what this is how people are supposed to live and I’m gonna tell you right now

live and I’m gonna tell you right now

live and I’m gonna tell you right now there is something that is not seen the

there is something that is not seen the

there is something that is not seen the reason why I can look at my brothers and

reason why I can look at my brothers and

reason why I can look at my brothers and my sisters with heartfelt love is

my sisters with heartfelt love is

my sisters with heartfelt love is because they have seen me in my absolute

because they have seen me in my absolute

because they have seen me in my absolute worst they have seen me rage they have

worst they have seen me rage they have

worst they have seen me rage they have seen me cry they have witnessed me

seen me cry they have witnessed me

seen me cry they have witnessed me fighting with my husband they have

fighting with my husband they have

fighting with my husband they have witnessed me fail and that’s something

witnessed me fail and that’s something

witnessed me fail and that’s something that we don’t really get in society to

that we don’t really get in society to

that we don’t really get in society to do I am loved because some

do I am loved because some

do I am loved because some buddy has loved me through my ugliness I

buddy has loved me through my ugliness I

buddy has loved me through my ugliness I want you to think about like Facebook

want you to think about like Facebook

want you to think about like Facebook you know how many people look how you

you know how many people look how you

you know how many people look how you know 52 characters or pictures of how

know 52 characters or pictures of how

know 52 characters or pictures of how great my life is imagine if you were to

great my life is imagine if you were to

great my life is imagine if you were to share with people on a daily basis the

share with people on a daily basis the

share with people on a daily basis the truth and that is what living in

truth and that is what living in

truth and that is what living in community is really about you are naked

community is really about you are naked

community is really about you are naked you cannot hide you get truly seen in

you cannot hide you get truly seen in

you cannot hide you get truly seen in all different ways shapes and forms that

all different ways shapes and forms that

all different ways shapes and forms that you show up and I will tell you many

you show up and I will tell you many

you show up and I will tell you many many people choose to walk away because

many people choose to walk away because

many people choose to walk away because it’s just too much

it’s just too much

it’s just too much but I’m wanting to share with you today

but I’m wanting to share with you today

but I’m wanting to share with you today I’m wanting to encourage you to stay not

I’m wanting to encourage you to stay not

I’m wanting to encourage you to stay not in an intentional community if it’s not

in an intentional community if it’s not

in an intentional community if it’s not your thing but I’m wanting you to stay

your thing but I’m wanting you to stay

your thing but I’m wanting you to stay in community and don’t think for one

in community and don’t think for one

in community and don’t think for one moment that just because you don’t live

moment that just because you don’t live

moment that just because you don’t live in an intentional community that you

in an intentional community that you

in an intentional community that you were void of community I mean look

were void of community I mean look

were void of community I mean look around this room look at your churches

around this room look at your churches

around this room look at your churches look at your places of work there is

look at your places of work there is

look at your places of work there is community there the only difference is

community there the only difference is

community there the only difference is that we may choose to unplug from that

that we may choose to unplug from that

that we may choose to unplug from that community go home check out and then

community go home check out and then

community go home check out and then check in fresh cup of coffee hi Bob

check in fresh cup of coffee hi Bob

check in fresh cup of coffee hi Bob happy-go-lucky but what if we pushed

happy-go-lucky but what if we pushed

happy-go-lucky but what if we pushed ourselves to have a more intimate

ourselves to have a more intimate

ourselves to have a more intimate relationship so one thing that we’ve had

relationship so one thing that we’ve had

relationship so one thing that we’ve had to do at the Emerald village is we’ve

to do at the Emerald village is we’ve

to do at the Emerald village is we’ve had to bring on mediation on a quarterly

had to bring on mediation on a quarterly

had to bring on mediation on a quarterly basis four times a year we invite

basis four times a year we invite

basis four times a year we invite somebody to come and uncover our

somebody to come and uncover our

somebody to come and uncover our even if we don’t know it’s there we have

even if we don’t know it’s there we have

even if we don’t know it’s there we have to take personal ownership over our

to take personal ownership over our

to take personal ownership over our relations we’ve had people come in with

relations we’ve had people come in with

relations we’ve had people come in with you know nonviolent communication we’ve

you know nonviolent communication we’ve

you know nonviolent communication we’ve had family marriage therapists

had family marriage therapists

had family marriage therapists we’ve had people come and teach us

we’ve had people come and teach us

we’ve had people come and teach us holographic models we’ve had people come

holographic models we’ve had people come

holographic models we’ve had people come in and teach us the Enneagram we’ve had

in and teach us the Enneagram we’ve had

in and teach us the Enneagram we’ve had people come in and we’re constantly

people come in and we’re constantly

people come in and we’re constantly constantly giving and giving and giving

constantly giving and giving and giving

constantly giving and giving and giving to ourselves so that we can show up as

to ourselves so that we can show up as

to ourselves so that we can show up as better people in our community and that

better people in our community and that

better people in our community and that is something that every person even if

is something that every person even if

is something that every person even if you don’t live in a community you have

you don’t live in a community you have

you don’t live in a community you have to do why because we live in a world

to do why because we live in a world

to do why because we live in a world right now where we can say things like

right now where we can say things like

right now where we can say things like friend unfriend mmm

friend unfriend mmm

friend unfriend mmm swipe I’m done follow and follow black

swipe I’m done follow and follow black

swipe I’m done follow and follow black and white it’s superficial and there’s

and white it’s superficial and there’s

and white it’s superficial and there’s somebody and I’m not somebody there’s

somebody and I’m not somebody there’s

somebody and I’m not somebody there’s something that is greatly impacted by

something that is greatly impacted by

something that is greatly impacted by that and that is our future so at the

that and that is our future so at the

that and that is our future so at the Emerald village and we’ve started to

Emerald village and we’ve started to

Emerald village and we’ve started to invite our children the age from 1 you

invite our children the age from 1 you

invite our children the age from 1 you know all the way up to 17 and we’ve

know all the way up to 17 and we’ve

know all the way up to 17 and we’ve invited our children to sit and counsel

invited our children to sit and counsel

invited our children to sit and counsel with us and I was thinking about this

with us and I was thinking about this

with us and I was thinking about this this past week the number two cause of

this past week the number two cause of

this past week the number two cause of death and teenagers is suicide and I’m

death and teenagers is suicide and I’m

death and teenagers is suicide and I’m thinking how alone they must feel how

thinking how alone they must feel how

thinking how alone they must feel how unseen they may be and I’m wanting to

unseen they may be and I’m wanting to

unseen they may be and I’m wanting to encourage us to pull up more tools of

encourage us to pull up more tools of

encourage us to pull up more tools of communication so that when we see a

communication so that when we see a

communication so that when we see a teenager or a child that is sitting

teenager or a child that is sitting

teenager or a child that is sitting alone that our antennas come up and we

alone that our antennas come up and we

alone that our antennas come up and we can approach them and not try to fix

can approach them and not try to fix

can approach them and not try to fix them that’s the last thing teenagers 1

them that’s the last thing teenagers 1

them that’s the last thing teenagers 1 don’t try to fix them we have to push

don’t try to fix them we have to push

don’t try to fix them we have to push ourselves even further we have to be

ourselves even further we have to be

ourselves even further we have to be able to truly hear we have to hear from

able to truly hear we have to hear from

able to truly hear we have to hear from our heart space not just what they say

our heart space not just what they say

our heart space not just what they say but really have empathy for what it is

but really have empathy for what it is

but really have empathy for what it is that they’re going through and I think

that they’re going through and I think

that they’re going through and I think of the teenagers at our community and I

of the teenagers at our community and I

of the teenagers at our community and I remember seeing them when they’re you

remember seeing them when they’re you

remember seeing them when they’re you know just coming into teenagehood and as

know just coming into teenagehood and as

know just coming into teenagehood and as they’re growing into young adults and

they’re growing into young adults and

they’re growing into young adults and something really beautiful

something really beautiful

something really beautiful is happening because they can come

is happening because they can come

is happening because they can come walking into my house because they know

walking into my house because they know

walking into my house because they know they that they can talk to me and they

they that they can talk to me and they

they that they can talk to me and they be like hey mama B put everything down

be like hey mama B put everything down

be like hey mama B put everything down what’s going on buddy well you know I

what’s going on buddy well you know I

what’s going on buddy well you know I did this and I did that yeah what was

did this and I did that yeah what was

did this and I did that yeah what was your favorite part

your favorite part

your favorite part what were you challenged by I don’t ask

what were you challenged by I don’t ask

what were you challenged by I don’t ask them anymore how was your day what did

them anymore how was your day what did

them anymore how was your day what did you like I asked them more internalizing

you like I asked them more internalizing

you like I asked them more internalizing questions so they can grow and become

questions so they can grow and become

questions so they can grow and become stronger people so that they learn to

stronger people so that they learn to

stronger people so that they learn to understand themselves even more what

understand themselves even more what

understand themselves even more what their values are and what their passions

their values are and what their passions

their values are and what their passions are and so that I can bear witness to

are and so that I can bear witness to

are and so that I can bear witness to them and I’ve been so fortunate for that

them and I’ve been so fortunate for that

them and I’ve been so fortunate for that to also have been given to me living in

to also have been given to me living in

to also have been given to me living in community living in an intentional

community living in an intentional

community living in an intentional community creates space for fear creates

community creates space for fear creates

community creates space for fear creates space for anger create space for

space for anger create space for

space for anger create space for vulnerability for myself my parents my

vulnerability for myself my parents my

vulnerability for myself my parents my father lost his father one day six days

father lost his father one day six days

father lost his father one day six days later my mother lost her mother and I

later my mother lost her mother and I

later my mother lost her mother and I took off to their house and I held space

took off to their house and I held space

took off to their house and I held space for my parents for days talking with

for my parents for days talking with

for my parents for days talking with them telling stories being there for

them telling stories being there for

them telling stories being there for them making sure they had food making

them making sure they had food making

them making sure they had food making sure my mom was okay well grandmother

sure my mom was okay well grandmother

sure my mom was okay well grandmother was her heart her heart and when I

was her heart her heart and when I

was her heart her heart and when I finally came home after being away for

finally came home after being away for

finally came home after being away for days I got a knock on the door and it

days I got a knock on the door and it

days I got a knock on the door and it was one of my community mates Lauren she

was one of my community mates Lauren she

was one of my community mates Lauren she says hey the women are gonna come

says hey the women are gonna come

says hey the women are gonna come together tonight we’re gonna go out to

together tonight we’re gonna go out to

together tonight we’re gonna go out to the nest she come Oh Lauren I’m so tired

the nest she come Oh Lauren I’m so tired

the nest she come Oh Lauren I’m so tired right now I’m just exhausted she’s like

right now I’m just exhausted she’s like

right now I’m just exhausted she’s like no you should come and so I’m like okay

no you should come and so I’m like okay

no you should come and so I’m like okay and then one of those community

and then one of those community

and then one of those community commitments you know

we have a lot of meetings so anyway I

we have a lot of meetings so anyway I walk out to the nest ness is this big

walk out to the nest ness is this big

walk out to the nest ness is this big you know beautiful wooden nest and we

you know beautiful wooden nest and we

you know beautiful wooden nest and we have a what is transformed into a vagina

have a what is transformed into a vagina

have a what is transformed into a vagina if I group it right in the middle it’s

if I group it right in the middle it’s

if I group it right in the middle it’s the perfect place for women to gather

the perfect place for women to gather

the perfect place for women to gather and as I came up all the women at Evo

and as I came up all the women at Evo

and as I came up all the women at Evo all the women were there they’re already

all the women were there they’re already

all the women were there they’re already there a fire is going on I was like

there a fire is going on I was like

there a fire is going on I was like frickin time wrong I hate being late and

frickin time wrong I hate being late and

frickin time wrong I hate being late and I walk in and they’re all looking at me

and so they said Bianca well after

and so they said Bianca well after smudging me a hundred enter into the

smudging me a hundred enter into the

smudging me a hundred enter into the enter into the nest and they said to me

enter into the nest and they said to me

enter into the nest and they said to me Bianca how are you ah girls I’m so tired

Bianca how are you ah girls I’m so tired

Bianca how are you ah girls I’m so tired I’m fine I’m just been there for my

I’m fine I’m just been there for my

I’m fine I’m just been there for my parents and you know things are this

parents and you know things are this

parents and you know things are this things are that and they’re just staring

things are that and they’re just staring

things are that and they’re just staring at me and they’re like I’m sorry how are

at me and they’re like I’m sorry how are

at me and they’re like I’m sorry how are you and it just I just came I’ve never

you and it just I just came I’ve never

you and it just I just came I’ve never been granted permission to experience

been granted permission to experience

been granted permission to experience suffering my own suffering it was one of

suffering my own suffering it was one of

suffering my own suffering it was one of the most profound experiences of living

the most profound experiences of living

the most profound experiences of living in community and it’s scary oh god you

in community and it’s scary oh god you

in community and it’s scary oh god you guys he’s so scary he’s so scary cuz

guys he’s so scary he’s so scary cuz

guys he’s so scary he’s so scary cuz sometimes you feel like you’re in a

sometimes you feel like you’re in a

sometimes you feel like you’re in a consistent intervention program I kid

consistent intervention program I kid

consistent intervention program I kid you not and so I wanted to to walk away

you not and so I wanted to to walk away

you not and so I wanted to to walk away with these like tangibles I want us to

with these like tangibles I want us to

with these like tangibles I want us to walk away and I want you to make a

walk away and I want you to make a

walk away and I want you to make a commitment to learning different

commitment to learning different

commitment to learning different techniques

techniques

techniques of real communication the way we

of real communication the way we

of real communication the way we communicate with our friends with our

communicate with our friends with our

communicate with our friends with our relatives and very much so with our

relatives and very much so with our

relatives and very much so with our children is the way that we leave a

children is the way that we leave a

children is the way that we leave a legacy of love is the way that we leave

legacy of love is the way that we leave

legacy of love is the way that we leave a legacy of a self respect and self joy

a legacy of a self respect and self joy

a legacy of a self respect and self joy we let them know that they are seen and

we let them know that they are seen and

we let them know that they are seen and most importantly that they are really

most importantly that they are really

most importantly that they are really really heard we have to do that as a

really heard we have to do that as a

really heard we have to do that as a community donor the Ojai foundation go

community donor the Ojai foundation go

community donor the Ojai foundation go to your seminars go to you know Tony

to your seminars go to you know Tony

to your seminars go to you know Tony Robbins go to wherever it is wherever it

Robbins go to wherever it is wherever it

Robbins go to wherever it is wherever it is because the better that we have

is because the better that we have

is because the better that we have community the better communities we have

community the better communities we have

community the better communities we have a reflection of how much better our

a reflection of how much better our

a reflection of how much better our communication is now living in can be

communication is now living in can be

communication is now living in can be living in an intentional community it’s

living in an intentional community it’s

living in an intentional community it’s very challenging it’s a human dynamic

very challenging it’s a human dynamic

very challenging it’s a human dynamic it’s not all you know community dinners

it’s not all you know community dinners

it’s not all you know community dinners and you know throwing frisbees and you

and you know throwing frisbees and you

and you know throwing frisbees and you know kumbaya you know it’s real it’s

know kumbaya you know it’s real it’s

know kumbaya you know it’s real it’s really real I really hope that one day

really real I really hope that one day

really real I really hope that one day all of us will be able to say I know

all of us will be able to say I know

all of us will be able to say I know that I am loved by so-and-so

that I am loved by so-and-so

that I am loved by so-and-so because they have seen me at my absolute

because they have seen me at my absolute

because they have seen me at my absolute worst more often than once more often

worst more often than once more often

worst more often than once more often than twice and they still love me

than twice and they still love me

than twice and they still love me I am truly seen

”

Be First to Comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *