We held a permablitz on the 13th, 14th and 15th of december.
Many of us learned to make clay slip that we then stuffed into pallets which can be used for the walls of a building.
We learned how to use sho sugi ban, a japanese technic where we burn, in our case with a blow torch, wooden pallets that we will use for a foundation for a building. After scaping off excess burned material we coated the pallets with used motor oil, again not the traditional japanese technic. They used this technic to preserve wood, lasting sometimes 1000 years.
We also learned to take the bark off of posts that we gleaned from a nearby forrest. These posts were for a roundhouse that we are building.
My hope for the weekend was that we get the roundhouse constructed. Huckleberry who was to show us how he constructed one in 2 hours could not come. Instead he sent a video and parts of his book.
My hope for the permablitz movement we are starting is that people will learn from an emerging paradigm in a present moment to construct the round house and more
see theory https://www.presencing.org/aboutus/theory-u
these methods have been used for millium by indigeneous peoples.
This first of the permablitz did not work as desired. I had done this practice while creating more than 650 gardens in Eugene Oregon. There was no explanation beforehand. People in small groups seemed to rapidly respond to me doing the process with them. The down side was that with no debriefing. Folks grocked that they were involved in something amazing but did not have a language for it. Many people returned again and again to drink from the well of people working and creating together in this way.
Folks had a great time, formed new friendships and many even told of extraordinary creativity. So a taste of what could be did happen.
I have spent the preceding week visiting both folks who attended and other friends who did not. This is where I learned of theory U. The indigenous methods do not require any words or explanations. One friend says though that it does take time. I am reminded of the story of a war council of some plains indians. They spoke around the fire for 18 hours. They were not stragegizing about how to do war. More they were listening to their guides and speaking from their hearts. At some point, an elder stood up. The council was over. It was clear that the speaking had done its work and it was time to begin.
We had a large group with many scattered parts. Now I see we needed maybe to have a preceremony the week before where people had a council to clear themselves to open to a sacred space. Or maybe we just need to start small, most folks to not want to come to ceremonies to make way for the sacred.
So our next permablitz will be open to a small number of women. We hope to be able to form a group that we can then add to.
I feel strongly that our current paradigm of fear is paving the way for us all to become paralyzed noodles where we give away our power to join a glorious future of love.
I and my partners are going forward with our vision to have a practice for action where we are alive in the presence of joy and fulfillment of our needs.
please see permablitz pacific northwest on facebook if you want to learn more.