New Culture

New Culture comes out of examining every aspect of our existing cultures and experimenting to find out how to create a world based on love and freedom, rather than fear and violence.

In our explorations, we have looked at everything from inner aspects of one’s self-experience to global consequences of our societal choices. Some areas we have focused on include: methods of dealing with painful emotional reactions; developing healthy boundaries; conflict resolution skills; alternative models of family, community and “tribe”; improving communication across gender, ethnic, and racial lines; acceptance of neurodiversity and diverse mental experiences; freedom in sexual and loving connections; reducing consumption and global impact of our lifestyles; living in healthy relationship to children; making sustainable choices around food and diet; organizing to create local, regional, and global change. We look forward to future explorations in these areas and others, such as the aging and dying process; money and our relationships to it; disability and “normality”; social entrepreneurship as a means for social change, etc.

For more information, visit the Network For a New Culture site.

Perspectives We’ve Found Useful in Exploring New Culture

Ask for What You Want

It’s always okay to ask, if it’s okay for the answer to be “no.”

“At Choice”

At camp, you are always AT CHOICE about your participation in any workshop or activity. Honor your sacred intuition and follow your joy and excitement.

Boundaries

Be clear about what you want—it is always okay to say “no” or “stop;” it is always okay to change your mind from “yes” to “no” and from “no” to “yes.” We flit like butterflies; we flow like a river; we go back and forth like ocean waves. Know yourself in every moment.

Co-Creation of Events

We are building a New Culture together. The organizers of this event are volunteers and make no profit from this event—it is a labor of love for us. Please honor us both in our strengths and our imperfections. If you see an area that needs more attention, we invite you to find a loving way to let us know, and to think about how you can act powerfully and gently to make things better.

Curiosity

Wow! Why did that happen? Why did she react that way? Why am I feeling these feelings? A curious person is an empowered person.

Flexibility and Non-Attachment

Attachment to a specific outcome-needing to have things a certain way—is often rooted in old hurts and can cause new ones. In New Culture, we are learning to stay light on our feet and to adapt flexibly to new situations. “Huh—I didn’t get my needs met the way I wanted. How else could I do it? What new amazing thing could happen next?”

Karma Yoga

We work together to serve our community’s physical needs (for beauty and order, good food, healthy spaces) as well as our emotional and spiritual needs. Notice how you feel as you serve—are you joyous? Tired? Happy? Frustrated? What is it like working with others? All feelings are welcome.

Personal Power and Responsibility

Part of New Culture is learning to take 100% responsibility for one’s feelings. A key insight is that difficult emotional issues that arise in everyday life are opportunities for personal growth. The internal conflicts must be resolved before the external stresses can be dealt with. This means that the person with the feelings is the person with the power—the power to look inside, learn and grow. Intimate relationships are a crucible in which people can heal themselves, find joy with each other, and look outward with hope and energy to transforming the larger world. So if feelings are coming up for you, take this as an opportunity to practice what we are learning. Empathy buddies are available to assist you in your journey toward complete power and responsibility.

Transparency and Openness

How do we live well together and co-create joy? How do we maximize our opportunities for getting what we want? When people have healthy boundaries and take responsibility for their own feelings, relationships become easy and joyful. I can honestly share my thoughts and feelings without fear of hurting you, because I know that you will set a boundary if you do not want to participate further. If painful emotions come up, I know that you are not to blame for my pain, and I am not to blame for yours. Instead of keeping silent for fear of hurting each other, we are both freed to explore what would bring us joy.