With energetic permaculture, we are using our finer capabilities at a subtle energy level. It creates empowerment, self-development and consciousness in ones self, the people and their spiritual interactions with the seeds, plants, the Earth and the Cosmos. Sometimes it can be called shamanic agriculture as it is close to what our ancestors were doing. By doing so we are able to create a very intensive connection between all resulting in an energy field that is increasing production, quality of produce, quality of life and making it easier to maintain a more sustainable ecosocial balance. In other words the interactions between people and their creations come more alive. This being supported by the non-physical world. This is especially the case when personal goals, project goals and the higher (divine) goals are linked together.
Everything in the external world is a reflection from one’s inner world. When people are aware of this the farms or designs become an extension of the person or community. This work brings people on to a path of self-development and more awareness. This is the path of ‘lifefullness’. The art is to make such a permaculture design that it brings people to the next step of development. Through gardens one can create the energies that people need. If the design has been made with a higher intention, the output of the process will be at a higher level.
We are energy, our thoughts and feelings are also energy. Our energy is going where our attention lies. We have 7 energy transformation points or chakras. They are linked to our subtle bodies. If you develop your subtle bodies, you are creating and sensing subtle energies or higher vibrations. Through this, you can make contact with seeds, plants, the soil and even the cosmos…
Most of the time I translate the 7 main energies into the elements earth, water, wind and fire. The element ‘earth’ is a kind of stable, calm energy filled with trust and confidence. The element ‘water’ gives flexibility, flowing with any desirable energy around you. The element ‘fire’ gives a kind of inner fire, greater inner dynamic activity and power. The element ‘air’ gives an expanding, overwhelming light sensation in which connection, compassion and new information can easily born.
I learned to work with energies 20 years ago through my ostriches. By time I obtained survival rates of about 95 pct while around 45 pct is the norm on a global scale. My ostriches of one month reached the height of two month old ostriches. The difference is simply being tender, giving love and care. Sometimes more subtle energies were needed to rebalance more complicated situations. In time I was able to rebalance energies on my farm by rebalancing just myself. Of course actions had to follow the energy – matter and mind should work together. My farm became through time a ‘caring farm’ for people with psycho-emotional problems and which was being supported by the government. A garden and places of transformation were created.
During the last years, I am involved with ‘vegetable garden’ - projects in Africa. If I am planting or creating designs on vegetable gardens, my intention, and state of being through the 4 elements have a big impact on the results and further development of the communities in which I am involved. The basic garden design of a spiral has been shown to the people, a picture of the cosmos with the well-know spiral shape of stars, we danced this shape and walked the day after on the spiral. The people were so excited and empowered that it even attracts the other villages around.
A stay of only 5 days and 3 days of preparation in Niger transformed the village in 1,5 years from a food unsecured situation to a village with a nice sufficient production. Men asked to please be part of the farming activities as well, going against their own long tradition of a women only activity. At community level, they were able to get a financial support of about 17.000 euro. I didn’t do so much besides the local empowerment but still stayed in contact with them from time to time. I just wanted to mention briefly the importance and potential of energy-work, consciousness, self-development, empowerment or whatever you may want to call it.
As permaculture designers we have the opportunities and possibilities to really change the world and bring it to a higher and more sustainable physical, emotional and spiritual level.
This paper is a summary of a mini-workshop by Guy Wauters at the International Permaculture Congress, IPC 2011 in Jordan. Author: Guy Wauters, info@stroompunt.be