University of EarthQuesting for a more comprehensive dream
(Unabridged version – including illustrations)
Spirit of the Land Foundation
Union of International Associationshttp://www.spiritofland.org/SL_unie.html
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The “Impossible” Bridgebridging across very great differences
WomenConservativeEnvironmentOld people Indigenous thinkingSecular thinkingWealth
MenLiberal IndustryYoung peopleWestern thinkingSpiritual thinkingPoverty
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Possession of the Whole?learning from a ball game
Gaining possession -- attacking and tacklingKeeping the ball -- “its mine”!Keeping it moving -- “running with the ball”Preventing access of others to the ballPassing the ball -- to my team onlyScoring against the others -- making them loseWhat is a good game?
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Two hands to support the whole?
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One place? -- Small paths?
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More places? -- Few paths?
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Many places? -- One path?
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Many places? -- Many paths?
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Aboriginal Songlines of Australia ?
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Aboriginal Songlines of Australia ?
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One country -- many songlines
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Many countries -- Songlines between
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Two hands to support the whole?
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Symbolic Dimensions
Architecture buildings institutions and management structures knowledge and information
Image - Dream - StoryPersonal and social dynamicsLearning pathways and representationHonouring traditional patterns
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A Pattern of Meaningful Dreams
A university about the Earth and the Land
A university for People of the Land
A university of planet Earth as a whole
A university made of earth
The Earth as a university of life and learning
An emerging image of a potential university
A framework for the diversity of present dreams
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Dream Pattern 1: A university about the Earth and the Land
Academic study of the Earth and the LandResource managementHealing the LandetcModels: “Rural university”
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Dream Pattern 2: A university for People of the Land
For those people attached to the landFor Aboriginal peopleFor wilderness peopleFor deep ecology peopleetcModels: “Ecostery”
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Dream Pattern 3: A university of planet Earth as a whole
Beyond the “international” university model
Reflecting the diversity of the globeSymbolizing the Earth
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Dream Pattern 4: A university made of earth
Constructed using earthIn a style blending with the earthIntegrated into the local environmentUsing, and developing, local skillsetc
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Dream Pattern 5: The Earth as a university of life and learning
The Earth as the curriculumLiving as learningRelating to knowledge embodied in the Earthetc
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Dream Pattern 6: An emerging image of a potential university
University of Earth as an emerging archetypeRelating to an implicit, potential frameworkEmbodying the future through dreamingEnriching the present with the futureClarifying understanding of a future universityetc
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Dream Pattern 7: A framework for the diversity of present dreams
Developing a holistic conceptual frameworkRelating conflicting dreamsRecognizing mutually irrelevant concernsDiscovering richer frameworksEmbodying polarities and paradoxesetc
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Aboriginal Kinship Model (draft)return over 4 generations
Great-grandfather
Grandfather
Father
Son
Grandfather Grandson Mama Katja Kuta Malanypa G-gr.father G.gr.son
Brother BrotherSonFatherTjamu Pakali Katja Mama
(Son) (Father)
South (“Us”)
Nganampamiri
North (“Them”)TjanampamiriInyurpa
By Lee Brady & Diana James
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Design Challenges Building the “impossible” bridge
Embodying traditional understandingRelating incompatible understandingsComprehending the architecture of the wholeBlending science and artWealth and PovertyPolitics and PersonalitiesPerfection and ImperfectionWorking with paradoxes
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Design Challenge 1: Embodying traditional understanding
Honouring learning from the pastEmbodying living insightCreating bridges to alternative perspectivesExpressing cultural identity
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Design Challenge 2: Relating incompatible understandings
Recognizing different perspectivesFacilitating transition to other modesWays of understanding such transitions
Dancing between paradigms Tethering for decompression Stepping stones across a river
Bridges between different languages
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Using differences creatively
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Design Challenge 3:Comprehending the architecture of the whole
Allowing for future creativity and insightPragmatics of present opportunityRelating the incompatible appropriatelyLearning from past architectural exercises
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Relating differences
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Design Challenge 4:Science and Art
Ready answers may be part of the problem Scientific rationality Artistic elegance
Marrying “Beauty” and the “Beast”Involving both hemispheres in a solution“Music of the hemispheres”
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Relating differences
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Design Challenge 5:Wealth and Poverty
Building anew with few resourcesSustaining initiatives with limited resourcesManaging use of funds
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Relating differences
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Design Challenge 6:Politics and Personalities
Conflicts and disagreements are in the dreamCreation needs the tension of oppositesLeaders also carry conflictsLeaders are also learnersLeaders in conflict are part of a learning patternReal diversity requires real disagreementDesign is a power play
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New structures from differences
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Design Challenge 7:Perfection and Imperfection
The ideal does not encompass the realNeed to work with real limitations
resources people knowledge
Harmony of perfection of imperfections
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Design Challenge 8:Working with paradoxes
Part explaining the wholeLocal vs GlobalFrail connections vs Massive contradictionsDancing with paradoxesDesign as a constraint on future freedomRelating antagonistic skills & insights
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Different Ways of Knowing7 complementary initiatives
Lifestyle initiative
Healing initiative
Information initiative
Arts & culture initiative
Adventure initiative
Retreat initiative
Research & educ. initiat.
Bush camp experience
Healing camp
Songlines and computers
Artists’ camp
Adventure camp
Retreat camp
Research & educ. camp
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Lifestyle initiativeBush camp experience
Intentional communityEco-tourism facilityEco-villageAlternative lifestyleCultural interaction
Eco-tourismSemi-permanent placesDeveloping friendshipsKeeping tradition aliveAwareness of the landLearning western ways
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Healing initiativeHealing camp
Desert sanatoriumAlternative therapiesCounselling ‘Dry-out’ centreHospice functionCamphill community
Desert healing centreTraditional remediesCounselling ‘Dry out’ centreTerminally illSickness of spirit
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Information initiativeSonglines and computers
Studying oral cultureAdapting interfacesRepresenting knowledgeVisualization techniquesRural networking
Tradition onto CD & WebAdapting game technologyNew ways of learning Kinship patterns on CDRecording song & danceDeveloping insightArtistic possibilities
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Art, design and culture initiativeArtists’ camp
Encourage art & cultureArtist colony modelDesert architectureArt in contextArt and the landArt and knowing
Art as part of life processSharing approachesArt and kinshipContinuous creationLearning to listen
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Adventure initiativeAdventure camp
Eco-camping toursEco-trekkingGraded experiencesManagement educationSurvival trailsVision quests
Survival togetherRespect for sacrednessReading the landCreating survival songlinesListening to the land
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Retreat initiativeRetreat camp
Desert retreat centreContemplation centreSecular retreatShared or isolatedPersonal growth
Place for peace & quietTime aloneSpiritual renewalDifferent practicesHonouring the landCelebrating kinship
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Research & education initiativeResearch & education camp
Relationship to the landWays of knowingDifferent paradigmsResource managementStrategic thinkingMytho-poetic dimensionsCultural boundaries
Ways of knowing the land Indigenous knowledgeEthno-botany studiesEarth architectureCosmology and mythologyLow-resource developmnt.Exploring imaginal realityLanguage teaching
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