Expectations of Living at Heartwood Guidelines
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Process & Communication
Revised 08/15/23
Heartwood is an intentional community in that we aspire to live according to our Vision, Values and our Interpersonal Agreements. We have each other and 250 acres to care for. Legally the Colorado HOA bylaws do not allow us to make work hours or education around consensus and communication a requirement. It is, however, very important to understand prior to moving here that living at Heartwood does have expectations.
Living in community is most advantageous when one is willing to look at their own habits and triggers in interacting with others and work to enhance their communication skills. At Heartwood the Process and Communication Team offers training in this along with consensus training. Living in a community that promotes consensus requires ongoing inner reflection and a willingness to enhance one’s skill in communicating and understanding others. On occasion there will be a need to have conversations that allows deepening clarity between members. These conversations involve reflecting more deeply than what is considered “normal” in the everyday world.
The benefits received by participating at this level are far beyond what is experienced in everyday life and is what most of us who live at Heartwood have been seeking. It does take commitment and energy to first learn and then make this level of communicating your own. Those of us who are committed to this level of intentional living find the rewards far greater than the demands. And we welcome the opportunity to continue to share this with new members.
Another intention of those of us living here is to care for our land and structures. Currently we do this by member participation. Everyone is asked to contribute 25 hours per quarter. Most of us contribute more than that as it is easy to spend 8 hours per month just attending meetings, cooking/cleaning for meals and taking care of needs of the land.
The benefits of living here are directly related to the level of participation one is willing to contribute.
Revised 08/15/23
Heartwood is an intentional community in that we aspire to live according to our Vision, Values and our Interpersonal Agreements. We have each other and 250 acres to care for. Legally the Colorado HOA bylaws do not allow us to make work hours or education around consensus and communication a requirement. It is, however, very important to understand prior to moving here that living at Heartwood does have expectations.
Living in community is most advantageous when one is willing to look at their own habits and triggers in interacting with others and work to enhance their communication skills. At Heartwood the Process and Communication Team offers training in this along with consensus training. Living in a community that promotes consensus requires ongoing inner reflection and a willingness to enhance one’s skill in communicating and understanding others. On occasion there will be a need to have conversations that allows deepening clarity between members. These conversations involve reflecting more deeply than what is considered “normal” in the everyday world.
The benefits received by participating at this level are far beyond what is experienced in everyday life and is what most of us who live at Heartwood have been seeking. It does take commitment and energy to first learn and then make this level of communicating your own. Those of us who are committed to this level of intentional living find the rewards far greater than the demands. And we welcome the opportunity to continue to share this with new members.
Another intention of those of us living here is to care for our land and structures. Currently we do this by member participation. Everyone is asked to contribute 25 hours per quarter. Most of us contribute more than that as it is easy to spend 8 hours per month just attending meetings, cooking/cleaning for meals and taking care of needs of the land.
The benefits of living here are directly related to the level of participation one is willing to contribute.