Leaving in order to arrive
Paradox n. A statement that seems to contradict itself but may nonetheless be true
We have a dream. A seed of an idea that we'd love to nurture into life. We'd like to put down some deep roots for ourselves and our work. One day we'd like to welcome you to The Consent Collective. The place. A place for healing, activism and learning. Think of a hybrid between a retreat centre, a campsite and a small event space. There are trees. There is space. There will of course be a fire circle.
This seedling has taken root in our hearts and minds. We can feel it. We want to step towards it. That's what this trip is all about. We're leaving so that we can arrive. We're uprooting ourselves so that we can bury our roots. We're going on the road, so that we can settle down.
There are lots of things we need to find along the way. There's the physical space and the resources to pay for it, but just as important will be the relationships, skills, experience, and connections that will make the place come to life. So we need to visit other retreat centres, hold circles, and learn a thing or two about compost toilets, planning permission and the art of cabin building.
Most importantly we need to discover the people who are going to be part of this ride with us because this dream is really one about community.
Life generally doesn't knock on the door with ready made answers to your dreams (life is more generous and fun than that). So we're leaving our current (lovely) door and we're heading off. We're travelling with no firm plan but a very clear intention. We're stretching out towards our dream. We hope the end of the trip will be some kind of arrival at the next stage of the process.
What happens between then and now is unknown. But you're welcome along for the ride.
Intention from intent. The original Latin intentus meaning 'a stretching out'
