In May of 2007, we attended the Lightning in a Bottle Festival with thirty members of our core community. The festival, which was held on a cattle rancher’s campground in the hills outside of Santa Barbara, focused on dance music, creative community and ‘Green’ consciousness. We thought the trip would be a great chance to rally our community to conjure something creative and collaborative outside of Mission Control as well as strengthen our friendships.

We prepared for this trip by suggesting the format of a community based ‘talent show’, one which we would package in the guise of a ‘Evolution Revolution Road Show’ and present at the festival.

This name invoked for us the intention for the trip, which was to celebrate what we called, ‘Evolutionary Fire’, being that spark of creativity and passion everyone has within them. We hoped to create a positive vibe through performance and creative collaboration. The guiding aesthetic theme for this would borrow heavily from old time Vaudeville Medicine Shows and feature whatever talents and acts our community members might want to showcase.

The weekend was also designed to be a whole journey onto itself as well, with everyone invited to really show up as their best selves and take part in what we hoped would be a transformative experience for everyone. A few of the community members qualified as ‘Beauty Engine Guides’ and were invited to assist in facilitating the weekend according to their specific skills and passions.

Emails were sent out ahead of time and online discussions were instigated inviting everyone to think about w hat they wanted to share on this trip. We hosted some prop building evenings at Mission Control to create giant rainbow, star and flower cut-outs which were to be used in the show. After piling ourselves and a ridiculous amount of stuff onto a friends de-commissioned Green Tortoise Bus, one complete with beds and promises of an onboard Karaoke system, we set off on an overnight drive to the festival. , and while on the road, we gathered everyone together and created a set of d ynamics that would help us operate more effectively as a group.

Once we arrived, the Beauty Engine guides facilitated workshops in the shade of old live oaks that encouraged everyone to think about their ‘Avatars’ and how they wished to present themselves. People happily shared camping supplies, sn acks and helped each other with face painting and costume ideas. Many of us had not met before this weekend yet the level of connection proved to be extremely high. Our shared experience as a collective took center stage that weekend for most of us and made the festival more a backdrop to our social experiment than anything else.

With only a couple of short rehearsals, we patched together our fun and silly Medicine Show complete with song and dance acts, classic vaudeville routines, sideshow antics and a ‘medicine show pitch’ that spoke of ‘evolutionary fire washing though-out the land’ delivered by a ‘humanette’ midget puppet in a white tuxedo from the shoulders of a rodeo clown.

The flatbed of an old pickup truck, which had been repurposed into a real wood fueled gasifier powered vehicle, served as our stage. We invited spectators at the shows end to parade under our cut-out rainbow, held aloft by the cast, and handed out little medicine show bottles with a scroll inside that simply said- ‘You Inspire Us’

This is from a follow-up email I sent out directly after the trip to everybody that participated.

Positive principles, themes and qualities exhibited this past weekend at The Lightning In A Bottle Festival in Santa Barbara by The Evolutionary Revolutionary Superstars-

RADICAL COLLABORATION & RADICAL SELF-EXPRESSION
it was super interesting to watch this balance play out, gauging commitment to the collective vs. personal indulgence and expression…the weekend showed us BOTH were a powerful component in its success
OPENESS AND TOLERANCE
we had a wide range of folks & sub-cultures present and y’all were pretty cool with it all
LOVE OF PLAY, LOVE TO PLAY
play unleashed big time novelty, brought us closer, brought out the kid in us
COMMUNITY-HEARTEDNESS
watching people experience the value of being accountable and taking an active interest in the welfare of the group experience…. building trust, being vulnerable and experience the value of being a complete circuit of GIVING AND RECEIVING, witnessed many awesome moments of closeness- connection, shared their gifts
TAPPING THE POWER OF POPULAR ENTERTAINMENT
saw the value of working in these genres: improve, theater, boric/song, puppetry, burlesque, vaudeville, sideshow, carnival- circus arts, street theater, festival/fair celebration, storytelling
NON-LINEAR STRUCTURE
‘non- sequitor cue cards’ conjuring a potent surreality, openness to ‘go with the flow’ as the Universe dished out technical challenges, invoking our surrealist origins
SHAMANIC THEMES the intentional use of ‘Medicine’, the Hero’s Journey, working with Allies/Archetypal energies, themes of Initiation all came into play
PLAYFUL SEXUALITY
sexy came to play but didn’t rule the game…sweet!
COMMITMENT TO SERVE, PERSONAL/COLLECTIVE EVOLUTION
almost everyone on this trip exhibited a desire to serve both their own and collective evolution, to be a steward of ‘Evolutionary Fire’
AN INVITATIONAL SPIRIT
seeing members of our crew reach out to others, explain things, invite others to play and not be exclusionary, the ‘lightning bottle’ gifts were well received

Barron Scott Levkoff

]]> http://beautyengine.org/?feed=rss2&p=210 0 http://beautyengine.org/?p=206 http://beautyengine.org/?p=206#comments Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:21:35 +0000 admin http://beautyengine.org/?p=206

Polly Whittaker

Published in Plenum Magazine Vol.7 9/16/2006

“What I want to see is a world where people can receive energy from flowers, where they can learn to communicate their essence and circulate it all around the world and bring harmony and beauty and peace to humans…. and to animals.”

The young boy’s mother stared at him open mouthed in amazement. Everyone in the room was smiling and astounded with their hands fluttering over their mouths. Our reaction was delayed as we had to wait for the translation!

This was our first day in Japan and it was a precursor for the amazing events to follow over the next 16 days. We visited 5 different cities, played with 3 different communities, presented at the 10 year anniversary of the PAF Global Univer-City, met hundreds of wonderful people along the way and had countless profound experiences.

The goal of the Beauty Engine is to connect people from all corners of the Earth through sharing, cultural exchange and creativity. Beauty Engine provides a basic system which gives everyone, no matter what language they speak or what background they’re from, common ground to understand each other. By encouraging people to cocreate meaningful experiences together and share their true ‘beauty’ with each other, we hope to see it play a part in establishing a Planetary Culture of Beauty and Cocreation.

Our first port of call was beautiful Hokkaido, the Planete 28 group and Plenum Sakurah. The workshop we facilitated was unlike anything we had ever experienced before, and our many lessons on the nuances of Japanese culture began. The most obvious being the way people relate to community versus the way they relate to identity. It couldn’t be more opposite to the culture in California. In Japan there is a deep sense of community, but personal identity and personal power are often sacrificed. Here in California, where people are often more concerned with identity and power, they can sacrifice their ability to harmonize with community.

Another obvious difference between our cultures was the fact that people in Japan tend to be quieter, only speaking when they are directly asked and are not inclined towards open sharing. In California it’s the opposite, as
people love to talk. Dealing with these basic differences in culture was a challenge, but one we were grateful for! The second day of workshops was far more relaxed, as we were more aware of these differences and felt more prepared.

We left our new friends in Hokkaido and headed south to a town near Osaka called Takasago, to meet Kazu and the ‘Open School’, an alternative school where the kids choose their own curriculum and make their own schedules. In Japan there is an extremely high suicide rate in teenagers as well as in middle aged males. The pressure from parents and society to fit in and do well at school and in society is huge and many children are depressed. Uniqueness and authenticity are frowned upon and children are taught to be seen and not heard. Kazu was the first Japanese person to officially become what is now known as a ‘School Refuser’. These are children who turn their back on the traditional schooling system and teach themselves. Kazu’s ‘Global Vision’ is one of the few places these kids have to go. Learning from our experience in Hokkaido, we decided to start the workshop by letting everyone know that it’s okay to speak out, but it’s equally okay to be quiet. We wanted to let them know they had space, and shouldn’t feel pressure to do one thing or the other. This added an extra layer of trust, and people seemed pleased that we had made this clear.

We drove north in convoy with the people from the Open School, toward ‘Mother Lake’ for the 10th Anniversary of the Global University, and to stay at Plenum Niji. When we arrived there were a lot of familiar faces there, as many people had participated in our workshops were there. We were greeted incredibly warmly and felt really honored to be so…… honored! One of the highlights of our trip was meeting Gen Oh Ryu- a group who specialized in traditional flower arranging, who had arranged flowers for the Beauty Engine, interpreting the structure of our system with flowers. It was profound to hear them speak about their flowers and how they connected to the concepts of the Beauty Engine, and we enjoyed reflecting our observations back to them. It was a true cocreation.

It was great to make our presentation to the group at the PAF Global Univer-City. We felt like our intention and our vision were received and appreciated by the crowd. It was wonderful to see so many smiling faces in the audience, and we felt a true connection and real potential for the future. It was an exciting moment for us and felt at the time that this must be the climax of our trip. We had no idea what was to come over the next couple of days in Shikoku.

We drove south to visit the Suga Izanai Dance Academy, and were were faced with the most varied group we have had so far… about 30 or so people ages 10-mid 50s, and one of them was a local monk who wanted to check it out. We were a little intimidated at first, but by the end of the workshops we were all leaping around together, singing and dancing. We have learned so much on this trip about people, about cross cultural differences and truths which we all share in common, ones which connect us all as planetary brothers and sisters. Most importantly for us, we had the honor of witnessing Beauty Engine do what it was designed to do- to encourage people to let their inner Beauty and Truth shine for others to see.

The following quote from Marianne Williamson perfectly sums up what we had experienced-

‘…as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.’

These final workshops reflected a culmination of all our experience, and the passion and energy of the Suga Izanai Dance Academy. There wasn’t a dry eye in the house, and together we shared a connection and vision for the future which is truly amazing. Before we left on the final day they presented us with a dance, which left us with a deeper understanding of the true nature of Izanai. We were honored.

­We were not sad when we left Japan, because so many seeds have been planted. Already, some friends we made during our trip are planning to visit us here in San Francisco, and we have heard stories of them using the Beauty Engine system in their own work. We have identified some core players and are inspired by their desire to understand more and help us to connect new communities. We feel privileged and humbled to have been able to experience such an incredible culture and we look forward to future cocreation!

Special thanks to Mayumi Jingu and PLENUM ACTIVATION FEDERATION for making this trip possible.

Over the next few pages you can see the cards we used to facilitate the experiences we hosted in Japan

Reflections on Univine Flower Enlivenment

Barron Scott Levkoff

Published in Plenum Magazine Vol.7 9/16/2006

Out of all the experiences we had on our recent first Beauty Engine trip to Japan, I found this incredible display of artistry and ancient flower wisdom to be the most fascinating.

Mayumi Jingu invited members of GenOhRyu, Global University and others to create an assemblage of flower arrangements meant to interpret the core design of the Beauty Engine. She had mentioned this plan even before our visit to Japan and we very much looked forward to what we might experience!

When we first entered the GenOhRyu room at the Global University Anniversary, we found a busy hive of activity. 7 groups of individuals, each presenting one point of the Beauty Engine design, worked with a dazzling variety of flowers carefully preparing their masterpieces.

The immediate impression from a purely aesthetic viewpoint was impressive on its own. These were some of the most amazing flower arrangements I had ever seen, yet I knew there must be more going on beneath the surface.

After each group put the finishing touches on their arrangements, they presented their finished pieces accompanied by thoughts on why they made certain aesthetic choices.

Looking upon each display and listening to each group as they spoke, it was clear that every flower, leaf and twig had been placed with clear intention and much artistic consideration.

Looking deeper, we began to see deeper patterns reflected in the ways in which these arrangements were created and felt moved to share our reflections on what we perceived.

Overall, I found this shared experience to not only be the most cocreative experience I had while in Japan but a perfect example of a true Beauty Engine experience!

Thank you again for honoring us in this way and graciously bestowing flower names upon us!

These are some of the reflections we shared on the spot with everyone present:

IDENTITY

Starting at the top of the Beauty Engine design, I found a central core of 13 white Gladiolas meant to represent IDENTITY.

At first I thought ‘why not just one, representing the self’?

But the reflection here was Self as a fractal harmonic of a greater whole. 13 flowers proposing SELF as a myriad of faces, facets and Avatars. Smaller flowers representing True Joy and True Love provided a field from which the others sprang. All together, the arrangement had a very peaceful symmetry and overall sense of centeredness. This arrangement presented a great meditation on the nature of Identity.

POWER

The primary flower here in the arrangement was a Calla Lily, a favorite of mine which grows here in California. This, we were told, was meant to represent the connection between Heaven and Earth. This collection of flowers, fruits and vegetables was meant to represent POWERS – being the various abilities, resources & passions each person has to offer.

This arrangement seemed more like a cornucopia or banquet rather than a traditional flower arrangement. A dynamic reflection on the variety and richness we all have within us!

Many different flowers, fruits and vegetables were used in this piece but none conflicted with the other, all worked together in harmony with the others to create a spectacle of abundance and delight. We found out that the gentleman in this group contributed produce from his own land to this piece….an offering which he aptly called his Power!

CIRCULATE

Again, a central cluster of white flowers representing the connection between Heaven and Earth held the central focus. What was immediately striking here was that the overall pattern of this display was a fractal reflection of the Beauty Engine design itself- 6 points around a central core. We usually think of CIRCULATE as the flow of POWERS between people but here the arrangement suggested a flow of energy between and within the Beauty Engine itself. With this presentation, each component was as important as their relationship to the whole. A splendid reflection!

ASSEMBLE

To my delight, a large violet-pink Lotus took center stage in this arrangement. The Lotus being not only my personal favorite, but this one also exuding a positively heavenly aroma! Before the presentation began, Polly and I both assumed that this must represent IDENTITY but were delighted to find out that it actually represented ASSEMBLE. A large, clear, glass-orb vase was chosen to represent the Earth holding a cluster of purplish-blue flowers I had never seen before. These rested on a bed of broad, greenish leaves we were told represented the love of the Earth. Here the smallish purple flowers, looking like a assembly of little people, gave birth to the large Lotus which sprang up from their midst. As Beauty Engine is designed to bring To me, this was a perfect visual metaphor for the expression of Plenum-ness (abundance) which comes from a group truly cocreating together. The Lotus here, for me, also represented the Collective Identity or Avatar, which presents itself when diversity comes together harmoniously in an authentic manner. A smaller unopened Lotus bud rested aside the larger blossom, suggesting further potential yet to awake, future abundance yet untapped. A small single rose rested to the side of the arrangement, which we were told signified commitment to Mother Earth and The Goddess. A very moving work of art, on many levels!

DYNAMICS

This display provided a very concise illustration of DYNAMICS. Simply, Beauty Engine DYNAMICS are agreements created with the purpose of fostering trust and understanding within a group, agreements that also communicate outwardly to others how you choose to operate as a collective.

This beautiful display consisted of two strong pillar-like arrangements with a beautiful free-flowing arrangement directly between them.

The visual metaphor presented here was striking. The two main side columns, like two people standing face to face, held the space for the beautiful display that playfully sprung in the center. Literally and metaphorically, these strong side columns, much like good agreements, created a space for the Beauty between them. On another level, I saw these two columns representing HARMONY and CONTRAST…both which I feel are equally important in creating Beauty and were primary factors in this bold arrangement. This display very concisely illustrated how DYNAMICS create a safe space and make it possible for True Beauty to flow, flourish and exist between people!

ACTIVATE

This arrangement, was composed of a wide diversity of flowers and leafy branches in a very elegant and sophisticated design.

Quite simple at first appearance but slowly drew you in to explore many varied layers of relationship and juxtaposition.

In the Beauty Engine design, ACTIVATE refers to bringing all the other aspects together to unleash collective potential and cocreate shared experiences.

In contrast to this perfectly composed arrangement was a loose branch placed directly in front of the arrangement, representing ‘life force’ itself.

PLENUM 000

At the center of the 6 arrangements placed around the room was a very strong, central display representing the center of the Beauty Engine design, Plenum/ Potential. The core of this arrangement was built upon a very strong but beautiful, wrought-iron stand. No hidden metaphors there! We were told that this represented Father and Mother in harmony with each other. Twining around the stand were delicate vines and a spray of vibrant floral branches which exploded outward from the base like fiery sparks. 2 small bowls of flowers held lotus blossoms floating quite serenely atop each half of the stands. I particularly liked the inclusion of a plastic shipping container which had been incorporated into the very base of the design. For me, this suggested Novelty and humor, two key points I always look for when cocreating experiences with others.

Overall, this central arrangement had the most elements operating together- strength, harmony, lyricism, vibrancy, with balanced serene and constantly moving elements

Japanese Guide Training

Barron Scott Levkoff

In March 2007 a group of Japanese educators came to San Francisco to learn about the Beauty Engine. Together we went on an amazing four day journey; with much learning, sharing and connecting. The intention of their visit was to become qualified as Beauty Engine Guides and learn about our methods in facilitating creative community and creating quality experiences.

Over the course of their visit, we explored the themes of Cocreation, Authenticity, Joy, Passion, Playfulness, Accountability and Creativity as positive factors in assisting with building and maintaining successful community.

We had already met most of the participants in Japan and each of our guides-in-training proved to hold much wisdom and understanding of the six core Beauty Engine concepts.

I experienced an amazing level of focus, dedication, curiosity, openness on behalf of each participant and was consistently impressed with the level of depth and intention behind every question poised.

Language and cultural differences poised very valuable and often funny challenges to the learning process and only served to bring us closer together as a group.

Each guide shared many distinct valuable gifts and offerings which were enjoyed by all including their own wisdom and solutions in their approaches to community facilitation.

By the third day and final experience of their trip- a Beauty Engine Salon in which they got to meet members of our core SF-based Beauty Engine community, the entire group shared a wonderful quality of connection I had always hoped could be possible with Beauty Engine.

The Japanese guides-to-be created an amazing flower arrangement at the start of the evening, which they took great care in explaining how it represented various intentions and messages.

As guides, we found that we all shared a powerful vision and commitment to facilitating experiences, being of service to Planetary Renascence, playful learning, personal empowerment and smooth group process.

The final closing session was the most powerful for me and the most meaningful.

We all shared such a sense of connection and commitment that I felt quite emotional and teary-eyed, a good thing!

My sense of connection to these guides which most I had only known for a short time was quite intense.

Overall, I felt as sense of overwhelming Unity and Peace, being together in circle with these exemplary human beings.

An incredible warmth came over me, a feeling as if all my life efforts in service to a world of Harmony, Beauty and Joy were being received by equals

As a result of our efforts and our willingness to be open and learn from one another, to share our visions and dreams, our laughter….I felt a very real and powerful ‘Rainbow Bridge’ establishing itself between us and our collective organizations/communities.

I left this final experience feeling such a connection to our colleagues via a shared dedication to integrating and applying the Beauty Engine framework into our projects, communities and lives.

If Beauty Engine were a tree, in that moment more than any other before…I could feel its branches and roots spreading out, growing out as green leaves – shimmering in the light of a New World.

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The Ua Noa Festival

March 2007

Spanning across two days, on the beautiful island of Maui, the Ua Noa festival was not organized like a traditional event. All the talents and resources of the guests were to be put into action, creating an environment that was cocreated by the people who attended.

Our intention with this event was to give people direct experience of global community in a way that recognized their unique voice as a vital piece of the puzzle.

We were not ‘putting on a show’ for entertainment, but instead we were interested in seeing what showed up, and recognizing the amazing synergy that can occur when intentional community self organizes.

The structure of the event facilitated on-the-go collaboration and exploration, with interactive games, workshops, discussions, performances and presentations. Before the event began, even we didn’t know exactly how it would look.

On Saturday we hosted a smaller event. It was an opportunity for the guests who were interested in participating to meet each other and connect, and set the intention and vibe for the event the next day.

It happened on the lawn of Maui Community College. The location was a very last minute thing; as we hadn’t planned it, and were truly allowing the community to self organize. There were a few frazzled nerves as the day grew close and no location had revealed itself, but then Chris Taylor, an enthusiastic participant, suggested the college and it was perfect!

With a beautiful Banyan tree shading a group of 40 or so new friends from the warm sun, we shared a magical afternoon of visions, sharing, and interactive activities. It was truly a cocreation, with many different people taking the lead, and all voices being heard.

When we woke up on Sunday it was raining outside. We crossed our fingers that it was just a morning shower and made our way to the festival. Sadly, the rain became a major factor of the day, but even under these less than ideal circumstances we still had an amazing showing of talent, energy and goodwill. Braving the elements that day were singer Lauren Pomerantz, a Hawaiian Hula dance troupe complete with traditional music, a Japanese Bon Dance troupe, a Capoeira demonstration and interactive class, some Laughter Yoga, Abdy Svet and her aerial act, a Peruvian Flute player , Alpha Lo and Joseph Jacques from Calling All Societal Truths, Cirque De Vie face painting, Alex and Carol on guitar, Dreaming Bear’s spoken word, Teri Holter from Maui Magic Box, Dagen Julty with his sacred clowning and many more. Our personal favorite was the live streaming whales from a hydrophone in Kihei Bay brought to us by www.whalesong.net.

Suga and The Izanai Dance Academy from Japan pulled off two amazing performances of their dance- AMATERU, in honor of the Sun Goddess. Even the Sun herself came out to witness one performance, as the dancers danced the clouds disappeared and blue skies stretched out overhead!

When the day drew to a close, the sun came out for the final few hours of the festival and we turned up the music and danced. Some people even had a ‘Woodstock’ moment and rolled around in the mud!

Joining forces to create this unique event with us were:

- New World Group is a non profit organization exploring accelerated learning, human potential and holistic planetary strategies.

- Izanai (meaning ‘Sacred Invitation’) Dance Academy is a Japanese phenomenon that has influenced over 7000 dance troupes.

Thanks to Richard Marks for the photographs richardmarksphoto.com

How it worked

The festival was organized using a system we developed to really get people participating. It was a Beauty Engine Script divided into multiple Activities. At the front gate there was a table of laminates, which guests could look at and see if there was an activity they wanted to help make happen. If they saw something that interested them, they could put on the laminate and go into the festival following the instructions on the back of the laminate. When they were done, they could replace the laminate on the table and give a new person a chance to try it. Some people spent all day coming back and forth to the front desk, asking for laminate after laminate, and were facilitating activities all day! There was no pressure to have the day look a specific way, and both volunteers and performers could come and go as they pleased without any expectation. All they had to do was to sign up wherever and whenever they chose.

Here are some examples of the laminate badges we created for the event. The text to the right was written on the back of the laminates:

The complete script of laminates for the festival is listed below:

CONNECTION STATION

ACTIVITY: Meet and greet welcome table.

At the entrance to the event, there will be a greeting station to welcome guests. It will include printed out guidelines for the event, which are shown to everyone when they come in.

HOST: 3-4 people are needed to man this table, welcome people when they arrive, and suggest where they might participate. If a guest is interested in Hosting, then they are given a badge with their title. When they leave, they return the badge to the welcome table. Vendors will be directed to the vendor coordinator.

ACTIVITY: Village Square pin board.

Guests pin business cards to a central board. We also provide blank cards which people can write their ideas, resources, and visions on, and pin to the board.

HOST: One person needed to be the point person for this Activity.

ACTIVITY: Speed mingling

Speed mingling means you get to meet a lot of people in a short amount of time. Guests are seated in pairs facing each other and for 4 minutes talk about the topic provided by the host. After 4 minutes, they move around to another guest. This happens in rotation until all the guests have met.

HOST: One person needed to facilitate Speed Mingling

REALM OF THE BODY

ACTIVITY: Healing potlatch

Guests who have skills in any variety healing arts are invited to make an offering of a short healing session. The healing Potlatch area will be open to all guests.

HOST: One person is needed to facilitate the potlatch area, keep track of who the healers are and who is interested in receiving a session, and encourage people to participate

HEALERS: All guests who have skills in the healing arts are welcome to join this potlatch

ACTIVITY: Open Space for you to fill

Guests with a short (under half an hour) physical Activity they would like to facilitate can sign up here. They can be breathing exercises, yoga, tai chi, group energy work, dance, or anything you can think of!

HOST: One person is needed to be the point person for Guests to check in with if they have an activity they would like to facilitate.

SANCTUARY

ACTIVITY: Group Altar

Create a large Altar, with flowers, candles, crystals and intentional objects. Add to this altar throughout the day with additions from guests. ALL GUESTS are invited to add to this multifaith, cross cultural altar.

HOST: One person needed to assist with this Altar. Should arrive before the event starts

RESOURCE: Candles, fabric, flowers

ACTIVITY: Open Space for you to fill

This is a space for guests who want to offer a short ritual/ invocation/ dedication/ prayer. They are welcome to just show up on the day and sign up with the Host.

A Board at the entrance of this space will provide the schedule as it fills up.

HOST: One person is needed to be the point person for Guests to check in with if they have an offering they would like to share

THE UA NOA MAIN STAGE

ACTIVITY: Featured Performers, acts and speakers

This stage will feature various acts, speakers and performances throughout the day. Most of the performance on this stage will be scheduled ahead of time, but there will be slots left open for spontaneity to occur and things to show up at the last minute

TASK: Stage manager/ talent liaison

TASK: Sound person

DEEP THOUGHT FORUM

ACTIVITY: Hosted Sharing Circle

Guests are invited to present projects and share visions. Offerings should be between 3-5 minutes. A bell will ring to signify the need to complete the presentation

HOST: One person needed to facilitate this activity, encourage people to join in, and ring the bell if offerings go past 5 minutes.

ACTIVITY: Hosted Round Table forum

Guests sit in a circle and explore the topic of ‘Activating planetary community through creativity’. This discussion will have a loose format, with guest speakers coming in periodically to do short presentations.

HOST: One person needed to host this area, keep the discussion friendly and help people communicate clearly

ACTIVITY: Open Space for you to fill

This is a space for Guests who want to host an activity that’s under half an hour. They are invited to make a suggestion and make it happen. They are welcome to just show up on the day and sign up with the Host. They can be learning exercises, playshops, collaboratories, creative activities, or anything you can think of

HOST: One person is needed to be the point person for Guests to check in with if they have an activity they would like to facilitate.

ART QUARTER

ACTIVITY: Art Potlatch

All guests are invited to bring their art to present. It can be visual art, poetry, music, performance etc. If they have specific requirements to have their art presented properly, they should contact us ahead of time to make sure their needs can be met. Depending on the nature of the art, it can either be left on display all day, or it can be given a time slot for its presentation.

HOST: One person is needed to be the check in point person for artists, showing them where they can display their art or scheduling a time and place for them to present.

Spirit of all things
Be free

Realize our fullest potential
Transcend All

Ua Noa

Hear wondrous sounds
Experience life’s rhythms

Ua Noa

Free our energies
Celebrate Univinity
A time of Plenum
Transcend with Light

Ua Noa

With Plenum smiles, Mayumi

There are a million different ways to put it into practice, but the basic Beauty Engine Framework is actually very simple: Clearly articulate and communicate the following elements and your community will become happier, healthier and more productive. There are all kinds of tools and methods for doing just that, but the end result is the same.

]]> http://beautyengine.org/?feed=rss2&p=115 0 http://beautyengine.org/?p=107 http://beautyengine.org/?p=107#comments Tue, 14 Jul 2009 23:12:53 +0000 admin http://beautyengine.org/?p=107

Identity

The Ancient Greek aphorism “Know Thy Self” (Greek: γνώθι σεαυτόν or gnothi seauton) was inscribed in shiny gold letters above the entrance to the Temple of Apollo at Delphi. It is a fundamental concept attributed to a number of philosophers, including Socrates, and an ideal that the human race has been striving towards for 2500 years. Yet modern culture continues to struggle with the basic question “Who am I?” and millions of dollars each year are thrown at magazines, media, fashion, music and therapists in a quest to grapple the mystifying issue of identity. We follow trends to help us feel like we ‘belong’, identifying with music, fashion or values and build our identities around them. Whether it’s “Everyone in Khaki” or “Meat is Murder” we’re reaching out for things we identify with in order to fulfill our basic human desire to pin down, classify and comprehend this illusive ‘Self’ we’re supposed to know so well.

The undertaking to fully “Know Thyself” is a seemingly insurmountable task. With so many factors and variables that change each day, with so many issues, conscious and unconscious, that cloud the picture, surely it is impossible to expect to achieve such an objective, finite state- to “Know”. The only thing I know for sure is that I will never fully know my Self. I have a million facets that shimmer and change in different light, in different circumstances, and I refuse to pin myself down, because to claim to “Know Myself” would only limit the potential of what I might actually be.

I’m not saying that I don’t think self reflection is a worthy pursuit; I’m just suggesting that a slight shift would create a more realistic and interesting aspiration.

The shiny gold letters I would inscribe on the lintel of my temple would be something a little more like “Explore Thy Selves”

I prefer to look at who I am in the moment, rather than who I am, period.

I watch the way I change when I’m around different groups of people, and how my reactions vary depending on my mood, my agenda, and what kind of shoes I’m wearing. There are countless external and internal factors that influence the ‘Self’ I project into the world; it can all be a bit mind-boggling. I choose to recognize that I have multiple ‘Selves’ which are unique and separate, and that gives me the opportunity to manage this multiplicity of factors and ultimately be whoever I want to be.

The Beauty Engine uses the term ‘Avatars’ to describe these distinct facets of your Self. You might have a work Avatar, a play Avatar, a special interest Avatar, or a family Avatar. Embodying a specific Avatar is like putting on an outfit which includes not just clothes, but also a tone, a demeanor, characteristics, talents and ideas. It’s still you, but it’s just one aspect of you. Separating out your Avatars and exploring the nature of each one on its own is a much more manageable way of achieving that ultimate goal to “Know Thyself”.

But what if you have an aspect of yourself that you’ve always wanted to explore but never had the chance? Crafting an Avatar to focus on a specific idea or agenda is a great way to give yourself permission to do things you might not otherwise do. For example, I always wanted to sing on stage, but was terrified of it. Since I was a little girl I fantasized about being in a band, singing into my hairbrush in my bedroom behind closed doors. Not watching myself in the mirror in a bratty, egotistical, teenage way, but singing songs that I truly loved that made the hair on my neck stand on end. Both my sister and my best friend were amazing singers with far more natural talent that I had, so my fantasy was a secret that nobody ever knew about. That is until a couple of years ago when I got up on stage for the first time and sang in front of hundreds of people (and I’ve done it a few times again since). It wasn’t bravery that got me up there, it was my singing Avatar. I created a vessel that allowed me to check both my insecure Avatar and my bravado Avatar at the door, get up on stage and sing my heart out. It was totally genuine, totally me, and yet I would never have done it without intentionally creating an Avatar for the task. Crafting Avatars allows you to explore facets of your personality in playful way, letting you try out new things and expose yourself to new situations. I would have never had the guts to get up on stage and sing, but luckily my Avatar is a natural.

Once you have an understanding of your multitude of Avatars, and the potential for creating more, you can begin to move fluidly between them, playing them like an orchestra to flow in and out of varied situations. In the Beauty Engine we refer to this state of being as your SuperStar Avatar- the constant and definable ‘you’ that can use the talents of one Avatar with the characteristics of another to bring nuance and novelty to every interaction. It’s your constantly changing and growing essence that can never be fully understood, that’s impossible to categorize, and will always surprise you.

Powers

“If you have a talent, use it in every which way possible. Don’t hoard it. Don’t dole it out like a miser. Spend it lavishly like a millionaire intent on going broke. “

Brendan Francis

You are sitting on a storehouse of wealth. Every talent you have, every skill you’ve developed, every bit of information you hold, every connection you’ve made , every piece of art you’ve created and every idea you’ve ever had are your currency in the Beauty Engine. They are your Powers and they reflect a true idea of who you are and what you have to offer the world around you. All the wisdom, energy, creativity and practical skills that you have (and some things you don’t even know you have yet) make you a millionaire.

Even a monk living in a cave who has no personal belongings and no human contact is rich in the Powers of Patience, Solitude, Dedication, and Spirit.

So what Powers do you have? Even the most seemingly insignificant resources hold vital energy. It could be as simple as having extra apples on your trees, or that workshop you took last year in video editing. Maybe you recorded a song once, but now it’s gathering dust on an 8 track in your basement. Maybe you have an interest in cacti and have read everything there is to know about them. Or maybe you’re just a really good listener. If you take some time to sit and write out all your Powers, you’ll probably be surprised at how long that list gets. In fact, you’ll probably stop before you reach the end.

In the Beauty Engine, you create your own bank balance, and your wealth depends on clearly and concisely stating your Powers.

The value of each Power you have depends simply on how much you care about it. The tiniest whisper made under your breath, or a few lines written on a napkin, or a smile and a human connection can have immense value, if they are seasoned with a sprinkling of genuine passion. If you really mean it, you really feel it or you really love it, (or even if you really hate it) that passion makes it exponentially more valuable, and transforms it from a Power into a SuperPower!

Quoting the bible isn’t something I do often, but I feel it’s appropriate to point out the proverb: “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” If a person literally is what they think themselves to be, then why not make yourself a millionaire, a genius and a superstar.

Circulate

“It is a fact that humankind all over the globe is dependent on one another. People have to help each other. This is a function of their natural disposition.”

Rudolf Steiner

When its time to get things done, the best way to find exactly what you need is just to ask for it, and the best way to share the things you have is to let people know you’ve got them. Forget about modesty, and being nervous about asking for what you need- if everyone is honest and upfront about what they have to offer, then we soon begin to realize that there is no scarcity of resources, talents and wisdom directly available to us, and between us we have everything we need.

In the Beauty Engine, Circulate is the place where things are exchanged- you can let people know what you need, promote new projects and ideas, canvass for new community members, or spotlight specific skills or products you want to market. As a result, the resources and needs within a community become transparent, making it easier for people to see where they can participate. It’s the town square of the Beauty Engine- a place where diverse groups can exchange, where the latest news can be broadcast, and where you can get a sense of the action in the broader community.

The internet is a great tool for this task, but more traditional methods like business cards and bulletin boards can offer a more analog alternative. In the Beauty Engine, we use customized trading cards to circulate information about who we are, what we have to offer and how we operate. These trading cards can be printed out at home and handed out like business cards, or they can be exchanged digitally like v-cards. These cards become your currency, giving you a tool to present your wisdom, creativity, ideas, inspiration and tangible resources like goods and services, so that you can effectively navigate this vibrant social economy.

We need to look at new ways to build trust in order to encourage people to share their stockpiles of resources, and working on creative projects together -contributing to your community alongside others- is a great way to deepen connections and build trust. When we focus on creating beautiful things together, giving freely simply because it feels good, we loosen our grip on scarcity, and discover that the more abundantly we operate, the more abundantly we can live.

Assemble

Throughout human history a person’s community has been defined by their geographic location, their spirituality, their occupation, and their social standing. In more recent years, that definition has been broadened to include musical taste, style of dress and sexuality. The internet has prompted a rise in the growth of even more specialty groups, and people are now able to gather together for just about any reason. Whether you’re into Polynesian design and Tiki bar culture, making replicas of comic book costumes, or raw food cuisine, you can now find the communities to fit your niches. Modern society has become a complex web of sub cultures that allow people to explore a million different interests and affinities.

In the Beauty Engine we use the term ‘Assemble’ to talk about community because we want to emphasize the importance of actually meeting up in the real world, and not relying on online tools to build community. The internet can be very useful for communicating between gatherings, but it cannot replace the experience of meeting in the real world. When it comes to building trust, resolving disputes, and just having fun together, face to face interaction is the only option.

The origin of the word ‘community’ comes from the idea of common ownership, and so the true meaning of community can only really be understood through the sharing of resources and wisdom. When a person is a member of a community, they contribute because they want to participate, and not necessarily because they see an immediate, tangible return for themselves. It feels good to be part of something that you care about, and helping to make your community flourish by sharing your precious resources is a great way of making friends, building trust, and creating a sense of belonging.

Communication is the cornerstone of every successful community, and letting people know exactly who your community is, how it operates and what its goals are gives a stable foundation to build on.

When a community is clear about its vision, it becomes easier for potential members to understand where they might fit in. If you want to attract new members, then the identity of your community should be considered carefully, and communicated openly out to the world. Whether you’re looking for equal collaborators, supporters to help with your vision, or a visionary leader to give you direction, making that need known to the world is the first step in getting it done.

Dynamics

When a community clearly negotiates agreements about how it operates, and makes those agreements clear to every member, then it is less likely to fall to petty squabbles and disputes. In the Beauty Engine we refer to these agreements as your community’s Dynamics. They could include something as simple as agreeing to be open-minded, or something practical like agreeing to meet every Tuesday, or something creative like agreeing to talk like a pirate. As well as communicating your agreements, your Dynamics will reflect the tone and style of your community, letting the world know whether you’re, playful, thought-provoking, spiritual or intellectual. There are some broader Dynamics that most communities would approve of, such as agreeing to be respectful, or to be honest, but if these seemingly obvious, universal Dynamics are particularly important to your community they should still be stated clearly.

How a community decides on their Dynamics, which members are part of the process, and whether the agreements are up for debate depends on each community and its structure. The focus of your community will also influence the kind of Dynamics you have- for example a debating community might agree to disagree, an art community might agree to value self expression, and a community of mimes might agree to communicate only in mime.

It’s important to make your Dynamics catchy and easy to remember, and creating succinct catchphrases that sum them in just a few words is the key to making them successful. For example, Burningman festival created the Dynamic “Leave no Trace”, meaning “clean up each and every tiny bit of litter that you create and take your trash home with you”. Creating the catchphrase, rather than having to repeat the entire agreement each time, has made it easier for this concept to spread throughout the community, and this particular Dynamic is now so well known that it has spread beyond the desert and into peoples every day lives.

Activate

Whatever it is that you’re trying to do, if you have never done it before there is a whole range of unexpected variables that might throw you off course. Theorizing about how to do something is only the first step along the way to actually doing it. Rather than trying to figure things out from scratch, its best to ask for advice from somebody with experience, and in the Beauty Engine we gather this information in a library of constantly growing and evolving wisdom. Once you have done it, and gained experience about how it worked for you, you can comment and add to the entry, letting people know your story. As Jimmy Hendrix said “Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.”

Your wisdom can be associated with anything from the most banal tasks to the most provocative social experiments. Whether you’re looking for an efficient way to run a coat check, a low drama way to deal with conflict, or a party game to help your community bond, there are a variety of different methods which are tried and true and available for you to use.

In the Beauty Engine, Activate is the place where experiences are born, and wisdom is accessible, but without your feedback, it just gathers dust and withers. In order for it to live, it needs to be Activated, learned from, and mirrored back to itself.

This is where there is a real opportunity to play, to get to know each other, to be creative and to make stuff happen.

Unlocking your potential

When you recognize that you and your community have unlimited potential to achieve your dreams, then you can. The Beauty Engine works as a potentiator, designed to boost your effectiveness by making it easier for you to collaborate. It reveals the possibilities available to you, makes it easy for you to act on them, and helps you reveal those possibilities to others.

Once you are operating at full capacity, and you are connected to other communities who are doing the same, our total effectiveness increases exponentially. We are so much more than the sum of our parts.

Polly Whittaker