Project Report One
Welcome to project One, here I will prepare the ground for my diploma, deciding where I want it to take me and how, based on observations of myself and environment.
Goals articulation
From this project I would like a clear time based action learning pathway that I can begin with right away. It must reflect my direction, enjoyments and learning styles. Must also be easy to follow with a list of skills I need to develop over the next two years to fulfill my ultimate goals articulation for this diploma.
I would also like a good body of documentation showing my qualifications, achievements and past work, as a showcase of myself at the start of my diploma.
Welcome to project One, here I will prepare the ground for my diploma, deciding where I want it to take me and how, based on observations of myself and environment.
Goals articulation
From this project I would like a clear time based action learning pathway that I can begin with right away. It must reflect my direction, enjoyments and learning styles. Must also be easy to follow with a list of skills I need to develop over the next two years to fulfill my ultimate goals articulation for this diploma.
I would also like a good body of documentation showing my qualifications, achievements and past work, as a showcase of myself at the start of my diploma.
Life Review
This essay answers questions, reflecting on my past to get maximum leverage for my future. Click here to read
Action Learning Pathway
Below is my action learning pathway. I wanted to design it as a fractal such as you find in a tree because I feel like all of my projects will be feeding into one main trunk, to build a more solid 'me'. And so the hope is that once I am finished I can give out to the world far more effectively than I am now. My second project -Zone 00 design implementation- runs through the center as a taproot supporting all other projects. I have also added books to read, courses and possible income streams. The projects are stacked in time and space based on building my confidence up, seasons, where I plan to be and more.
Click on the image to see a larger view.
Click on the image to see a larger view.
This is a breakdown of the individual projects I hope to carry out, with skills I will need to pick up and learning techniques of mine I need to employ, to support each one. Of course this list is open to change as the Diploma goes on, and constant observation and feedback will help me to adjust accordingly.
Skill Flex
This is a map of my current skills and those I'll need to develop to aid my projects, and ones I'd like to learn for fun!
To see my skill base mapped in Integral Theory, click here.
To see my skill base mapped in Integral Theory, click here.
Personal vision
By the end of my diploma (August 2013) I would like to be qualified and confident in carrying out design process in different situations, and an in-depth understanding of permaculture principals, work and systems, so I can be an informed practitioner! I would like to have a competent collection of skills to be an effective mentor, creator or collaborator in permaculture and connection work.
I would like to take my skills that I enjoy out into society to be used to entertain, inspire and convey positive messages. I would like to improve my confidence and nurture for self so I can be most effective for others.
I hope to really live this process and for the designs to really enable me to design and carry out living into my intentions now with least effort and waste. A way to focus my energies on multiple outputs and many beneficial interactions…and to really ingrain permaculture thinking into my life through practice of design implementation.
At the end of the two years I would like to be confidently closer to my long term goals.
I would like my portfolio to be an exciting, artistic and informative resource for many people.
Long term goals
My dream is to have a space big enough for workshops, performance, creation, celebration, yoga, martial arts and lots more. Space and time is so valuable, and I want so much to have a space big enough to provide endless exchanges and offerings with other people. This space would extend outside to a rich permaculture garden that would feed the stomachs, souls and inspiration of the people that used this it. A place to bring together people, to promote connection, creativity, positive action, and permaculture.
live happily in love and laughter
provide for myself and family through Right Livelihood
be happy in the way I am feeding myself
have wisdom and compassion
spread new ideas and begin new ventures to help towards a healthy future
have awareness and function imaginatively with the present
Resources used for this project
Weebly- website builder
Flickr- photo sharing host
YouTube- for videos
Photoshop- for editing photos. Especially compressing for web
Mackbook, scanner
Inspiration from other portfolios at Integral Permanence
Theory of everything- By Ken Wilber
Weebly- website builder
Flickr- photo sharing host
YouTube- for videos
Photoshop- for editing photos. Especially compressing for web
Mackbook, scanner
Inspiration from other portfolios at Integral Permanence
Theory of everything- By Ken Wilber
Next achievable steps for moving forward
Personal- Begin to look for a base to settle for the time being? Near family in the countryside? Gather advice from friends and family about this.
Professional- begin to look for a job in East Sussex. Preferably outside, one that feeds my diploma and that I am happy in the ethics of. Plan time in between this for diploma, to move towards own enterprise!
Project development- Let it sit for a day, look at what I learned from this and then move into project 2. Finish off the links page and do an impressive Home page!
Personal- Begin to look for a base to settle for the time being? Near family in the countryside? Gather advice from friends and family about this.
Professional- begin to look for a job in East Sussex. Preferably outside, one that feeds my diploma and that I am happy in the ethics of. Plan time in between this for diploma, to move towards own enterprise!
Project development- Let it sit for a day, look at what I learned from this and then move into project 2. Finish off the links page and do an impressive Home page!
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It's been a year! I've had a holiday, and been through some big changes that took me away from the diploma for some time. But now I am back to take this last year with lots of energy. Geoff Lawton the dude says "Chaos appears in natural systems when it's over supplied with energy that it can't put to use. A creative event happen just on the harmonic side of the chaotic line" I think I am just on the other side....
Maintain (or manage) Evaluate and Tweak
At this halfway point it is important to use the latter stage of the design process to keep check on my progress.
This seems vitally important in any design, and in fact can be done at any stage, I think at any point where things are becoming difficult or not going how you initially expected. Grayham Bell says “if you’re not having fun, you’ve got the design wrong” and that really resonates with me, I like it. It's easy for me to see now how it becomes apparent that the design can change, or needs to change once you start to get feedback, from self and the project. I've been getting a lot of feedback on my projects and not really listening (deny deny.....!) So now it's time to collate all this.
This seems vitally important in any design, and in fact can be done at any stage, I think at any point where things are becoming difficult or not going how you initially expected. Grayham Bell says “if you’re not having fun, you’ve got the design wrong” and that really resonates with me, I like it. It's easy for me to see now how it becomes apparent that the design can change, or needs to change once you start to get feedback, from self and the project. I've been getting a lot of feedback on my projects and not really listening (deny deny.....!) So now it's time to collate all this.
Integral theory review: What have I done? What needs adding in or really working on in order to achieve my goal? This is for my own benefit...please skip this section!!
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I
Self awareness, definitely improved, and am able to write easily with this and share it. Self acceptance and pattern control -having ways to observe and open into patterns, in order to change negetive response to positive Passions and goals slipped a little. Need clarity in this. Self motivation, perhaps boosted by people I'm around and zone 00 Connection to nature. Not been as close as I've wanted, need things in place Spiritual development has been good, become a lot more open, practice need to surround with people who open this. Ritual, celebration...how? Sensitivity, ability to notice and communicate...really want to get good at this, feel I really have improved but want to develop ability to open up others and give support. How can I develop my communication? Read that book! Second tier understanding wow I kindof feel a lot of this sortof seeping into me by accident these days... WE
Communication skills I feel like these have really developed with working in the shop and meeting lots of people Leadership development really held me back in a few projects bat starting to chip away at it Performance HMMMM Documenting dispersing ideas Organisational skills, fairly good. But either slipped into stress or completely stopped doing things. Need to find a comfortable ballance without fear Integral self and others...life has been a lot more integral |
IT
Ability to absorb and reform ideas to communicate...feel like I have done that pretty well with project reports so far, I have learned through this that I have the ability to convey stuff I learn in quite an emotional and narative way. I like that. How can I take this further? I want to MORE creative, photos, drawings, video, documentation. Also been pretty good at doing that online etc Creative response, good, realising that you can be creative in any situation, even quite a business way Zone 00 diet really good, body a LOT fitter mind, a bit more time lightness Voice and music, a good year for it so far, more than I've done in ages but want to do more more!! Physical skills, capoeira improved, physical just starting now, want yoga Self supporting skills, hm. A bit learned about gardening Design skills, not as much as I wanted but quite a bit. Need to internalise it and be able to convey to others. Know key points. Patterns...? ITS
Networks in different communities...capoeira, met new friends, internet networks, more? Womens groups, meditation, more permaculture networks, artist networks, get in with people doing the things I want to do Economic. Alternative economy...hm, gave it a go. My money making, made some money by doing my own thing, drawings. Was really cool. But more, what is MY vocation? I need a skill, a thing I do. Permaculture design. I've done a bit but not as public as I want. Do some more Theatre sysetems interact Popular rethink.... Engage with a business/ body larger than I have before. Def done that, with fullers stuff, council, internet stuff, crowd sourcing stuff. But now how do I cultivate my skills to engage in a PC way, in a way that I get what I need? |
Evaluate
So taking into account what I have observed of my process in the past year here are some key points about my pathway past and future
So having reviewed what has happened, it's time to look back at my goals articulation... I've been thinking a lot about goals recently. This is a cool article on goal setting. Goals can change, and it's not good to lock yourself down to a past self, there are things I know now that I didn't know before. So it's good to review them often.
Connecting to what feels true to me, and what that intangible feeling of well-being means to me, that is the way I will find my true concept of success, rather than one that is learned. To me it means being of use, and empowering self and others. Living in a way that gives back more than I take from being here. Regenerative. Regenerate comes from 'created again'. Creative. 'To re-grow once destroyed, bring into renewed existence bring new and more vigorous life to something.' That sounds great. I feel like I can refine my goals now to fit that idea of success, however at the same time in need to realise that there may be many ways of getting 'there', and I need to be open to that. Nietzsche said "We hear only those questions for which we are in a position to find answers" flexibility is a massive part of nature and permaculture design.
After a bit of time with permaculture I have realised that there is a certain thing that it in my nature, and to do my best to work with it not against it (that means not blocking it through fear too). I will always feel like an artist an have a mind that is drawn to the aesthetic and desire to share, so my pathway has to reflect that.
Looking back at integral theory it's becoming sort of clear why I've had this feeling that I want a ballance in all that I do, and I am finding it hard to strike that ballance. I guess I feel like I am taking little bits of inspiration and time with a lot of different things because I want an integral life. For example a lot of people who are very spiritiual and disconnect themselves from a large chunk of society. And the other side, people who don't connect with their deep intuition or nature. I've found it quite a question in the past six months or so. And have been wondering why I have found myself dipping into all sorts like a hummingbird.
I have also thought that this ability is a skill, and have been wondering how to use it best? With woofing and living with all people I have always done this. I've been a bit nervous about interacting with worlds that don't seem 'me' and don't fit in with 'green' ideals but, surely to solve problems you have to interact with the problem?
Permaculture is "Positively interactive; all things can work...it’s about setting the mainframe of how to put together. Permaculture is the wardrobe and hangers etc, what you put in there to fulfill your needs could be anything." That's what Geoff Lawton says. So I am going to not give myself grief about the things I am getting involved with but just make sure that how I interact with them is in line with my intentions. Flexibility yo.
By the end of my diploma (August 2013) I would like to be qualified and confident in carrying out design processes in different situations, and an in-depth understanding of permaculture principals, work and systems, so I can be an informed practitioner! I would like to have a competent collection of skills to be an effective creator or collaborator in permaculture related and inspired work, all within the title of a designer.
I would like to take my skills that I enjoy out into society to be used to entertain, inspire and convey positive messages. I would like to improve my confidence and nurture for self so I can be most effective for others.
I hope to really live this process and for the designs to really enable me to design and carry out living into my intentions now with least effort and waste. A way to focus my energies on multiple outputs and many beneficial interactions…and to really ingrain permaculture thinking into my life through practice of design implementation.
At the end of the two years I would like to be confidently closer to my long term goals. (a space for art and growing, for all people)
I would like my portfolio to be an exciting, artistic and informative resource for many people.
- Credit where it is due, I feel like I have made lots of discoveries, and so key subtle changes in the way I do things but
- I need to step it up a gear, with only a year left there needs to be great focus on internalising important elements of permaculture and methods of design. I need to be able to talk about it with others so that I can talk confidently about it with people who don't know yet
- I want more land based experience and I want to get involved in social change and enterprise.
- I work better with others and need to put myself in these situations
- The original aim was to build towards a more whole sense of my life and as I am starting to understand that it's becoming all the more important to me that I develop a career that is definable. At least for the moment whilst I build towards my ultimate goal
- I do still feel my vision about the end of my diploma but feel it's a little bit wafey, and now I need to be stronger about WHAT I am going to do HOW am I going to get these things?
- Refine, I don't want to be a permaculture designer, I don't think I have the mega skills or attention for swales and things, at least not where I am now. I would like to be able to do the creative and social stuff along side designers. This is what I would like, to collaborate. So I need to develop skills to do that eh. This needs to be REALLY specific, what do I need, courses, people, places, how do I get from here to doing what I love. Is it useful to have this as a one year plan and then one as a five year plan? I think so.
So having reviewed what has happened, it's time to look back at my goals articulation... I've been thinking a lot about goals recently. This is a cool article on goal setting. Goals can change, and it's not good to lock yourself down to a past self, there are things I know now that I didn't know before. So it's good to review them often.
Connecting to what feels true to me, and what that intangible feeling of well-being means to me, that is the way I will find my true concept of success, rather than one that is learned. To me it means being of use, and empowering self and others. Living in a way that gives back more than I take from being here. Regenerative. Regenerate comes from 'created again'. Creative. 'To re-grow once destroyed, bring into renewed existence bring new and more vigorous life to something.' That sounds great. I feel like I can refine my goals now to fit that idea of success, however at the same time in need to realise that there may be many ways of getting 'there', and I need to be open to that. Nietzsche said "We hear only those questions for which we are in a position to find answers" flexibility is a massive part of nature and permaculture design.
After a bit of time with permaculture I have realised that there is a certain thing that it in my nature, and to do my best to work with it not against it (that means not blocking it through fear too). I will always feel like an artist an have a mind that is drawn to the aesthetic and desire to share, so my pathway has to reflect that.
Looking back at integral theory it's becoming sort of clear why I've had this feeling that I want a ballance in all that I do, and I am finding it hard to strike that ballance. I guess I feel like I am taking little bits of inspiration and time with a lot of different things because I want an integral life. For example a lot of people who are very spiritiual and disconnect themselves from a large chunk of society. And the other side, people who don't connect with their deep intuition or nature. I've found it quite a question in the past six months or so. And have been wondering why I have found myself dipping into all sorts like a hummingbird.
I have also thought that this ability is a skill, and have been wondering how to use it best? With woofing and living with all people I have always done this. I've been a bit nervous about interacting with worlds that don't seem 'me' and don't fit in with 'green' ideals but, surely to solve problems you have to interact with the problem?
Permaculture is "Positively interactive; all things can work...it’s about setting the mainframe of how to put together. Permaculture is the wardrobe and hangers etc, what you put in there to fulfill your needs could be anything." That's what Geoff Lawton says. So I am going to not give myself grief about the things I am getting involved with but just make sure that how I interact with them is in line with my intentions. Flexibility yo.
By the end of my diploma (August 2013) I would like to be qualified and confident in carrying out design processes in different situations, and an in-depth understanding of permaculture principals, work and systems, so I can be an informed practitioner! I would like to have a competent collection of skills to be an effective creator or collaborator in permaculture related and inspired work, all within the title of a designer.
I would like to take my skills that I enjoy out into society to be used to entertain, inspire and convey positive messages. I would like to improve my confidence and nurture for self so I can be most effective for others.
I hope to really live this process and for the designs to really enable me to design and carry out living into my intentions now with least effort and waste. A way to focus my energies on multiple outputs and many beneficial interactions…and to really ingrain permaculture thinking into my life through practice of design implementation.
At the end of the two years I would like to be confidently closer to my long term goals. (a space for art and growing, for all people)
I would like my portfolio to be an exciting, artistic and informative resource for many people.
This is my new quadrant. These are areas that I want to continue and to push to help me with my pathway.
Here's some stuff that has inspired my new goal setting coming from the problems I felt about needing to 'achieve' or 'get somewhere.'
“I think the reward for conformity is that everyone likes you except yourself.”
― Rita Mae Brown
This is a really funny an inspiring talk about our concepts of success. It really made me think. Click to watch.
― Rita Mae Brown
This is a really funny an inspiring talk about our concepts of success. It really made me think. Click to watch.
And another...
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Starting to get down to the essence of the drive behind what I like doing/want to do.
Based on something I saw by Simon Sinek about the golden circles of leadership. How really successful businesses always have a very strong starting point of WHY which pervades all they do. It also means that all products or services they provide link in that ethic. Useful for me being a jack of all trades... 
Exploring my learned concept of success.
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Some crazy brain thoughts about building skills, decreasing needs and waste and increasing to be able to re-invest my surplus
Uncovering the true meaning of success to me
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