Reconnecting to Nature

Health and Healing

Socially Engaged Spirituality

2. Awakening and Transformation of Consciousness
Who am I?	Integral Practices	Practices in Ecovillages	Becoming a Co-creator of Evolution

“Time is conceived of as a circular sea where all events exist here and now.” - Damanhur’s newsletter April 2008

Damanhur

Damanhur, at the foothills of the Alps in Italy, started in 1977 inspired by Oberto Airaudi, also known as Falco (all members have taken animal and plant names as a way of identifying with the natural world). There are more than 1000 members from many countries and with varying degrees of commitment, most living in 20 communities of between 12 and 20 persons. Together they make up the Federation of Damanhur, a new people. Although the communities are scattered over the extensive Valchiusella valley, many are now inhabiting the little village of Vidracco, where they recently bought the old Olivetti factory and turned it into a center of their many activities: shops, restaurants, art exhibition, a big conference hall and theater, workshops and clinics. Their artwork—mosaics, glasswork, painting, metalwork and ceramics— is world class and sold in many airports and exclusive shops around the world. The local mayor is a member. Built into the nearby mountain is their amazing Temple of Humankind, eight big halls built underground and exquisitely decorated with all existing decorative art forms. Damanhur has developed 40 businesses, its own currency, schools, a university, research projects and a daily paper. Every half year they choose two “kings” (a man and a woman) to head the community.

Damanhur writes the following of their philosophy:

Quote

“Every human being contains a divine principle and is part of an active spiritual eco-system that includes higher and higher forces. The physical form that we inhabit and the dimension of time and space, in which we exist, are transitory. The principle goal of the human being is to become conscious of his inner divinity and render matter sacred, in order that the universe can become a conscious part of God."

“The search for the inner self and God coincides, with the human being acting as a bridge-Form between the spiritual and material planes. All human beings contain this completeness within and can use it as a crucible for transformation, to harmonize spirit and matter. It is important that humankind elevates the quality of its relationship with the world and life itself, through the choices that it makes and the action that it takes. The comprehension of who we really are is founded on dynamic aspects: a harmonious and continuous inner transformation, the overcoming of personal limits, the capacity to measure ourselves through action and practical work, the respect for all forms of life, be they subtle or physical.”

Damanhurian society is structured in such a way that spiritual research is combined with every day life. All Damanhurians can participate in research groups called ‘The Ways’ that recall the idea of ancient orders. The Way of Art and the Word, the Way of the Oracle, the Way of Health, the Way of the Monks and Esoteric Couples, the Way of the Knights, are all involved in different sectors of research. Music, dance, health, rituality, education are just some of the experimental fields of these socio-spiritual pathways.

In a tragic period of Earth history, in which more and more peoples and races are disappearing, impoverishing the culture and diversity of all humanity, Damanhur is creating a new human group with its own artistic, philosophical and cultural expressions. The People of Damanhur are not linked by blood ties, but by profound spiritual choices: values such as sharing, solidarity, positive thinking and an active commitment to re-awaken human consciousness on this planet.

Spiritual Ecovillages

ICSA Meeting

ICSA meeting at Damanhur, summer 2007 with the local mayor from Damanhur in the middle.

A two dimensional map of the Temple of Humankind.
Click on image to enlarge

Music Damanhur

Music in the Hall of Mirrors.