The Core Group (Ashram):
The Foundation for Community
(An Evolving Vision)
by Jane Ilene Cohen, copyright © 8/2/04
There are many ways to approach Core Groups, depending upon what the intentions of the particular members are, and the type of community they wish to form.The below description is an evolving vision of what I personally feel aligned with, although it seems to me probable that at least some of what I've described below would be essential for any core group to be successful as a foundation for community.
Community is fundamentally about relationships. The small core group of founding members, referred to here as the Ashram is the foundation out of which the larger community grows. In addition to their relationship as a group, each member has their particular relationship with each other, according to what is true between them. Each relationship affects the whole group. Therefore within the Ashram all relationships are transparent; nothing is kept secret.
This is in-depth relating between people who feel aligned with each other, with the same depth of emotional-spiritual love and potential as between a committed couple. But the potential is actually greater, because of the potential for more avenues of truth, perspectives outside of a triggered state (which couples can get locked into death grips with), and more avenues of satisfying connection. There is also much more freedom, because each person feels supported by the whole without feeling confined by the needs or expectations of someone whose whole world depends on you or vice versa.
I'm unclear how in-depth relating within the group applies to sex between members other than with a specific mate. I'm fairly clear sex can't be the initial or primary group focus. Sex can too easily be used to divert awareness of the emotional truth between people, which is generally a more challenging process. This process takes coming into a state of awareness most people tend to avoid. Sex tends to lock things into a set relationship form that can be hard to get past, blurring consciousness.
However revealing sexual responses and desires should definitely be done. Basic to the potential of the Ashram is the emotional experience and unedited, conscious revealing of emotional and physical responses and desires in relation to each other. (It's important to distinguish between revealing and taking action.) This includes admitting what we want on the deepest levels, even if we need to begin with the defense systems' dysfunctional desires. What causes major challenges is people not drawing the distinction between the illusion of what they think they can get from the other person, which leads to locked-in forms, and discovering what's really true in relation to the other person. People often prefer the fantasy of intimacy, rather than real intimacy. Real intimacy is not sticky or clingy, or confining, nor does it necessarily have to do with sex. It is based on connecting with the truth of what's genuine and congruent within us.
In the Ashram, relationships are not based on assumptions or expectations, but instead on an exploration of what is true from moment-to-moment, present moment experience. Therefore staying in dialogue is essential. There has to be a commitment to expose and move through unhealed emotional issues. To do this we have to be willing to reveal everything of significance. Members must be able to stay open and not shut people out even when it gets uncomfortable. We must also be very skilled at working with unhealed issues when they're triggered and use them for transformation rather than getting stuck in defense systems. No significant emotional conflict should be pushed under the rug, but should instead be used as a tool for transformation. Vital to that process working is a deep understanding that life is meant to work and the only thing that really exists between people, under the subterfuge, is love. And when we get to the truth of what people are experiencing under the surface of the defense systems, the highest benefit for each person concerned can unfold
This holds great and exciting potential for cutting-edge, evolutionary expansion, guided by the Divine, shifting the ground under our feet, shifting old paradigms and moving into a much more positive, ecstatic and beneficial survival system.
The foundation of the ashram is based on a deep spiritual connection with Divine Source and Guidance. The focus in the Ashram is on moving closer and closer to present moment experience, to release the power and wonder that exists there on progressively deeper levels. The secrets of the universe lie in the present-moment living experience we usually skip over.
Shifting to a More Positive, Ecstatic and Beneficial Survival System
From my perspective, the system of survival held in place by the global consciousness is based on a dysfunctional and limited consciousness. Each member of the Ashram brings the unique qualities, gifts and focuses they brought in with them when they came into this experience on earth. Among these are aspects of a new paradigm that are essential in shifting to a new more evolved survival system. Each aspect of certain essential qualities must be in place to make this shift.
Some essentials for this shift that come to mind are: dedication to truth, unconditional love, total integrity, deep reverence for the Divine, joy, moving ever closer to our deepest enlightened self-interest, the fullest expression of our unique God-selves, the flow of sensual, sexual life force energy, the courage to explore and be open to the unknown, pushing back the envelope of our experience of reality.
In addition, each member of the ashram brings to the group experience their vast on-going universe of experience in the outer world, making both outer and group life even more meaningful, empowered and connected.
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(760) 753-0733 - JC@janecohen.net - Encinitas, CA
