OUR Community Bank Works!!!

First of all, I want to thank everyone that “chipped in” to help me meet my most basic needs this month—the unexpected perks, aside from being able to pay my rent, included overflowing feelings of love, gratitude, hope, support, and all that hippie stuff (which as you all know, are quite contagious!)  In addition to contributions made by some of you (and by some of you whom I have never even met in person!!! Even made some new kick-ass friends!), there has been overwhelming support for the whole IDEA of utilizing OUR Community Banks! 

In the process, I have been introduced to several more wonderful economic gift/share options, such as Villages.cc  which is a platform for communities to share/exchange their skills and services, without the use of money!  And because there are a lot of Paypal haters out there (I understand!), I have also learned about another alternative way to share our money (as well as sell some of our crafts!) at WePay  and then, of course, there is also Dwolla.com.

It has always been MY direct experience (and not some hippie axiom) that in the midst of perceived chaos, that such situations bring out the BEST in people.  And here, I have MORE proof!  

Need money? Ask YOUR Community Bank! A radical new way to share Our Money with the people we love (and no amount is too small!)

Did your car just break-down, or your laptop crash?  Does your dog/child/sister need medical attention, but you don’t have any health insurance? Did you get a parking ticket in San Francisco and now you can’t pay your internet bill?  Do you need help paying your heating bill? Did a random rock crack your windshield?  Did you loose your iphone/camera/a contract?  Are you $200 short of rent this month?  Whatever!  At some point, in everyone’s life, we (meaning the 99%) need some extra money. 

Wouldn’t it be nice, if when we needed this money (which may be big to you, but small to your friend)--instead of going into survival/stress mode (which physically, emotionally, and spiritually affects you and everyone around you in a negative way)-- you would be able to give a “shout out” to YOUR Community Bank?  In response, YOUR Community Bank, the people who know and trust you, can “chip in” to help—if and when and as much as they can, or want?   With no awkwardness (some people have problems asking for help), no drama (no one is keeping score!), no credit checks, no applications, no loans, no interest, and without relying on any outside body, corporation or banking institution—or GOD/Buddha/Allah/Vishnu forbid, the pawnshop?!

Who or what is YOUR Community Bank?  

Well, in all brevity, it is everyone you know!  Your immediate and extended family, your circle of friends (including your virtual friends—aka, FB, Twitter, etc.), your peers, and who knows?  Maybe some people from your friends’ friends?   Starting with your own family, friends and peer colleagues-- combining “crowd-sourcing”, “pay it forward”, gift/share economy, and tangible love and appreciation directly for your family, friends and yourself—I am calling it “The Community Bank.”  In YOUR Community Bank, everyone you know is a potential GIVER, and everyone is equally a potential recipient, or RECEIVER. *My ultimate goal is to change capitalism as we know it, and I think everyone agrees the current system is not working for, well, at least 99% of the population ;)

We all know people struggling to meet relatively small demands (it might be YOU, right now!)—an internet bill, an outstanding medical bill, food for your dog, school supplies for your child, etc.  (*some of you also have BIG needs like cancer treatments and legal battles—the Community Bank is for you too!)   Most people I know have been living in “survival mode” over the past couple of years, scraping to pay relatively small bills (mortgages, medical bills, rising food costs) and whatnot—and have become trapped  in the media-fed “scarcity-thinking” mentality, and then, we started hoarding our pennies—which basically stops the flow of cash.  We are all seeing and feeling this cash-flow halt on a global scale right now.  We need to get the money flowing again and why not start with empowering and supporting our own family, friends and peers first?!  (Just think, if EVERYONE used their Community Bank, wouldn’t that just about cover everyone in the world?!!!!)

Wouldn’t it be awesome, if we could say to OUR Community Bank:   “Hey Friends!  My car broke down yesterday, and I just need $ X to pay for it…can I cash in on OUR Community Bank? “  And then, those friends who have $10 or $20, whatever to spare at that moment in time, would say, “Wow!  I have been there, broken-down car sucks—here, I will paypal you $10!  Hope this helps!”  Yes, of course-- every bit helps—no amount is too small!  And every dollar helps not just on the material/physical plane, but also on the mental/spiritual plane—don’t make me get all hippie/Abraham Hicks/Law of Attraction/The Secret /Deepak Chopra on you!

Of course, no one is ever obliged to respond to a “call to the Community Bank”, you only do give when you can or if you want.  And since everyone in YOUR Community Bank is a family member, friend or peer, the Community Bank is self-governing and cannot be abused (and if it were abused, well, we would ALL know it—wouldn’t we?!)  In other words, if we felt someone is asking ALL the time…then we simply don’t have to give anything—no drama.

Think of it…no interest, no applications, no fees, no loans, no federal bank bullshit, no credit checks, no stress, no evictions, none of our friends or family go hungry or without medicine they need…we take care of ourselves by sharing what we can, when we can!   So let’s say, I put a shout out NOW to MY Community Bank and say, “Hey, I need to pay FEB rent and my bills this month!”  (This is true, by the way!)  And 100 people from My Community Bank (which is you) send me $10 each, I am totally covered—and then I can search for a more stable, secure income without the stress of worrying about a possible eviction. 

And what if MORE than 100 people respond with $10?, you ask…  Well, this means I have surplus!  And if I have surplus that means when YOU put a shout out to OUR Community Bank, then I can send you money!  Or better yet, it means I can go afford to go to YOUR workshop, or buy YOUR art, or YOUR food.  Do you see how this works? ! 

Really, I think it is THAT simple.  I look at all 1000+ of my FB friends as part of MY Community Bank—and this does not mean you have to participate at all!  But imagine if everyone started looking at their family, friends and peers as part of their Community Bank—we could all tangibly help one another meet our basic needs.  And when our basic needs are met, we have the time, energy and space to create more abundance for ourselves, our families, our friends, and with more abundance, we can support local businesses, which boosts the local economy…and so on, and so on.  

In the Community Bank, we help one another with whatever, whenever we can share—without any corporations/outside monies bound—and ultimately, we are all held accountable by our own friends, family and peers.  Let’s start now.  It is that easy. It is ridiculous that a family member, friend, or peer not be able to meet their basic needs.  This is all about pulling our resources together to empower and support one another in all our awesome work and being—keeping it “in the family”, so to speak—and out of the hands of corporations, banks, and other institutions. I also see how this can ultimately strengthen relationships, really bring communities together (as opposed to widening the Have and the Have-Nots),  benefit local businesses, and well, you know bring world peace...but that is a whole other blog.

Let’s begin! Start with sharing this idea EVERYWHERE, starting with your family, friends, and peers! 

Are you AWAKE?!!!

You might have noticed bumper stickers, around the country, on the electric car in front of you, reading: “Are you Awake?!” and then, in small print, a website address-- Awakening360.com.  When you visit Awakening360.com, you find a whole bustling, voracious hybrid community of everything from eco-activists, yoga teachers, artists and musicians, farmers, social entrepreneurs, and doctors, to tarot readers and gurus.  And you wonder what in the world do all these people have in common?!  They are all part of a new “glocal” holistic hub which is powerfully connecting conscious—you know, awake--people around the globe.

It all started, just over a year ago, (previously known as “Awakening the Bay”) created as an online social network, holistic lifestyle guide, local marketplace, and community hub for “conscious people” throughout the Bay Area.  But quickly, people from other parts of the country, even other parts of the world, joined in—regardless of geography or ideology-- because this unifying, spry network has been effectively connecting and nurturing inspiring events, activities and gatherings from all disciplines which seek make the world a better, safer, happier place.

Intentionally empowering local, professional holistic practitioners and eco and socially responsible businesses, as well as inspiring all who visit the site to live, work and love in a more holistic way, Awakening360.com stands out in the self-help and holistic world for two main reasons: (1) Their mission is not just to “change the world”, but to have a damn good time while doing it, and (2) they have an equally active offline community. 

Awakening360.com is like a holistic Eventbrite, Meetup and Living Social, all rolled up in one organic nori roll—with a side of wasabi. And Awakening360.com is not just a bunch of Northern California hippies, there are scientists, medical professionals, engineers, and CEOs in this thriving community—it is like all the TEDTalks lecturers and Bioneers hanging out with local massage therapists, Northern California almond farmers, and some of your favorite DJs.  Since its inception in early 2011, membership (which is free!) has gone up 500%! 

Soon, Awakening360.com will be offering iPhone apps which can help locals and visitors alike find holistic practitioners, services and green products wherever they are, just by the touch of a phone screen. Awakening360.com’s big vision is to mainstream holistic living, working, and being by promoting and empowering local holistic practitioners, as well as educating all who visit the site on all the holistic options for individuals and families, in all aspects of their lives, and most importantly, in a fun way. Are you an Awake?  

Awakening 360: 101

Awakening the Bay has now fully transformed into Awakening360 (we warned you!)--so what does that mean to YOU?!  It means now you can not only find like-minded people, conscious community, holistic practitioners, mind-body-spirit events and workshops in (or near) YOUR town (not just the Bay Area!), but you can connect to the larger global Awakening Community!   

So, we encourage holistic practioners and agents of change across the country to start posting their events, classes, workshops, as well as share your visual and audio arts, eco-wares, arts and crafts, and most importantly, knowledge and skills on Awakening 360 starting now—just in time to promote all your juicy activities for the new year!

We have a bouquet of new features which include:

A new user profile—go check out yours now!  We are no longer using the “friends” format, but “followers”, so that your friends and clients can “follow” your blog, your events, etc.

A new homepage page which is totally personalized, based on your location.   *And in the event that you travel, you can change the location to your desired destination!  And at the bottom of the page, it will show you what YOUR friends are up to.

Holistic Search!  Yes, now you can search for specific events and workshops, holistic services, articles, professional members in your neighborhood, and whatnot—no matter where you go!  (Phone apps coming soon!)

A new events platform!  You can now sign up and buy tickets to all posted holistic events, workshops, retreats, etc. through our website, using paypal!  (Think of a “holistic” eventbrite!)  And our site will automatically show you all events within a 50 mile radius of your location.

For Professional Members:  Check out our new directory, also localized!

A whole new community page:  You can follow friends, favorite teachers/healers, events, workshops, or if you prefer, follow the feed for the entire Awakening 360 community.

Coming Soon:  The MarketPlace (formerly known as Karma Deals)—here we will start featuring products and services from our Awakening 360 community professionals, artists, and holistic practitioners! 

Before the Occupy Movement, there was Awakening the Bay

Before the whole Occupy Movement manifested in the Bay Area, there was already a dedicated group of local professional holistic practitioners working to mainstream holistic living, loving/parenting, working, buying/consuming, and just being, as well as trying to promote local green and socially-responsible businesses, throughout the Bay Area, in a conscious effort to address the present (and future) socio-economic and environmental issues—meet Awakening the Bay.   

Awakening the Bay is an online local social network serving as a lifestyle guide, holistic marketplace, and community for “conscious people”, throughout the Bay Area (and beyond!), in order to nurture their holistic programs, workshops, events, businesses, and activities to become more economically, socially, and spiritually sustainable, as well as to inspire all who visit the site to live, work and love in a more holistic way.

In the past year, since its inception in early 2011, Awakening the Bay membership (which is free!) has gone up 500%!  It become the holistic “eventbrite” promoting and listing dozens of good-for-the-mind-body-spirit and nature events, classes, workshops, festivals, lectures, etc. throughout the Bay Area, while at the same time, creating an active, off-line community. 

In addition to becoming a holistic events hub and offering informative articles on all aspects of holistic living, Awakening the Bay also features Karma Deals—which are like Living Social deals, only Karma Deals are eco-friendly, socially-responsible products and services from LOCAL vendors and practitioners (thus strengthening our local economy!) 

Soon, Awakening the Bay will be offering iPhone apps which can help locals and visitors alike find holistic practitioners, services and green products throughout the Bay Area, by the touch of a phone screen. Awakening Bay’s big vision is to mainstream holistic living, working, and being by promoting and empowering local holistic practitioners, as well as educating all who visit the site on all the holistic options for individuals and families, in all aspects of their lives.


Are you an Awakener?

Kelly's answer to "What do you do?"

I have to admit whenever someone asks me, “What do you do?”-- I cringe because I do not have a simple answer, or a common noun to give them.  My answer requires a power point presentation and usually a glossary.  And it is always an American asking me this question, I might add—because the rest of the world finds this to be one of the rudest questions you could possibly ask a stranger….the East Africans even have a joke about it:  “How do Americans greet one another?”  Answer:  “What do you do?”

This joke makes Africans laugh so hard they snort, because it is the “cultural” equivalent of asking, “Do you like anal sex with a kudu?”  Anyway, to address what I am doing NOW, as opposed to my early 20’s, early 30’s, and even my most recent work in Costa Rica (Bien de Mujer and Wise Heart Books)…as always, it is a mixed bag of projects (some paid and some not)—but all with the common theme, my MISSION:  to change the world and have a GREAT time doing it!

So, when I am not writing articles about “Alternative Recreation” for both the SF and DC Examiner—which covers non-mainstream edu-taining events/parties/activities; fundraisers for valuable causes (hopefully increasing awareness of certain issues); and mind-body-spirit recreation—I am working as the Awakening the Bay Community Manager—which means a lot of writing; attending holistic events/workshops/etc.; introducing/connecting people to Awakening the Bay—which is subversive-- in that it seeks to economically empower, connect and educate holistic practitioners and social entrepreneurial businesses/projects, but ultimately to convert everyone to better model of capitalism and more holistic living, working and just being. 

And this is not to mention, the several dozen other projects, on multiple continents, that I have my hands in... hoping that they will succeed because their contribution to the world is so valuable.   So, now ask yourself…what do you do? 

And better yet, “If you could have any job in the world, what would it be?”  If you are not doing your "dream job", then perhaps, this is exactly what you need to be looking at right now.  (Just a suggestion, my inner-hippie made me say that!)

Playing with your “spirdar” (Scientific Experiment #9867)

I am suggesting that just for one day, as an experiment, to follow your “spirdar” and see what happens.  I am confident someone more clever than I has thought of a better term for this phenomenon, but for the purposes of this exercise, I am going to call it your “spirdar.”  Yes, think Gaydar (the phenomenon of detecting the sexuality of another) --only this is some kind of internal system for detecting the presence, direction, or frequency of another spirit.  This exercise requires that you be fully present and aware of others around you, even on the bus or waiting in line, and see to whom your attention draws.

And for the sake of pseudo-scientific experimentation, you are supposed to initiate conversation with the person who has drawn your attention.  Because in my experience, and I highly suspect yours as well, you will be pleasantly surprised to find either a “bizarre”, inexplicable connection with that person, or that you have something they need (or vice versa, they have something you need.)  And yes, I am going to give you a lot of examples of my own experimentation playing with my “spirdar” the other day, but the point is to see if this phenomenon holds true for everyone (and I suspect it does.)

Some days we are more “aware” than others, and this past Sunday, I was feeling fully aware, so I thought I would test out my “spirdar”, as a “true” scientist.  My experiment started before I even got on the bus to ecstatic dance (Sweet’s/Mass Transit), when a homeless woman asked me for some money for she and her family. 

My universal policy on begging:  I will give away food (if I have some on me) but never money.  I told her, “No, sorry, I do not have any money, only exact change for the bus. “ Then, I combed my purse for any food items and all I had was a bag of blow-pops, which I was going to share with my ecstatic dance friends—I mean, who does not like blow-pops?!!!  She started to walk away.

“Did you say you have kids? Because all I got is some lollipops—not the healthiest choice, but who doesn’t like blow-pops?”

She gleamed, “Well, actually, I can use them because I am diabetic and when my blood sugar gets low…”  So we started talking about diabetes and about how the food bank rarely gives out sweets for diabetics, and while we are talking about food banks, they also pass out food that needs to be cooked, and if you are homeless, well, you have nothing to cook with! 

That’s funny, I KNOW someone who works at the Food Bank.  Note to self:  Make sure to tell Sasha that the Food Bank needs to be aware that giving out food items that need to be cooked to homeless people is not only not helping them, but frustrating for them—the food banks have to pass out ready-to-eat food stuffs and make sure they have emergency sweets in stock for diabetics.

I get to ecstatic dance at Sweet’s and the ballroom is packed, I mean PACKED, with well, ecstatic dancing people.  I find that, using my spirdar, grazing over the moving crowd, I can easily pick out my friends because they kind of “glowed”…oh, there is Joceyln, Catherine, Gail, etc.  While I am dancing, (well, really, I am doing Qi Gong to music), my attention keeps getting drawn to this one particular woman and I am thinking:  She is probably another FaceBook friend that I have had many conversations with, but never met in person—what is her name?

It just so happens this woman and I run into one another in the bathroom.  I ask her, “Have we met?  Are we FaceBook friends?”  No, we have never met and no, she is not a FaceBook friend, however, without a word from me, she starts to tell me she just finished her public health nursing degree and wants to work in Africa, Mali, to be specific.  Ahhh…there it is!  (I shouldn’t have to explain this connection!)

At circle time, I discover I am holding hands with Lisa, with whom I (forgot but) met at the last FEM Talks.  Ahh.. there it is.  Then on my way back home, an old woman asks me for directions to the Art and Soul Festival, I send her on her way and as she goes, she says, “You should go!”  But I did not follow my spirdar, instead I went home to wrestle with my computer for hours (in the end, I won the wrestling match but it was not pretty)…I should have listened to her, no doubt I would have had a much better time at the Art and Soul Festival.

I could give you a dozen other examples, but by now, I hope you get my point, and this will inspire you to “test” out your spirdar and see where it takes you!  And remember, to quote Kurt Vonnegut, “peculiar travel suggestions are dancing lessons from God.” And from the Desiderata: “Listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story” because there may just be a message there for you.