Communes . . . Cults . . . Culture –                 

                        Intentional Communities

By Isis & E Aquarian

With Thanks to Tim Miller, author of “The 60’s Communes”

Intentional Communities have been around since near the dawn of man.  Actually, tribes and villages evolved out of survival necessity and were little more than long-term experiments in communal living.  Communal and tribal are almost interchangeable words.  Communalism can be seen to be a natural instinct in much of the animal kingdom . . . and coming together, working together and sharing is an instinct and has been an effective survival tactic among humans too.

There have been communal groups in America almost from the beginning and some were quite well-known in the 1800’s.  The greatest wave of communal living in American History crested during the tumultuous 1960’s era and spilled over into the early 70’s.  Widely thought to be sinks of drug-ridden, sexual immorality, the communes both intrigued and repelled the American people and the world 

The Intentional communities of the 60’s era were far more diverse than the broad stereotype of the hippie commune would suggest.  A great many of them were based upon religious and spiritual foundations and stressed soul growth and disciplined lifestyles.  Others were founded upon secular visions of a better society and hundreds of them were so stable and productive that they survive – even thrive – today !   It may shock you to know that there were tens of thousands of them and there are still many thousands of them.  Wonder why most don’t know that ?   Well, mainly because we usually only hear about the bad ones . . . and there is an extremely small percentage of those !   And – for many reasons, especially because the few bad apples have garnered such negative press – many of the rest of the communes, groups and intentional communities tend to maintain a pretty low profile.  If you want a little substantiation for these factoids – or want to know more about communal life – visit http://ic.org and check out the vast amount of information available – including a huge list of currently registered communities.

A new type of community sprang up in the early 60’s and into the mid-70’s.  That was a very interesting timeframe, especially in America.  The fever of change gripped the alienated youth.  They seemed to know – as a generation – that there was something “Better”.  They just didn’t know exactly what !   Their search lead them to experiment, and droves tried out what were – to them – new ideas, such as various forms of Eastern mysticism.  Large numbers of young Americans traveled all over the world, discovering powerful new messages in distant places like Tibet and the ashrams of India.  And the new concepts which they brought home helped to birth the many spiritual communes, Jesus freaks, and followers of Asian and Indian teachers back in America.  Hundreds of thousands of (mostly) young dreamers set out to build a new culture – something apart from the established society of their parents era, of the depression and World War II.  There had been so much pressure on that generations that they had often resorted to prescription drugs, alcohol, nicotine and amphetamines to deal with their mental and emotional stress and the hip generation yearned for something new.  

The earlier communal groups of 50 and 60’s helped to bring forth the hip, communal energy but that infectious energy had actually started way back in the early 1900’s with the rise of antebellum reformism, transcendentalism, and mysticism which flowed into the roaring 20’s.  The Bohemian movement of the 30’s and 40’s helped to lead into – and peak out with – the Beatniks of the 50’s, whose contagious creativity (and media coverage - not to mention Rock Music) helped to spark the pulse of the radical changes of the 60’s and early 70’s.  The communes soon became associated with the hippies and much of the media coverage gravitated to them.

A generation has already elapsed since the energy of the 60’s.  This pioneering peer group is starting to pass away and/or forget.  Maybe for good reason.  What’s that old joke ?  If you remember the ‘60’s, you weren’t really there !   But recently there has been a renewed interest in that timeframe, the stories and the changes that we wrought.  Partially because so many of our renovations are becoming mainstream – such as home birth and death, breast feeding, home schooling, organic gardening, vegetarianism and meditation – we could go on and on – at least we’re no longer considered to be freaks of some great, communal tidal wave. 

Since the hippies, the movement of change and rebellion has kept on rolling right into the yuppies, the dead heads, the baby boomers, generations x & y, the punks, geeks, slackers, goths, rappers, and so forth – with each one thinking it is the most unique group ever !

The great communal heyday is over, as we knew it.  They were lighthouses that shone a new beacon to all who sought to improve the status quo . . . signaling that maybe a better way of life really could be possible.  We were a minor revolution – the shock troops who came to break the mold – to reveal the infinite possibilities of a great soaring of the spirit !   We shared a moment in time during which many people were just naturally trusting – many acting on good faith and accepting each other without judgment.  The goal was to try to do what is right – to behave right . . . to open a new door !   And many walked right through it !   Many feel this energy has not run it course yet !   Indeed, that there is another “Happening” coming around now. 

Many communes have survived and most of them went through many of the same changes leading many of their children to leave their dream.  But some stayed . . . and some of those are now the new generation that has taken over where their parents left off.  And that generation seeks to know more about that time frame – and what their parents went through – but also how they can take it to the next level and implement more of a eco-friendly and successful communal society for themselves.

Although this era was short-lived, the social impact it had on American life and the world has been solid and is ongoing, even though most groups long ago disbanded and the members have gone on to find their own individual ways and life.  Their experiences have affected their current lives and – as they remember and share – their immense body of lore, facts and anecdotes are just coming into the public eye.

Now - if you have chosen to work on “Your Path” . . . you may want to use the ancient "Key" of sharing that Path with others who are doing the same work that you are.  This has always been an important "Key on The Path to Enlightenment". 

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