Creating a Transformative Culture
Ecovillage Design Education Course - Schloss Glarisegg Community - Switzerland
Next Dates
9th January - 15th February 2025
We have heard:
"Be the change you want to see in the world!”
And we ask:
"How do we do that?"
Creating a Transformative Culture is a process of awakening and expanding our consciousness, individually and collectively.
We position that the planetary and humanitarian crisis is in its very essence a crisis of consciousness. Therefore we put inner transformation at the core of outer transformation. We create a culture, where vulnerability in leadership is understood and embraced. Honoring each individual’s unique contribution, we recognize that empowerment is a shared journey, guiding us in the response ability in the healing of the planet.
By recognizing the power in community and interpersonal process work, we intentionally deepen our capacity for authenticity and intimacy, compassion and connection.
Our innate interdependence calls us to social and ecological justice for all life on earth. We see nature and every element of creation as sacred, with human beings nestled inside the whole.
By embracing the creative tension between known and unknown, where we are and where we would like to be, we create our playground. Here we celebrate the power of co-creation, where we align ourselves collectively to what wants to emerge.
Creating a Transformative Culture is also a five 5 weeks experiential laboratory, where you can discover your self and your possibilities for being in and creating community. The core curriculum of Gaia Education Design serves as a basic structure around which we experiment with many of the social tools needed for communities to thrive.You will find your peers and get the condensed wisdom of world wide pioneers and communities in order to Create a Transformative Culture in the World!
What is an EDE?
The Ecovillage Design Education is a comprehensive course in Integrative Whole Systems Design for Sustainability.
It is organised as a mandala that we call the sustainability wheel, encompassing what we perceive to be the four primary dimensions of human experience –Worldview, Ecological, Social and Economic aspects.
To view the learning outcomes and the curriculum, click here
By fulfilling the course requirements, you will receive:
Certification by Gaia Education as an EDE designer
Curriculum
The EDE at Glarisseg is a yearly creation on the base of Gaias Education curriculum. We invite external seminar leaders, game changers, networkers and community builders to join us on the learning path. Workshops are being held with non-formal, embodied, participatory models of education. Course language is English. First step for change! We welcome participants of all ages, nationalities and background.
Social
- Collective processes for community building including
Scott Peck
- Sociocracy 3.0 - Group Decision Making
- Possibility Management
- Forum
- Conflict Resolution
- Way of Council, Fishbowl
- Transparent Communication
Worldview/cultural
- Deep Ecology
- The Work that Reconnects
- Holotropic Breathwork
- Meeting Ecovillage founders
- Global Ecovillage Network
- Sweatlodge
- Gender Themes
- Singing Culture
Ecological
- Permaculture Design & Principles
- Global Chocolate Production
- World Food production & Distribuition
- Ecological Gastronomy
- Dynamic Agroforestry - Food Forests
- Hands on gardening
- Food Waste
Economic
- Regenerative Economics & Degrowth
- Global Economy
- Leadership and Entrepreneurship
- Comparing Community Economies
- Empowered Fundraising
- Money, You and the Economy
Holistic Design
- Dragon Dreaming
- Embodied Leadership
- Mentoring on group projects
- Permaculture Principles in Design Functions
- Various theoretical approachesTheory U
Embodied Practices
- Contact Improvisation
- Authentic movement & Authentic voicing
- Playfight
- Life Dance
- Holistic Dance Practices
- Meditation, Yoga & Breahtwork
bring your project
get help making your dreams come true,
bring your dream projects!
Small working groups will organize around projects of their choice. Not all project ideas will be selected. The course is anchored by applying the elements learned in each of the four dimensions to these real life dreams.
EDE Video Library
The Hardest Thing I've Ever Loved - Creating a Transformative Culture
WAKE UP CHILD - A Short Film on Intimacy with Nature
Ecovillage Design Education - Community Schloss Glarisegg (Switzerland)
The Council of All Beings
testimonials
Krissy Goecks,
USA
“EDE taught me that there are many options on how to live life. Mindfulness, community and giving back to others were wonderful lessons I learned in my month at Glarisegg.”
Iker Col,
Catalunya
“At the EDE I discovered that there is a network much bigger than I was thinking. I learned the tools to join our forces, to live more in harmony and to be more human. The EDE was like a meeting of tribes that have to join to heal the planet.”
Tayla Antunes,
Brasil
¨I ended up learning much more about myself, my limits... But also about my strengths. And the best part: learning and sharing with so many like minded people, overcoming our differences, working on the conflicts (internal as well). Working throughout the whole month with a sociocratical organisation was one of the best highlights.“
Konstantinos Sbonias,
Greece
"The EDE in Glarisegg was such a vibrant learning journey that fueled me with loads of empowerment and inspiration. Feeling blessed for having experienced 5 unique weeks of intensive learning with other like-minded people and a group of amazing facilitators."
Creating a Transformative Culture
is an evolving inquiry which asks:
“What is called for now?”
It is an invitation to be ready for the unknown,
to be prepared for the changes that lie ahead.
the team
We have separately gathered a lifetime of experience in fields of holding space, psychotherapy, music, breath work, Environmental Science, Anthropology, Social Ecology, community building and founding, Vipassana Meditations, deep journeys and have selected a committed team of assistants from the EDE Alumni which add cutting edge tools to the EDE package. Together we co-host the EDE, whole heartedly as we share a vision of global transformation.
We are ready to openly and passionately share this learning journey with you.
Sonja-Vera Schmitt
Glarisegg, Creator & Trainer
Since 2003 Sonja-Vera has been one of the founders of the Schloss Glarisegg community. Her interests in structural developments, communication and improvisation in groups enabled her to help develop the joint project. In her commitment to encounter processes in the social life of the community, she was able to easily apply her training as a voice and speech therapist and her love of music/dance. Coupled with stamina, her gift as a village weaver became a key in a much larger game of empowerment. The complex processes of the project awakened her entrepreneurial spirit. As a member of the Board of Directors of Schloss Glarisegg AG, she familiarized herself with the long-term financial and construction planning of this property, coordinating the maintenance, renovation and expansion of the large, historical property.
Through Vipassana meditation and genuine love for people, she stays vital. In 2010, the discovery of the Global Ecovillage Network was a very important milestone in community development. Since 2016 she brought the Ecovillage Design Education course named "Creating a Transformative Culture" to Schloss Glarisegg.
Jashana
Hawaii, Creator & Trainer
Jashana has always had an intense desire to figure out how humans could live in harmony with the natural world. For this goal, she got degrees in Anthropology and Environmental Science which lead to a Masters in Social Ecology. Having identified Indigenous Wisdom as a base she could not help but to try and stop the war in Guatemala that killed 200,000 Mayan people in the 80’s. Having failed that mission, she began exploring intentional communities 'to be part of the solution', eventually moving to the Findhorn Community in Northern Scotland. She then traveled for Findhorn teaching workshops throughout South America for two years. Returning to the US, she immersed herself in the world of awakening consciousness studying every offer from Holotropic Breathwork with Stan Grof, Vipassana Meditation, Yoga, Skydancing Tantra, 5 Rhythms, Deep Ecology, Contact Dance and sitting with Adyashanti. Preparing for the world to collapse she helped found a reforestation community in Hawaii.
the Assistant Team
the Trainers
Course fee
Thrive Path
3,600 Euros
With your investment we fully cover the infrastructure, support those who cannot afford the middle path and generate an income for supporting the programme.
Middle Path
2,800 Euros
This amount covers all costs and allows only trainers to receive a basic income for their work.
Basic Path
1,950 Euros
This is the basic investment that helps us start the program.
Please attune to your capacity to co-create this EDE course. The guidelines below give you an idea of how we function and you can choose any number in between.
The fee includes mainly organic vegetarian/vegan meals, accomodation (on one of the most beautiful places of Lake Constance) and the full intensive program of 5 weeks. The tuition to the “Collaborative Laboratory of the New Paradigm” which is in the last days is also included.
Scholarships
Be a sponsor
cancelLation
Scholarships are available for EU and
non-EU citizens which cannot afford the Middle Path. Share your dreams, life aspirations and motivation with us and apply for this opportunity. Please send an email with your photo to: edeglarisegg@gmail.com
Why not consider offering a scholarship? Sponsor a place in this event and offer the opportunity to someone, who otherwise would be unable to participate.
We would love you to be aware of the opportunity to be part of this course. If you need to sign out please let us know as soon as possible, because others might be waiting.
Location
Our host is the Seminar Center of Schloss Glarisegg Community in Switzerland, with its beautifully spacious and comfortable seminar rooms and guest rooms.
The community lies on the Swiss side of Lake Constance, nestled between the forest and beach. The castle community is a home a place for encounter, awareness , consciousness and being and holds 33 adults and 20 children. The community also hosts a seminar center, a school for children, a forest kindergarden, a permaculture and agroforestry, and is home to artists , musicians and therapists.
