THE UBUNTU PHILOSOPHY IS A BELIEVE IN GROUP SOLIDARITY, WHICH IS CENTRAL TO THE SURVIVAL OF OUR PLANET AND HUMAN-RACE.
The philosophy of Ubuntu derives from a Nguni word, ubuntu meaning “the quality of being human.” Ubuntu manifests itself through various human acts, clearly visible in social, political, and economic situations, as well as among community/family. It runs through the veins of all Africans, is embodied in the often repeated saying: “umuntu ngumuntu ngabanye abantu” (“A person is a person through other people”). This African proverb reveals a world view that we owe our self-hood to others, that we are first and foremost social beings, that, if you will, no man/woman is an island, or as the African would have it, “One finger cannot pick up a grain.” Ubuntu is, at the same time, a deeply personal philosophy that calls on us to mirror our humanity for each other. To the observer, ubuntu can be seen and felt in the spirit of willing participation, unquestioning cooperation, warmth, openness, and personal dignity demonstrated by the indigenous black population. From the cradle, every black child inculcates these qualities so that by the time adulthood is reached, the ubuntu philosophy has become a way of being. The principles of ubuntu must be applied to the new generation of our children to not just pursue the Western dream but to use collective gifts for the community.
THE POWER OF COMMUNITY
Communities have been sitting in circles in all cultures from ancient times. Each of us has ancestors who sat in circles together, perhaps in a hut or around a fire, drumming, singing, dancing, telling stories, telling jokes, proposing ideas, teaching, and sharing their lives with each other.
In those circles people found solutions to their problems, managed conflict, made conscious decisions, they laughed and played, celebrated and grieved together, and learned to love. Many topics were discussed such as parenting, sexual intimacy, relationships, community living, sustainability, health and recreation, business, life purpose, mission finding, human-hood, life, death, and much more.
Circles create more wholeness, balance, and equality for all who sit in them. Sitting in circles supports who we are and who we want to be. Circles take us away from everyday life and into a mini-retreat.In the circle we make a conscious decision to make space in our lives for growth and development and this is supported by the others. In turn, we support them in their own journey.The wisdom of the circle and the collective group intelligence is available to all. This wisdom is absorbed within each person and imparted to everyone within his/her life, including friends, family, and associates.
Today, due to our fast pace of life community circles are a rarity. In my opinion this is a disaster to the evolution of mankind. More than ever it is vital that as a individual we reach out to other collective once again if we are to reclaim our authentic human-nature and become the best human-being possible in this life, not only for ourselves, but for the other people in our lives and for the sake of the earth.
In those circles people found solutions to their problems, managed conflict, made conscious decisions, they laughed and played, celebrated and grieved together, and learned to love. Many topics were discussed such as parenting, sexual intimacy, relationships, community living, sustainability, health and recreation, business, life purpose, mission finding, human-hood, life, death, and much more.
Circles create more wholeness, balance, and equality for all who sit in them. Sitting in circles supports who we are and who we want to be. Circles take us away from everyday life and into a mini-retreat.In the circle we make a conscious decision to make space in our lives for growth and development and this is supported by the others. In turn, we support them in their own journey.The wisdom of the circle and the collective group intelligence is available to all. This wisdom is absorbed within each person and imparted to everyone within his/her life, including friends, family, and associates.
Today, due to our fast pace of life community circles are a rarity. In my opinion this is a disaster to the evolution of mankind. More than ever it is vital that as a individual we reach out to other collective once again if we are to reclaim our authentic human-nature and become the best human-being possible in this life, not only for ourselves, but for the other people in our lives and for the sake of the earth.
THE BENEFITS
- Reach out to others
- Learn to trust others
- Learn to Trust Yourself
- Form a supportive brotherhood/sisterhood
- Learn Compassionate Listening
- Learn to Trust Yourself and other People
- Be vulnerable in a safe environment
- Share your deepest passions, without being judged
- Develop Self Confidence
- Develop Commitment, Accountability, and Integrity
- Know Your Mission and Purpose in Life
WHAT HAPPENS IN A CIRCLE
- The beauty of Circles is that mostly we never know what will happen or where the discussion will go
- We start by acknowledging each person in the circle.
- We set our intentions for the circle.
- And then we share and listen.
- Sometimes we simply share whatever is on fire in our hearts at the time.
- Other times we hold each other accountable related to agreed commitments.
- Other times we focus on a specific or random topic. Such as Personal intentions, trust and vulnerability, personal conflict management, gender psychology, archetypal psychology, relationships, intimacy and self love, sexuality, health, money and finance, personal growth, adventure, shadow projection work, parenthood, etc.