Herzfeld Sennrueti

The community is situated on the edge of Degersheim, a rural village in east Switzerland. It is made up of a lively group of approximately 60 adults and 30 children and teenagers. We have followed a holistic life concept since 2006. Key features include: ecological living, sustainable economy, social structures, spiritual practice in everyday life, art and culture, and integration into wider society. We honor the diversity of each individual, encouraging personal development and inner growing. We aspire to each individual finding and growing into their full potential.

We have a sociocratic organization structure and apply a customized decision making tool called “attunement”. This begins by sharing on a mental and emotional level, followed by a decision making group meditation. Here we access our intuitions and reach out to a higher wisdom, by opening ourselves to receiving information, visions, feelings and body sensations. By sharing these we find the conclusion in a natural way, resulting in collective clarity.

In order to create and maintain healthy relationships in increased consciousness we meet regularly. Some of the tools we use include: sharing circles, shadow work in triads, the Transformation Game, integral community training (Forum) and ho’oponopono. By following our intuition and experience we have also developed some own tools.

The integration of our children and youth is a crucial ongoing process. Our teenagers are now growing into the next generation of our community. We are trying to follow the concept of “all mothers and all fathers”: by growing up together there is a shared paternal feeling, resulting in collective nurturing of the younger generation. Children can easily relate to other adults in the community and some choose their ‘own grandparents’. We run integration days with lots of fun and games.

In 2009 we bought an empty sanatorium. We transformed the guest rooms to living spaces for singles, couples, families and groups. We used sustainable materials such as wood, straw, cork, wool, clay, sand and cellulose fibers. We also installed thermal and photovoltaic panels, which means we have more than enough to power the entire building with solar energy. Furthermore, rainwater is collected from the roofs and used for flushing toilets, washing machines and in the garden, thus reducing our water usage by 60%. Organic waste is collected and composted or used for making charcoal for the permaculture garden. We grow fruits and vegetables and are lucky to have organic farms nearby that can fulfill our additional needs all year round.

We try to do all practical work that is needed with care and love. We often celebrate life, all good things and ourselves.

Most members speak schweizerdeutsch (swiss german), but other languages are also spoken: dutch, english, french, german, italian, spanish and even esperanto

Specialty Areas:

– Arts & Culture

– Consensus/Decision Making

– Healing

– Ecological Living Practices

– Facilitation and Mediation

– Fundraising/Fundearning Skills

– Organic Agriculture

– Permaculture/Design

– Preventive Health Practices

– Renewable Technologies/Energy Management

– Retrofitting Existing Structures

– Spiritual practices

– Vegetarian/Vegan

– Waste Management