There was no power because we weren't conscious enough. It's late summer, Taos, New Mexico, and I've just started a month long internship with Earthship Biotecture. An architecture and research company that constructs homes out of recycled materials and… trash, essentially. There were eight new interns this month and most of us had come from a life where energy availability was never a concern. It flowed freely through two pronged holes, originating from a magical place into our toaster-ovens, central A/C, refrigerators, wifi devices, home theatre multi-strip units, and KitchenAide blenders. And now these eight new September interns would be living with six full time residents. 14 people using electricity, taking showers, and living communally in one building, the HIVE. All off the grid and powered by solar. So, from time to time, the electricity would go out at night. Our consumption "needs" were more than what was available. Our computers and cell phones were left plugged in at full charge, lights on with no one in a room, stereos on standby, a lonely kitchen oven, the unset blinking digital clock passively reminding us of the draining energy it consumes so that it can blink. When you live off the grid, consciousness is the monthly utility bill.
It may have been an especially cloudy few days and the battery bank was exhausted from constant use so one of the full time residents suggested a black out Tuesday. No power at all for one day so that we could regain topped off levels of power. No internet, no movies, no speakers, no lights. So instead of secluding ourselves to individual rooms with interwebz, we came together like people used to do. We played dice and chess, cooked by candle light, danced to the rhythm of hand drums, and didn't update our Facebook statuses about it. We had dimly lit and passionate conversations, stoking the fires within each of us, and while the lights may have been out, perhaps this environment instilled a deeper connection to each other and our consciousness.
For that one night, we were free. Untethered and literally off the grid. Jimi Hendrix once said, "When the power of love surpasses the love of power, then we will know peace." and while I'm sure he was talking about socio-political and corporate exploitive motives, the sentiment certainly applies here as well. We must learn to be less dependent on consuming power, and more conscious of the vibrational power we receive and give each other, the love that flows through all of us, and binds us. What the French might call, "le force." Consciousness is a gradual and constant journey of practice, much like yoga, or building a home. It wasn't an overnight catharsis of conscious consumption, but a seed that was planted in each of us. I find myself in friend's conventional homes unplugging electrical cords, turning off lights, and actually hearing the high pitched "E" note that every electrical device emits, and it's deafening. Ya, I'm that guy - but whatevs, many hands make light work.
My internship was more than just four weeks of manual labor. I lived and breathed Earthship principles, interacted with builder/owners, and gained a new level of consciousness. Seeds of collaboration were planted and whatever passionate DIY ideas I had prior were throttled a hundred fold into personal empowerment. With so many powerful wizards around, the magic flows like candy on Halloween.
Consciousness in consumption and building materials, I no longer see trash, but an opportunity for something wonderful and creative. This wizard is leveling up.
Adam Junod was an intern with Earthship in September 2011 and built an earthen oven outside the HIVE kitchen. He publishes a quarterly art zine called Pregnant Minds, loves to travel and hydrate. Freelance graphic designer, imagination guide, and great conversationalist (or so he'd like to think), contact him directly for oven workshops, greenhouse builds, and creative direction on your next design project or urban farm.atomfarm@gmail.com
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