What’s the program at The Healing Path?

The Healing Path Logo

introduction

So while the website is currently being built, I thought I would write up about The Healing Path and how it might function as a tool of recovery for those who choose this way of life.

Way of life

We have seen in various projects around the world, and in various communities that peer support and life style can really help people rediscover their health on a physical, emotional and spiritual basis.

The outside vision of a permaculture ecological, off grid sustainable social enterprise is something we hope that those experiencing substance use disorder will build over time. What is the way of life we expect people to sign up to?

For many people the 28 day model of rehab doesn’t work. I have lived in communities at different points in my life and seen how recovery community can work first hand with my numerous visits to San Patrignano. So our first difference to the 28 day model is a time factor. How long are you willing to commit to give yourself a chance to get well? Would you commit 6 months? Would you commit 3 years? I feel that the minimum commitment to do any good at all would be 6 months, and that this would be renewable up to and including 3 years.

It takes a long time for the effects of substances to leave the body physically. It also takes us a long a long time to adapt to a new way of life. The way of life at The Healing Path is structured. This structure prevents boredom, it also allows to move forward with the realisation of numerous projects to create the social enterprise model.

Social media and related devices are forbidden

A structured life style means there is not time to be distracted by hangers on calling us repeatedly. Our old entourage looking to get us out, social media, internet and the mobile phone, are all off limits at present. We may set aside a time on a weekly basis to catch up with loved ones. Apart from using social media as a tool to raise awareness and publicity for The Healing Path, there can be no justification to have a device on hand at any point in the day for those who choose to follow the healing path. We are here to heal ourselves, not to socialise and lose ourselves in the energies of technology.

On entering The Healing Path, participants surrender all electronic devices to the staff. Those devices will be returned when limited use under supervision is agreed. Not during the first 6 months.

It’s possible for people to focus on their work and well being without needing to be attached to the phone or available to outside forces to distract them.

Our goal is wellness and healthy functioning of a human being in life. Already I can feel the push back. Mindfulness around work, meal times, meditation and even fun time, will I believe be greatly enhanced without having to photograph every morsel we eat and compare ourselves to the photoshopped multimedia world. Our goal is to become conscious of ourselves as walking talking miracles, deserving of self respect and self esteem.

It is not for me to do the research on mental health and well being. I can also vouch for what has worked for myself and countless others. Apart from my own addictions, and noticing how and when I tend to supplement substance abuse with device abuse, there is ample evidence that those who are sensitive and intelligent can benefit greatly from down time from social media. After all if someone is having surgery in hospital are we calling them every 5 minutes to see how the surgery is going? Let me check here, why on earth am I am even feeling the need to justify this choice. This is the way it is going to be.

Mental Health Concerns

The second area to deal with is that of mental health. While I m studying a masters in Psychology, and while we hope to have a psychologist available on a weekly basis for those who choose to follow the path, we are not capable of supporting those with serious mental disorders. In other words people who need psychiatric treatment and regular follow up will have to find a path to follow elsewhere. We are simply not equipped. Given the physical limitations of the property and the limitations of those living there it would not be in the best interests of those who seek recovery with us, nor of those who are suffering such conditions.

We are not a detox center

The third area of importance and it follows on, is that we are not in a situation where people who are on day zero of recovery should be considered. The Healing Path is not a detox clinic. We do not have a nurse or medical staff. We cannot at this point in time cater for those who are in full blown active addiction. This will we hope change over time. In the interim, if such a service is needed, we request that those coming to The Healing Path do so having already undergone treatment in a suitable medical facility to deal with the initial detoxification.

So here you are, you have admitted to yourself that you need help. You have considered the time factor and realised that perhaps it’s worth it to get life back on track. You have baulked at the thought of giving up your connection to the outside for a while, and you have even gone through a detox program and still you feel what is happening at The Healing Path is for you. What next?

Come back next week for more information on ‘The Healing Path’.

The Healing Path

1. WHAT IS THE HEALING PATH?

The Healing Path is a charity association
The Healing Path is a recovery community.
The Healing Path is a school of permaculture.
The Healing Path is food production business
The Healing Path is a retreat centre
The Healing Path is an ecological centre of excellence.
The Healing Path is a registered association / charity.
The Healing Path is a social enterprise.
The Healing Path is a development hub.

2. WHAT DOES THE HEALING PATH LOOK LIKE TODAY AND WHAT WILL IT LOOK LIKE IN THE FUTURE.?

Today the Healing Path is a home to Collie. He is a father of two children one studying in his mid-twenties and the other a teenager.

The Home is at an address in Firmi / Cambrens France and is an L shaped building of 115m2 with 4 bedrooms a shower a W.C. a kitchen and a living room. It has 4 cellars, a garage, a chicken coup a car port and a hanger of 100m2 .

It is on just under 6000m2 of land that has planning permission.

Collie is in the process of buying the property.

In the future we will have a womens house and a mens house. We will copy the style of living of the community in San Patrignano where relationships are engaged in with only the approval of the community. Those in recovery need to focus on their recovery, not their neediness nor their people pleasing.

Life is the community is governed by a strict no drugs no alcohol no vaping no smoking of any kind, no consumption of mind or mood alternating substances with the exception of Tea Coffee and Sugar. Sugar consumption will have to be strictly monitored. Anyone under the influence of any substance will not be admitted

Life is the community is governed by a strict no violence philosophy. Violence will not be tolerated under any circumstances.

We don’t kill animals for any purpose other than on strict advice of qualified veterinarian experts, to end the suffering of such an animal.

Life is governed by a strict rigid daily timetable. As the community grows this timetable may evolve and adapt.

The morning is absolutely quiet time, not low talking, not whispering, not going outside for a conversation. Its strict quiet.

The first task of every day is ablutions and toilet.

This is when we shower, shit pee wash our teeth and put on appropriate clothing for the day ahead.

The second task of every day is prayer and meditation time in community

This is our time of gratitude for the gift of the day ahead. Practicing mindfulness, meditation and doing so quietly together in community in the designated spiritual space for all. We don’t chatter, we don’t arrive late.

The third task of every day is acknowledgement of the community and daily tasks ahead of the community.

In other words we greet each other warmly and in civility. We drink our tea or coffee and share our tasks for day ahead asking for assistance where we think we might need it.

The fourth task of every day is morning exercises.

The fifth task of every day is Study.

There are many things to learn about plants, people, food production, preparation, recovery, languages,

This is a teaching/study part of the day, books, practicals etc happen in the morning before lunch

The sixth task of every day is lunch time

The seventh task of every day is quiet reflection

This is seen as an opportunity to read a book, be alone with nature, interact with animals ( not humans) and just take stock of the day. It can be used to transition from the intellectual part of the day to the more physical. This task is recommended 30 mins.

The 8^th task of every day is physical work

Chop wood carry water.

The ninth task of every day is community check in

This is when we come together in community and discuss what went well for us in the day. It’s where we air our grievances if we have any, making sure we take responsibility for our own actions, feelings and fears and don’t attribute them to the fault others.

It is not an exercise in fault find.

It’s an exercise in community building, communication, support and clarity.

The eleventh task of every day is entertainment time

We are not here to suffer. Life is to be enjoyed it is our gift. Board games, card games, interactive games, music, dance play. This is where we play.

The twelvth task of every day is quiet reflection then sleep.

This is crucial, good sleep is the key to good health. Quiet reflection is the key to understanding who I am and what I am doing here and how I can contribute more. It’s considered to be the final quiet time of the day. We withdraw slowly to our chambers, bedrooms, houses, and we prepare for a good nights sleep , grateful or our experiences in the day.

what will the physical space look like?

This is a huge amount of work . The vision for the 6000 meters is to have the following

A Retreat forest at the bottom of the property away from the buildings and structures. Here are many types of trees, oak chestnut sycamore and whatever other trees are indigenous to the region. The space will have small benches where individuals can go alone and sit with the trees as they grow and develop.
A ecological office. : A work space in nature for groups to plan discuss eat and drink together in nature away from the main buildings somewhere in the forest.
An orchard containing if possible all of the following trees.
- Apple
- Pear
- Plum
- Cherry
- Abricot
- Citrus ( various)
- Peach
A nut orchard, containing
- Hazel
- Almond
- Walnut
Water features that will lend to the principles of permaculture, house fish, and enable us to water our plants and of course take time out to reflect on the nature of water and it’s role in our life.
Wooden chalets to house both members of the community and paying guests.
A permaculture garden or gardens that will grow all the food for the community
A chicken farm to supply eggs, not meat.
Possible goat or sheep cheese production at a later date.
Beehives for apiculture honey and wax production.
Composting centres.
Rain barrels
Solar panels
Wind turbines
An adequate dining room
An adequate conference room
Areas where those who don’t fit in the physical structures can place tents temporarily.
Transparent domes for skywatching and sleeping.

Obviously we are in very very early stages yet. But eventually we will be up and running and contactable on TheHealingPath.eu.

thanks for reading.

Catch up

What’s been happening in Collie’s world. Things were in a kind of holding pattern for the longest time. I am in the very wonderful position of having a lot of time on my hands and lot of time to imagine great things. My project The Healing Path, was well and truly stuck. I had finally found a secretary and a treasurer to sign a document for me. Lets call it document 1. Document 1 set out the rules and regulations for an association in France and it was clear I was not going anywhere without an association.

I had visited San Patrignano in the summer time and while I was there learning about social enterprise, addiction and recovery, I got news that I had received my first funding for the HP. So a bank account was important. However in France you can’t open a bank account for an association if you don’t have document1. Document 1 must state who the secretary, the treasurer and the chairperson of the association are. So we got all that done and sent it to the bank.

The bank manager rang telling me I needed a siren, a kbis and that I must post the association in the official journal. When I asked which journal was the official one, then the phone call descended into farce. I asked question after question, was LeMonde the official journal? Was it NiceMatin? She told me I could indeed post the information in these places but I would still have to post it in the official journal. I finally asked for an email outlining what was required, and I would google it and do it the rest.

Document 1 also allowed me to get document 2 which was a statement saying the association had been created. The Siren couldn’t be obtained without 1 and 2 and the Kbis couldn’t be obtained without the siren. After spending copious amounts of money to lawyers sites and automatically signing up in the small print for more money, for a year, which was unnecessary , and getting my money back by sending indignant emails, I finally got a siren. Almost the same thing happened for the Kbis, but I was wise to the trap this time and paid my 1.50 got my document then cancelled the subscription right away. All this because the legal government sites didn’t work.

We couldn’t have a bank account. We didn’t have everyone’s id and we didn’t have an designated controller of the bank account in Document 1. So we had another meeting where the treasurer had already decided this was too much stress and withdrew, and a new treasurer was elected/appointed. I got his passport details and sent all to the bank and finally we had an appointment fixed.

I got a phone call telling me the information wasn’t still quite correct as I hadn’t sent signed documents through ( I thought I had). Instead of arguing I reassured the bank I would bring signed documents to the appointment. The morning was me running around getting extra signatures just in case.

The meeting happened and I was informed that perhaps all was well and I should have a bank account in a few days.

That’s a bit to take in, but there is also the story, which is just as intense of trying to get someone to design a logo and a website, that I am willing to pay for, a phone line for the charity, house hunting for a place to live and trying to get an appointment with the bank to discuss a mortgage. Twice I asked and was informed no one was available so I informed them I would look elsewhere. The bank manager rang me within the hour and organised a meeting for the following Tuesday. Funny that. I will write up the rest later.

Rules rules and regulations

If you know anything about France, you will know that they love administration, bureaucracy, rules and regulations. Let’s not say they love them, lets just say it’s a big part of life here. A good example of this red tape thinking for me is my friend from Kenya who is a qualified accountant. She has worked as an accountant in Kenya for years. However here in France through whatever legalese exists she is not recognised as an accountant and cannot practice. This is the same for doctors from Russia, and experts from almost anywhere else on the planet. There is no point arguing the logic. It’s just the way it is. I have often found the things I find illogical usually have some very solid logic behind them. In this case I fail to see it.

If you know anything about addicts and alcoholics it’s that they hate rules. Tell an alcoholic to do something and they will most likely not. It’s why some of the leading literature on the subject is couched in terms of suggestions rather than rules.

In trying to apply for my online degree, and get funding from my company. I find I am dealing with bureaucracy on two fronts. They University want me to claim my place and put down and down payment. My mentor company (French ) have advised me to pay nothing till my parent company approve. They also want and invoice with the amount my parent company will pay and the amount I will pay. The University don’t do that. In short the University required exam results, certifications, attestations and letters of motivation, so much so that I began to take it personally. The mentor company required all that paper work, plus all the paper work the University sent me, like the student manual the course outline etc; plus the specific invoices. They also wanted the course advertisement and the people to connect with in the university. It’s a lot of back and forth with me as the middle guy. I only get to learn in stages what is required. No one has a set list to start with. Eventually the mentor company will show every thing to the project manager who will approve then send it to HR in my Parent company. The parent company will make a decision and get back in touch with the mentor company and if it’s favourable will eventually pay the fees.

It doesn’t end there. I am also required to create an association. In other words a charity. I have been promised some seed money and I can’t get it without a bank account and charity number for the organisation. So I decided to forge ahead and create the charity online. I found out it’s not so simple. The charity needs to have met already, created a set of rules and kept minutes. The issue I have right now is that of the people who are vaguely interested in helping me, one is in New York, one in Donegal, one in Monaco and one in Nice. We have to approve and sign the paper work then submit the paper work for approval. At least we have access to online models of such paper work. So my solution is to grab an online meeting with everyone, and get electronic signatures. I have some resistance to that. I am telling myself a story I won’t be able to get these people to meet at the same time or agree on anything.

This may seem straight forward for anyone who is reading this. But I am an alcoholic, I have that tendency to sprint through the marathon, and start the sprint a day late. then not understand why everyone else hasn’t kept up with me or how they got ahead of me. I also collapse before the end in frustration. So at this point in time, I am trying to remind myself of a line I read frequently in the Big Book of AA, nothing , absolutely nothing happens in Gods world by mistake.

So with gritted teeth , I take a deep breath through my nose, I loosen my jaw, I feel the shoulders relax. I remind myself that a step forward has no size. Progress is not measured in feet and inches nor minutes or hours. This will all come together or it won’t. Forward movement is forward movement and even though I am fixed on an outcome, and I want that outcome yesterday, I have to allow the time. It’s the Universes way of giving me time to relax and enjoy life on life’s terms. It’s not a punishment. We are not here to suffer.

Frustration and Fear are Energy Stealers

My mood has been off for days. My situation to recap is that I am currently be paid my salary by my company while on gardening leave after they had to restrict certain roles in the company for financial reasons.

Many factors come into play but if I can find a training course that is adequate for my reconversion, I can be paid for up to two years on a reduced salary.

This is a wonderful opportunity to create the ‘Healing Path’ and also to gain further education that can me in quest to help people walk a spiritual path to sobriety.

I wrote the headline for this piece a few days ago when I was getting myself stressed out about things that are out of my control. I have a degree from D.C.U. and a postgrad dip from D.I.T. My new universities have asked me for evidence of my results. I supplied my transcripts to University A, and they offered me a place, but then they changed their phone number, didn’t answer my calls, didn’t reply to emails and so I checked for some online reviews. The results were shocking.

I contacted my liaison officer who is helping with my gardening leave and reconversion and informed him to stop everything while I get some feedback from University B. University B has sterling reviews online. They have the same transcripts as University A. However, the transcript is missing the thesis result.

So I get onto to DCU, who then send a statement of my course completion with an incorrect mark. This is not good enough for University B. They want an honours degree. I have one. I am back in touch with DCU. They send a statement with the correct mark, an honours 2:1 in communication studies. Still not good enough for University B. They want my thesis mark. DCU don’t have it. I argue the toss by email that I can’t get an honour degree without having completed a thesis. What is the problem ? Use your common sense please? Nope. Not good enough. I realise I am in fear. I am in fear of this amazing opportunity going up in smoke because of red tape or someone, anyone, refusing to use sense and I am not trusting my higher power. What if HP doesn’t actually want me to study this degree and has a better plan?

I decide to connect with DIT where I did my postgrad. I have been waiting for Transcripts from them for 7 weeks now. They can’t find my results either. It seems both Dublin Universities didn’t manage to keep relational databases in the late 1990s? Both universities, where I used computers learned how to type and wrote my own thesis in each case, didn’t keep electronic records.

Finally DIT send me a statement that I passed my postgraduate diploma with a distinction, ( still proud of that one 🙂 ). I forward this to University B where I am expecting an answer to say, ‘Yes we accept you onto the course and please register.’ Ah, no. Now they request a motivational letter, a copy of my passport and then they will forward my application to the admissions office.

I get the sense I have been dealing with a middle man who wants to cover every base possible to ensure I get admitted. Frankly I have found the experience more than frustrating. Again my question, why am I getting bent out of shape? This is the will of the Universe. What will rushing into anything get me? Perhaps this ‘down’ time is a gift to be enjoyed?

So here I am this morning, waiting 5 hours in Vienna airport to get to Dubrovnik from Nice. My good friends from Chicago are celebrating a wedding anniversary and I will join up with their whole family for 2 nights. I have no idea what I am letting myself in for.

I attended a meeting last night and didn’t turn on my volume apparently after it, although I think I did. I didn’t hear my alarm this morning and woke an hour late. My morning routine binned, I showered and left quickly, catching an uber to the airport. I arrived in plenty of time.

I found myself meditating in the car and reminding myself that meditation doesn’t relax me, it makes me aware. Relaxation is a choice. I gave into it.

I meditated formally on the plane. 54 days without a break so far. I wonder how long I will manage before I have a day where I don’t do it. I will publish this, and just give in to the adventure.

HP is so good and loving. I get to support friends, I am abundant loved and blessed. This is the Healing Path.

Ooops I almost forgot, the tiredness I feel is the hangover from all the frustration and fear, that changed absolutely nothing, gave me absolutely nothing and were a complete waste of time and energy. Take a breath, express gratitude, and allow it to be the way it is.

The Alkie at San Pa

I am the alkie. This place is so inspiring.

At least that’s what I wrote a week ago and then never finished. There is a lot going on in my head and the reality is I am putting myself under pressure that is completely needless.

I had applied to two universities online to study a Masters in Psychology. The deal at present in my world is that my company will pay a good chunk of the fees, and keep my salary while I train. That’s just an amazing blessing. I seem to be struggling to accept I am worth this wonderful opportunity. There are threads of guilt and awkwardness.

The other part of my current situation is that I have a company , that accompany me in my reconversion. So it’s a lot of red tape. A lot of bureaucracy, a lot of documentation and an addict mindset are not an ideal mix.

I have been chasing down my old universities to get transcripts. One of the new ones that I applied to , I have binned. The online reviews were atrocious. On the other hand the online reviews for the second one were brilliant and their reactivity was great too, so hopefully next time I write here, I will be enrolled in a Masters in Psychology.

Visiting San Patrignano and hanging out with addicts was as always not only inspiring but very instructive. It was great to find similarities in the way we view life, our stories our decisions. What was difficult was to imagine how to get from nothing to where they are now. A town of a 1000 people working in a social cooperative free from substance abuse disorder is no mean feat and isn’t built in a day.

study at San Pa — Study Group at San Patrignano

I need to keep my sights much lower. If I can create a community of 10 people, 5 sober and clean who help the other 5, then that would be huge. Even If I start with 3 people, it’s something. We all have to start somewhere. I read a quote the other day, that you don’t have to be great to start, but you won’t ever be great unless you do start. It motivates me.

It’s not a question of greatness, its a question of starting. I have received some funding , which is amazing. So I have to practice my gratitude and continue with my baby steps. It’s challenging. I am learning.

Where am I ? How did I get here?

It seems strange writing about how a place came to be, that doesn’t exist yet. Where I am at present is a place of flux, ignorance, stress, and faith.

Is this where I write about my story of addiction? It’s pretty mundane I would say, only it’s not pretty and mundane is a word used by those who have lived more, when they judge those who have lived less.

At present I am in a situation which is enviable. I have time and I have money coming in. It won’t last. My first plan is to do an Masters in Psychology, my second to buy a farm somewhere. My third plan is bring all that together to set up The Healing Path.

French law and administration is a nightmare even for the French. I am currently working with someone who is supposed to be helping. As I tried to explain the project , I mentioned I was going to Italy,

‘Yes but this isn’t Italy’, she interjected before I could finish my sentence.

Later after many other interjections I tried to explain about a project I know of here in France, but that didn’t wash with her either, she was asking questions of me, that I should be asking of her. It was early morning I hadn’t meditated yet. She talked about this medical set up and finally I lost my cool. I found myself shouting and trembling.

” For God’s sake, shut up and let me talk, how can I explain anything to you if you keep interjecting? It’s not possible, this my life and my future here we are talking about, you understand nothing of the project. You are the one supposed to be telling me how to go about it. You are not listening, you are not letting me speak, really it’s not possible”

The last time I lost my cool through frustration was about 4 years ago. It’s not normal for me. A loved one had been incredibly short with me the night before and I hadn’t slept well.

A few minutes later still trembling I apologised for loosing my cool, she was very calm and offhand and forgiving. At least her attitude changed and she started to listen. She is set on my opening an association. It requires a secretary, a treasurer and a chairperson. I don’t have three people, I have me.

‘You can’t do it all alone, its not possible’ she told me. I don’t believe her.

Surely there must be other structures that are possible but she is not forthcoming. She is set on one answer, with no alternatives. This is extremely frustrating now.

My application to university has been accepted and my current company where I work in English, need to have the application so they can sponsor my studies. Her project manager needs it all translated into French. I don’t have the original anymore as her colleague helped me edit it and I don’t have a copy.

‘Don’t worry he will translate it into French.’

Long story short, I need to cost the project or no one will rubber stamp it. That makes sense. What is this talk of getting it rubber stamped. I am not asking for permission. I am turning my future home into a centre of recovery, in stages.

The Stages

Stage 1: Set up the property to be habitable and grow enough food for any who are living there. Those initial people may well be former addicts.

Stage 2: Welcome former addicts and alcoholics to live in a disciplined way, to learn about all aspects of food from planting to storing , preparing, cooking and selling. These sales will contribute to the centres eventual income. We have a restaurant and an online site, to sell pickles, dried products, honey, etc;

Stage 3: Now these same addicts or alcoholics learn a trade, bee keeping, market farmers, potters, wood workers, decorators, artists , massage experts, meditators, yoga teachers, etc; and their eventual businesses contribute to the centre to keep it working.

This expertise will be be sold online, in the local community and on site.

Stage 4: We seek people who will pay to come and stay and learn about food, peace, tranquillity, nature, meditation and spirituality. These are people, possibly artists, possibly former addicts and alcoholics who want time away from their busy lives.

Stage 5: We are a known centre of recovery, people come from far and wide to learn and profit from our Healing path.

None of this can happen over night in my view and this is probably a 3 or 4 year plan, so how do I cost it?

Well lets just make a start.

So my next step is to head to San Patrignano and to learn what there is to learn. In meantime I better start my research into my costs.

My actions

Talk to people I know and see if they are interested in an association.
Ask questions during the conference in SanPa about European funding
Ask questions in San pa about financial stability and how the raise funds and how much from their own work and production.
Visit Berdine with the same type of questions.
Cost my first two years, including the property. What sort of revenue might we have in year 1?
Fill in the forms sent to me by the support company which is kind of number 5 but more general information included.
Translate the business plan into French.

I will leave the morning after writing this and it should be published, they next morning at 9 am. So if anyone is reading this. I am in Italy, I am asking my questions and doing my research. Keep me in your thoughts or prayers.

It’s an adventure, and despite the stress, anxiety, fear, I am conscious of the gratitude to. I am grateful for the adventure and this will be focus.

Collie

The Healing Path – A story of recovery.

A few years back after learning about a circular economy from my friend, Bela, I heard about a place in Florida that was a kind of high end healing restaurant and retreat centre and I came up with a vision.

I thought about an off grid centre of healing that could promote the idea of a circular economy. However I had no idea how to do it. Working as an English teacher at the time in the south of France, I was required to teach the principals of permaculture through English to a group of French ecology students. The three main points of Care for the Earth, Care for People and Share the surplus, blended well with my own spirituality and with the principles of a care economy. So the concept, even though vague, still had some specific direction.

I spoke with another friend called Dani and she suggested making it a rehab for addicts and alcoholics. That also seemed very logical, very new and definitely needed. The only solution we were aware of on the Cote d’Azur, was either 12 step programs, if you were lucky enough to hear about them, or what we commonly call mental hospital.

More than one acquaintance ended up in one of the hospitals here, voluntarily, under lock and key. They had been dishonest about their drug use. They had elected to have electro shock therapy, and 2 of them are now dead. A third struggles with bipolar disease, and yet still manages to apply the 12 step program and help others, who can neither get to hospital nor work a program at this point of their lives.

Months went past and not much progress was made. I was struggling with my own financial challenges and couldn’t see beyond a dream. Was it really what I wanted to do? How could we do it? Where would I start? Fear is a great miner of questions that will trip you up and have you fall into a hole of procrastination and prevarication if you let it. I did.

I watched the news of celebrities dying from overdoses, I watched close friends relapse and almost kill themselves. I saw people come into a program and run away never to be seen again. I met people who knew they had a problem but were too afraid or perhaps just too hurt to do anything about it. I saw the guy on the street who over time developed wet brain and screamed at the ghosts of his past that no one else could see. Surely a community of recovery was the answer for all of these people. But it did it have to be my home? I am a renter not an owner. How do I become an owner with land to grow food and sustain us?

Eventually , possibly out of frustration, it was time to write a business plan.

The first business plan was written about 5 years ago. I still don’t know if the business plan I have is ‘a proper business plan’ but it’s a plan. Friends continued to relapse. Strangers were reaching out to me from the blue asking was there anywhere they could send someone they loved. Each time I felt a twinge of guilt that I hadn’t acted sooner and got my shit together, but how?

Then somehow , I don’t remember how, I came across an article about a place in Italy. It was a craft magazine highlighting how the community in San Patrignano had pursued excellence. I was intrigued at this community of addicts who were producing top notch materials for 5 star hotels, leading chefs, and the fashion houses of Italy. Now this was a grand plan indeed.

It seemed just a couple of weeks later that I fell across a Netflix documentary called San Pa. I watched it all in one sitting. I was enthralled at the story of success, delighted that so many addicts had found community, recovery and connection and purpose in life. Could I dare do the same thing here in France? How could I make that work?

One of the things I notice in my story are the coincidences. Those things that come together unexpectedly as to leave you with no other obvious choice than the one in front of you. I hope to capture a few of these in the telling of the story.

I spoke with Bela about San Pa. Eventually we decided to make the trip down in his Tesla and see for ourselves just what it was, and how it was happening.

I would love to tell you the rest is history. Instead I will tell you more of the decisions I am facing today and how it came to this juncture in the road.

The Healing Path

Here I go again. Once more trying to rededicate myself to writing. At least now post pandemic, post getting to know the ropes of a great job, post many things, I have time. The site is back up. The admin side is full of spam , but I will get to it.

I am looking for a property to build a sober community. I don’t have a huge budget. I do have a business plan. Permaculture, care economy, sobriety, spirituality. Is that a way you would want to live or help others?

Recovery is a life long process. Sober living is a spiritual way of life.

In the next few weeks I hope to start detailing the business plan and property search. There is a lot to write. How I handle the fears that come up, the doubt and the stress. I haven’t had a client for healing in a long time. I have been looking after the coaching side of things.

It’s time to step into my vision and get this going.

More to come…..

Stepping Back Up and Forward

It’s been too long since I was here. Distracted by life, a world wide pandemic and many many changes. However like most people I have been growing or stuck. I haven’t been stuck. Something has shifted greatly in this last time.

I am starting a project. I want to step up and forward and I feel I have found the way. I have a vision of a holistic recovery centre. Somewhere where the suffering can come and heal. The artists can come and create. The healed can share their experience.

Ecologically minded, self sufficient and mindful would be the main principles of the entity I hope to create with a good friend. Spiritual ? Yes absolutely. A centre of health and abundance. No drugs or substances in bottles boxes or people. Not into going the chemical route.

Most food grown on site ecologically.

An absence of social media, phones, screens technology that distracts.

Promotion of tried and tested methods of giving people the tools they need to heal themselves through self reflection, exercise, diet, support, community and creativity.

In the next 24 hours I am finally… ( and it has taken me a long time to get to this point) going to go look at a possible site for this project.

This blog might become a record of progress , I am not yet sure. I have to speak to some people about the best way forward. However, I hope I find the discipline to keep it updated more than have over the past years.

It’s good to be back.