The World Book Dictionary has one definition of Guild as "An association of people for mutual aid or for some common purpose." The mutual aid is obvious, and the common purpose I see as a safe, clean, imaginative, environment to live, grow, and die. The guild would include and support a large organic farm that would supply the food for the guild, and also products for the world market. On site assisted living and hospice would be available when the time arose, so that once you became part of the common-unity, you could also end your days there, surrounded by beauty, peace, and respect. Other housing would be for on-site workers on the farm, grounds, and as domestics and care givers where needed. But not just "business as usual" as for the workers. Their jobs and positions would be very particapatory of the whole guild, where as they would "own" their jobs, and have a say and stake in the profit and success of the expanding circle of related and complimentary products and offerings of the co-operative guild. Other crafts and technologies would naturally arise as the guild became more and more of an outreach tool to and for the surrounding community(s) and world at large, allowing the people involved to use more and more of their existant and learned abilities and talents for their own and the common good. A Guild, whose 'common purpose' would be a safe, productive, responsable, sustainable, and loving environment in which to BE. This is what we are working on here in this little corner of New Mexico-a vision revealed to me at my Father's passing in a standarized institution of death in Pennsylvania two Christmas's ago. It is time to truly honor our elders, and utilize their life experiences and financial co-operation, by evolving a living and dying center,village,community---a Guild!, that allows people to "associate for their mutual aid and a common purpose"-that of truly becoming all that we can, as and within ourselves, and with and for each other. To live and die in beauty and grace.....
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