DEFINING TERMS
- PEACE -
May there be peace in the heavens, peace in the atmosphere, peace on the earth. Let there be coolness in the water, healing in the herbs & peace radiating from the trees. Let there be harmony in the planets & in the stars, & perfection in eternal knowledge. May everything in the universe be at peace. Let peace pervade everywhere, at all times. May I experience that peace within my own heart.
- SANCTUARY -
Sanctuary is a word derived from the Latin sanctuarium, which is like most words ending in -arium, a container for keeping something in—in this case holy things or perhaps holy people, sancta or sancti. The meaning was extended to places of holiness or safety.
A sanctuary, in its original meaning, is a sacred place, such as a shrine. By the use of such places as a safe haven, by extension the term has come to be used for any place of safety. This secondary use can be categorized into human sanctuary, a safe place for humans, such as a political sanctuary; & non-human sanctuary, such as an animal or plant sanctuary.
- VEGAN -
Quite simply is "Living Without Anything From Animals" as defined by Brody Severe who's experienced the profound health benefits of being vegan & has shared with many that we're simply born vegan, born to garden, & born to thrive - that the solution can be quite simple, to live in the space of a tree among the garden.
"Animals have families too & they are here with us not for us & shouldn't be held in captivity. They want to be left wild & free as nature would have them." -bs
Donald Watson coined the term "vegan" in 1944 when he co-founded the Vegan Society in the UK. At first, he used it to mean "non-dairy vegetarian." However, by May 1945, vegans explicitly abstained from "eggs, honey; & animals' milk, butter & cheese". From 1951, the Society defined it as "the doctrine that man should live without exploiting animals". Interest in veganism increased in the 2010s, especially in the latter half. More vegan stores opened and vegan options have become increasingly available in supermarkets and restaurants worldwide. (www.wikipedia.org )
- PARADISE -
The word "paradise" entered English from the French paradis, inherited from the Latin paradisus, from Greek parádeisos (παράδεισος), from an Old Iranian *paridayda- "walled enclosure". By the 6th/5th century BCE, the Old Iranian word had been adopted as Assyrian pardesu "domain". It subsequently came to indicate walled estates, especially the carefully tended royal parks and menageries. The term eventually appeared in Greek as parádeisos "park for animals" in the Anabasis of the early 4th century BCE Athenian Xenophon. Aramaic pardaysa similarly reflects "royal park".
Hebrew פרדס (pardes) appears thrice in the Tanakh; in the Song of Solomon 4:13, Ecclesiastes 2:5 and Nehemiah 2:8. In those contexts it could be interpreted as an "orchard" or a "fruit garden". In the Septuagint (3rd–1st centuries BCE), Greek παράδεισος parádeisos was used to translate both Hebrew pardes and Hebrew gan, "garden": it is from this usage that the use of "paradise" to refer to the Garden of Eden derives. The same usage also appears in Arabic and in the Quran as firdaws فردوس.
The word's etymology is ultimately derived from a PIE root *dheigʷ "to stick and set up".[1] It is reflected in Avestan as pairi-daêza-.[2][3] The literal meaning of this Eastern Old Iranian language word is "walled (enclosure)",[2] from pairi- "around" and -diz "to make, form (a wall), build".[4][5] The word is not attested in other Old Iranian languages (these may however be hypothetically reconstructed, for example as Old Persian *paridayda-). The idea of a walled enclosure was not preserved in most Iranian usage, and generally came to refer to a plantation or other cultivated area, not necessarily walled. For example, the Old Iranian word survives in New Persian pālīz (or "jālīz"), which denotes a vegetable patch.
Biblical[edit]
Old Testament[edit]
The word pardes, borrowed from the Old Persian word, does not appear before the post-Exilic period (post-538 BCE); it occurs in the Song of Songs 4:13, Ecclesiastes 2:5, and Nehemiah 2:8, in each case meaning "park" or "garden", the original Persian meaning of the word, where it describes to the royal parks of Cyrus the Great by Xenophon in Anabasis.
Later in Second Temple era Judaism "paradise" came to be associated with the Garden of Eden and prophesies of restoration of Eden, and transferred to heaven. The Septuagint uses the word around 30 times, both of Eden, (Gen.2:7 etc.) and of Eden restored (Ezek. 28:13, 36:35 etc.). In the Apocalypse of Moses, Adam and Eve are expelled from paradise (instead of Eden) after having been tricked by the serpent. Later after the death of Adam, the Archangel Michael carries the body of Adam to be buried in Paradise, which is in the Third Heaven.
FAQ's
Do you accept new community members to live on the island Sanctuary?
To keep the island sustainable & provide a comfortable amount of privacy for the islanders means there's limited space for the number of total island members living here full-time. If you or someone you know wants to collaborate on acquiring an additional island(s) or more land to implement this model then we'd love to hear from you!
Any requirements to be an Island Sanctuary volunteer?
Persons between 5-18 years old must be accompanied by an elder. We don't recommend anyone who has chronic pain or doesn't feel well. Spaces for volunteer opportunities are limited & are available on a first come basis.
Why is the torus so important to our mission to thrive?
The torus represents a fundamental energy pattern constructing the very fabric of our universe. It can be seen at every level of existence from fruits like apples or oranges to magnetic fields around people and planets, to the dynamics of entire galaxies. We believe this code reveals how life sustains itself and as such, modeling human systems and technologies to the torus may be one of the most powerful keys to creating a thriving world. It is especially demonstrative of being distinct and unified at the same time which is key to harmonious human interaction.
The dynamics of the torus underlie many of the breakthrough energy technologies we explore which have the potential to provide free access to electricity across the globe. Toroidal regenerative dynamics also underlie world-changing methodologies like permaculture which honor the hydrological cycle and the global ecosystem, making it feasible to feed the world.
A true economy is based on allowing countless voluntary exchanges among sovereign individuals like the toroidal cells in our bloodstream, rather than a centrally coerced imposition of power-based edicts. The potential for creativity and abundance, like the torus tapping the field itself, is endless. (www.thriveon.com FAQ's)
Can I arrange to host a special event like a wedding, on-site celebrity, or reunion on the island?
Yes you can arrange with us at least 3 months in advance to see if we have openings on our event calendar. The "Events" link is at the top of the page.
Are tours to see all of the Island Sanctuary or only certain parts?
The entire island (except for private residences) is available for scheduled tours that are arranged at least 3 months in advance. Please see our "Reservations" link at the top of the page.
What's the easiest travel route to the Island Sanctuary?
If traveling from the mainland, fly to Nicaragua's capital, Managua then buy a flight through "La Costena" airlines which is 1 hour non-stop to Bluefields where our guide can meet & escort you to our boat, then it's only 40 min. by sea to reach the island. If traveling from local Caribbean islands, we may be able to arrange to receive you at San Andres, Providence, or the Corn islands.
How big is the Island Sanctuary & how many islanders live there?
The island is 8 acres with two 80ft. tall hills & a unique protected crescent moon bay. For safety reasons we don't disclose the number of islanders living here.
Does the Island Sanctuary have any sandy beaches?
No sand here, though just two miles west of the island on the mainland there's pristine undeveloped sandy beaches. The islands shores are of black basalt rocks & in one area there's a rocky pebble agate beach.
How safe is it to swim around the Island?
Fairly safe as there hasn't been any incidents yet. Small barracuda fish have been spotted here though non-aggressive.
When does the summer & hurricane seasons for this area begin/end?
Summer is January - May. Hurricane season is August - November.
What kind of animals &/or wildlife exist on the Island?
There's a variety of birds like pelicans, frigates, & king fishers. Mostly small to medium sized iguanas & gecko lizards. A variety of small tropical saltwater fish & occasionally dolphins & sea turtles.
Are there mosquitos or other pests?
Mosquitos & flies don't exist due to the consistent fresh breeze. There are termites & roaches. Leaf cutter ants are an issue for most trees in the garden so we try to eliminate them.
FAQ's
What does the "R" stand for in the center of the art poster displayed on the "Community Media" page?
"RESOURCES" / Resource Based Exchange (RBE) since the torus & vector equilibrium geometries are present at every scale of existence.
What does it mean to be ‘sovereign’ or ‘reclaim authority over our lives’?
Being ‘sovereign’ or ‘voluntaryist’ means reclaiming authority over our own life, having the power & freedom to live by our own rules, make our own decisions, and relate to others on a voluntary basis, so long as we do not violate anyone against their free will in the process. It’s made possible by having protective rules, instead of coercive rulers.
To achieve this effectively requires basic structures for justice, conflict resolution (and consequences for violation), insurance and security. It does not require that everyone be enlightened, but it does require that this principle be applied equally to all. It also ultimately requires a resource based total global systems approach where all the resources are accounted for & equally shared among those inhabiting a community enabling true equality to be restored rather than a centralized fiat currency that can control people through manipulation & coercion. In this way resources can be shared like that of a library so when a person is done with a book or material good they return it to the collective where it’s available for other people for free without charge.
While our continuous cultivation of higher consciousness & being informed facilitates this process, sovereignty is, by definition, not something to be imposed onto others. It requires taking strategic, leveraged actions that are aligned with our intentions & values. It also requires relating to others non-coercively, respecting their right to do as they please so long as they initiate no violation of the same rights of others. (www.thriveon.com FAQ's)
Why is the Non-Aggression Principle necessary to create a thriving future?
We refer to the Non-Aggression Principle as the “rule” that allows all people to live with equal rights. This is like the principal of the peaceful martial art of “Aikido” where everyone has the right to defend themselves, though in a non-aggressive way through deflection & a temporary demobilizing manner of the opponent. It’s said that one drop of ink can spoil otherwise pure water. We believe that unequal rights is that ink. It is a fundamentally flawed organizing principle & creates foundational disharmony with the field of pure potential. To have a rule, but no rulers creates a system of pure individual accountability, so no one can pollute or harm another against their free will.
Moral “rules” are protective, natural, & universal instead of local, aggressive, & political. They are protective of innate rights, not aggressive forms of imposing one’s will over another. With this rigorous moral compass everyone is equally accountable. (www.thriveon.com FAQ's)
