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It’s been two weeks since I arrived at the Homestead, and things are really coming together. The course is going great, we’re all having loads of fun, and the energy is high and positive. It’s moments like this, it’s overall feelings of joy like this, that remind me why living in community is right for me. Sure, I love cities, but this how I see myself in the future.

One of the main differences between this visit and my visit last September is of course, the course! With the Permaculture Design Course (taught by Tom Ward) going on, it’s a whole different world around here: there’s about 40 people living here instead of the usual 10 to 15, and I’m working exclusively in the kitchen instead of outside with an ax or a shovel in my hand. With all these new people, come new ideas and new games! Last night we played my new favorite game: Love Seat / Hot seat.

Here’s the idea:

One person from the group volunteers to be on the Love Seat or the Hot Seat. It’s not necessarily a physical seat (although it can be), and then they are asked questions by the rest of the group for about 10 minutes. If they chose the Love Seat then the questions are of a gentler nature but still personal; if they chose the Hot Seat then anything goes. Anything goes. Of course, any question can be passed.

It’s amazing how empowering the process is for everyone involved.

If you’re on the love/hot seat, you usually feel very comfortable answering the questions honestly, and this makes you feel really good about yourself. All of these people are asking you questions, they want to know about you, they are listening very carefully to what you have to say. Some of the questions force you to articulate things that wouldn’t have otherwise. When the time is up, you usually want more. When the roles reverse and you’re part of the group, you hear questions that you wish you could answer, that would be fun to answer.

If you’re part of the group asking questions, you usually feel very comfortable asking any questions, specifically the questions that you’ve always wanted to ask the person but never had the guts. The energy builds as the session (about 10 minutes) moves from a few sparse questions here and there to what feels more like a conversation. Things can get really intense and it’s amazing how much you can learn about someone in such a short period of time. When the time is up, you usually want more.

The game is over when everyone who wants to be on the love/hot seat has had their turn. By that point the energy in the air is amazing. Everyone feels very open and comfortable and the casual conversation that follows is usually just as good as the game itself.

Of course, the game is best played around a campfire.